253 The Genius” Label (1/2)

”You—” Amanpio was about to argue with Iris but one look from Professor Dupont and he shut his mouth again.

Jin Liwei's heart filled with warmth hearing his baby girl's words. She defended him! Ah, what a wonderful feeling! However, he hoped that she wouldn't get into too much trouble. So he spoke up.

”Headmaster, it's not Xiulan's fault. This wouldn't have happened if I weren't here. I'm sorry that my presence has caused this much trouble. I'll leave the academy immediately. Just please don't punish Xiulan too harshly.”

”No! Don't leave!” Iris protested. ”You just arrived.”

”Hmph! Go leave. Who needs you here?” Amanpio grumbled, massaging his now throbbing face. It was already swelling.

”Mr. Kileksky, mind your words. Say anything more and I'll take it as a challenge of my authority as the Headmaster!” Professor Dupont scolded, effectively shutting up the inventor for real this time.

Amanpio could piss anyone in the academy and suffer, but he wouldn't care too much. But if he pissed off the headmaster, it was a different story. The headmaster had the power to kick him out of the academy. Getting kicked out of Cross Academy would be the biggest shame of his life!

Professor Dupont turned to Jin Liwei. ”Mr. Jin, there's no need to leave. You're a guest of my good friend, Lu Jianhong, who's not only an important alumnus but also a registered instructor, albeit a semi-retired one. He only has Miss Long as his current student now. So of course, you're welcome to Cross Academy.”

”Thank you very much, Headmaster,” Jin Liwei replied in a sincere tone.

He was about to speak up on behalf of his baby girl again when a couple of cleaners stepped forward. They were husband and wife. The husband was pushing a cleaning cart. His wife had a slightly intimidated expression on her face seeing the headmaster himself.

Earlier, they were passing by on their way to the next area they were going to clean when they saw and heard what happened between Iris, Jin Liwei and Amanpio.

The couple explained everything to Professor Dupont. The headmaster's expression turned uglier as he listened to the story. After hearing everything, he glared at Amanpio, causing the inventor to quail and look down to the floor. Guilt flashed in his eyes.

”Mr. Kileksky, one of our most important values is that we never, I repeat, we NEVER discriminate or look down on people who aren't enrolled or didn't graduate from our Cross Academy! Yes, this is a school of geniuses. And by being enrolled here, you automatically bear the label of genius. However, 'genius' is only a label given to you by other people. You won't be a 'genius' anymore if others stopped recognizing you as one. Even if you really are a genius and you know it yourself, if others don't call you as such, they'll only think you're a fool who's only too full of yourself.”

Professor Dupont's tone was grave yet biting. He didn't raise his voice but every word he said held weight. He continued, ”Remember, the label of 'genius' you're currently enjoying is a privilege, not a right. If you're not careful and take it for granted, it can be stripped away from you. Do you understand, Mr. Kileksky?”

Amanpio's body shook a little. ”Y-yes, Headmaster. I understand. I apologize! I became too full of myself. I'll make sure to reflect on my mistake!”

”It's not me who you should be apologizing to.”

Amanpio hesitated. He was slightly unwilling, but the headmaster's words made him realize how offensive he had been. He turned to Jin Liwei. ”Sorry, bro. I was rude. I don't have the best social skills in the world. I'm too focused with my inventions. It's just that I wanted to talk to Xiulan about my latest invention but she rejected me because of you, so I thought that you were an eyesore. That's why I treated you like that…so I apologize.”

Jin Liwei still didn't have any good feelings for the man. Even if he ignored the way the man insulted him, he couldn't ignore how he flirted with his baby girl. However, he could sense that Amanpio was sincere enough.

Besides, the academy's own headmaster was intervening in person. He didn't want to become the difficult and petty person who refused a person's sincerity. So with a cold expression, he stiffly nodded his head as an acceptance of Amanpio's apology.

”Thanks, bro.” Then Amanpio turned to Iris next. ”Sorry to you as well, Xiulan. I hope that we can still be friends after this. I don't really have many friends... There aren't many people who like being with me.”

'Well, that's because you tend to be too full of yourself and your attitude can rub others the wrong way,' Giulia Moretti thought to herself but didn't say out loud.

Iris harrumphed softly, still feeling angry on behalf of Jin Liwei. However, she could relate with Amanpio when he said that he didn't have many friends. It was only now in this second life of hers that she had the opportunity to make friends. She understood very clearly how lonely it could be without any close friends.

That was why even when she was still a little mad at him, she also accepted his apology like Jin Liwei. Besides, she already smacked and sent him rolling to the floor. That was very satisfying!

Everyone released sighs of relief that the conflict between them had been resolved in a peaceful manner.

”But Xiulan…your punch really hurt, you know?” Amanpio complained.