Mecha Chapter 72: Announcement

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Lhachril

 

The teacher at the Payment Office obviously still remembered the rare sight of this poor student six months ago. Looking at the stack of new bills with raised eyebrows, they examined the situation. In fact, you are not here to pay, but to destroy the scene, right…

Nevertheless, the responsible and diligent teacher took the money. Only then did he remember that the Dean of First Year Academic Affairs had asked the IOU to be sent to him earlier, presumably because he was worried that the poor and rogue student would not be able to pay back the money he owed. At the thought of this, the teacher blushed slightly and said, not too kindly, “The IOU is not here now, can you wait a couple of days to get it back?”

Luo XiaoLou nodded and said with a smile, “Then please give me a receipt first, and I’ll get the IOU another day.” Apparently Dean Wang did not need to be there to directly accept the payment. Such a shame that I could only fantasize ‘slapping’ that money on that balding head of his.

Upon getting the receipt and putting aside the matter that had been tangled in his heart since half a year ago, Luo XiaoLou easily turned around and walked out. At that moment, the communicator on Luo XiaoLou’s wrist went off. 

 

At the same time, the communication screen in the Payment Office emitted a cheerful sound.

The teacher went over and clicked on it. Halfway through, with sweat dripping down their face, they whispered, “But he’s already paid his tuition. Yes, yes, I’ll get him back immediately.”

The Fee Teacher who was yelled at by the Dean was in tears. Who had focused on urging them to pay attention to this only student who owed fees? Who knew that the fees would now be waived, ahhh! The key point was that even after they just received the tuition notice, they  must do a full refund scholarship, and this was not a trap.

 

“I didn’t expect Master Yan to actually come over to give a speech. That’s fine. I know, I’ll be right over.”

Luo XiaoLou stood, confused, in front of the elevator. Master Yan came so be it, but how come that old man knew how to summon him at such a time? It’s not part-time hours, ah! Luo XiaoLou, who was used to being ordered around, immediately changed his plan.

At this moment, the panting Teacher from the Payment Office caught up with him.

“That- that student! Wait a minute!”

Luo XiaoLou turned back in surprise, “Teacher, you wanted to see me for something?” He took an uneasy look at the dull green necklace on his chest. 125 I don’t think this guy is going to take anything from people…

“Do you expect me to settle everything for you, and not fulfill one of my good master’s treaties yourself?” 125’s indignant voice came out, clearly expressing that it was still angry with Luo XiaoLou for what happened this morning.

Damn it, what’s the point of giving it an egg? What’s the point of worrying about it hatching chicks? And chicks can also be collected.

Luo XiaoLou’s face is covered in black lines. You’re overreacting this time, I’m just worried…

“Ah, this student, I just got a call from the Dean. Your tuition is fully waived so come back with me again and I’ll get you a refund right away.” The teacher slapped their chest, as they finally caught up.

Luo XiaoLou blinked and asked in confusion, “Why is my tuition fee waived?”

Teacher was also stunned. They were originally imagining a scene of gratitude and snotty pain but it did not appear. Why exempt? Yeah, why exempt, the Academic Dean didn’t say…

The teacher wiped their sweat and said with difficulty, “This – maybe – it’s some sort of functioning mechanism to help the destitute students.”

Luo XiaoLou laughed and waved his hand, “Thank you, Teacher, but I’d rather leave that kind of help to students who need it more. I can afford to pay the tuition now.” So it seems that Saint Miro Academy is actually good.

The charging teacher’s face had scrunched up into a frown. The refund plan hadn’t gone as smoothly as expected at all, “Wait! This student – this – waiving your tuition fee is specially designated by the Academic Affairs Dean. The specific reason he didn’t say, but I can take you over there tomorrow. If you’re in a hurry, now… Well, it doesn’t seem to be convenient now, Dean Wang is accompanying the headmaster to receive a well-known master.”

Luo XiaoLou’s heart was moved, and it became somewhat clear that it was Master Yan’s relationship.

But it was completely unnecessary, and he would not accept this kind of meaningless charity.

Luo XiaoLou could only put on a moral appearance and said righteously, “Teacher, when I promised you that I would pay the tuition fees owed to the school in full, I would do what I said. I have never hidden the fact that I am a poor student, because I don’t see the contradiction between poverty and dignity. I hope you can understand that I won’t accept refunds.”

Teacher opened their mouth. They were already beginning to secretly admire this ambitious student, but they had to add, “However, your IOU is still with Dean Wang. He asked for a refund, and I don’t think he’ll return that IOU if I didn’t complete the assignment.”

Luo XiaoLou sniffed and smiled, “I don’t want the IOU then.” After saying goodbye to the teacher, Luo XiaoLou walked into the elevator.

Teacher looked at the elevator door half a dozen times, shrugged their shoulders, and turned around to walk back. It was the dean’s hot potato, he’d better take care of it himself.

Many years later, that IOU would remain in the archives of Saint Miro Academy to inspire the Mecha Manufacturing Department students who saw it later. Only the Academic Dean himself, who put it there with his own hands, wanted to get angry when he saw that IOU – that seriously short-sighted old man who sarcastically tried to make a fool of him every time he came around!

Luo XiaoLou hurriedly rushed to Master Yan’s lounge, where Shen Yuan let him in with a smile. Master Yan was inside preparing the materials he needed for his speech.

Luo XiaoLou took a glance and quietly asked, “Brother Shen, if you’re here, what else do you want me to help with?”

Shen Yuan smiled at Luo XiaoLou and said in a low voice, “You are Master Yan’s first disciple, I think the old man thinks this is an opportunity to reveal your identity to the outside world and also show his attitude.”

Luo XiaoLou’s entire body halted, First disciple … first disciple … disciple! When did that happen? Although he worked as an assistant in Master Yan’s lab, that old man looked like he disliked him all day long, he never dared to dream of being his disciple.

Luo XiaoLou dragged Shen Yuan hard and stammered, “Brother Shen, is it a mistake? How could I – How could I be Master Yan’s disciple?”

Shen Yuan was also embarrassed and asked off the top of his head, “Has the Master never mentioned this to you?”

Luo XiaoLou immediately nodded his head vigorously, “I swear he hasn’t.” Actually, I am dreaming now, I guess.

Shen Yuan barely suppressed the urge to spit at Master Yan and patted Luo XiaoLou’s shoulder, “At a time like this, you can totally pretend that you already know. This kind of thing is something you can’t get enough of, and I’m happy for you too.”

Luo XiaoLou couldn’t feel these emotions of honored excitement and joy at all. In fact, he was almost in tears as he said desperately, “But, that’s impossible! I – I just recognized a master not long ago.”

Shen Yuan was also dumbfounded. Could this old man and young man be any more unreliable. He hadn’t had time to tell Luo XiaoLou that Master Yan had taken him as a true disciple and had already made up his mind not to take any other disciples.

“I think you need to communicate with Master Yan on this issue, but I must warn you that it would be simply impossible for Master Yan to take back what he said.” Shen Yuan looked at this first disciple, who everyone was jealous of, with a pitying look. Even as Master Yan’s assistant, there was nothing he could do to help.

As he was saying that, Master Yan came out from the lounge with a few documents in his hand, and as he checked the communicator, he said to the two of them, “You guys move the instruments and models in the lounge and follow me.”

Luo XiaoLou hesitated for a moment, but still greeted him with a pained face, “Master Yan, I-“

Master Yan narrowed his eyes at Luo XiaoLou, waved his hand, and said impatiently, “Can’t you see the speech is about to start? We’ll talk about what you have to say later.” After saying that, he pushed out the door on his own and walked out.

Shen Yuan and Luo XiaoLou looked at each other and Shen Yuan reassured him, “There’s actually no difference between now and after the meeting. Quite a few people already know about it.”

Luo XiaoLou, with a bitter face, followed Shen Yuan out.

Luo XiaoLou and Shen Yuan then flanked Master Yan, one on one side and one on the other during the next grand presentation.

At the Mecha Manufacturing Department Class Ten position, Tian Li poked the student on his side hard and asked, “Am I right, isn’t that Luo XiaoLou? Why did that guy go and stand on the stage?”

Another murmured, “Maybe it just looks like him.”

“……”

Ever since Luo XiaoLou assembled Knight, Yates believed that even if he didn’t know anything about mecha manufacturing, he felt that no one in the Mecha Manufacturing Department was better than Luo XiaoLou. If it wasn’t for the lagging grades in basic subjects, Luo XiaoLou might not be inferior to those Class One students at all.

Thinking of this, Yates glanced sideways at Yuan Xi in the front row. The team leader was probably Luo XiaoLou’s lover, and the team leader’s eyes were really no match for them.

Yuan Xi sat expressionlessly in his seat, staring coldly at the slightly shrinking figure on Master Yan’s side, only to feel his fingers itching to punch someone.

Luo ShaoTian, who was by his side, looked up and down twice, and then started to record on his own tablet. The third person, Ling Xu, was frowning at the stage. Luo XiaoLou was standing next to Master Yan, and according to his estimation, that should be Yang Ke’s position. Yang Ke was quite talented, and although he had his own little mind, he was more than obedient, and could be trained to be a henchman in the future.

However, what did Master Yan mean by putting Luo XiaoLou there today?

During the wonderful speech, those who knew Luo XiaoLou had different thoughts.

While Luo XiaoLou was trying to ignore the sight below, and expecting the speech to be over soon, Master Yan suddenly said, “This is the theoretical part, so I’ll let my first disciple demonstrate the actual operation for you.”

After saying that, Master Yan turned to Luo XiaoLou and pointed to the apparatus on the side.

Luo XiaoLou was dumbfounded, then walked over with a numb face and began extracting the materials as usual.

In fact, Luo XiaoLou was now unable to think, while inside he was in a state of beastly rushing. Master Yan had actually announced it in public! How is this going to end?

Shen Yuan was also shocked. He knew that Master Yan had never planned to ask Luo XiaoLou for help with this step. Only a few small experiments at a later stage had been done by Luo XiaoLou, but what was going on now?

Was it his illusion to push Luo XiaoLou out so deliberately?

Master Yan stood to the side and watched, with his back to Luo XiaoLou, as he sweated and began to toss his head. Hmph, if you want to steal my apprentice, no way! I’ve done it all. You want to take advantage of me for nothing? I’ll just make the first move and see who dares to confront me. It won’t be easy to find another apprentice with such talent, obedience, and a willingness to work hard…

The moment Master Yan thought that, Ling Xu’s eyes narrowed and he gave Yuan Xi a sidelong glance before focusing on Luo XiaoLou. When he knew Luo XiaoLou was working under his family’s industry, he wanted Luo XiaoLou to leave, but then Di Jia persuaded him to leave him alone and he didn’t pay any attention to him after seeing his pity. However, Luo XiaoLou had become the apprentice of Master Yan, who was always over-optimistic and eccentric. Was this just a coincidence?

Dean Wang was wiping his sweat with a handkerchief, what the hell was Master Yan doing?

After the speech, Master Yan told Luo XiaoLou to go back to help organize things, but Luo XiaoLou was still in a wandering state and was dragged back by Shen Yuan.

After that, the campus exploded. The Mecha Manufacturing Department had another celebrity after Shen Yuan. Master Yan himself admitted that Luo XiaoLou was his direct disciple.

Yang Ke gritted his teeth and stared at the distant figure, as many of the students around him chattered angrily.

“I can’t believe that this Class Ten student is any good! I saw his hands kept shaking when he went up there, and he was clumsy in operating the equipment.”

“Yeah, it’s no match for our Class One students, I’ll leave myself out of it. If Master Yan is going to choose an apprentice, why shouldn’t he choose someone like Yang Ke?”

“Actually … I think he’s pretty good.” A weak voice said.

Yang Ke looked at the few people beside him, said nothing, and turned around to leave.

On the other hand, the Mecha Manufacturing Department’s Ze Ya was already about to lose control of the anger on her face. She had thought that relying on her final grades she still had a chance. But now, how else was she going to be at that person’s side?

The Mecha Department Class One students who had also returned from attending the speech began to talk animatedly.

“Haha, Zhuang Yi, I finally understand why you said that kid was good at the time. You really didn’t miss the point.”

“Actually, if you ask me, it’s our Class One leader who’s the best. We shouldn’t have doubted his eyes in the first place.”

“That’s right, Yuan Xi has always been the person I admire the most! How can the man he elected slow him down?”

In the Saint Miro Academy Student President’s room, Luo ShaoTian, with his silver hair, was reclining on the large couch in the middle, and after one glance at the person behind the desk, dropped his eyes back to his tablet.

Student President Luo ShaoJun handed the pile of information on his desk to the female assistant, smiled, and said, “That’s fine, and I’ll need you to bring these to the Logistics Department.”

The female assistant blushed, picked up those materials, and said, “I’ll be right over.” Then she left the Student President’s room, and for a moment, only the two brothers were left in the room.

The smile on Luo ShaoJun’s face was withdrawn, as he looked up at his brother. He tapped his fingers unconsciously on the tables surface, and said calmly, “I’m sure you know more than I do.”

Luo ShaoTian snorted and didn’t say anything.

Luo ShaoJun, who was already used to it, continued, “A while ago, he was quite honest, but I didn’t expect him to climb Master Yan’s tree in the blink of an eye. It’s not easy to move him now. The good thing is that we only have one more move in hand, Lady Jin is in our Luo family in the end.”

“What Mother means is, find a way to make Luo XiaoLou your mecha maker, and you can start making official choices this semester. By making him your exclusive mecha maker, you can keep an eye on him, and many things would be easier to do.”

The room was silent for a moment before Luo ShaoTian finally said, “If you can convince him to become my mecha maker, I’ll agree.” After saying that, he got up and left the Student President’s room.

Luo ShaoJun looked at the closed door and stroked his chin, thinking it was rare for his brother to be so cooperative. Luo ShaoTian had always been indifferent and contemptuous about this before, he had thought it would take a lot of effort to persuade him to cooperate.