I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?-Chapter 105: The Preciousness of Liangyi Xiangsheng

The tutors were all baffled.

Aside from illustrations in guides passed down for millennia, who in the Four Kingdoms had ever seen a real Two-Forms Symbiosis Fruit? Buy them? You probably couldn’t get a single one no matter the price, and he claimed to have bought a whole cartful?

He had to be joking.

"The apprenticeship ceremony is now complete. Let’s conclude for today," Dean Chen announced, looking up at the sky. "It’s getting late. All of you may stay the night here at the academy and leave the mountain tomorrow. You are dismissed."

"Yes, Dean."

Everyone bowed in acknowledgment.

Xiang Minghou was still a little dazed. He walked over, bent down to pick up Ye Qianning, and whispered, "This is bad, little one. I think your dad said the wrong thing."

"It’s fine." ’If I said they were bought, so be it. I don’t care if anyone else believes me.’

"Mm."

’I’ll have to learn more about the ways of scholars and gentlemen,’ Xiang Minghou resolved. ’I can’t be embarrassing my daughter in the future.’

Qian Fanji and Gu Shuo were both filled with unanswered questions. The one person who could provide answers was right before them, but they couldn’t think of a reason to take the little girl away with them.

For a moment, they could only stare, at a loss.

"General Xiang," Dean Chen called out, stopping the man who was just about to leave.

"Is there anything else, Dean?"

"I have a few things I’d like to discuss with the little lass in private."

"Of course, but please don’t keep her too late, Dean."

"Thank you, General Xiang."

Xiang Minghou set Ye Qianning down. "Dad will be waiting for you just outside the courtyard."

’It made sense. A master had private matters to discuss with his new disciple; outsiders shouldn’t pry. Perfectly understandable!’

"Mm." Ye Qianning nodded.

’What’s coming will come. A man as sharp as the Dean must have already figured it out.’

Qian Fanji knew what Dean Chen wanted to ask. Naturally, the Dean’s questions were the very same ones he had. It was just a shame he wouldn’t get to hear the answers.

Gu Shuo was also reluctant to leave, but he had no reason to stay. ’I’ll have to find a chance to get a clear answer from that little fatty,’ he thought.

Once everyone had departed, Dean Chen ushered Ye Qianning into the house.

"You must be hungry, little lass. Let’s eat first." Upon entering, the Dean instructed a young attendant to prepare dinner.

Ye Qianning glanced around. The Dean’s room was simple, lined on all sides with books. Numerous paintings adorned the walls.

She knew a bit about painting herself. Judging from the brushwork, many of the pieces on the walls were done by a woman, and they seemed to be only a few decades old.

’The brushwork is fluid and graceful, but it’s not the work of a renowned master. For the Dean to have collected so many, there must be a story behind them.’

Some of the paintings in the room were rare collector’s pieces. Ye Qianning found herself particularly drawn to one landscape.

"What’s this? Do you like this painting, little lass?" Dean Chen asked as he walked over.

"Yes. The artist’s state of mind is commendable."

"You know how to appreciate art?" Dean Chen asked in surprise.

"I just think it’s pretty." Ye Qianning had, in fact, studied painting for a time.

’But she had stopped painting ever since Master Fang passed away all those years ago.’

"How modest," Dean Chen chuckled. "Come, little one, have a seat."

Ye Qianning pulled her gaze away and walked over to sit at the table.

Dean Chen stared at her for a long time, wanting to ask something but appearing hesitant.

"Master, if there’s something you want to ask, please just say it," Ye Qianning said. She knew that even if he restrained himself today, he would inevitably ask sooner or later.

’It had to come out eventually. Why make the old man torment himself over it?’

Hearing her words, Dean Chen thought for a moment before asking, "Do you have any idea how precious those fruits you gave me are?"

"Mm." Ye Qianning nodded.

"As long as you know." Dean Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

’He was overjoyed to have received the Two-Forms Symbiosis Fruits, but if she had given them to him in a muddle, unaware of their true value, he wouldn’t have been able to accept them with a clear conscience.’

"Master, how did you recognize them?" Ye Qianning had been curious about that since the beginning.