Chapter 1890 — Unexpected
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
The You family had grown decidedly cautious where Wei Zhao was concerned. If even a late-stage Earth-tier master of the Zhao family could do nothing against him, what other cards did the You family have left to play? They couldn't very well send a Heaven-tier master, could they? Even if the You family wanted to, the ancient clans would never permit it—for all its power, the Profound Pill Sect did not get to call every shot itself.
"Very well, Wei Zhao. Vote for me, and you will be amply rewarded in time!" Having no way to touch Wei Zhao, You Panhu could only swallow his pride for the moment. "All fights aside, we've gotten to know each other, haven't we? What do you say we become friends?"
"All right then—I'll vote for you." As he spoke, Wei Zhao snatched the cardboard box straight out of Yellow-Hair's hands. Inside were no fewer than twenty red envelopes, extras You Panhu had clearly prepared for just such an occasion.
"Well, that's..." Yellow-Hair stared blankly as Wei Zhao pocketed every last one of them.
"This whole row is my friends. I'll have them vote for you in a bit." Wei Zhao pointed toward Bai Weituo and the others as he said it.
"Well... all right..." Not daring to argue with Wei Zhao, Yellow-Hair let go of his grip in sour defeat.
Wei Zhao, meanwhile, set the box down on Bai Weituo's desk. "Take it back. It's a gesture of goodwill—if we don't accept, they'll be the ones losing face."
You Panhu breathed a sigh of relief at Wei Zhao's assurance. In truth, he had no great interest in becoming class monitor himself, but his family took the matter very seriously—and he knew full well what this pharmacy major stood for.
To open so eccentric a major at a science and engineering university, and a niche one at that, with only a handful of students, meant the power behind it could not be underestimated. And this was a man the You family held in deep respect. If You Panhu could graduate from here without a hitch, win that man's guidance, and one day inherit the headship of the You family, it would be no idle fantasy at all.
"Ahem... I say, young man, standing up there on the dais—do you mean to take my place? Do you fancy yourself the lecturer for our pharmacy major?" An old man walked into the classroom, smiled faintly at You Panhu behind the podium, and delivered a dry crack of humor.
For all his usual bluster, the moment You Panhu saw this man he shrank like a mouse before a cat, bowing and scraping. "Elder Bai..."
The old man's brow creased slightly at the form of address. "This is a school. Call me Professor Bai—or add the proper title and call me Teacher Bai."
The newcomer was none other than Bai Weituo's grandfather. Wei Zhao had known the identity for some time and was not especially surprised; when he had treated the old man, the latter had promised to teach him the knowledge of medicine and pharmacy, but Wei Zhao had thought nothing of it then—never imagining that this old man was a professor right here.
Still, he had learned the news two days ago and felt no fresh delight. What stirred Wei Zhao's curiosity was instead You Panhu's reverent manner and that form of address: what exactly was the relationship between You Panhu and Bai Weituo's grandfather?
Could there be some close bond between them? At the thought, Wei Zhao's face darkened. He and Bai Weituo were unquestionably good friends now; if the You family had some connection to Bai Weituo's family, Wei Zhao would be in a very awkward position between the two.
But catching Bai Weituo's eye, Wei Zhao saw no sign that the young man knew You Panhu at all, and relaxed. So, though You Panhu knew Bai Weituo's grandfather, the two could not be terribly close.
"Yes, Professor Bai. Then I'll step down." So saying, You Panhu led Purple-Hair and Yellow-Hair to the back of the classroom and took the seats in the third row nearest the door.