The next day, Xian Lin'er enthusiastically came to find Qian Ran.
The proposal to appoint Qian Ran as the deputy dean of Shrek Academy's Soul Engineering Department was met with no objections during the Sea God Pavilion meeting.
The Sea God Pavilion primarily handled Shrek Academy's overarching policies and rarely interfered with internal management. Besides, with Qian Ran's donation of several ninth-level soul tools, his strength, potential, and contributions to the academy made him more than qualified to replace Qian Duoduo.
Moreover, since Qian Duoduo himself had no objections, the elders saw no reason to intervene.
Whether Qian Duoduo genuinely agreed or not wasn't their concern.
"Heehee! Here's your appointment letter. From now on, you're officially the deputy dean of Shrek Academy's Soul Engineering Department!" Xian Lin'er said gleefully, waving the certificate in front of Qian Ran.
Her joy wasn't just because of Qian Ran's promotion. Now that Qian Ran was the deputy dean and she was the dean, the two would get to spend significantly more time together—far more than he would with Cai Meier.
After all, the Soul Engineering Department and the Martial Soul Department were located in separate areas.
"Hmm? You're the dean, and I'm the deputy dean. Doesn't that mean we've taken complete control of the Soul Engineering Department?" Qian Ran teased, pulling Xian Lin'er into his arms with a laugh.
"So what? If you want to be the dean, I'll gladly let you take over."
"It's all up to me anyway. I'll just work under you and do whatever you say," Xian Lin'er said, looking up at Qian Ran with an infatuated expression.
To her, Qian Ran was far more important than Shrek Academy. The academy had long ceased to be her priority.
"Better not—I'm too lazy for that," Qian Ran said, grinning as he lifted Xian Lin'er slightly, his hands cupping her round hips. "Being the deputy is less work, right?"
"What do you think?" Xian Lin'er smirked. "Of course, I can always have Qian Duoduo handle the administrative tasks for you. You just need to swing by the office occasionally and put on a professional front. You're a deputy dean now, so you can't just goof off like before. At least make it look good."
Leaning against his chest, Xian Lin'er traced lazy circles on his chest with her delicate fingers.
"I get it, I get it!" Qian Ran chuckled, though a hint of guilt crept into his expression. "But isn't this a bit harsh on Qian Duoduo? I mean, we took his position and left him with all the work."
Shrimp and pig heart, indeed!
"You're feeling bad now? So this is all my fault, huh?" Xian Lin'er huffed, pinching Qian Ran's chest hard in frustration.
Once, she had been an upright, virtuous woman. Everything she had become was because of Qian Ran!
If not for him, would she have done half the things she had? Every decision she made was for his sake.
"My bad, my bad. Just slipped out! My lovely Lin'er, you're amazing. Come here and give me a kiss," Qian Ran said quickly, planting a kiss on her cheek before she could get genuinely angry.
He adored the way Xian Lin'er treated Qian Duoduo—indifferent and distant. After all, she was his woman.
Truthfully, Qian Ran's quirks leaned in this direction.
Still, he felt a bit sorry for Qian Duoduo. Perhaps he should help him find a nice wife.
Qian Ran wasn't inherently cruel. Breaking up Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er was his way of ensuring Qian Duoduo could find someone who truly suited him. A woman like Xian Lin'er was out of Qian Duoduo's league.
"Lin'er, help me out here," Qian Ran said, patting her shapely behind.
Qian Ran had a particular fondness for mature women, especially their fuller figures. The softness and bounce were unmatched.
But his true weakness was Xian Lin'er's red lips.
"You're impossible. Every time I come over, you make me do this." Blushing, Xian Lin'er slid off his lap and knelt before him, stealing a glance upward with her captivating eyes.
"That's why I love you, Lin'er," Qian Ran said, his smile widening.
Even simple acts felt extraordinary when it was Xian Lin'er.
She knew Qian Ran enjoyed the sense of dominance from looking down on her during such moments. Occasionally, she would pause her actions, gazing up at him with a mix of maturity, gentleness, and submission in her eyes.
That one look was enough to melt a man's soul.
Who wouldn't fall for that?
And she wasn't just any woman—she was the dean of the Soul Engineering Department!
After a while, Xian Lin'er stood up and smoothed her clothes.
"I'll head back now. I need to prepare your office and delegate some of your work to others."
"Lin'er, I love you," Qian Ran said, stroking her delicate chin.
"Hmph. Sweet talker. If you really love me, show it with actions," she said with a playful glare, though her irritation was feigned.
Qian Ran's honeyed words were the same for everyone, and she knew it. But no matter how often she heard them, they never got old.
This, perhaps, was love.
When you love someone, even their repetitive words feel endlessly captivating.
When you don't, even a glance from them can feel grating.
"This month, I'll set aside at least a week just for you," Qian Ran promised, giving her a firm squeeze before she left.
"That's more like it," Xian Lin'er said, her satisfaction evident as she walked away.
Time together was more valuable than any sweet nothings. As long as Qian Ran made time for her, she would be happy.
After Xian Lin'er left, Qian Ran looked at the appointment letter and the official uniform she had brought him.
It all felt surreal.
"So this is what skipping the grind feels like," he mused. "I wonder if getting Zhou Yi and Mu Jin involved will be seen as favoritism? And does this make my relationships with Dong'er and the others… teacher-student romances?"
"I must be the youngest deputy dean in Shrek Academy's history. Not bad, not bad," Qian Ran said with a grin.
"Eventually, I'll find a way to get Zhou Yi and Mu Jin transferred to the Soul Engineering Department. They're just languishing in the outer court anyway. With their expertise, they might even qualify for positions in the department's inner court."
"Even Soul Engineering Department instructors need to cultivate, right?"
Qian Ran chuckled, his grin turning mischievous.
Initially, he had no interest in administrative positions. But now? The perks were starting to look quite appealing. As deputy dean, he could freely call Zhou Yi and Mu Jin to his office or visit Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier under the pretense of work discussions.
And organizing a party with Dong'er and the others? Entirely reasonable, of course.
(End of Chapter)