Chapter 79: Honorary Professor

Chu Huanzhao looked delighted. "Her fiancé is Sang Qian, the one you met that night. Sang Qian's father is clearly targeting our Chu family this time. The Zheng family also has significant business competition with us here in Brightmoon City. People like that definitely mean no good. Only a lecher like you would fall for their honey trap."

"Sang Qian's fiancée?" Zuan recalled the spirited young general he had met that night and fell into deep thought.

After they left, the Zheng family's carriage was safely parked in a secluded corner. The coachman's previous panic was gone, replaced by an inexplicable calmness. "Miss, did you get the IOU?"

Zheng Dan shook her head. "No, it wasn't on him. It seems we'll have to expend more effort."

The moment he embraced her, her hand had already instinctively reached into his pocket to search. Unfortunately, she found nothing.

The coachman snorted. "That good-for-nothing, who knows what good fortune he accumulated in his past life to actually be able to touch your body, Miss."

A faint smile appeared on Zheng Dan's lips. "It's fine; it was through clothes, so it's nothing. Besides, his hands were well-behaved, and I didn't suffer any loss."

The coachman then said grumpily, "The main thing is, I've watched you grow up since childhood, Miss, becoming such a peerless beauty. I really don't want to see you bullied by others. Speaking of which, that Sang fellow is also outrageous. What kind of man sends his own fiancée to use a honey trap!"

Zheng Dan was unconcerned. "Uncle Yue, there's no need to be angry. Our alliance with the Sang family is primarily for mutual benefit. To gain something, you must inevitably give up something. This is to be expected."

The coachman, Uncle Yue, looked worried. "For the Zheng family, Miss, you've been wronged."

"It's for the Zheng family, and also for myself," Zheng Dan smiled faintly. "Anyway, I won't really let that Zuan guy take advantage of anything. After our recent encounter, I actually find this matter increasingly interesting."

Meanwhile, Zuan's ears had been relentlessly bombarded by Chu Huanzhao. It wasn't until they arrived at the academy that she finally quieted down. Chu Huanzhao went to the Profound Class, but Zuan didn't return to his own class. Instead, he first walked towards the administration building and skillfully made his way to the office of the beautiful headmistress.

He knocked on the door, and Jiang Luofu's uniquely charming voice came from inside. "Come in!"

Zuan pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside. Although there were many distinctive items in her office, the most dazzling sight was undoubtedly Jiang Luofu herself.

The morning sun shining through the window made her skin appear even whiter than snow. Her eyes beneath beautifully arched brows were deep and captivating. Her nose had a perfectly sculpted bridge, and her fiery red lips possessed breathtakingly alluring curves. Her entire being perfectly blended the distinct qualities of imposing elegance and alluring charm.

Her beautiful hair was coiled on top of her head, held in place by an utterly common hairpin. Looking at that smooth, soft hair, one couldn't help but want to pull out the hairpin, surely, her dark, flowing hair would then cascade like a waterfall and be even silkier than satin.

Even though Zuan was prone to self-destructive impulses, he still didn't dare to act on it.

"Oh, I was just about to look for you. I didn't expect you to come on your own." Jiang Luofu's eyes showed some surprise when she saw him. As she spoke, she lightly waved her hand. Zuan only felt a gentle breeze, but the heavy door behind him had already firmly closed.

"What did the headmistress need me for?" Zuan, of course, wasn't so narcissistic as to think she was smitten with his good looks.

"Do you know Shang Liuyu?" Jiang Luofu looked at him playfully, toying with a hairpin identical to the one in her own bun.

"Shang Liuyu?" Zuan shook his head. "No, I don't."

His thoughts raced. He wondered if Ji Dengtu's instruction for him to steal Shang Liuyu's personal clothing had been exposed. But that shouldn't be the case; he hadn't even met her yet.

"You don't know Shang Liuyu, who ranks third among the Ten Great Beauties?" Jiang Luofu looked at him with suspicion.

"I've heard of her name, but I've never actually seen her." Zuan recalled what Wei Suo had excitedly told him earlier, and his gaze involuntarily darted to her legs, smooth as jade. "Huh, are those sheer stockings today? Good heavens, what a killer."

Jiang Luofu frowned, clearly having noticed his improper gaze.

Zuan was startled and quickly said, "In my opinion, those are just rumors spread by people in the school. How could that Shang woman be as beautiful as you, Headmistress? Just based on those legs, she definitely can't compare to you."

Feeling the sincerity in his tone, Jiang Luofu couldn't help but laugh. "I've heard plenty of compliments, but you're the only one who's been so detailed and specific."

Seeing that she wasn't angry, Zuan immediately straightened up. "Of course, these are the most genuine feelings from the bottom of my heart."

"However, Shang Liuyu would probably be heartbroken if she heard that," Jiang Luofu said with a playful smile. "It's a bit ungrateful for you, young man, to badmouth her behind her back like this."

"Ungrateful?" Zuan was bewildered. He thought, "I don't even know this person; how can I be ungrateful?"

Jiang Luofu took a notebook from her drawer and began flipping through it. She said, "Didn't I tell you last time that your transcendent talent shouldn't be known by others? Because you mentioned the test at the school gate, when I went to handle the relevant records for you afterwards, I found that someone had already processed them in advance. Upon checking, it was Shang Liuyu."

She paused, then stared at Zuan and asked, "Do you still think you don't know each other now?"

"Ah, could my charm be so great that I've unknowingly captivated a girl?" Zuan couldn't help but touch his cheek, feigning surprise.

Jiang Luofu was speechless.

This guy's shamelessness is truly something else.

"Well, if you don't know her, then so be it," Jiang Luofu lightly snorted. "Why did you come to see me today?"

Zuan walked over and, making himself at home, pulled up a stool and sat opposite her. "Um, I want to become an honorary teacher at your academy."

Jiang Luofu subconsciously brought her legs together. Upon hearing his words, she was immediately amused. "Are you crazy or am I crazy? You say you want to be a teacher at our academy?"

"Yes!" Zuan nodded naturally. Being close to her, he could truly feel her immense charm. Her full bosom and slender waist created a visually striking contrast. It was the kind of sight that made one's nose bleed after a few more glances.

Jiang Luofu snorted coldly. "Do you know what qualifications are required to be a teacher at this academy? Those who teach cultivation are generally rank six or higher. Those who teach liberal arts have lower cultivation levels, but every one of them is an official from various relevant government departments, proficient in law, rites, music, and public welfare. May I ask, are you a rank six cultivator, or a court official in these fields?"

Zuan looked embarrassed. "Of course I know all that. I wasn't thinking of the conventional path. I wanted to ask if it's possible to obtain an honorary teacher title, or something similar, by sponsoring the academy."

In his previous life, schools often had such practices. Wealthy individuals could sponsor schools, gaining naming rights for a particular building. Naturally, it would then become quite easy for their children to enroll in that school.

If the person's social status was high enough, many schools would even compete to bestow titles like honorary professor, honorary doctorate, and so on.

"Sponsorship?" Jiang Luofu blinked. Such a thing was truly unheard of before, but as he explained it, it seemed there might indeed be some room for negotiation. Nevertheless, she shook her head. "Hmph, you're merely a live-in son-in-law of the Chu family. How much money could you possibly have?"

"Is 7.5 million silver taels enough?" Zuan said directly. He had already figured it out: this IOU was indeed more trouble than it was worth. The debts it represented were mostly unrecoverable if he kept it, and it would also attract many troubles. Crucially, it rendered his "rich lady's happy ball" unusable, which was like losing a life.

Money is good, but one needs to be alive to spend it.

He had thought about it for a long time before. He decided to "donate" this money, but he couldn't just donate it for nothing. He needed to get some substantial benefit in return.

"7.5 million silver taels?" Jiang Luofu was instantly startled. Even with her status, this amount was an enormous sum. "Where did you get so much money?"

Hearing the suspicion in her tone, Zuan briefly recounted how he had won the money from the Silver Hook Casino.

"How on earth did you do that, young man?" Jiang Luofu was utterly shocked. She rarely paid attention to events happening in Brightmoon City, which was why she was only hearing about this now.

"Perhaps I'm just lucky," Zuan said with a shy expression. He wasn't exactly lying; after all, using the Luck Pill had indeed boosted his fortune.

"If you don't want to say, then don't. However, I'm becoming increasingly curious about you." Jiang Luofu couldn't help but lean closer to him, examining him carefully. "Everyone says the Chu family's eldest daughter married a good-for-nothing son-in-law, but how is it that I find so many secrets hidden within you? You possess considerable strength, transcendent talent, and you casually won 7.5 million silver taels from Mei Chaofeng."

Her breath was fragrant like orchids, but Zuan instinctively recoiled. The snowy-white cleavage before him was simply too deep and alluring. He worried he wouldn't be able to control himself and might offend this beautiful headmistress.

"A woman falling in love with a man often begins when she becomes curious about him," Zuan thought for a moment before reminding her. "Uh, you're exposing yourself a bit."

Jiang Luofu looked down at her collar, and a graceful curve appeared on her lips. "You're not like those other stinky men, so it's fine if you see."

Zuan was stunned at that moment. "Really? If I had known, I would have taken a few more glances earlier."

Am I some legendary "older sister killer"?

Otherwise, how do I explain Jiang Luofu in front of me, and that legendary Shang Liuyu's inexplicable goodwill towards me?

"Of course, in my eyes, you're not really a man. You're just like a little sister," Jiang Luofu said nonchalantly, waving her hand.

Zuan had originally thought she treated him like a younger brother or something, but being called a "sister" was simply intolerable. "Headmistress, what do you mean?"

Seeing his darkened face, Jiang Luofu lightly chuckled, covering her mouth. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about it."

When he saw her sympathetic gaze fall below his waist, Zuan immediately understood what was going on. He felt like dying. "What in the world is happening? How are more and more people finding out?"