Lord of the Mysteries Chapter 1429 - In Modern Day 27

“...” I stand there, momentarily stunned, entirely unsure how to reply to Anderson Hood. My fear is that any attempt to speak will immediately devolve into an argument.

A few moments pass until I discover a somewhat polite way to handle the situation.

“Oh, so you actually have painting skills as well?”

The receptionist chimes in with visible eagerness, “Heh, he’s a man of many talents. He arrived in our country originally to master banter, claiming he possessed proficiency in just about anything.”

That carries the distinct ring of irony... It appears this foreign instructor and the receptionist aren't exactly on the best terms... I can’t tell if he’s being serious or just poking fun... My ability to read people isn't top-tier, but his demeanor is quite transparent.

“Haha, if your goal is to study the art of banter, I’m more than happy to teach you,” Anderson Hood replies, his Chinese enunciated with remarkable clarity.

“We’ll see?” Caught off guard by the unfolding events, I settled for a non-committal, “I’ll have to look at my schedule first.”

Once Anderson disappears into his office, I turn toward the receptionist and whisper, “Is it possible to avoid signing up for his class?”

“That’s entirely your prerogative,” the male receptionist says, looking visibly energized. “A brilliant decision!”

He follows this with a thumbs-up.

“T-this... foreign teacher—Anderson... Is he truly that terrible?” I glance nervously toward the office door.

The male receptionist lets out a short chuckle.

“In all honesty, the man is highly capable. His only real flaw is...”

He stops, leaving the sentence hanging.

“Well? What is it?” I find myself compelled to ask.

The receptionist turns dead serious.

“The fact that he isn't a mute!”

“Hahaha.” I force a laugh, somewhere between genuine amusement and social politeness.

Curiosity takes over, and I ask, “Do people actually sign up for his sessions?”

“Oh, quite a few, actually.” The male receptionist curls his lip in disdain.

“Don’t they realize that enrollment is final and you can't just swap teachers?” I take the chance to dig for more information.

“Not quite,” he clarifies, correcting me quickly. “We offer a single trial lesson. If you aren't satisfied, you are free to pick a different instructor.”

He pauses, then begins to laugh.

“Although, you know how it is. Some people just happen to enjoy being ridiculed and trampled upon.”

Sounds like they have a very specific set of tastes... I decide it’s better not to pry further.

“In that case, I’d prefer to enroll in the principal’s class. Do you hold weekend sessions?”

“We do.” The male receptionist begins walking me through the details.

I don't waste another second. After handing over 6,666 yuan, I confirm my spot in the Dream Tutoring Classes' weekend business English course.

Leaving the tutoring center, I linger in the building, finding a quiet corner to soak in the air conditioning while logging today’s progress. If I’m to play the role of a commercial spy effectively, I need to act like one. I have to make sure Miss Huang gets her money’s worth!

Everything is set. I pull out my phone and quickly scroll through the department group chat to ensure no urgent announcements were missed.

Rozanne: “Take note, take note: CEO Huang is bringing in a VIP visitor. Everyone, display your best professional behavior.”

A VIP... Ah, the client known as Zaratulstra. Heh heh, I managed to miss him once more. Seems meeting him just isn't in the cards... Holding my phone, I weigh my options for the rest of the day.

It’s rare to have a weekday afternoon off; I shouldn't squander it.

Hmm, maybe I’ll go catch a film. There shouldn't be much of a crowd at this hour. With that plan, I wander over to the larger shopping mall next door, hop on the elevator to the fourth floor, and begin scouting for the cinema.

Huh, there’s some kind of event going on... Scanning the area, I spot a massive queue forming in front of a bookstore.

Evidently, some famous author is hosting a fansigning.

Driven by curiosity, I stroll past the line to examine the event posters.

Romance Queen... Slacker Without a Dream... That pen name—heh, authors these days really come up with the strangest monikers... I’m unfamiliar with the author, and have no desire to get caught up in the madness.

Of course, a part of me wonders what the author might look like. Most of the visible posters only advertise the Romance Queen’s new work, completely devoid of an author portrait.

I’ll swing back by after the movie finishes... I mutter to myself before following the signage to the far end of the mall, where the cinema is tucked away.

Since I haven't decided what to watch, I linger in the lobby, scanning the promotional posters for anything that catches my eye.

Suddenly, the light in front of me shifts as if something has blocked it.

A towering figure appears right next to me!

He is incredibly tall—easily near two meters... Peering out of the corner of my eye, I realize he has the build of a basketball player.

Wait, is that the uniform for the middle school near my place?

Holy sh*t, the kid is only in junior high and he’s already hitting two meters?

What are they feeding children these days?

A-and his hair is dyed a brownish-yellow...

Isn't he supposed to be in class? Ah, I suppose it is summer break.

But who wears their school uniform during their vacation?

While I mentally poke fun at him, I take a discrete step away, just so I don't look like a dwarf standing next to him.

Eventually, I settle on a film to watch. The start time is perfect.

“The Pirate 3: Crazy Adventurer”

The poster features a man in a trench coat and top hat positioned amidst a backdrop of lightning, crashing waves, and a storm, flanked by three vintage pirate ships. Standing at the bow of each ship is a stunning female pirate.