Shen Yuan's house.

Bang, bang, bang!

Unceremonious knocking echoed from the somewhat old wooden door. It shuddered violently, nearly falling apart.

Shen Yuan strolled over unhurriedly and slid back the latch.

Liang Guoming and Yu Hongbin stood blocking the doorway like two guardian deities, one on the left and one on the right. With their hands on their hips and chests heaving, they glared at him like tigers watching their prey.

The identical expressions on their faces clearly read: We are very angry, and the consequences will be severe.

A flash of understanding crossed Shen Yuan's eyes; his mind was as clear as a mirror.

Someone must have seen through his little trick and tipped off these two honest men.

However, Shen Yuan didn't show the slightest hint of this on his face. Instead, he instantly put on a surprised and enthusiastic smile, as if greeting old friends he hadn't seen in years.

Oh my! It's Guoming and Hongbin! Please, come in, come in!

What wind brings you two here today? Perfect timing, I just got my hands on some excellent tea. Let's have a taste together!

His overflowing enthusiasm caught Liang and Yu, who had come prepared with a bellyful of questions, completely off guard. Their blazing anger felt like it had struck a ball of soft cotton.

As the saying goes, you don't slap a smiling face, especially when that person is inviting you in for tea.

Half-pushed and half-coaxed by Shen Yuan, Liang Guoming and Yu Hongbin were ushered into the courtyard and seated on the stone benches beneath the grape trellis.

Shen Yuan deftly brought out a tea set and brewed hot tea. His movements were as smooth as flowing water, making it seem as though they were truly just good friends gathering for a chat over tea.

Elder Shen, don't play dumb with us!

Liang Guoming couldn't hold it in any longer. He launched the first attack, his tone stiff and hard.

We came today to get a straight answer! Are you going to take Shen Nanchu as your student or not?

The two of us have been running around for over a month, doing so much work for you. Even if we haven't achieved anything great, we've surely put in the hard labor, right? You can't just boss us around without giving us a definite answer!

The more he spoke, the more aggrieved he felt. He was a school principal, after all. Since when did he ever act as someone's free handyman for so long?

Yu Hongbin quickly chimed in, his tone full of accusation.

Exactly, Elder Shen! Organizing bamboo slips, cleaning pottery shards, proofreading manuscripts... which of these isn't exhausting, painstaking work?

We bore the burden willingly out of respect for academia and respect for you! You can't... you can't just take us for a ride like this!

Remembering how he had squatted in the courtyard scrubbing pottery shards until his back ached, he felt a surge of bitterness.

Listening to them, Shen Yuan displayed the perfect amount of surprise and grievance. He set down the teapot and let out a long sigh, his expression executed flawlessly.

Guoming, Hongbin, your words are truly wronging this old man!

He thumped his lower back, his expression turning somewhat forlorn.

I asked for your help because I trusted your professional abilities. I treated you as my own people, as fellow scholars to whom I could entrust my academic endeavors!

Those documents, those pottery shards—which of them isn't a treasure holding crucial historical information? Could I feel at ease handing them over to outsiders?

He abruptly changed the subject, elevating the conversation to a higher moral ground.

As for the student, Shen Nanchu...

Alas, it's precisely because you praised her to the high heavens that I have to be extra cautious!

With such fine talent and potential, wouldn't it ruin her if she were entrusted to the wrong person?

Though I, Shen Yuan, cherish talent, I must be even more responsible to the student and to academia!

I pondered this repeatedly. Observing the zeal and hard work you two put in running around for her—wasn't that exactly a test of the sincerity and judgment of her recommenders?

If you were just going through the motions, how could I dare to agree so easily?

He picked up his teacup, blew on the hot steam, and his gaze turned profound.

Taking on a student, especially a final, closed-door disciple, is all about fate, temperament, and mutual recognition.

It's not just about the student's aptitude, but also the sincerity and vision of those who introduce her...

With this masterful combination of deflection and counterattack, he forcefully elevated his prank to the level of testing sincerity, acting with cautious responsibility, and valuing the recommenders.

Liang Guoming and Yu Hongbin were left dumbfounded by his righteous yet seemingly heartfelt words. Their brains couldn't quite process it all for a moment.

It seemed... to make some sense?

Was Elder Shen... testing them?

Could their previous hard work truly have been a manifestation of their sincerity?

He even mentioned taking a closed-door disciple, so had they misunderstood him?

The anger on Liang Guoming and Yu Hongbin's faces gradually dissipated, replaced by a look of half-belief and deep thought.

Just as they were about to be led astray by Shen Yuan again, thoroughly bamboozled into losing their bearings...

A clear, melodious voice, carrying a knowing chuckle, rang out from the courtyard gate.

Professor Shen's profound theories on cautious responsibility and testing sincerity have truly benefited this student greatly.

The three men looked toward the sound to see Shen Nanchu standing at the gate. Who knew when she had arrived? She stood tall and straight, a half-smile playing on her lips, looking at Shen Yuan with clear, limpid eyes.

I just wonder, at the end of this test, is it the student who has passed the professor's examination, or is it Principal Liang and Director Yu's sincere labor that has passed the inspection?

A sharp gleam flashed in Shen Yuan's eyes. He put down his teacup, revealing a look of genuine interest on his face.

This girl must be the Shen Nanchu they had been talking about, right?

She came at the perfect time, and her retort was sharp and tricky.

You must be student Shen Nanchu? Shen Yuan smiled amiably, as if that grand speech just now hadn't come from his own mouth. Indeed, you radiate intelligence. It seems you have a different opinion on my standards for accepting students?

He smoothly tossed the question back to her, lacing it with a hint of a test.

Shen Nanchu walked into the courtyard with a calm and unhurried pace. She first nodded in greeting to Liang Guoming and Yu Hongbin before turning her gaze to Shen Yuan, acting neither humble nor arrogant.

This student wouldn't dare to object. I merely feel that if the professor truly values the sincerity of the recommenders, then Principal Liang and Director Yu's hands-on efforts over the past month must be brimming with enough sincerity to move heaven and earth.

If the professor is worried that this student is dull-witted and beyond saving, then why not test me face-to-face? It would also save... these two leaders from continuing to toil and labor on my behalf.

Her words not only pointed out the reality that Liang and Yu were being used as manual labor, but also checkmated Shen Yuan: either accept me, or admit you're intentionally messing with people and stop using testing as an excuse.

Shen Yuan burst into laughter, not feeling awkward in the slightest. Instead, he found the situation even more amusing.

What a sharp-tongued girl! So, you're very confident in yourself and believe you can definitely pass my test?

Whether I pass or not is naturally up to the professor to judge, Shen Nanchu smiled faintly. This student just thinks that rather than letting the two leaders continue to demonstrate their sincerity, it would be more efficient for me to face the professor's test directly. It would also better... make the best use of everything and everyone's talents.

She deliberately placed a slight emphasis on make the best use of everything, carrying a hint of teasing.

The admiration in Shen Yuan's eyes deepened.

A fine 'make the best use of everything'! Then tell me, what do you think counts as making the best use of everyone's talents?

For example,

Shen Nanchu's gaze swept over the unorganized archaeological materials in the courtyard...

"Leave this foundational work to the younger students who are in greater need of gaining experience."

"As for you, Professor, you can devote more of your energy to the research and breakthroughs of core issues, as well as... mentoring the students who truly require your guidance."

Her words subtly pointed out the inefficiency of Shen Yuan's previous actions, while simultaneously proving that she was someone worth his time and effort.

Shen Yuan looked at her, his eyes brimming with amusement.

This girl had a sharp mind. Her words held hidden depths, yet she knew exactly when to stop. Far from being obnoxious, she made him feel the thrill of meeting his match.

"It seems you've decided that an old man like me is worth your time?"

"It was you, Professor, who first decided that my sponsor was worth spending time to test."

Shen Nanchu cleverly tossed the ball back into his court, the corners of her lips curling into a faint smile.

"I ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‍merely believe that if you were willing to allocate a fraction of the time you spent testing my sponsor to me, you might reap entirely different rewards."

Back and forth they went, their words laced with hidden wit. What appeared to be a casual conversation was actually an undercurrent of probing, sparring, and mutual recognition.

Standing off to the side, Liang Guoming and Yu Hongbin couldn't get a single word in edgewise. They could only stare dumbfounded as the old man and the young woman engaged in their verbal duel.

...