The Master's Mask Unveiled Again

Chapter 265: Chapter 264: Ah, Lu Mian, She Took Leave Today

Mo Nie received the message and showed it to Ye Jinwen.

“Qimo is coming back?” he exclaimed, his joy apparent, “Perfect, I’ve got some big news to tell him!”

Mo Nie nodded, emotionless like a block of iron, and checked the time. There were still two and a half hours until the first-year students got out of school. It wouldn’t be late to go find Lu Mian just before school let out.

Sitting quietly in the office chair, he still held the deck of cards in his hand, shuffling them back and forth with a swift motion.

“You know…” Ye Jinwen looked up from his computer, pouting toward the cards in his hand, “If you really want to learn those fancy card shuffling tricks from the movies, I suggest you learn from a certain someone.”

“Who?” The block of iron, Mo Nie, finally showed some interest.

“Who else but the future Mrs. Xiao.”

Mo Nie’s expression changed, surprised by Ye Jinwen’s attitude, or rather, it was abnormal to him that his master and the young master Ye treated a high school student differently.

That Lu Mian did have good looks, but for the Xiao Family, appearance didn’t count much as an advantage.

“The Family Head and Madam are indeed looking forward to Mo Ye bringing a girlfriend home, but young master Ye, that person may not necessarily be Miss Lu.” To call her Mrs. Xiao might be a bit premature.

Ye Jinwen stroked his chin: “True that.”

He said so, stood up, walked over, and patted Mo Nie on the shoulder, “Whether she becomes Mrs. Xiao or not, it’s up to Lu Mian to decide.”

He had long known that Mo Nie, like his name, was a block of metal that was impermeable and more stable than iron.

Loyal at heart, but just too straightforward.

Mo Nie: …The number of people who want to become Mrs. Xiao could circle the globe.

Ye Jinwen didn’t say more, simply took the deck of cards from Mo Nie’s hand, and smiled mysteriously, “I’ve seen someone shuffle cards so that everyone’s hand is arranged clearly in advance. You tell me, isn’t that impressive?”

“Is that person Lu Mian?”

“Mm-hmm.” He might not have understood before, but since Lu Mian admitted she was the Guardian God of Wucheng, what’s there to question?

Mo Nie: “…”

—-

Xiao Qimo’s flight back arrived half an hour earlier than expected. He didn’t go straight to MM Ji Restaurant, but hurried back to the school, thinking that it was almost time for Lu Mian to finish school and it was the perfect time to invite her for dinner.

With that thought in mind, his pace quickened. After arriving at the school, he walked through the first-year teaching building in his capacity as Director Qimo.

A day apart felt like three autumns.

He had genuinely realized that.@@novelbin@@

However, his heart full of anticipation sank when he saw the empty back row seat of Class 25.

Where was the little rascal?

Where was she?

His steps halted at the back door, and some students noticed his presence. Their excitement for the end of school instantly subdued as they dutifully finished the last few minutes of class.

They occasionally glanced over at the doorway, finding that Director Qimo’s expression was dark and chilly, which frightened them into being even more well-behaved.

Ding Cai, from afar, saw Xiao Qimo and, seeing him stop at the back door of his class, felt his heart rise to his throat. He hurried over to ask what was happening.

Xiao Qimo’s tone was stern, “Your class is missing a student.”

Ding Cai thought it was some serious issue, but upon hearing that, he quickly relaxed, “You’re talking about Lu Mian. She took a leave of absence today.”

“…”

“Today,” Xiao Qimo enunciated these two words, “Took a leave?”

“Yes, she had something personal to attend to. Director Qimo, taking a leave doesn’t violate the rules, does it?”

Before getting a reply from Director Qimo, Ding Cai first heard a tense and guilty male voice from behind.

“Lu Mian took a leave of absence?”