Rejected again, Li Gang became angry, just about to say something when Jin Yuanhao, who had been standing by watching, spoke in broken Chinese: "Director Li, if renting a house off-campus is too troublesome, 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 apartments!"
Li Gang raised his voice even more towards Gu Bai.
"I’ll say it again, the External Liaison Department isn’t obligated to do that. If you want to curry favor, that’s your business; our department doesn’t have time to waste with you."
Gu Bai rolled his eyes, feeling that talking any more to someone so hopelessly servile was a waste of time.
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 department and class are you from? What’s your counselor’s name?"
"Directing Department, 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 name 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 named 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 remembered 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 farmers, 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 time but couldn’t recall where he had heard Gu Bai’s name, 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 me tell you! If the External Liaison Department can’t solve Jin Yuanhao’s issue today, then this student’s parents’ approval won’t come through! You should help them find a hotel off-campus."
Li Gang seemed to have hit Gu Bai’s weakness, sitting back in his chair and watching him.
Just as Ma Zhijia was about to say something to Li Gang, Gu Bai stopped him.
"Don’t worry, sit here for a moment. 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 someone so servile, Gu Bai pulled out his phone and dialed the dean directly.
When the call connected, Dean Wu Changyong’s voice came through.
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 something I need to report to the dean."
Hearing the unusual tone in Gu Bai’s voice, Wu Changyong grew a bit more serious. Follow current novᴇls on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⚑𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⚑𝙣𝙚𝙩
"It’s hard to explain over the phone; could you ask Director Huang from the school office to come 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 numerous thoughts flashed through his mind.
Are today’s students so bold? When something 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 moment later, a clear thought struck him, and he finally remembered where he had heard Gu Bai’s name.
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 arrangement 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 Department, 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 me your resignation letter. We can pretend not to know each other from then on.
Don’t talk to me 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 immediately.
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 came to significance, she wasn’t even close to how much Luo Yaqian meant to him.