Chapter 310 - 201: Silu is Questioned, Lu Fan and Elder Meng Strongly Back Her Up for a Satisfying Face-Slap

Chapter 310: Chapter 201: Silu is Questioned, Lu Fan and Elder Meng Strongly Back Her Up for a Satisfying Face-Slap

Teacher Chen sighed, her tone softening. "Shen Hong, I understand how you feel, but in this matter, the school has its own considerations..."

"What considerations?" Shen Hong interrupted, her voice choked with tears. "Isn’t it just because she has connections? Head, Teacher Chen, can you honestly say there were no backroom deals involved?"

The department head looked awkward at the question. He took a sip of his tea to hide the discomfort on his face.

He set down his teacup and chose his words carefully. "Shen Hong, listen to me. Jiang Silu is able to participate in the national competition because of Elder Meng’s recommendation. You know Elder Meng’s standing in the industry. The school naturally has to pay attention to someone he favors. As for you being removed from the team..."

He paused, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "That matter was indeed handled improperly, but the situation at the time was rather complex."

"I just can’t let them get away with this," Shen Hong said angrily. "Head, tell me, if Jiang Silu didn’t have a powerful background, if she didn’t have Elder Meng backing her, on what grounds could a first-year student like her qualify?"

The department head was stumped. He opened his mouth but didn’t know how to respond.

An awkward silence fell over the office.

Just then, the door was pushed open.

An elderly man with white hair walked in. It was Elder Meng.

He wore a dark gray Zhongshan suit, his posture ramrod straight. A faint smile played on his lips, but it carried an imposing aura of authority.

The department head scrambled to his feet, a wide smile plastered on his face. "Elder Meng, what brings you here?"

Teacher Chen also stood up quickly, ushering him in. "Elder Meng, please, have a seat."

Elder Meng waved his hand dismissively, his gaze landing on Shen Hong. His tone was light as he said, "I heard someone was questioning my prized disciple. I came to see who has such sharp eyes."

Shen Hong’s face instantly went pale.

Of course, she knew Elder Meng.

He was a titan in the Landscape Architecture Department, a man of great prestige and moral standing. Even the university president had to treat him with the utmost respect.

’How much of what I just said did he hear?’

Elder Meng walked over to Shen Hong and looked her up and down before speaking slowly. "Young lady, I was at the door and overheard some of what you said. You said Jiang Silu has no ability, that she relies on connections, and that she’s unworthy of participating in the competition. Is that right?"

Shen Hong bit her lip, not daring to speak.

"Then let me ask you, have you seen her design? Have you seriously studied her work? Do you have any idea how many all-nighters she pulled for that design?" Elder Meng smiled, but it was a chilling smile.

Shen Hong didn’t say anything, merely lowering her head in silence.

"I’ve read the judges’ comments from the Landscape Cup. Her design concept was innovative, and her handling of the details was masterful. The judges are all experts in the field. Are you suggesting they’re all blind?"

Elder Meng sighed, his tone softening. "Young lady, I know you feel wronged. But have you ever considered that the more of a scene you make, the more insecure you appear? Now, let me just ask you one thing: have you seen the design portion of her work?"

Shen Hong looked up, her eyes red-rimmed. Finally, she shook her head. "No."

"Alright then. I’ve brought the work that won her the gold award. Take a look. If you feel that you can not only complete but also excel at her design concept and creative execution, then I will consider letting the two of you compete again."

Elder Meng took a stack of blueprints from his briefcase and handed them to Shen Hong.

"These are Silu’s complete design drafts for the Landscape Cup. Take a look."

Shen Hong froze for a moment before taking the blueprints and looking down to flip through them.

At first, her eyes still held a look of defiance, but as she turned the pages one by one, her expression gradually changed.

The lines, the layouts, the handling of the details... every part radiated brilliance.

She had to study several of the innovative design concepts multiple times before she could grasp their ingenuity.

She looked them over and over again. Finally, she raised her head and opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Elder Meng watched her and said calmly, "You’re a fourth-year student. After studying for four years, you should be able to tell what level this is at."

Shen Hong lowered her head, staring at the blueprints in her hands, and was silent for a long time.

Finally, she let out a soft sigh. Though still reluctant to admit it, she said, "I... I couldn’t do this."

She handed the blueprints back to Elder Meng. Her eyes reddened again, but this time it wasn’t from feeling wronged, but from shame.

"Teacher Meng, I’m sorry, I..."

Elder Meng waved his hand, cutting her off. "You don’t need to apologize to me. You just need to remember that there will always be people in this world who are better than you. It’s not shameful to admit that someone else is outstanding."

Shen Hong kept her head down and said nothing.

But the defiance in her eyes slowly faded away.

Elder Meng looked at her, shook his head, and turned to the department head. "Let’s end this matter here. Minimize the fallout."

With that, he pushed the door open and left.

The department head hurried after him. "Elder Meng, um, please let me explain..."

Having stepped out of the office, Elder Meng turned back to the department head and said, "The best way to dispel everyone’s doubts is to exhibit this work. Put all of these design manuscripts on display. I believe everyone will be thoroughly convinced then."

After speaking, Elder Meng handed the stack of design blueprints to the department head.

The department head looked at the thick stack and immediately set about handling the matter.

’For Elder Meng to come all the way from the capital to Jinling just to explain this... Jiang Silu’s background is anything but simple!’

He couldn’t help but sigh to himself, ’Shen Hong, oh, Shen Hong. If you had just been willing to give Jiang Silu credit back then, would things have escalated this far? Sigh... in the end, I’m the one stuck cleaning up the mess...’