Old Master Laneâs sudden question made William Lane choke on his tea.
Over the years, William Lane would discuss everything with Old Master Lane, especially when he couldnât make a decision.
Old Master Lane would always provide him with the necessary help.
But there were very few times when he made decisions for him.
He would always analyze the situation and let William Lane make the decision himself.
Because he knew that William Lane wasnât clueless about what to do; he was just used to having a supportive voice.
Moreover, sometimes Old Master Lane would also pose questions about the situation to William.
Listening to his thoughts and his insights.
So, a question like todayâs was quite normal.
But todayâs felt a bit different.
He couldnât quite pinpoint where the difference was.
It felt like being taken back to his childhood, when he and Kevin Clark would sit together, occasionally joined by a young Lila.
The three of them would be questioned together.
Back then, they didnât understand much, so sometimes their answers were off.
And because of that, they would sometimes reject questions.
Compared to Williamâs reaction, Kevin Clark was much more composed.
He said, âLet nature take its course. If he has the ability to take over, thatâs great. After all, he was appointed by Dean Yue, so supporting him, both publicly and privately, is the right thing to do. But if he doesnât have the ability, then weâll have to replace him. Stability in the Research Institute is the priority.â
The Dean has the power to designate a successor.
Once designated, the successor would qualify to take over if more than half of the families in the Research Institute agreed.
After taking office for half a year, there would be another vote.
Only if more than half still agreed could they officially take up the post.
Old Master Lane nodded, âWhat about you, Lila? What do you think?â
Lila looked at Old Master Lane and hesitated before saying, âThe person I trained shouldnât be bad.â
Old Master Lane looked at William Lane again.
William Lane said, âGrandfather, donât look at me. One Lane Family is enough for me to deal with, I really donât have that much energy.â
âYou can let your sisters handle the Lane Family,â Old Master Lane said.
William Lane looked at Lila and Olivia Lane.
Olivia Lane had been engrossed in watching and listening to their conversation. But as soon as this topic was mentioned, she immediately lowered her eyelids and stroked the ragdoll cat in her arms.
As if she hadnât heard anything.
And Lila, too, turned her attention to the TV, as though she hadnât been engaged in the conversation at all.
âLook at their attitude,â William Lane gritted his teeth.
âA man hides from responsibility, and yet expects his sisters to bear the burden,â Andrew Lane said.
William Lane: ââ¦â¦â
He deeply reflected on why his family status had been declining recently.
He even felt that, in this family, Kevin Clarkâs status was now higher than his.
Old Master Lane smiled and said, âI know the situation has been a bit unstable recently, and you all have your own thoughts. But I still want to nag. Being ambitious is not a bad thing, but donât let ambition blind your heart. Consider the big picture, and let everything take its course. Whatâs ours will be ours, and whatâs not, we wonât force it.â
Lila and others responded in agreement.
â¦
Imperial Capital was relatively stable, so Lila and Kevin Clarkâs trip to the Mountain Sea Continent was arranged.
The day before going to the Mountain Sea Continent, Kevin Clark and Lila visited the Dance Association after getting off work from the Research Institute.
While they were going to the Mountain Sea Continent, Andrew Lane would once again accompany Sophie Ortiz on her tour.
During this time, the Lane familyâs company was being managed by Andrew Lane.
He was about to leave, and it was precisely when the Lane familyâs shares had to be reacquired, so there were a lot of matters to hand over to William Lane.
Father and son were in the company all the time, and they couldnât get off work even when it was time.
Today, the driver Sophie Ortiz had brought was busy, so Kevin Clark and Charlotte Lane went to pick her up together.
When they arrived at the Dance Association, the rehearsal wasnât over yet.
After talking with them for a while, Sophie Ortiz told them to walk around the Dance Association.
They didnât go too far, just hanging around nearby practice rooms.
There were artistic photos in the corridors, and display cases filled with trophies.
âDid you come here often when you were a kid?â Kevin Clark asked.
âNot really,â Charlotte Lane looked at the trophies on the wall, âI went to the Court Music Academy more often. Occasionally, my mom would bring me here.â
Kevin Clark was silent for a moment before asking, âDo you like dancing?â
Charlotte Lane looked at him, hesitated a moment, and said, âI quite like it. But practicing when I was younger was painful, so I didnât learn it well. It was sporadic.â
Kevin Clark thought of the video he saw on Koymoon Island in M Continent where she was dancing.
Actually, she danced very well.
Charlotte Lane chuckled, âTechnically, since I learned from my mom when I was so young, I should be their senior. But because I didnât learn well, my mom stripped me of that title. The title of junior was given to me because I am her daughter.â
Kevin Clark slightly raised the corner of his lips, âWe have an unspoken bond, both of us not following our mothersâ professions.â
âI followed my fatherâs profession,â Charlotte Lane said, âIâm doing pretty well in the hacker community. My dad taught me when I was little. That should count.â
âIt counts.â Kevin Clark touched her face and said, âYouâve surpassed your teacher. The word âgoodâ doesnât do justice to your abilities.â
âYour flattery, Third Master, is getting more and more practiced,â Charlotte Lane said, then looked at the trophies on the wall. After a while, she looked back at Kevin Clark and said, âWould you like to see me dance?â
âAm I really that fortunate?â There was a hint of surprise in Kevin Clarkâs eyes, as he hadnât expected her to take the initiative to offer.
âYes,â Charlotte Lane replied, âBut⦠you might be better off watching the practice going on in another practice room.â
âBut theyâre not you,â Kevin Clark said.
Charlotte Lane raised her eyebrows and led Kevin Clark into an empty rehearsal room.
She glanced at the chair next to the mirror and said, âSit.â
Kevin Clark sat down as instructed.
Charlotte Lane picked a music at random on her cell phone, but she didnât connect to the speaker. After playing the music, she put her cell phone on top of the speaker. Then, she took a hair tie from Kevin Clarkâs pocket and turned her high ponytail into a hair bun.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
After fixing her hair, she stood in the middle of the practice room, did some simple stretches, then chose a random starting point, entered the music, and followed the beat.
The impromptu performance somewhat caught her off guard.
So, she simply showed off her skills.
She performed on-the-spot aerial turns, leg lifts, four-position turns, step-up aerial turns, whip turnsâ¦
For each skill, Charlotte Lane did at least six rotations as a base. Sometimes, she would do more than ten rotations for a single skill.
Moreover, she performed several techniques one after another, without any pause. Her speed was so fast that her arms and hair created afterimages.
Today, she was wearing a simple white T-shirt and a pair of blue skinny jeans. The white T-shirt was tucked into her jeans.
It was simple and elegant.
When she danced, she looked refreshingly refined.
She performed front flips in the cloud, leaps with front flips, bridge, leg lifts, and kicksâ¦
One technique after another.
When she bent her waist, she was so flexible, she seemed boneless.
Because of the movement, her white T-shirt came untucked from her jeans, revealing her fair waistâ¦
Kevin Clark was initially immersed in her technique, but when he saw her waist, he narrowed his eyes slightlyâ¦