Chapter 80 Taking Only One Student in This Lifetime

Chapter 80 Taking Only One Student in This Lifetime

With Louis's reassurance, Elisa slept unusually well that night.

The following morning, Louis drove her to work as usual.

The Maybach pulled up smoothly in front of the translation center. Louis opened his door, walked around to the passenger side, and opened the door for Elisa.

"Here we are."

Elisa grabbed her bag and got out. The morning light caught the collar of her white shirt, making her look sharp and fresh.

Louis kept a hand on the door and said in a low voice, "I'll have my assistant bring you lunch at noon."

"Okay."

"Remember to put the ointment on your palm."

"Okay."

"Also," Louis paused slightly, as if he wanted to remind her of something else.

"Mr. York." Elisa cut him off. "If you keep going, I'm going to be late."

Louis pressed his lips together, resigned, and let go of the car door.

He had just stepped back half a step when a window on the third floor suddenly slid open. Leandro leaned halfway out and teased, "Do you think this is a kindergarten? Dropping her off every day, and you still need to remind the teacher to make sure the kid drinks enough water?"

Louis's expression froze for a moment.

Leandro, undeterred, raised his voice until it echoed. "Move it! Your hovering is a drain on my students' productivity!"


The window slammed shut, Elisa suppressed a laugh.

Louis kept a straight face and instinctively lowered his voice. "Your teacher's temper is really something..."

"He’s all talk." Elisa turned toward the entrance, pausing after a few steps to look back over her shoulder. "Pick me up tonight?"


Louis's expression softened, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. He watched her disappear past the security post before turning to get in the car and leave.

The morning was relentless.

At Workstation Three, seven high-resolution files of rubbings were queued up for translation, all newly excavated multilingual documents in a mix of scripts.

Elisa put on anti-static gloves and focused on checking roots and syntax line by line.

At noon.

The soundproof door of the encryption room was suddenly yanked open from the outside.

The deputy director practically ran in, his forehead slick with sweat. He leaned in and said a few quick words in Leandro's ear.

Leandro's hands stopped on the keyboard.

He took off his reading glasses, turned to glance at Elisa, and stood up.

"Elisa, come out with me."

In the reception room at the end of the hallway, an armchair had been brought in for the occasion.

Odette sat upright in it, her silver hair combed meticulously. She wore an evening gown with a dark shawl over it, held a cane in her hand, and her presence seemed to drain the air from the room.

Behind her stood two bodyguards in black uniforms, and beside her was a middle-aged female secretary carrying a briefcase.

The display was deliberate, clearly meant to back up Angelina.

"Mr. McCall." Odette's voice was measured, politely condescending. "Angelina told me about what happened yesterday. I didn't take her side of the story at face value, so I came in person today to ask you, how exactly did my goddaughter offend you?"

Leandro strode into the reception room, hands in his pockets.

"She didn't offend me." Leandro met Odette's gaze directly, calm and unflinching. "She offended scholarship and standards."

Odette tapped her cane on the floor.

"Leandro, we've known each other for decades. Back when you were being ostracized in academia, it was the York family who stepped in and helped you get your first research grant."

"Can't you do me this small favor?"

Leandro's expression didn't change. He spoke very slowly.

"I'll show you respect, but I won't sacrifice talent."

"Odette, yesterday your goddaughter walked in and immediately started smearing my student, using your name to lean on people. She doesn't even have basic academic integrity. If I keep someone like that here at the center, it's unfair to every researcher doing serious work."

Odette's expression darkened.

"So you just threw Angelina out in front of two elderly people?"

"If she genuinely came to learn, I'd welcome her." Leandro shot back coldly. "But did she come to learn? She was here only to smear people."

Leandro raised his hand and pointed toward the door.

"Mrs. York, those seven rubbings at Workstation Three, your goddaughter couldn't make sense of a single character. My student worked through all of them in under two minutes, and even Philip said every one was correct."

"Why should my student give up her position just because she showed up? Because the York family has money?"

The reception room was silent for a full five seconds.

Odette gripped her cane tightly, veins bulging on her knuckles.

"Mr. McCall." Odette's tone dropped, carrying a chill. "You can protect her for now, but can you protect her forever? Elisa will divorce Louis sooner or later. When that happens, she'll be nothing."

Elisa stood in the reception room and heard every word clearly.

Her expression didn't change.

Leandro let out a low laugh. There was no warmth in it.

"Mrs. York, you've got it the wrong way around."

Leandro walked to the doorway, reached out, and pulled Elisa behind him, shielding her completely.

"Whether or not she's Louis's wife has absolutely nothing to do with her position here. Even if she divorces Louis tomorrow, Workstation Three is still hers."

"I've taken only one student in my entire life. If anyone dares to touch her, they'll have to ask if I agree first!"

Odette's face turned completely dark.

She stood up with her cane, stared at Leandro, then glanced at Elisa behind him. Something complicated flickered in her eyes.

"Fine. Just fine."

Odette walked out of the reception room with her cane. Soon, the sound of the elevator opening and closing could be heard.

Leandro exhaled slowly.

He turned around and saw Elisa standing there, her back straight, but her eyes a little red.

"Why are you crying?" Leandro reached out and tapped her forehead, his voice softening a little as he comforted her. "Don't take all this nonsense to heart. As long as I'm around, I will never give up on you. No one can take you away, no matter who comes asking."

Elisa sniffled, a rush of emotion rising in her chest. She bent down and bowed deeply.

"Thank you."

"Alright." Leandro looked away. "Do your work well, don't waste your talent. Now get back to work."

Elisa looked away, turned, and walked back to the encryption room, her steps solid and steady.

That evening, when work ended.

The Maybach pulled up right on time on the tree-lined street outside the translation center.

Elisa walked out. Louis handed her a cup of warm honey-lemon water.

"How was today?"

Elisa took the cup, sipped it, and briefly told him what happened.

Louis's gaze darkened.

"Don't be afraid." He reached out and put his arm around her shoulder. "I'll talk to Grandma. You focus on studying with Mr. McCall. Don't worry about anyone from the York family."

A crisp sound of high heels suddenly rang out.

Angelina appeared outside the translation center. She had come looking for Leandro.

As soon as she reached the entrance, she spotted Louis standing outside, about to get in the car. Her eyes lit up, and without any hesitation, she lunged at Louis.

"Louis, you're here too."

"I haven't seen you in days."