Jiang Nannan was stunned. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to tell the truth:
"I... I chose the soul tool class because of the 100 Gold Soul Coin stipend."
Having said that, Jiang Nannan looked at Huo Yuhao with a guilty conscience, fearing that he would simply kick her out on the spot.
However, Huo Yuhao merely nodded calmly, made a note with his pen, and continued asking:
"Second question: Have you had any contact with soul tool related knowledge before this?"
"...No."
Guilt +1.
"Third question: Do you have any experience in personnel management?"
"...No."
Nervousness +1.
"Fourth question: Do you feel confident that you can learn soul tools well and become an excellent soul tool master?"
"...No."
Helplessness +10,086.
Jiang Nannan lowered her head, desperately trying to find a crack in the solid wood floor to crawl into!
Out of four questions, she had answered "No" to three of them!
This teacher must be so disappointed... my chance of getting into the soul tool class is definitely ruined... As expected, doing this was just a futile effort.
I really am useless—
"Mhm, not bad. Very honest! Congratulations, you've been admitted!"
Jiang Nannan: ???
Her train of thought was interrupted. Jiang Nannan blinked, looking somewhat dazed. In the next moment, she saw Huo Yuhao using soul power to levitate a stack of books, which landed on the desk in front of her.
She subconsciously looked down. Seeing the book on top, Identification and Precautions of Soul Tool Core Types, she felt even more bewildered.
What was going on?
While Jiang Nannan was lost in confusion, Huo Yuhao spoke calmly:
"You need to finish reading these books within this semester. I will test you during the finals.
"Furthermore, in addition to being a student in the soul tool class, you are also my assistant. Remember, after morning classes end every day, you must come to my laboratory. I will take you to the specific location tomorrow.
"As for the stipend... hm, are you very short on money?"
Jiang Nannan was still a bit dazed, but hearing Huo Yuhao's words, she subconsciously nodded.
"Then let's make it 1,000 Gold Soul Coins a month. This is for this month; take it."
Huo Yuhao pulled a pre-prepared Soul Gold Card from a drawer, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Jiang Nannan.
"...Huh?"
Jiang Nannan blinked, unable to grasp the situation.
"What? Is it not enough?"
Huo Yuhao was puzzled, then realized that Jiang Nannan's mother was likely seriously ill by now. If she truly wanted to cure her, it would probably be a significant expense.
After all, over the past two years, in order to nurse his own mother's body back to health, Huo Yuhao had spent between 500,000 and 600,000 Gold Soul Coins, if not a million.
While this money might not mean much to him now, it was a fortune compared to most people.
He took back the card with 1,000 Gold Soul Coins and searched through his storage ring. After looking for a while, he realized that the card with the lowest balance had 10,000.
After a brief silence, Huo Yuhao placed a Gold Soul Card with a balance of 10,000 on the table and pushed it toward Jiang Nannan.
"There are 10,000 Gold Soul Coins here. Consider it an advance on your stipend; take it and use it."
Huo Yuhao paused for a moment, thought it over, and added: "I know the general situation of your family. Just take this money and use it.
"If you feel uneasy about it, just consider it a loan and pay me back later. I know what it feels like to lose a mother. Don't let yourself live with regrets."
Huo Yuhao spoke softly.
Huo Yuhao had felt the pain of losing a mother. Precisely because of this, when he guessed that Jiang Nannan's mother was likely suffering from illness and nearing the end of her life, he instinctively wanted to help.
Huo Yuhao did not consider himself a good person. In his previous life, he was burdened with crimes; in this life, he was plotting and instigating war, hoping its impact would be as vast as possible.
He wasn't a good person, yet when facing Jiang Nannan and the tragedy that was bound to happen, he couldn't help but want to change it.
It was like... trying to make up for the mistakes he had committed in the past.
Calming his heart slightly, Huo Yuhao looked at Jiang Nannan.
However, at this moment, Jiang Nannan stood frozen in place. She kept her head down, her gaze fixed on the Gold Soul Card before her.
Te—ten thousand Gold Soul Coins?
The sudden surprise hit her so hard she didn't even know what expression to make.
Just a moment ago, she had been filled with trepidation, thinking she had no chance of entering the soul tool class or getting that coveted 100-coin stipend. Yet in the next breath, 1,000 Gold Soul Coins were placed on the table.
She had only been stunned into a daze, subconsciously murmuring, and the other party had slapped 10,000 Gold Soul Coins onto the table...
The situation was so absurd that she wondered if she was dreaming.
She instinctively hugged her arms and gave herself a hard pinch.
The slight sting snapped Jiang Nannan awake, and everything before her did not shatter like a dream or a phantom.
This was all real...
"Thank... thank you..."
Her voice was slightly raspy, even carrying a hint of a sob. Feelings of gratitude overflowed instantly, resulting in uncontrollable emotion.
She reached out a trembling hand, feeling the chill the moment her fingers touched the Gold Soul Card. She picked it up gently, then clutched it tightly against her chest, feeling the weight of this "hope."
"I... I will pay you back!"
She looked up, staring earnestly at Huo Yuhao.
The girl's stubborn look, combined with the shimmering tears in her reddened eyes, created an indescribable sense of poignancy.
Watching her quietly, Huo Yuhao nodded, then pointed to the stack of books and said softly:
"Remember to finish reading these books."
"Ye—yes, Teacher!"
Jiang Nannan responded hurriedly, then stared intently at Huo Yuhao, waiting for his next instruction.
She had already automatically placed Huo Yuhao in the position of "Teacher" + "Creditor" + "Benefactor." Under the influence of this triple buff, Jiang Nannan didn't even have a thought of resistance.
"Mhm, that's all. You may leave. See you tomorrow." Seeing that Jiang Nannan had recovered, Huo Yuhao waved his hand, dismissing her.
"Yes, Teacher!"
Jiang Nannan complied immediately. After tucking the Gold Soul Card safely against her person, she scrambled to pick up the stack of books on the table and hurriedly left the office.
Just as she stepped out, waiting outside for a long time was—
"Eh? Nannan! You're out! How was it? Are you okay?" Tang Ya hurried over. She first looked curiously at the books in Jiang Nannan's hands, but she quickly noticed something wrong.
"Wait... Nannan, why are your eyes red?! Did that teacher bully you?!"
Seeing Tang Ya's agitation, Jiang Nannan quickly spoke up:
"No, no! It was my own issue! That teacher is very kind! He even gave me money!"
Jiang Nannan hurriedly explained what had happened, which barely managed to calm Tang Ya down.
However, Tang Ya remained somewhat skeptical:
"Nannan... are you sure that teacher is that good? Could he have an ulterior motive?"
"No, no! Teacher is really a good person!" Jiang Nannan shook her head repeatedly.
She didn't believe Huo Yuhao had an ulterior motive. The sadness she felt from him in that moment couldn't have been fake...
Besides, even if he did have an ulterior motive... it didn't matter anymore.
Jiang Nannan subconsciously touched the Gold Soul Card hidden against her. She felt the cold card gradually warm up against her skin until it felt burning hot.
This is hope...