"Alright,e on in," the old man said, deciding his master couldn''t possibly havee back from the dead. He was overthinking it.


    "Okay." Juniper walked in obediently, her eyes once again drawn to the snacks.


    "How much do you know aboutputers?" the old man asked, his back to her as his fingers flew across the keyboard, filling the screen with a dizzying array of code.


    "I..." Juniper started to speak, but he cut her off. "Computer science isn''t just about tapping on a keyboard. If you chose this major and came to myb, you have to be prepared to work hard. If you can''t handle it, you can go find another advisor right now."


    He''d had several students before who thought they were gifted, but they were fragile flowers who couldn''t take a bit of criticism. They''d all run off crying within a few days. He was here to train talent for the country, not to babysit.


    He nced over his shoulder at Juniper. With her delicate features and slender frame, she looked like she''d burst into tears if he so much as raised his voice. He hoped she wouldn''t waste his time.


    "Professor..." Juniper began quietly after he had finished his speech.


    The old man paused, looking at her expectantly. He knew it. She couldn''t take the pressure.


    "If you want to leave, you can go now..." he started, but Juniper cut him off.


    "Can I try one of those?" she asked earnestly. Her gaze was fixed on the box of snacks on his desk. Spicy jerky sticks.


    Shanley said they were unhealthy, so he never kept them at home. They looked pretty good, though.


    "What?" The request threw the old man for a loop. When he recovered, he defensively pulled the snack box away.


    "You''re not leaving?" He narrowed his eyes. "Let me be clear. I have very little research funding, so working with me will be tough, and the workload is heavy. Even the male students can''t handle it A girl like you..."


    gm


    "I''m not leaving," Juniper said, blinking, her eyes still on his snacks. She raised an eyebrow. "Give me some snacks, and I''ll bring you a slice of cheesecake tomorrow."


    Cheesecake? It was his favorite. So


    she was after his snacks all along. This was his personal stash, bought with his pocket money that hed hidde from his wife. Still, she was the first student who seemed willing torise to the challenge.


    "Fine. One..." The old man hesitated, then held up two fingers. "Two slices."


    "Deal." Juniper held out her hand expectantly.


    ???


    Staring at the girl who bore such a striking resemnce to his te'' master, the old man felt an odd sense of intimidation. After all, his master had been truly formidable, and the psychological scarso remained.


    "Just the jerky, nothing else," he grumbled, reluctantly pushing the snack box towards her. He watched her hand like a hawk. "There are only a few bags left. You can only take one."


    Juniper shot him a look and, with lightning speed, snatched two of thergest bags.


    "Hey! You took an extra one!" the old man yelped, unwilling to be shortchanged. "That''ll be three slices of cake! Three!"


    "Fine." Juniper tore open a package and took a bite. The vor exploded in her mouth. Amazing! She had to secretly buy some for herself.


    The old man watched the girl, a nagging feeling of familiarity growing stronger by the second.


    Sensing his scrutiny, Juniper quickly changed the subject. "I think there''s an error in this code."