Chapter 563: Eyes Red with Jealousy

A somewhat aged blonde foreign woman ran over, respectfully bowing her head toward the white-haired elder.

"Honorable Old Mr. Yates, what are you doing here? Minister Smith has been waiting for you for over an hour!"

"Please go quickly, the wind is strong here, and I’m worried your body can’t withstand it."

The crowd, upon hearing the words of the blonde foreign woman, couldn’t help but widen their eyes in shock.

Minister Smith, could he be the high-ranking official from Vesperia traveling with Mr. Adams this time?

Moreover, his official title is much more intimidating than someone like Adams, who is just a visiting professor teaching at a university. In usual international exchange meetings in Veridia, that Mr. Smith would appear from time to time.

...

Even Mr. Adams was left dumbfounded. He remembered that this blonde woman was Smith’s secretary. He initially hoped to use some connections to chat with Minister Smith, but the latter was unyielding, and his secretary was as tight-lipped as a bank vault, completely uninterested in his advances.

"Emily, what did you say? Is this the old man who kept Mr. Smith waiting for over an hour?"

Heavens, how is that possible?!

Isn’t Smith always the most arrogant? Always making others wait for him, never the other way around.

Adams felt as if he were lost in a fog.

But seeing Emily’s respectful demeanor, it didn’t seem like a joke.

...

The middle-aged blonde woman named Emily frowned at Adams.

"Who are you calling an old codger? Mind your words, Adams. This is Veridia’s revered Mr. Zachary Yates. Didn’t you hear of Mr. Yates’ illustrious name before coming to Stellerton University?"

It’s known that the most prestigious figure at Stellerton University is the elderly Zachary Yates.

Yet, he’s already quite aged and rarely makes public appearances.

However, who doesn’t know his admirable and heroic contributions during Veridia’s times of crisis?

From those former years, many elders have either left this world or passed away, but Mr. Zachary Yates not only enjoys longevity but is also of exceptional character, commanding great respect and admiration. Not only is his reputation in Veridia exceedingly high, but his contributions to the world’s technological advancements have earned him a prestigious medal from Vesperia.

Born into wealth, Zachary Yates studied abroad in Vesperia but chose not to stay there. While this might be seen as a regret, his reputation in Vesperia remains outstanding.

...

The students present, upon hearing the blonde woman say that this elder was Zachary Yates, were stunned into silence.

Especially Fiona Vaughn. Initially, she was disdainful of Cecilia Vaughn’s warm interaction with the old man with white beard and hair. Now, the more she thought about it, the more she felt Cecilia was shrewd. Why didn’t she show a little more courtesy to the old man back then?

Sweat poured down Fiona’s face like rain, and she felt a strong sense of regret, especially as she had been eager to attend the high-level Veridian-Vesperian meeting through Adams to see if she could associate with any prominent figures.

Now here stood a truly weighty figure before her, yet she had completely overlooked him!

...

Fiona Vaughn now felt a deep regret, yet she could only watch helplessly.

She recalled her previous words to flatter Adams, once believing her praise of Vesperia was genuine. But now, with Mr. Zachary Yates present, what if he remembered her face and accused her of betraying her country for glory?

Fear and jealousy churned in her heart, and she quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply to Mr. Zachary Yates.

"Old Mr. Yates, I have always admired you. I never imagined that after all these years, while you may not resemble the youthful image from the newspapers, your spirit and demeanor are even more distinguished than back then."

Fiona Vaughn wanted to say more flattering words, but Old Mr. Yates didn’t even spare her a glance. He simply smiled while looking toward Cecilia Vaughn and Adrian Law.

...

There were even more people around who couldn’t control their expressions than Fiona Vaughn, with exclamations of shock echoing one after the other. Yet no one dared to approach and chat as Fiona did.

The disparity in status was just too great. Previously, everyone might have only regarded him as an ordinary elder, but now he seemed like a legendary figure from books come to life, almost suffocating with his imposing presence.

Adrian Law had long guessed Old Mr. Yates’ identity and naturally remained calm, his demeanor unchanged from before.

It was Cecilia Vaughn whose eyes widened in surprise.

"You... you are actually Mr. Zachary Yates? Was I too bold before..."

Earlier, she had discussed Veridia’s current technological advancements with the elder, especially in the military aspect. She hadn’t felt anything at the time, but now she felt she might have been showing off her limited knowledge.

She was quietly upset with her man for not giving her a hint, causing her to make a fool of herself without realizing it.

After being pinched hard on the arm by his little wife, the man smiled without revealing any unusual expression.

"Cecilia, Old Mr. Yates doesn’t mind your boldness. Why are you in such a rush to take the blame?"

"Do you think everyone is as shameless as you..."

Cecilia Vaughn stuck out her tongue, unconsciously starting to pout.

...

The people around, upon hearing Cecilia Vaughn describe Adrian Law as shameless, were even more shocked than learning Old Mr. Yates was Zachary Yates.

Is this a joke?

Could someone as dignified and distinguished as Young Master Law, who stood there like a painting of an immortal figure, really be described with words like shameless?

This truly is...

Everyone exchanged glances, inexplicably feeling as if they were witnessing a peculiar form of public affection.

Is this an alternative way of showing love?

...

Just as everyone was looking enviously at Cecilia Vaughn, Old Mr. Zachary Yates waved toward her and Adrian Law.

"Young friends, it’s better to meet by chance than to be invited. Since we are fated today, I appreciated your earlier debate. Why don’t you both come with me to meet the Vesperian representatives?"

Cecilia Vaughn was taken aback, knowing that Old Mr. Yates was recognizing her, and before she could respond, Fiona Vaughn, red-eyed with anger, nearly collapsed.

"Old Mr. Yates!"

She forcibly interjected, but her demeanor was extremely timid.

"My sister and her companion aren’t officially invited to this meeting. It might not be appropriate for them to attend, right?"

Cecilia Vaughn looked at her with a half-smile, understanding fully.

"Why, is it inappropriate for Adrian and me to attend? Are you perhaps implying that you are better suited?"

"Sis... I didn’t mean that..."

Fiona Vaughn felt anxious. She had sacrificed so much and didn’t want her trip to Stellerton University to become a chance for others to shine. She hesitated but eventually spoke.

"However... I am the friendly youth ambassador selected by both Veridia and Vesperia. If Mr. Yates doesn’t mind, perhaps I could broaden my horizons?"