Chapter 2595: Chapter 816: Rumors Are Like Zombies

For many people, Zheng Qing’s identity is currently quite unique.

Calling him a student, he’s officially signed an employment contract with First University and is listed on the Assistant Team Flower Name List as a formal teaching assistant at Edge Academy.

Calling him a teacher, his main daily task is studying. Six days a week, he attends classes, spending fifteen of the thirty-three hours a day with his head buried in a desk.

Therefore, the way people address Zheng Qing tends to be particularly divided.

Those distant, like ordinary classmates, Edge Academy students, as well as professors and elders, call him ’Zheng Qing Student,’ ’Zheng Qing,’ or ’Zheng Qing Teacher’; those close to him, like friends and teammates, call him ’Brother Qing,’ ’Mr. Zha,’ or ’Zheng Zha,’ and so on.

As for someone like Linda Barnes, whose relationship is neither too close nor too distant, it seems slightly awkward. So she chose to abbreviate ’Zheng Qing Teacher’ to ’Zheng Shi,’ which is both familiar while maintaining a certain distance, with a touch of formal and respectful attitude towards a ’client,’ which instantly differentiates her from other interviewers.

Although Zheng Qing did not read so much into this simple address, he did sense the other party’s goodwill, and his previous defensive emotions instantly eased quite a bit.

However, the next words from her made Zheng Qing feel he relaxed too soon.

"Before talking business, I want to confirm one thing." Linda Barnes raised the post in her hand, with a gossip-laden expression: "...Is this really true?"

Zheng Qing glanced at Xin Fat Man.

The Fat Wizard cautiously shook his head, indicating he didn’t understand what the Witch meant.

So, he carefully played dumb.

"...What thing?" Zheng Qing asked vaguely, glancing at the corner of the newspaper where ’Starry Sky Hunting Team holds a private hunting competition’ was visible, he immediately laughed it off: "Oh, yes, the Absolution Hunting Team and Starry Sky Hunting Team reached a cooperation intention and held a private hunting competition last weekend... but I didn’t participate. You can ask Banna about the specifics."

In front of outsiders, he still gave the Fat Wizard due respect and did not casually call him Fatty.

"I don’t want to hear any news about Starry Sky or Absolution!"

The blonde Witch leaned forward with her hands on the table, her eyes akin to a hungry wolf in the night, glowing green: "The post said you attended this year’s Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt last weekend... but I have confirmed news here that you went as Jiang Yu’s companion. Is this true?... Have you broken up with Su Councilor? Is it because of those reports about being a live-in son-in-law? Are you really a live-in son-in-law? Who gets custody of Poseidon? How much alimony do you pay monthly? Were you pressured by the Moon Council to break up? Did Milton and Tabbot make trouble for you?"

Apparently, she had already imagined a 360-episode melodrama.

Zheng Qing calmly leaned back to ensure that the flurry of blonde hair wouldn’t cover his face, carefully shifting his gaze from dead ahead to the few plates of pretty pastries on the table.

The ’live-in son-in-law’ report mentioned by the blonde Witch had been circulating since his scandal with Su Shijun first broke out. It roughly said Zheng Qing was a son-in-law of the Qingqiu Su Family, with the most obvious evidence being the ceremonial nature of every occasion Su Shijun and Zheng Qing met, with no whispers of them privately playing or dating — moreover, rumors stated that Poseidon’s father was another person, a high-ranking figure within the Alliance, and Zheng Qing was merely pushed out as a scapegoat, among other things.

Zheng Qing had always paid no mind to such unfounded rumors.

So much so that when Linda Barnes finally spoke it aloud, it took him a while to understand what she meant.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about... these are all my personal affairs." He answered dryly — he had repeated such words many times, like squeezed sugar cane pulp, devoid of flavor.

"This is no longer a private affair." The blonde Witch put down the newspaper, stood upright, crossed her arms, and stared intensely at the Warlock: "...I need some exclusive news to satisfy ’everyone’s appetite."

The ’everyone’ she mentioned included the readers of public opinion and those who might offer Zheng Qing help, the controllers of said opinion.

Zheng Qing finally let out a sigh.

"I did go to Shanglin Garden, and indeed I had Jiang Family’s invitation." He kept his identity somewhat vague but answered other questions directly: "...I’ve never dated Su Councilor, I’m not a son-in-law, have never been married, and the reports in the paper are utter nonsense... There is no pressure or breakup nonsense, let alone anything about custody or alimony. I did not meet Duke Milton at Shanglin Garden this time, though Michael of the Tabbot Family did talk to me, but he wanted me to counsel his cousin, our dorm mate Dylan, to reconcile with his family... This has nothing to do with today’s topic, right?"

He glanced at the Witch questioningly.

Receiving her confirmation.

Then he shook his head, deliberately lamenting: "Rumors are truly terrifying, it reminds me of a saying — rumors are like zombies, you think they’re dead, but they’re actually alive. — In fact, I went to Shanglin Garden merely to help a friend with a small favor..."

"Heh heh, a friend?" The blonde Witch sneered and remained silent.

Zheng Qing suddenly realized that this Linda classmate was not only the former editor-in-chief of the Campus Newspaper but also a guide and close friend to Xin Fat Man. She must have long heard some idle gossip from him.

The Warlock felt slightly embarrassed.

He gave the Fat Wizard a reproachful glance and cleared his throat. The Fat Wizard then raised the honey-filled puff he was holding, showcasing a look of pity as if his mouth had been glued by honey.

"Well, I remember you plan to graduate early and have already left the Campus Newspaper." Zheng Qing tried to regain control of the conversation and simply asked outright: "Banna said you could help me, how can you help?... And what do you want?"

"Let’s not talk about what I want first." The blonde Witch leaned against the window, her expression obscured due to shadows, but her voice was very clear: "I want to confirm your goal, is it simply not wanting everyone to discuss your time at Shanglin Garden..."

"Can it be?" Zheng Qing hastily interrupted.

He wished everyone hadn’t noticed he had been to Shanglin Garden Spring Hunt.

"Of course not."

Linda Barnes decisively dismissed this possibility: "Although I didn’t go, your performance at Shanglin Garden has already spread like wildfire, such as lavishly casting a thousand talismans in one magical performance, heavily injuring the Tu Shan Clan’s noble daughter in a challenge, dancing with dozens of witches at the ball, and so on. These rumors, even without a newspaper, are wildly circulating. What I can help you with is merely allowing people to, through reading the newspaper, ignore those rumors as much as possible and focus on other, safer directions for you."