Grand Opening of the New Shop
Martin Wu respectfully withdrew from Jade Evans's Scholar Residence.
Jade Evans smiled at her, appreciation in her eyes. Then she lowered her head and picked out Lola's exam paper from the stack.
Jade Evans squinted as she finished reading Lola's answers, then looked up at Lola, who was quietly and skillfully organizing the bookshelf. Expectation and delight shone in her eyes.
From this silent figure, she saw the dazzling brilliance that belonged to women.
Jade Evans put down Lola's exam paper and said, "Lola, from now on, you'll be my teaching assistant—that means you'll help me teach and fill in for me if I'm ever absent."
"Huh?" Lola turned around, confused. She didn't understand what a teaching assistant was in this setting.
"A teaching assistant isn't just for serving tea and running errands," Jade Evans explained with a smile. "You'll help me teach the students. If I have matters to attend to, you'll substitute for me in class."
"Me, teaching?" Lola suddenly felt at a loss, her cheeks turning slightly red. "Can I really do it?"
"Of course you can," Jade Evans said, waving Lola's exam paper. "With your level, teaching those students is more than enough. From now on, every afternoon, when officials from the Public Works Department aren't coming for lessons, I'll tutor you privately—advanced mathematics."
"Yes, Professor!" Lola's eyes suddenly sparkled with a new light.
After a full day of work at the Academy, Jade Evans felt a bit tired, but her mood was excellent.
Today, Jade Evans welcomed Martin Wu, a determined and ambitious female student, and discovered Lola's talent in mathematics. She believed she would nurture outstanding female students, so that the world would no longer look down on women.
"Fourth Uncle's new shop is opening, right? Come on, let's go check it out." Jade Evans was in high spirits on the carriage.
"Yes."
Professor Jade Evans's carriage slowly made its way toward Whisker Alley.
The former Suxin Pavilion had now become the Fortune & Grace Capital Flagship.
Because Suxin Pavilion was once rumored to be haunted, Fortune & Grace made a big show before opening by inviting the exorcist master again.
The master set up an altar and performed rituals, saying that the evil spirit had been haunting the person who caused its death. Now that those people were gone, so was the spirit. The building was clean and free of ghosts.
The master also blessed the building, saying it would bring good fortune and prosperity.
Everyone understood—the evil spirit had been after Princess Mira and her group, and had nothing to do with the new Fortune & Grace Silver Shop. Since the master declared the spirit gone and the building prosperous, there was nothing to worry about.
People in ancient times were superstitious, and this master was very famous. So the ghost story was forgotten within days, and hardly anyone remembered it. Instead, the Fortune & Grace Silver Shop, located right across from the Eight Treasures Bistro, drew huge crowds and enjoyed booming business.
Professor Jade Evans's carriage stopped outside Fortune & Grace. She saw the shop bustling with customers, business was thriving, and Fourth Uncle Arthur Evans and Fourth Aunt Mrs. Charlotte Evans were personally greeting guests inside.
The couple wore big smiles, and there was a sense of tacit understanding between them.
Jade Evans said to Lola, "Come on, let's go inside and have a look. If you fancy something, I'll buy it for you."
Lola looked both surprised and delighted, following Professor Jade Evans into the shop.
Most of the customers were women. When they saw such a handsome and elegant young man as Professor Jade Evans walk in, their cheeks flushed as they snuck glances at him.
Arthur Evans and Mrs. Charlotte Evans immediately recognized Jade Evans disguised as Professor Jade Evans. They exchanged knowing looks and greeted her with a smile. "Oh my, Professor Jade Evans, what an honor to have you visit! Please, come in and have a seat! Thanks to your care at the Academy, our son is doing well. May we ask about his progress?"