Rejected again, Li Gang beca angry, just about to say sothing when Jin Yuanhao, who had been standing by watching, spoke in broken Chinese: "Director Li, if renting a house off-campus is too troubleso, forget it. I’ll ask my company’s staff in Hua Country to help."
Upon hearing Jin Yuanhao’s words, Li Gang quickly turned his head, smiling from ear to ear, and said, "It’s no trouble at all, our school will handle this trivial matter for you."
He already knew that Jin Yuanhao was the son of a high executive in a foreign company, which is why he was so dedicated to serving him.
The difference in attitude towards Jin Yuanhao and Gu Bai was vast, perfectly exemplifying the term "servile."
Even though Hua Country is now wealthy and powerful, there’s always a group who remain deeply servile. They act superior towards their own people but are always inferior and deferential to foreigners.
Gu Bai could see clearly now; this Li Gang was one of those people.
"Didn’t you hear? Go now and help Jin Yuanhao and his companions find a few off-campus apartnts!"
Li Gang raised his voice even more towards Gu Bai.
"I’ll say it again, the External Liaison Departnt isn’t obligated to do that. If you want to curry favor, that’s your business; our departnt doesn’t have ti to waste with you."
Gu Bai rolled his eyes, feeling that talking any more to soone so hopelessly servile was a waste of ti.
Since becoming deputy director, everyone at the Shanghai Theatre Academy—whether students or teachers—had addressed him as Director Li. Gu Bai’s attitude finally enraged him.
"Which departnt and class are you from? What’s your counselor’s na?"
"Directing Departnt, Gu Bai."
Gu Bai also knew that Li Gang didn’t recognize him; otherwise, given his ingratiating face, would he dare speak to him in such a tone?
Li Gang found the na familiar but couldn’t quite place it.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and a male student entered with his parents.
Noticing the tense atmosphere in the office, he hesitated before speaking to Li Gang, "Director Li, has my parents’ accommodation been arranged? If not, can they stay in my dorm? My roommates are away, and I’ve already discussed it with them."
The student’s tone was filled with humility.
Gu Bai recognized the student; he was a classmate nad Ma Zhijia.
However, to say they were familiar wouldn’t be accurate. In his past life, apart from his dorm mates, he had little interaction with other students at the academy and hardly knew anyone. In this life, having spent only a few days at school, he had even less chance of crossing paths with him.
Gu Bai vaguely rembered that Ma Zhijia was an anomaly at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, having been admitted as a special student with full tuition exemption, rarely socializing. He wasn’t much different from how Gu Bai used to be.
These days, a night at an off-campus hotel cost just over a hundred yuan, yet he was unwilling to spend even that, letting his parents stay in his dorm. This alone revealed that Ma Zhijia’s family conditions were likely poor.
His parents, in their fifties, showed signs of weathered faces, appearing to be ordinary farrs, confirming Gu Bai’s assumption.
"Yi Yiyi, go to the school office and find a vacant guest room for Ma Zhijia’s parents."
Although Ma Zhijia hardly socialized, being classmates, he knew of Gu Bai’s reputation. After hearing Gu Bai, Ma Zhijia quickly expressed his gratitude.
Gu Bai waved dismissively, indicating he needn’t be thanked.
Li Gang pondered for a long ti but couldn’t recall where he had heard Gu Bai’s na, so he stopped trying. No matter Gu Bai’s identity, in the academy he was just a student, and he, as a deputy director, didn’t need to worry.
"The student council is just a student organization; what right do you have to arrange dorms for your classmates’ parents? Do you have an approval slip from our guest office?
Let tell you! If the External Liaison Departnt can’t solve Jin Yuanhao’s issue today, then this student’s parents’ approval won’t co through! You should help them find a hotel off-campus."
Li Gang seed to have hit Gu Bai’s weakness, sitting back in his chair and watching him.
Just as Ma Zhijia was about to say sothing to Li Gang, Gu Bai stopped him.
"Don’t worry, sit here for a mont. If the school can’t arrange accommodation for your parents today, I’ll personally place them in Shanghai’s best hotel."
The chill in his voice made Yi Yiyi, standing beside him, shiver involuntarily.
Not wanting to entangle with soone so servile, Gu Bai pulled out his phone and dialed the dean directly.
When the call connected, Dean Wu Changyong’s voice ca through.
"Gu Bai?
Is there an issue with the anniversary event that needs the school’s attention?"
Wu Changyong’s tone was affable, considering all that Gu Bai had done—donating a teaching building and personally funding the anniversary event—Gu Bai was like a treasure to the academy.
"The anniversary event isn’t urgent, but there is sothing I need to report to the dean."
Hearing the unusual tone in Gu Bai’s voice, Wu Changyong grew a bit more serious.
"What’s the issue?"
"It’s hard to explain over the phone; could you ask Director Huang from the school office to co by the guest office?"
"Alright, I’ll give Old Huang a call."
"Thanks for the trouble, Dean."
In truth, such a trivial matter shouldn’t have required disturbing Wu Changyong, but Gu Bai didn’t have the school office director’s number, so he had to call the dean’s office.
As Gu Bai hung up the call, the guest office fell into silence.
Li Gang looked at Gu Bai, and nurous thoughts flashed through his mind.
Are today’s students so bold? When sothing seems off, do they just call the dean?
But after a brief pause, cold sweat started to trickle from his forehead. A student who can easily call the dean can’t be ordinary, right?
A mont later, a clear thought struck him, and he finally rembered where he had heard Gu Bai’s na.
The donor of the new teaching building, the 2017 Outstanding Alumnus, a hidden billionaire among academy students.
Realizing Gu Bai’s identity, Li Gang stood up, wiped his sweat, and quickly said, "No need to get excited, Gu Bai. I was just joking with you. This student’s parents’ accommodation is already arranged. I’ll personally escort them over."
Seeing Gu Bai still expressionless, Li Gang walked out, smiling at Ma Zhijia, "No need for anyone else; I’ll take them myself."
"Li Gang, don’t trouble yourself for the arrangent for Ma Zhijia’s parents. As I said earlier, if the school couldn’t arrange it, I’d personally place them in Shanghai’s most luxurious hotel. You better help these Goryeo dignitaries sort out their issues. An incompetent lackey isn’t a good lackey."
Despite Gu Bai’s words being almost insulting, Li Gang didn’t dare to retort, nor could he; after all, that’s precisely what he had been doing.
Seeing Gu Bai’s indifferent expression as if he didn’t matter, Li Gang shot a look at Yi Yiyi standing next to him.
Seeing Li Gang’s cue, Yi Yiyi hesitated.
Though he disliked Li Gang’s timid and bullying nature, he couldn’t deny that since becoming the deputy director of the External Liaison Departnt, Li Gang had been genuinely good to him in all their interactions because of student union affairs.
After pausing for a bit, just as Yi Yiyi was about to speak, Gu Bai interrupted.
Their interaction was in full view, and he was well aware of it.
Gu Bai leaned close to Yi Yiyi’s ear and whispered in a voice only they could hear: "If you want to plead for him, just hand your resignation letter. We can pretend not to know each other from then on.
Don’t talk to about face; in my eyes, you have none."
After hearing Gu Bai’s whisper, Yi Yiyi’s face turned pale, and she shut her mouth imdiately.
Gu Bai found a place to sit, waiting quietly for the arrival of the school office director. As for Yi Yiyi, their relationship was just mild flirting. When it ca to significance, she wasn’t even close to how much Luo Yaqian ant to him.
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