Hi everyone,
Thank you, for reading my fanfic! And thank you for your feedback and help with the grammar. Since English isn't my first language you actually taught me some new stuff. I also followed the advice to change the story layout, therefore I also redid the layout of the previous chapters. It led me to changing and adding a few sentences. Nothing major. The story is still the same. (How hilarious. When I make an announcement that I'll change the layout, the website doesn't accept the layout. I finally figured it out though.) This chapter is a bit short, but I hope you'll like it anyway!
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Reckless Tactics
"I'm terribly sorry, miss Lao, but I must see director Xú immediately. What I am about to discuss with him cannot wait." Professor Min threw the secretary a mesmerizing smile which he usually reserved for his audience, when he would play a solo on his guqin. The young woman was incredibly happy she was sitting behind her desk, fully aware of how unprofessional she would look if she would literally go weak in the knees for the smile of a professor. She was one of his groupies in-game, but would rather die than to let the hot professor know. Never had she felt the breath of the man she yearned for so close to her as she did now. 'Curse the bad luck, in-game he wouldn't look at me twice, but now he wants to get something done and he is shamelessly flirting with me!' She placed her index finger on his chest to slowly draw circles.
"Well, I suppose I can arrange something..." She answered the man with her most sensual smile and leaned closer. Her lips were just a few inches away from his. Professor Min's face suddenly broke into a boyish grin as he grabbed the hand she had placed on his chest, and gave it a gentle kiss, as if he was kissing a queen's hand.
"I just knew I could count on you, miss Lao. Thank you so much. Now then, would you kindly show me in?" Suddenly her face looked sour. She actually fell for it... She should have exploited the situation more. But looking in the beautiful eyes of the man she desired made her unable to refuse anything. With a sigh she reluctantly leaned back, pulled her hand out of his and called her boss.
"I am sorry for the sudden interruption, director Xú. But I am afraid I am unable to show professor Min out. He seems to be quite persistent in seeing you, director Xú. It seems to be very urgent." In response a grumpy voice sounded over the intercom.
"Persistent? I can imagine... Show the man in." With all the magic of the moment gone, secretary Lao gave professor Min a polite smile.
"You are a very lucky man, professor Min. Not often does he like to stray from his schedule. You should feel honored." The professor grinned his boyish grin once more. He waved his hand to the door, urging the woman to open it, and show him into director Xú's office. She gave the professor a small nod, and walked to the door. After two soft knocks, she opened the door. With an appropriate bow she greeted her director. Looking at professor Min she did her best to smile a professional smile and not to drool, as she led him to a chair.
"Miss Lao, bring us some tea. I'd like a cup of Mao Feng. What about you, professor Min?" The young professor looked at his superior and gave him a polite smile.
"Yes please." The secretary left the room to prepare the tea. Director Xú didn't say a word while looking at professor Min, waiting for the tea to be brought in. Minutes crept by while the two of them silently looked at each other, waiting for their tea. Suddenly professor Min doubted his plan. Somehow it didn't feel like the good idea he initially thought it was. But now he was sitting here, he had to go on with it. No matter what.
His silent train of thoughts was interrupted by secretary Lao's soft knocks on the door, she entered the office once more. Her presence was almost non-existent, with the stealthy way she wordlessly put the tray on the desk and gave a small but polite bow after which she left the room. Director Xú was the one to break the silence. He cleared his throat loudly, as if he had to gain the attention of a room full of noisy people. Professor Min almost expected the loud noise to resound. A ridiculous idea, given that the room had a heavy carpet, and was nicely decorated.
"For a man on urgent business, you are awfully quiet." Director Xú leaned forward to pick his cup, and took a small sip of his tea. He didn't let his eyes wander, now looking at professor Min expectantly, waiting for whatever was to come. This was the moment professor Min had been waiting for. It was now, or never.
"I have fallen in love with a student!" He blurted it out suddenly, as he had planned. Now, all he could depend on were his acting skills.
"I'm completely smitten. I can't think straight, for all I ever think about is that entrancing student."
Director Xú merely lifted an eyebrow. Professor Min took a deep breath and continued with what had to sound like a pained voice.
"The worst part is: I brought that student to my office and I... I touched that student. I know I was in the wrong, and I will never do it again. But I can't live with myself in a situation like this." 'No, she hugged me. Never mind the times I hugged Prince in-game. I can't do it again though. But I can't live without my Prince. I want to stay near him. I want to enter the dome.' Professor Min buried his head in his hands, hoping it would have the desired dramatic effect. He guessed it would have, because the pain of his messed up relationship with Lan was very real.
"I have morale. I have work-ethics! And they don't go together with thinking of my student like that. It tears me apart. I can't work like this... Therefore I would like to resign immediately." Professor Min met the director's eyes with more courage this time. Or was it hope? Whichever it was, the way director Xú reacted wasn't one that was favorable for professor Min. No, it wasn't a reaction, rather the lack of one. The man didn't get angry, upset or disappointed. He didn't reprimand him, nor did he say anything else. He was completely composed. His eyebrow was still lifted though.
"Drink your tea, professor Min. It's a first flush. You shouldn't spoil it's lovely flavor with letting it cool down too much." No matter how professor Min looked at it, this wasn't the reaction a director of any educational institution should have while hearing such grave words from his teaching subordinates. Professor Min began to feel scared. Something wasn't right. He could only drink his tea obediently.
An easily misunderstood smile crept on the face of director Xú, he wasn't contemplating anything. The man was genuinely happy his subordinate was drinking the tea.
"Well, professor Min. That is some confession you make. You are in love with your student, touched this particular student even. You are completely right, this kind of behavior isn't what we appreciate at all. Your confession however, is one I wouldn't have expected. Your online identity is no secret. You are the famous demon bard of Odd Squad. And from what I hear, even to this day you are madly in love with Prince. Should I conclude your behavior around Prince is one carefully planned in order to gain more fans for Infinite Band, or that Prince is perhaps a student of this university?"
Professor Min paled. For some time his brain stopped functioning. He quickly regained himself when he saw director Xú grinning in a rather cruel way. The moment director Xú saw confusion on professor Min's face, the grin grew bigger.
"Come on, one could make these conclusions with the deduction skills of a child." The director nodded to the door.
"Miss Lao over there is one of your groupies. Didn't you know? Everyone in this building knows your Second Life identity. Our security expenses have doubled ever since Second Life started. You are the main cause of it. Though I have to admit student Zhuo Ling Bin seems to have equal popularity. Too often our security has to remove reporters or fans from the university grounds." The director waved with his hand dismissively, as if all he just said didn't matter.
"So, which one is it? Prince is a student at our university? Or you, Wicked and Prince give fan service all the time?" Director Xú had very piercing eyes and knew how to make use of them. Never had professor Min felt this uncomfortable.
"I am very sorry, director Xú. Second Life has issued complete secrecy when it comes to Prince's whereabouts. A player will be banned from Second Life if such information is deliberately leaked. Also, if the whole act of love was a stage act in order to enlarge our fanbase, there would be an equal need for secrecy. Therefore I am afraid I cannot answer your question." Professor Min showed an awkward smile while he thought to himself he had to contact Shui Han immediately so she could put this threat on the official Second Life website, and Prince's fanpage.
"Well, I still haven't got a report on my desk which notifies me that one of my professors has harassed a student. Count yourself lucky. If it was Prince he probably didn't dare to file a report in fear of losing his well kept secret identity. If it was any male student he would probably be too embarrassed file a report. And if it is one of your female students I bet they count themselves lucky." With every word the director said he sounded more irritated.
"I cannot fire someone when I have no evidence of such behavior. You know that as well as I do." Director Xú was surprised when he saw a flash of shock and disappointment on professor Min's face.
"Don't tell me you made all this up in the hope I'd fire you right away?" Professor Min looked downright awkward at hearing these words.
"Erm... I didn't make it up, but I have to admit, those were my intentions by telling you." Professor Min didn't know if he should be glad to see his director finally act the way an director of an educational institution should. The poor man was rubbing his temples, wearing a deep frown.
"You truly act like you are a frivolous idol. Have you forgotten your function as a professor? Have you forgotten you are to teach history of literature to eight classes? Have you forgotten your classes have become so popular we have to draw lots because more students apply for your classes than you can teach? But more importantly... What motivates you to do such ridiculous thing?"
"Actually, before I came to your office, I have completed all the lesson materials, essay questions with expected answers for every class I teach. If I bundled them I could name it 'teaching for dummies'. I figured the whole literature department should be able to fill up this gap. Maybe put some master students on introduction courses. My absence shouldn't make a difference. But yes, I am a frivolous idol. I wanted to have the next two, maybe three months off for Second Life activities. I was afraid I couldn't manage to escape the duties of my job so that is why I tried to get a free time slot in a rather... extreme way. Is it too late to beg for two, maybe three months off?"
Director Xú didn't expect to hear one of his most prized professors ramble on like that. He had to make sense of those quickly spoken sentences. Had he actually thought his reckless actions through? His absence could somehow be covered? And he tried to get himself fired because he was afraid he couldn't get off the regular way? For Second Life activities? But since when did one play that game at another time than at night, when one was supposed to sleep?
"Why do you need time off to play Second Life?" It was a mindboggling question he couldn't find an answer to.
"What I am about to disclose is confidential, do you agree to stay silent until the actual event?"
The director could sense the importance by the way the young professor asked the question.
"Yes, if that's what it takes for you to answer my question."
"Director Xú? Have you heard of 'the Legend of the Sun Knight'? The new tv series launched by the Second Life gaming company?"
The old man gave a wary nod. Obviously he didn't see any relation between the tv series and professor Min's desperate request for a lot of time off.
"My wife watches it, she is very fond of the show." The director had a positive association with the tv show. Professor Min smiled a brilliant smile.
"How nice. Actually, the tv show is launched with the hope to regain the players Second Life lost last year, when it was down for a whole month. The company's tactic is to show Prince a lot so everybody would want to see him again in Second Life. Letting him enter the world of a hit tv show seemed like the perfect way. Prince will enter the world of 'the Legend of the Sun Knight' and will stay there for one, maybe two months while sleeping artificially. For the purpose of having protection in that world he had to assemble a team. I was invited to come along. This is an opportunity I must grab with both hands. No matter what the consequences may be."
"And with the consequences you mean getting fired for a reason that makes sure no one will ever hire you as a professor ever again, no matter your outstanding qualities?"
"Yes, director Xú. I am dead-set on following Prince into the tv show. No matter the consequences."
"I don't want to lose you. No one on my staff attracts as many students as you do. I am willing to bend a few rules, or change your contract if that means I get to keep you on the long run." Professor Min couldn't believe what he just heard. This was a better outcome than he could have possibly hoped for.
"I cannot thank you enough, director Xú. You have my utmost gratitude for your leniency."
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Shui Han? I'm in. "…" No, I still have my job. "…" Hahaha, that'll be a secret or Prince will have a heart attack. "…" Oh, could you perchance add a rule on the Second Life rules policy so my boss won't think I lied to him? "…" Complete secrecy of Prince's offline whereabouts. Players will be banned if such information is deliberately leaked. "…" No kidding? "…" Prince really requested that the minute everybody met each other offline? "…" Well, I can't say I don't understand. "…" I'll get the express delivery tonight? "…" In that case I'll excuse myself already. I won't come online, so I can catch up with everyone to do the tutorials. "…" Don't forget who I am! "…" Ok, bye
