She figured the young men would be bored listening to old folks talk.


    "Of course," Shanley agreed, rising to his feet. He arched an eyebrow at Harold. "This way, Dr. Houston."


    "Thank you, Mr. Schwartz," Harold replied politely, following Shanley out of the main hall.


    As they walked, they started chatting.


    "Why didn''t you tell him that Juniper is his Master?" Shanley asked.


    "Baldy Fox is usually so strict," Harold said with a mischievous grin. "I thought it would be fun to let Juniper take him down a notch."


    "Using your sister to do your dirty work?" Shanley asked, his eyes narrowing. "I''m worried."


    "She''s my sister, what''s wrong with using her a little?" Harold retorted without hesitation. "Besides, it''s not like she''s the one who''s going to get hurt here."


    "I''m worried about Dr. Zigmund."


    Back in the living room, the three elders had run out of things to talk about, and the conversation inevitably circled back to the young miracle doctor.


    When the topic was food, Dr. Zigmund would offer a polite smile. When the topic was the young miracle doctor, his smile would vanish.


    "Strange, why isn''t she here yet?” Hannah nced at the time with a slight frown. "Dr. Zigmund, you make yourselffortable. I''m going to go check on the girl."


    "Excellent," Dr. Zigmund nodded eagerly.


    He couldn''t wait for her to leave.


    wait


    He''d been dying to escape the conversation but hadn''t dared to say anything. He had hoped Kent would intervene, but the old fool was even more timid than he was. What a miserable existence!


    As soon as Hannah was out of sight, Dr. Zigmund put down his coffee cup and scooted his chair closer to Kent.


    "I''m telling you, you two are being ridiculous. Do you have any idea how busy Lam? And you still try to foist someone on me." Facing Kent alone Dr. Zigmund held nothing b?ck. I don''t care. You go and tell, your sweetheart that I can''t take on her granddaughter-inw?"


    It wasn''t that he wouldn''t teach her personally, but even his subordinates were chosen through a rigorous selection process. This was like asking a champion ping- pong yer to teach a kid how to y with marbles.


    "The girl really is brilliant," Kent exined patiently. "Just meet her. I''m sure you''ll like her."


    "She hasn''t even been to college. How brilliant can she be?" Dr. Zigmund crossed his arms, his face sour. "Does she think she''s a genius? Does she think she''s like my Master?"


    If there was a true genius in the world, it was his Master and his Master alone. No one else came close.


    “Zigmund—” Kent began, trying to reason with him, but he quickly realized the old man was stubborn. He decided to drop the pretense.


    "What do you mean you can''t? Have you forgotten who funded yourb? My wife rmends one person to you and you want to embarrass her? If she''s not happy, Kent gestured vaguely, "then my life" bes very difficult."


    "And my life will be easy if you send that little amateur to me?" Dr. Zigmund shot to his feet, incensed.


    "Keep your voice down!" Kent hissed, making a shushing motion. "If my wife hears you calling Juniper a little amateur, she''ll kill you."


    “Hmph.” Dr. Zigmund, stubborn as ever, refused to back down. “I''ll call her what she is—a little... amateur!"


    Just then, Juniper, backpack slung over her shoulder, appeared at the doorway.