Chapter 162: Am I Participating in Your Project?
Jane Lancaster then turned to Quentin Woods. "You said you wouldn’t regret rejecting me as your student. Please, make sure you stick to your word."
After a moment’s thought, she added, "Oh, right. You promised to return the apprenticeship gift. I’ll have someone come by to pick it up later."
Jasper Sterling smiled as he watched her, his eyes impossibly gentle.
’She’s so adorable. To keep that old scoundrel from going back on his word, she actually came up with the idea of sending someone to his house to get the gift.’
’It stunned Quentin Woods instantly. No matter how shameless he was or how he tried to play dumb, it wouldn’t work now.’
’He considered for a moment. He’d dealt with the younger generation of the Woods family over the incident with Lana Sterling, and he happened to have the contact info for Quentin Woods’s children.’
"You don’t have to send someone to pick it up. Why don’t I just call someone from the Woods family who can make decisions and have them personally deliver the gift back?" he suggested with a smile.
Quentin Woods was both shocked and furious. "What does this have to do with you? What right do you have to do this?"
Jasper Sterling glanced at Julian Lancaster. "The Lancaster family are respectable people. They wouldn’t do something like asking for a gift back."
He smiled. "My own class, however, is up for debate. When I encounter a shameless scoundrel, my first instinct is to smash their face in."
He was a man of his word. Right in front of everyone, he called the eldest son of the Woods family and proactively told him to return the gift at once.
Julian Lancaster frowned slightly, but in the end, did not stop him.
Everyone was stunned. How did Jasper Sterling end up handling this?
But it seemed to make perfect sense!
"Last time, Elder Woods injured Lana Sterling and also tried to shamelessly evade responsibility. Luckily, President Sterling was there to get justice for his aunt."
"President Sterling is so kind-hearted. He probably can’t stand seeing someone pull rank because of their age, right?"
To be honest, if you ignored his status as a master of ancient painting restoration, Quentin Woods was truly a nasty old man, and a very low-class one at that.
When faced with someone like him, many people were helpless, since they couldn’t bring themselves to be that thick-skinned.
"Young Master Lancaster is indeed too concerned with appearances. He always wants to let people save face, but some people are just shameless. It’s a good thing President Sterling can handle him," someone murmured with feeling.
Jane Lancaster heard this and smiled softly.
’Respectable? Oh, yes, so very respectable.’
’If Jasper Sterling hadn’t stepped in, he would never have let me go get the apprenticeship gift back. After all, the Lancaster family isn’t short on cash, and it would be bad for our reputation if word got out.’
’But now that Jasper Sterling is involved, if he tried to stop it, he’d look totally subservient. It would make people wonder if he doesn’t even have the guts to offend someone like Quentin Woods.’
’But the truth is, he really doesn’t dare offend Quentin Woods for his sister’s sake.’
Alvin Lancaster found it incredible. ’Is that true? Does my big brother really not dare?’
’No, that’s not right. It’s just Quentin Woods. It’s not as if the Lancaster family can’t afford to offend him. He couldn’t help but wonder... was it that his big brother didn’t dare, or that he simply wasn’t willing?’
Quentin Woods watched helplessly as Jasper Sterling finished the call, so angry he was practically fuming.
He had his eye on the huge benefits Jane Lancaster could bring him, but if she wasn’t willing to be used by him, then those benefits meant nothing to him.
He was wary of Jasper Sterling, so he turned his anger on Jane Lancaster. "You’d better think carefully about who you relied on to get into Stratton University!"
Jane Lancaster was the last person to be intimidated by threats. "It certainly wasn’t you."
Quentin Woods said with a cryptic look in his eyes, "Think carefully. Wasn’t it because you participated in my Genesis Art Academy’s ancient painting restoration project that you were specially admitted into Stratton University?"
Jane Lancaster: "You should think carefully too. Was it really *your* project that I participated in?"
"Alright, that’s enough!" Luna Morgan couldn’t bear to watch any longer and loudly cut Jane Lancaster off.
She had just been messaging Mia Lanley on WeChat, who told her that back at the association, she had accidentally let it slip to Jane Lancaster.
’So Jane Lancaster knew all along that *I* was the real leader of The Genesis Academy project, didn’t she?’
’No wonder Jane Lancaster was treating Professor Woods like that, without a shred of respect. Was it because she felt she didn’t owe anyone anything?’
’I did what I did to repay a debt of gratitude, but Quentin Woods doesn’t owe her anything. Agreeing to let her name be on the project was already a huge help. There was no need for her to mock an old man like that.’
Thinking of this, Luna Morgan said with a serious expression, "Miss Lancaster, Professor Woods has, after all, done you a favor..."
Jane Lancaster cut her off. "Could you please not get involved? This has nothing to do with you."
Unlike how she spoke to Quentin Woods, her tone could even be described as gentle, without a hint of harshness.
But Luna Morgan didn’t notice this. Instead, she became agitated at being interrupted. "How does this not have to do with me? You know perfectly well... I was the one who recommended you for this project."
Jasper Sterling was still smiling, but his eyes gradually grew cold.
’Even now, she’s still so gentle with Luna Morgan. It’s enough to drive a man mad with jealousy.’
Quentin Woods snorted coldly. "I get it now. What’s the use of having talent if you’re an ungrateful wretch like this? If you don’t cultivate your character, no amount of talent will save you from being despised! I’ll answer you now: I refuse to take you as my student. Today, I will only be accepting Luna Morgan!"
In just a few words, he twisted the narrative. It was no longer about Jane Lancaster refusing to be his student, but about him rejecting her due to her moral failings. It was as if he hadn’t been the one just moments ago insisting on taking her on.
’This old bastard’s shamelessness is truly a sight to behold!’
’A sight to behold?’ Jasper Sterling thought. ’It’s utterly dumbfounding.’
"Luna, don’t waste your breath on her. Let’s go!" Quentin Woods said, flicking his sleeve.
Ian Lane and the others naturally stood by their teacher, nodding in agreement.
"Ungrateful wretch! Short-sighted scum!"
"We wouldn’t deign to associate with someone like you!"
"You just have perfect color sense, that’s all. Don’t act like you’re already some big shot in the field. I bet a person like you is destined to achieve nothing!"
"Luna’s future achievements will definitely surpass yours!" Ian Lane declared.
How did things turn out like this? Luna Morgan was somewhat dumbfounded.
She was reluctant to leave and wanted to explain to Jane Lancaster that this wasn’t what she meant at all.
"Do you want everyone to know that Jane Lancaster got into university by relying on you to cheat?" Ian Lane reminded her in a low voice.
Luna Morgan had no choice but to leave with the group.
Ian Lane shot Jane Lancaster a smug look. ’The fact that she cheated her way into university by relying on Luna Morgan will be a stain on her record for the rest of her life.’
’Just you wait,’ he thought. ’When the time is right, I’ll definitely leak this and completely destroy her reputation!’
This group of people was filled with righteous indignation, acting as if they were the champions of justice.
Sean Grant stood up with a smile. "Apologies, I have some matters to attend to at my winery, so I won’t stay any longer."
With that, he hurried after Luna Morgan’s group.
Some of the guests, who didn’t know the truth, saw this large group of people leaving in a huff and assumed it was Jane Lancaster’s fault.
After all, if Jane Lancaster really did get into university because of Quentin Woods’s project, then burning the bridge after crossing it was simply too heartless.
Jane Lancaster had just begun to shine, but it seemed she would soon be scorned for her ingratitude.
Jasper Sterling: "Wait a moment."
Quentin Woods didn’t stop walking. ’No amount of pleading will work this time!’
Sylvan blocked their path, cracking sunflower seeds. "He told you to wait."
Ian Lane: "Get out of the way!"
"Wait!" Adrian Lancaster, who had been silent all evening, couldn’t help but speak up. "Sullivan the Great, what are you doing here?"