Mr. Shu first cleared his throat before speaking. He was a bit nervous since what he was doing, was cutting through the corners which Fang Bingwen didn't like.
"Bingwen the matter is like this, Rushi told me some weeks ago about her being banned from your class, and I totally blame her for being in the wrong, but today, I have to appeal to you to please let her come back to attend your class. She said she wouldn't be eligible to sit for your course during her final exams if she doesn't get about 50% in attendance. And as a father, I am pleading on her behalf as I don't want her to repeat her finals because of her foolish mistakes. Please forgive her and let her continue with your class."
After speaking for such a long time, Mr. Fang massaged his temples before speaking coolly. "Uncle Shu, what you are doing, is asking me to break the rules I set before all my student for your daughter, do you know what that makes me?"
From his question, Mr. Shu understood something. Fang Bingwen was going to be difficult since he was someone that never goes back on his words, moreso, words that he had said in front of so many people.
But he couldn't accept it, because his family reputation would be at stake if he doesn't allow his daughter to attend his classes and obtain the 50% attendance rate, required to sit for that course during her final exams.
"Bingwen, I fully understand your stand, but you have to help me, and I promise that Rushi will never make this kind of mistake again. Also, in the future, I will owe you one favour, which I doubt you might need. Bingwen, please help me to save my face." Mr. Shu pleaded, and then remained quiet.
There was a few moments of silence before Mr. Fang spoke up.
Mr. Fang wouldn't have rendered that he banned Shu Rushi from attending his class if her father didn't just call and mentioned it.
He had other things to think about, like moving his empire to another level, and quickly concluded his classes with the graduate business students of NYU, so, Shu Rushi was that insignificant for him to think about.
"Uncle Shu, I will accept your 'proposal' but make sure Shu Rushi comes to my next class on time with all the assignments and thesis she has missed so far." Mr. Fang compromised for the sake of the 'favour' he put forward.
He was a business man, and he was already big with business, but who knew when he might need this favour he put forward.
Hemight use it for something so intangible or important, which may not be necessary, because his Fang family was so much better than the Shu's.
How did the Shu's make a name for themselves again? Of course it was through the help of the Fu's.
Mr. Shu was happy and relieved at the same time that Fang Bingwen had finally accepted his proposal. He knew that for someone like Fang Bingwen, getting him to go against his will, you must pay a price for it, hence he used that knowledge on him.
Mr. Shu out forth that proposal, after being willing to do anything to make sure that his daughter took his course in her final exams.
"When is your next class?" Mr. Shu was trying to confirm the date and time for his next class, so he could diligently remind his daughter about it constantly, so she would not make another mistake again, but the call already ended.
Mr. Fang ended the call as soon as he finished speaking, and went back to his work. Mr. Shu could only sigh and out down his phone, before going to find his daughter personally.
He found Shu Rushi in the kitchen eating canned berries while having a picnic conversation with her mother.
Seeing her dad, Shu Rushi pushed the remaining berries away before standing uprightly. "Dad, how did it go?" She asked as she couldn't depict his current emotions from his facial expression.
Mr. Shu smiled a little before saying to her, as even his wife listened on, "Don't worry, I already settled it for you!"
"What?! Dad, did cousin Wen allow me to come back to attend his classes?" Shu Rushi tried to confirm with a face full of surprise, just before she can start to celebrate it.
Mr. Shu nodded, and the next thing that happened, caused him to cover his ears. Mr. Shu had to cover her ears as well because of their daughter's shrieks not excitement.
"Yes, I made it! Dad, we are going to pop open a bottle of an expensive wine tonight! All those students shaming and making fun of me, I'm going to teach them a lesson!" Shu Rushi said while jumping up excitedly, and then running to hug her fathee before running out of the kitchen.
"That girl!" Mr. Shu said with a bright smile as she uncovered her ears.
Mr. Shu uncovered his own ears and added, "I am going to remind her to be careful not to offend Bingwen. She can't offend him again even if it's by mistake."
"I will remind her as well, it's good that he allowed her to come back. We are privileged only because we are somewhat related to the Fu family," Mrs. Fu said.
Shu Rushi who ran out of the kitchen, ran upstairs to her bedroom to call her friends on a video call to show off that she had been accepted back to Mr. Fang's class by him.
Her friends were excited as well and couldn't stop talking about how much they have missed her absence during the face-time.
"Don't worry, you will see me in Mr. Fang's next class. I will be sure to come on time, but you still have to keep a good seat for me in the first roll if you make it before me," Shu Rushi reminded them.
She wanted a good place where she would be at a close distance to Mr. Fang, and also a place where he would have eyes on her.
Her friends agreed to her request and expressed their happiness once again before ending the face-time with her.
During dinner, the bottle of expensive wine Shu Rushi requested to celebrate with, was brought forth, and she couldn't be happier than that.
Mr. Shu and Mrs. Shu didn't forget to remind her to not offend Fang Bingwen at school, or at any gathering while toasting to the settled matter.
"Dad, mum, don't worry, I won't act so foolishly next time!" Shu Rushi assured them and drank away with a big smile on her face.
**********************
If Zhang Liling was not working, then she was studying, or trying to get Mr. Fang's attention, but she was smart enough to not make it obvious.
Someone like butler Gu would mistake her attitude towards gaining Mr. Fang's attention for being enthusiastic.
Zhang Liling was very intelligent, that she didn't need to put in twice effort like her fellow classmates in order to pass her exams.
Putting in an extra effort, will result in getting clean marks and a perfect score after exams. Anyways this was her finals, and because of her goal to work for Mr. Fang at his company.
She had only 2 months to work for him as his housekeeper, but she plans to extend it one way or the other, because living under one roof with him, makes her feel alive.
She would try to retain her housekeeping job while trying to get into his company as an intern. Who knows, she might be able to get him to help her after leaving a lasting impression on him.
Zhang Liling studied late into past 11 pm before closing her notes and turning off her reading lamp.
p Since she was a student, Bolin was considerate enough to get a reading lamp for her desk.
Getting into bed and trying to cover her body with a duvet, she heard her phone start to ring, which made her frown.
There were not many people who would call her by this time of the night. In face, there was just one person in her life who would do that, and that was her mother.
Picking up her phone from the nightstand, she glanced at the screen and sighed before answering the call, and saying in a lazy tone, "Mum, don't you have S city's clock set on your phone, do you know what time it is over here?"
"I thought you would still be studying by this time, so I decided to call," Song Jujing replied.
Zhang Liling groaned into the phone. "Mum, we are 6 solid hours ahead of you, please can you check the time once again before you call next time, at least of you don't want to add S city's clock to your phone to keep track of time."
What she meant to say was, if she didn't want to add S city's clock to her phone, then she should keep in mind that S city was 6 hours ahead of Paris in case of next time.
Hearing her daughter's annoyed tone, Song Jujing sighed. "Alright, mum is sorry for calling so late. I wanted to know how you are coping with your studies and living alone in that environment."
"Mum, I'm fine, I am an adult,"
"Although you are an adult, this is the first time you are living alone without any family, so I am worried," Song Jujing said to her with a tinge of worry.