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Chapter 166
Twenty minutes later, an elderly woman, clad in a white embroidered winter evening gown, sat in the La Reverie studio’s lounge with an air of elegance and grace. A mink fur shawl was draped over her shoulders, and she sat with her back as straight as a rod.
Her hair, though streaked with gray, was carefully arranged at the back of her head, radiating a tranquil aura that seemed to soothe everything around her.
She gracefully took a sip of coffee from the cup on the table, her movements refined and cultured.
When Ophelia pushed the door open, she was momentarily stunned.
Suddenly, she felt like crying.
For a split second, Ophelia thought she saw her grandma.
The silhouette of this elderly lady’s profile was strikingly similar to Ophelia’s grandmother’s.
Her graceful demeanor was strikingly similar to Ophelia’s grandmother’s, too.
“Ms. Spencer, do you remember me?” The elderly lady’s voice was light, and as she saw Ophelia, she slowly stood up with a kind smile.
Ophelia said, “Ms. Tyrus, of course I remember you.”
The elderly lady was Enzo Tyrus, a professor of Design at Dellanex University.
She had judged a design competition Ophelia had participated in before, and they had also met once at Theo’s birthday banquet.
Ophelia hadn’t expected that Enzo would come looking for her.
Nor could Ophelia guess why Enzo came to find her.
Enzo approached and took Ophelia’s hand, gently rubbing the back of it, and said, “You need to stay warm during your period, especially in winter.”
“How did you know?” Ophelia asked in surprise.
Enzo said, “Older folks can tell at a glance. You should take good care of yourself. Though, I must say, you look much better than before. Just make sure to keep it up.”
Enzo’s wrinkled yet delicately elegant hands gently patted Ophelia’s.
This gesture made Ophelia’s eyes well up, bringing back memories of her grandmother.
“Professor Tyrus, what brings you here today?” Ophelia asked and slightly adjusted her posture, sitting across from Enzo with a rare sense of ease and warmth usually reserved for strangers.
“Actually, I have a favor to ask,” Enzo said, her speech gentle and unhurried, echoing the polished cadence of her time.
She explained, “After retiring, I was rehired to teach at Dellanex University. Now, approaching eighty, my eyesight isn’t as good as it used to be, and teaching has become quite tough for me.
“The university asked me to find a fitting successor. After giving it much thought, I realized no one seemed right until I saw you. I couldn’t think of anyone better. So, I wanted to ask if you’d be interested in taking my place at Dellanex University.”
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“Become a professor at Dellanex University? At my age?” Ophelia asked two questions in a row in astonishment.
She had never attended college. Her brief time in university life in the past was not enjoyable.
At Ophelia’s age, she should be in her second or third year of college. However, Enzo was asking her to be a professor, which was unexpected.
Ophelia felt she couldn’t handle it.
Enzo said, “Two classes a week, each 80 minutes long, and one thousand dollars just let me know if your schedule allows for it.”
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“Are you sure? Can I really do it?” Ophelia asked with a smile, wondering if Enzo was joking. No matter how she saw it, she didn’t seem to fit the role of a professor.
Getting such a high salary would make Ophelia feel a bit guilty.
Enzo said seriously, “No one is more suitable than you. I trust my own judgment, and more importantly, I trust you.”
Their eyes met, and Ophelia remembered what her grandma often told her, “Elia, you’re the best. I believe in you.” Ophelia thought for a moment before she asked, “Doesn’t Dellanex University have a century–old library?”
Enzo replied, “Yeah, it sure does! The century–old library at Dellanex University is amazing, full of books you can’t find anywhere else.”
Ophelia and Enzo chatted about some other topics.
Enzo didn’t rush for Ophelia’s confirmed answer.
As Enzo was leaving, Ophelia walked her down the stairs.
Ophelia said, “Professor Tyrus, I can give it a shot, but I hope you keep looking for someone more suitable.”
Enzo asked, “Are you really willing to give it a shot?”
“Yeah.” Ophelia thought it over again and again, and eventually agreed.
She didn’t like to let people down.
Coincidentally, she wanted to visit the century–old library at Dellanex University to see if she could find any unknown information about the slums.
Enzo said, “Thank you very much. The new semester will start in a few days. Once the schedule is organized, I’ll get in touch with you, and we’ll see if you’re available.”
Ophelia replied, “Sure.”
“Goodbye,” Enzo said and adjusted her scarf. Then she turned with elegance and hailed a cab.
Just then, Chloe returned and couldn’t help but look at Enzó as she passed by her.
Chloe asked Ophelia, “Who is she?”
“They look quite familiar, don’t they?” Ophelia said with a gentle smile.
Chloe turned to glance at Enzo again through the taxi window and said, “Their profiles look exactly the same.”
Then Ophelia and Chloe took the elevator upstairs together.
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Ophelia shared her recent plans with Chloe.
After listening, Chloe asked, “Are you really sure about this?”
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Ophelia replied, “Yes. I wasn’t at first, but after seeing Ms. Tyrus, I remembered that old lady. She could have left the slums long ago, perhaps even become a university professor like Ms. Tyrus, but she didn’t.
“She chose to stay in the slums to try to change it, hoping one day it would be different.”
Since Ophelia now had the power to make a difference, why not give it a try?
“No matter what you decide to do, I will support you,” Chloe said and gave Ophelia a supportive pat on the shoulder, looking at her resolutely.
Ophelia also shared her thoughts with Kevin.
He said, “Elia, I’m with you too! Scarcity starts in the mind, then it impacts the spirit, and ultimately the body. When the children there stop worrying about food, they can concentrate on their education.”
Discrimination and unfairness were the core issues there.
To make a change, those problems had to be addressed completely.
Ophelia said, “By the way, Chloe, can you book a hotel for me? Start with a week, please.”
“Sure,” Chloe replied, always the type to follow Ophelia’s requests without asking why. But this time, she surprisingly asked, “Is it for the guest staying at your place?”
Ophelia repeated in her mind, ‘A guest staying over? At my place?
Ophelia was stunned for a couple of seconds before she realized Chloe was referring to Noah.
Ophelia replied, “Oh, no.”
“Oh, so is he planning to stay for good?” Chloe asked, pretending to be carefree.
Ophelia shrugged and said, “Not sure. He said he was going to Waston, but he hasn’t left yet. By the way, he asked me to apologize to you. He’s a bit… Odd. Don’t take his words seriously
Chloe said, “No worries. I wouldn’t take offense at a
fool.”
It was the first time that Ophelia had heard Chloe describe someone in that tone. Was she really not bothered?
In the evening, Ophelia told Kenneth about her new job as a professor at Dellanex University.
“It’s great,” said Kenneth.
He pondered, ‘As long as she doesn’t keep getting ideas that are unrealistic:
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