That voice, clear and gender-neutral.
The tail end was deliberately drawn out with a slight waver.
It further added a touch of ambiguity.
Ming Zheng suddenly regretted picking up the call.
Her face went blank: "Not considering."
The refusal was swift and decisive.
The person on the other end didn't seem angered, as if accustomed to Ming Zheng's indifference. Instead, they chuckled "hehehe."
Like a "little rooster" eager to lay eggs.
Her face went even blanker.
She immediately prepared to hang up.
The first thing she'd do after hanging up was change her ringtone!
To avoid hearing Ming Huai Zhi's disgusting voice and receiving a more infuriating call from an idiot!
"Hey, hey, hey! Baby, don't rush to hang up." The person on the other end seemed to have anticipated Ming Zheng's action and spoke first to stop her, "I'm here as your best friend, calling specifically to comfort you and back you up."
"You're a man, you can't be my best friend." Ming Zheng sat back down on the sofa. "Why do you insist on me going to Imperial Capital Academy?"
"Who says men and women can't be best friends?" the person scoffed. "I want to be your best friend!"
Ming Zheng: "...Goodbye."
Hesitating for even a second before hanging up would be disrespecting her own ears.
But, after only one second.
The other side started calling again.
The phone's bassy ringtone, Ming Huai Zhi's, echoed in the room again.
Ming Zheng: "..."
She answered.
And tossed it aside.
Then she got up to wash up.
When she returned from washing up, the call hadn't ended.
The other party heard Ming Zheng's footsteps and whimpered a few times, a mix of grievance and surprise: "Azheng, you're so heartless, leaving me hanging like this."
"Let's get to business," Ming Zheng had no time for his antics.
She just couldn't understand.
He was, after all, the Dean of Imperial Capital Academy.
Why did he sound so irritating every time he spoke?
The other person mumbled and grumbled a few times, then snorted and said, "The news of your expulsion from Ousheng Academy has instantly spread to all academies in Xiadu, and possibly to other cities too."
"Someone is definitely targeting you, trying to ruin your reputation."
"You are my baby, how can I stand by and watch you get bullied!"
"So, baby, hurry and join our Imperial Capital Academy. I'll even issue a public announcement for the whole academy, stating that—I, Mo Qi Yu, Dean of Imperial Capital Academy, personally and sincerely invite Ming Zheng to join Imperial Capital Academy!"
"To slap them hard in the face!"
Ming Zheng: "..."
Why did she feel his tone was filled with eager excitement?
Eager to participate in this domineering CEO-style face-slapping? To satisfy his domineering CEO heart?
She couldn't comprehend the logic of an idiot.
She couldn't be bothered to play along.
Ming Zheng: "Not interested."
"Don't, don't," Mo Qi Yu switched to a coquettish tone and started to act spoiled. "Hurry and come to Imperial Capital Academy to find me, we'll discuss the details of the face-slapping."
Ming Zheng: "Not going."
Mo Qi Yu: "If you don't come, I'll use my authority as the Dean of Imperial Capital to strip away all your secrets!"
Ming Zheng: "Oh, then I'll also tell everyone that your esteemed Dean of Imperial Capital is actually just a tea-serving errand boy in the Mo family, specializing in bringing me tea and water."
Mo Qi Yu: "You, you wouldn't dare!"
Ming Zheng: "Try me and see if I dare."
Mo Qi Yu: "...Fine! Come on, let's hurt each other!"
Even elementary school children wouldn't argue like this.
In the end, Mo Qi Yu's sheer persistence successfully wore Ming Zheng down, convincing her to agree to come to Imperial Capital Academy.
He was finally content.
Mo Qi Yu happily threw his phone onto the table, leaned back in his chair, and propped his feet up on the desk.
He looked completely nonchalant.
He was practically about to hum a tune to express his joy.
As he swung his feet, full of excitement.
The office door was suddenly pushed open. The Dean of Students, dressed impeccably with slicked-back hair, rushed in: "Dean, Dean, Chairman Ming and Mrs. Ming from the Ming family are here with their daughter. They want to meet with you."
Upon opening the door, he saw his Dean leaning back in his office chair, feet still propped on the desk.
He was not at all the usual serious and aloof figure.
Especially...
The Dean had a very "lewd" smile on his face.
The Dean of Students immediately clutched his own plump self.
He had discovered the Dean's hidden side, uncovered the Dean's secrets.
Would he be silenced by the Dean? Ahhh!
Wuwuwu, he wanted to cry!
Mo Qi Yu's swinging foot paused for a moment.
Then, he decisively took his foot down.
He sat up straight, leaning forward in his chair.
He pretended that everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.
He tapped his fingers on the desk and said, with great solemnity: "No."
His domineering CEO aura was fully displayed.
In the past, the Dean of Students had been deceived by his Dean's domineering CEO demeanor.
He had truly believed the Dean was as cold and commanding as his outward appearance!
However, the astute Dean of Students did not voice any opinions, nodding obediently and saying: "Yes."
As he spoke, he turned to escape the Dean's office.
Before his foot had even crossed the threshold.
He heard the Dean's cold and commanding voice again: "Wait."
The Dean of Students stiffened.
Here it comes, here it comes!
The Dean is going to silence him!
How could he save his own life?
Then, he heard the Dean ask: "Which Ming family?"
At the same time, the Dean of Students plopped down onto the ground, ready to pledge his loyalty.
Before he could utter a word.
He choked, and stammered out: "The, the Ming family... that Ming family..."
Mo Qi Yu looked suspiciously at the Dean of Students kneeling at the office door, appearing as if he had seen a ghost.
He frowned: "The Ming family from Xiadu? The one with six sons and one daughter, where the youngest son has studied at our academy for three years, and the third son just enrolled this year?"
The Dean of Students: "???"
Why did his Dean know so much about the Ming family?
He even knew how many sons and daughters the Ming family had?
He nodded.
Mo Qi Yu's eyes darted, he shifted his position to sit more upright and imposingly.
Then, he said, with profound gravity: "Let them in."
The Dean of Students quickly relayed the message to Father and Mother Ming.
Upon hearing that the Dean had agreed to meet with them.
Mother Ming's eyes brightened. She patted Ming Zhi Rou's hand and said gently with a smile: "Look, the Dean of Imperial Capital agreed to meet as soon as he heard you were here. It shows the Dean greatly values you."
Ming Zhi Rou gave a sweet and soft smile: "I will work hard to leave a good impression on the Dean, and I will absolutely not bring shame to the Ming family."
"You are so well-behaved and kind, completely different from that wild girl Ming Zheng. How could you possibly bring shame to the Ming family?" Ming Xiu Jin put his arm around Ming Zhi Rou's shoulders from behind. "What rightfully belongs to you will always be yours. Even if someone with ill intentions destroys it, it will still return to your hands."
His words were pointed, clearly referring to Ming Zheng tearing up "Zhi Rou's" admission notice.