Going Against the Wind (Lan Lin)

Chapter 14

After class, Ouyang sorted out the aspiration forms in his office. As the homeroom teacher, he was responsible for counseling the students in their graduation aspirations. The majority of the students had decided, but Xiao Xuan was still completely silent.

He didn't keep urging him, so that Xiao Xuan wouldn't think that he was out of line.

They were twelve years apart; he couldn't fathom the kid's thoughts anymore. He didn't know if this counted as a generational gap. Xiao Xuan and the rest of them were too stylish, while he couldn't keep up with the times; he didn't really understand the popular things that they sought, so he could only let them do as they wished.

"Teacher Ouyang." Shang Bin was the one who entered. Ever since he knew that Ouyang and Xiao Xuan were close, he would often come to chat with him, always with a radiant smile, but also quite amiable. "Have you finished translating the materials that I asked you to help me with last time?"

"Right here." Ouyang handed over a stack of bound papers. Shang Bin wanted to send his daughter to study abroad, relying on Ouyang for a lot of the application information.

"Feifei is still young, yet you're willing to let her go so far away?"

"Well, isn't it because of her future? Her grades are so bad, she definitely can't get into a good domestic school. We may as well send her out to be coated in a layer of gold."

Ouyang smiled. "But this one layer of gold is tens of thousands."

Shang Bin was still smiling. "The coating is worth it. Everyone says that the overseas college education is good. No matter whether or not they learn anything, they should still go and see. If it's really impossible, then treat it like a vacation. But my daughter Feifei isn't competitive. Even after spending so much money, it's still not enough to get into a top university. Meanwhile Xiao Xuan wouldn't go to a school that's not famous..."

Upon hearing that name, Ouyang paid attention. "Xiao Xuan? He's also considered going abroad?"

"You didn't know?" Shang Bin had a feeling of superiority, like he had the knowledge of an insider*, smiling like a Maitreya**. "Xiao Xuan applied for Harvard long ago, and he's even gotten an early acceptance letter."

[*Is this more of a Korean term? Open to suggestions for an alternative.]

[**A smiling Buddha]

Ouyang started at him in shock.

"Isn't that amazing? It's said that they praised him for his overall excellence. Xiao Xuan can do anything; he hadn't even learned golf for very long, but that level, tsk tsk. If my daughter Feifei could have a tenth of his intelligence, then I wouldn't need to worry..."

Ouyang felt a little cold. "When did that happen?"

"End of last year. The media even wanted to do an interview, but the Xiao family doesn't like having a high profile, so they were turned down. Actually, that's such an honor. There's only a few altogether who are accepted early."

Ouyang was pale and couldn't speak. Shang Bin was still sighing, "Such an intelligent son, how can one not love him dearly? If I were his father, I would also hold him in my palms, lest he fall..."

"Teacher."

Hearing Xiao Xuan's slightly cold voice that had passed puberty, Shang Bin hurriedly shut his mouth and ceased gossiping, embarrassedly smiling as he gathered the records and walked out. Ouyang was still siting, his blood still settling heavily in his stomach, his face not yet recovering its usual color.

"Teacher." Xiao Xuan walked over to stand next to him, and it was then that he realized that Xiao Xuan was so tall. "Are you angry?"

Ouyang's heart ached. "Congratulations."