I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?-Chapter 102: Feels Like Sending Off the Dean

By the time they arrived at Lou Mountain Academy, the sun had already set. Dean Chen, overcome with emotion, took the chubby child and personally carried Ye Qianning through the academy’s main gates.

The tutors were all rather astonished at the sight. For the dean to personally greet them was already the highest of honors, but for him to carry the child into the academy himself showed just how much he treasured her.

Carrying the child, the dean walked back toward his personal courtyard. Just as he was about to enter, he came face-to-face with Qian Fanji, who was just walking out.

"Dean Chen," Qian Fanji greeted with a bow.

"Fanji, what are you doing here?" Dean Chen asked, somewhat surprised.

"I encountered a Go problem today that I have been unable to solve. I was hoping to ask for your guidance, Dean," said Qian Fanji.

"Let’s do it tomorrow. I’m busy accepting a Direct Disciple today. I don’t have time for any Go problems," Dean Chen said, walking past him into the courtyard with the child in his arms.

Xiang Minghou simply glared at him before following them into the courtyard.

Zhan Chi, however, was openly hostile. "Qian Fanji, are you after the little fatty, too?"

"I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean, Young Master Zhan."

"Cut the act. The Go problem is just an excuse. You obviously knew the little girl was coming to be formally accepted as a disciple today." Zhan Chi knew Qian Fanji’s character better than anyone.

He might look gentle and refined, but he was actually the most cunning of them all. Everything he did was for a reason.

"And what if I am? What if I’m not?" Qian Fanji retorted.

"Either way, stay away from her." These days, there was no one Zhan Chi wouldn’t dare confront, except for Xiang Minghou—especially when it involved Ye Qianning.

"You should worry about yourself, Young Master Zhan," Qian Fanji said. His gaze shifted past Zhan Chi to land on Gu Shuo, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Gu Shuo met his gaze without hesitation, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Qian Fanji turned and entered the courtyard.

"Hmph."

Zhan Chi snorted, fuming.

Gu Shuo’s grip on his folding fan tightened. His almond-shaped eyes narrowed. ’Come to think of it, none of them had wanted anything to do with this child at first.’

’Now, a mere half-month later, the four of them were gathered together again, all because of this very child.’

Dean Chen set Ye Qianning down. The items for the disciple-acceptance ceremony had been prepared in his courtyard long in advance: a mahogany chair faced a table laid with an incense burner, candles, and incense sticks.

"..."

Ye Qianning watched as Dean Chen cheerfully sat down in the mahogany chair. He was seated behind the table with the incense burner, candles, and incense sticks.

Three tutors and four instructors immediately split into two groups, standing on either side. The academy’s robes were predominantly white.

’When you put it all together,’ Ye Qianning thought, ’this scene is a little creepy.’

"Light the incense!" a tutor called out.

One of the instructors stepped forward, lit three incense sticks, and placed them in Ye Qianning’s hands.

Ye Qianning held the incense, breaking out in a cold sweat internally. ’Is this really the master-disciple ceremony?’

’Why does it feel like we’re giving the dean a funeral?’

"Kneel!" the tutor called out again.

Ye Qianning hesitated for a second, her eyes fixed on the dean sitting behind the table. He was smiling so serenely... no, wait, benevolently...

’Ah, cultural differences...’

After a moment of internal conflict, she raised the incense sticks high, knelt, and kowtowed before rising again.

"Kneel again."

Ye Qianning had just gotten to her feet when she heard the command, so she knelt and kowtowed once more.

"Kneel again!"

Ye Qianning kowtowed a third time.

"Offer the incense."

Ye Qianning rose and placed the incense sticks into the burner.

"Present the tea."

An instructor brought over a cup of tea.

Still in a daze, Ye Qianning obeyed the commands, took the cup with both hands, and walked before Dean Chen. "Master, please drink this tea."

"Excellent, excellent," Dean Chen said, his voice thick with emotion.

He had been childless and alone his entire life. To gain such a brilliant young disciple in his twilight years was truly one of life’s greatest joys.