Chapter 386 - 386 Xu Wanqing
386 Xu Wanqing
“You’re here. I was just thinking about giving you another call to hurry you up.”
When Academician Xu saw Wu Mo walk in, he immediately stood up and greeted him with a smile.
The young girl sitting next to him also looked at Wu Mo with curiosity and smiled at him politely.
“Oh… my phone was on silent last night, so I didn’t hear any of your calls. I’m sorry,” Wu Mo said, a little embarrassed.
He then nodded a greeting to Professor Tan and Old Wen.
“Wu Mo, I haven’t seen you for two months, and it looks like you’ve lost some weight. How are you? Did you suffer at the armory?” Old Wen, who was sitting on the couch, immediately asked. His heart seemed to ache for Wu Mo.
He noticed that the young man’s skin had become a few shades darker and that he looked a little haggard.
“Old Wen, I went to the armory to study. How can you say that I suffered? You, on the other hand, look more energetic after I haven’t seen you for a few months.”
Wu Mo quickly stepped forward and smiled when he saw Old Wen looking at him with concern.
“Hehe, you’re quite a sweet talker, but it’s been hard on you these past few months. You’ve been working day and night to make it in time for the conference. In the vast White River province, how many young people can do the same?”
Old Wen sighed with admiration.
“Haha, Old Wen, stop buttering him up. He’ll feel shy again and say something humble,” Professor Tan, who was sitting on the side, reminded.
At the same time, he looked at Wu Mo mischievously.
Just as he had expected, Wu Mo instantly appeared a little awkward after Old Wen complimented him. His hands hung in the air uneasily as if he had nowhere to put them.
“Professor Tan, don’t make fun of me. I just don’t know how to take compliments.”
Wu Mo quickly collected himself and shrugged helplessly.
“Hehe, okay, we don’t have much time. Let’s get back to our main agenda.”
Xu Wuyue sat down on the couch again. Soon after, he took out a notebook with a brown cover and opened it.
Professor Tan and Old Wen had a serious look as if they were going to say something important next.
“Mr. Wu, please have a seat.”
The young girl who was sitting next to Xu Wuyue stood up and brought a chair for Wu Mo.
“Oh, thank you!”
Wu Mo was startled, but he promptly reacted.
Right after he thanked the young girl, he sat down and prepared to listen to what Academician Xu had to say.
“We called you over so early in the morning to discuss the details of the exchange conference with you.” Xu Wuyue looked at his notes and spoke seriously.
“The conference will be held at 10.00 am the day after tomorrow. However, due to the distance between White River and Red Heart, you’ll have to set off tomorrow morning. You’ll take the hyperloop car and arrive at the Red Heart province at around 8.00 pm.
“The federal government has full authority to host the Annual Blacksmith Exchange Conference every year. So, when all of you arrive in the Red Heart province, a commissioner from the federal government will guide you accordingly.”
Wu Mo nodded earnestly.
However, he quickly caught on to something Academician Xu said, and he subconsciously repeated, “All of us? Academician Xu, you’re saying that someone else is coming with me to the Red Heart province?”
“Hehe, of course.”
Professor Tan immediately smiled and said, “Although it’s very difficult to obtain the qualifications to participate in the conference, White River has many talented individuals. Every year, at least three young blacksmiths meet the requirements.
“And this year, a total of five blacksmiths have met the requirements to attend the conference in Red Heart,” Professor Tan said proudly.
“I didn’t mean it that way. I just never thought that we would all be traveling to the Red Heart province together.” Wu Mo waved his hand and quickly explained.
“It’s fine. It’s because you didn’t know that we called you over to explain these things to you before you left.”
Old Wen spoke slowly and helped Wu Mo out of the situation.
“Oh… I understand.”
Wu Mo nodded and remained in his seat obediently, no longer speaking.
He did not know anything about the exchange conference. If he spoke rashly, he would only make more mistakes.
Right then, the young girl next to Academician Xu could not help but chuckle when she saw how embarrassed Wu Mo seemed.
Seeing the girl smile at him, Wu Mo subconsciously looked away and focused on the layout of the office.
“Wanqing, don’t be rude.”
Xu Wuyue noticed that his daughter was teasing Wu Mo, and he could not help but reprimand her in a low voice.
Then, he looked at Wu Mo and apologetically said, “I forgot to introduce you. This is my daughter, Xu Wanqing. She’s also one of the individuals invited to the conference.
“This girl is used to being spoiled, so she has no manners. She didn’t mean to make fun of you earlier, but I should still apologize to you,” Xu Wuyue said as he stood up.
Wu Mo immediately waved his hand and explained, “It’s fine, it’s fine. I didn’t take it to heart at all. Besides, you’re my teacher and mentor. How can you apologize to me?”
After he finished speaking, he automatically looked at the young girl next to Academician Xu, and his expression was full of surprise.
He was not amazed by how beautiful the girl was but by the fact that she only seemed to be in her 20s. Yet, she had met all the conditions to participate in the conference. She was clearly a girl, but the degree of hard work she had put in the field of forging was not inferior to that of any man.
He naturally identified with another young individual who was talented and willing to work hard.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you.”
Wu Mo stood up and extended his hand with a smile.
“Hello, so you’re the boy that my father always talks about—the one who’s very talented and hardworking?” Xu Wanqing graciously stretched her hand out as she tilted her head and asked curiously.
“Um… I guess so.”
Wu Mo never thought that Academician Xu’s evaluation of him behind his back would be so strange, so he was instantly taken aback.
He shook Xu Wanqing’s fair and delicate hand before he politely retracted his own.
“Since you’ve been invited to participate in the conference, I’ll be looking forward to your guidance.”
“Hehe, no problem. However, if we both enter the top 10, I won’t go easy on you while we compete for the championship.” Xu Wanqing raised her chin and said with confidence.
“Alright… Alright.”
Wu Mo had originally thought that Xu Wanqing would share some strategies on participating in the exchange conference. Unexpectedly, this little girl already had thoughts about winning the championship before she even participated in it.
He did not know whether to laugh or cry in response.