My Girlfriend Who Develops Through Development

"..."

Lin Mo's face stiffened.

What a mean mouth!

Why would you say the library is trash?

Now look what's happened! He can already picture Cao Lian's murderous gaze... Tsk, he's doomed!

Just a few minutes after Ke Renyi finished his phone call, the office door was pushed open.

Cao Lian walked into the office, panting. "Principal, what can I do for you?"

"Director Cao."

Ke Renyi pointed to the sofa, "Sit down first, let's talk."

Having followed Ke Renyi for so many years, Cao Lian immediately sensed something was wrong from his tone. His heart tightened, and he subtly gave Lin Mo an inquiring look.

Lin Mo looked left and right, but avoided looking at Cao Lian.

Cao Lian's lips twitched slightly as he sat down on the sofa.

Ke Renyi squinted as he poured Cao Lian a cup of tea, and began the conversation in a casual tone, "Director Cao, what do you think of the construction of our Xiabei library?"

"library?"

Hearing Ke Renyi's question, Cao Lian was a little confused. "Well... I think it's alright."

As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Ke Renyi.

Ke Renyi stroked his beard and smiled, "Director Cao, you don't need to be so cautious. I just invited you here for a casual chat. Don't hide anything from me. We're all family here, so just say what you want to say."

The more Ke Renyi said this, the more Cao Lian felt something was amiss. "Principal, why are you suddenly asking about the library? Has something happened to the library recently?"

"Not really."

Ke Renyi first shook his head, then changed the subject: "Director Cao, if I remember correctly, you were the main person in charge when the library was built, right?"

"Yes, I am in charge."

"Lin Mo and I just went to the library. I think the quality of the books in the library is quite good. What do you think, Director Cao?"

"cough--"

When Lin Mo heard Ke Renyi's words, he couldn't help but cough.

The next second, Ke Renyi rolled his eyes at him, "What? Is your throat uncomfortable? If your throat is uncomfortable, go to the school clinic and get some arsenic to take."

Lin Mo: "..."

Want to eat some arsenic?

Listen, is this human language?

It was precisely because of Ke Renyi's words that Cao Lian became even more certain that Ke Renyi had come to see him today for a reason, and it was not a good thing.

Thinking about the various circumstances surrounding the construction of the library, his face was full of wry smiles. "Principal, you asked me to tell the truth, so why are you being so secretive about what you say?"

After saying that, his expression was filled with helplessness as he truthfully reported, "The quality of the library's collection is indeed... not very good."

"Not very good?"

Ke Renyi snorted coldly, "Isn't Director Cao's evaluation a bit too objective? Is it just 'not very good'? I think it's rubbish."

Cao Lian: "..."

Ke Renyi didn't give Cao Lian a chance to explain. He opened the drawer of the coffee table and took out several books he had brought back from the library.

Besides the books Lin Mo mentioned, there was also the book he saw at the time, "One Hundred Things to Note When Cleaning Toilet Feces".

The book was placed on top, and its eye-catching title instantly caught Cao Lian's attention, causing him to cough incessantly.

"Principal, actually..."

"Director Cao!"

Just as Cao Lian was about to explain, Ke Renyi forcefully interrupted him, spreading several books out on the coffee table and questioning, "I put you in charge of the library's construction, and this is how you've managed it?"

"What are these books? Why are they in the school library?"

Lin Mo, the only bystander, hugged a cushion with both hands, like a well-behaved child.

They didn't even dare to make a loud sound while breathing, for fear of getting into trouble.

Faced with Ke Renyi's questioning, Cao Lian sighed deeply, "Alright, since the principal asks this, I'll tell you the truth."

"Okay, you say."

"Principal, do you remember how much it cost to build the library?"

Ke Renyi frowned. "Director Cao, I asked you about the quality of the library's collection, not how much money was spent building the library."

“Principal, every cause has its effect.”

Cao Lian explained with a worried look: "The total budget for building the library was 40 million, and more than 30 million was spent on construction and decoration alone. At that time, you also requested that the library's bookshelves be made of top-quality pear wood, with each bookshelf costing 42,000. One hundred pear wood bookshelves would cost 4.2 million."

"After everything was settled, I only had less than two million left. The library's requirement was that the collection must be no less than 100,000 books. I approached you at the time, hoping you could approve some more funds, but you refused."

"I really have no other choice. It's less than two million... even if it's two million, with a collection of 100,000 books, that means the price of each book can't exceed twenty yuan. If it's less than twenty yuan, the quality of the collection can't be high."

At first, Cao Lian was a bit hesitant, but the more he talked, the more excited he became, and eventually he directly launched a soul-searching interrogation of Ke Renyi.

"You want the horse to run but don't feed it? Principal, there's no such thing as a free lunch."

"Tell me yourself, is it my fault that the library's collection is of such poor quality?"

"If you pay, will the quality of the library's collection be any worse?"

"Please don't go too far, okay? Look at your conscience..."

Ke Renyi: "..."

Ok!

This Cao Lian is really getting more and more impressive. He actually dared to criticize the principal in front of the students.

Tolerable or unbearable!

"Little Cao!"

Ke Renyi usually addressed Cao Lian as Director Cao, but now that he called him "Little Cao," Cao Lian felt a chill run down his spine and stopped talking abruptly.

"Um... Principal, did I say anything just now?"

"..."

Ke Renyi glared at him. "I don't care about all that. You are the main person in charge of building the library. Now that the quality of the library's collection is so poor, you bear the main responsibility."

Hearing this, Cao Lian's grievances welled up again. "I can't stand it when the principal says that. What do you mean I bear the main responsibility? If you gave me money, wouldn't I be able to get a high-quality collection of books?"

"If you're not going to pay, what more do you want?"

Ke Renyi glared and said, "Little Cao, watch your tone of voice."

"This is my attitude, so what?"

Cao Lian argued forcefully, "Am I not telling the truth? I am the Dean of Students of Xiabei, not a god. What can I do if I don't have money?"

Seeing that Cao Lian was getting more and more agitated, Ke Renyi's attitude quickly changed, and he said earnestly, "Director Cao, why are you so agitated?"

"I called you here today just to ask a few questions, I didn't mean to blame you at all. Calm down, this is my fault."

Lin Mo almost couldn't help but give Cao Lian a thumbs up when he saw Ke Renyi's sudden change in expression.

Unfortunately, Ke Renyi happened to see his action.

For a moment, Ke Renyi was so angry that he gritted his teeth.

Noticing Ke Renyi's murderous gaze, Lin Mo smiled ingratiatingly, "Principal, I just had a finger cramp, that's all."

After Cao Lian calmed down, he realized that he had gone a bit too far with his attitude. He smiled politely at Ke Renyi and said, "Principal, this is really not a big deal. If you want to improve the quality of the library's collection, just give us the money."

"I won't ask for much. Give me twenty or thirty million, and I'll give you an awesome library!"

Chapter 547 Lin Mo? What kind of person is Lin Mo?

"Twenty or thirty million?"

Ke Renyi rolled his eyes. "Director Cao, you've got quite an appetite lately!"

"You casually mention twenty or thirty million. Do I look like I'm worth twenty or thirty million?"

Director Cao chuckled, "Principal, since you're not paying, you can't blame me for the poor quality of the library's collection."

Why can't I blame you?

Ke Renyi glared at him and said, "Listen up, no matter what method you use, improve the quality of the library's collection."

Cao Lian was stunned. "Where's the money?"

"I don't need money, but I need my life."

"..."

Cao Lian was speechless and directly threw the topic to Lin Mo, who was watching the show.

"Lin Mo, you be the judge. Isn't the principal being unreasonable? He's not giving me money, yet he expects me to improve the quality of the library's collection. Isn't that bullying?"

"What can be done in this society without costing money? There's no such thing as a free lunch. Don't you agree?"

"cough--"

Lin Mo's lips twitched. "Director Cao, I am foolish. I didn't understand what you and the principal were discussing, so I don't want to offer any opinions."

"you……"

Cao Lian's expression was priceless; he wanted to curse inwardly.

Ke Renyi smiled smugly, "Director Cao, you're a key member of Xiabei. I'm sure this little matter won't be difficult for you at all..."

"Stop."

Cao Lian waved his hand and said, "Principal, don't flatter me. I'll just say it here: without money, the quality of the library's collection can't be improved. It's that simple."

"Also, if you don't like me, just dismiss me as the dean of students, instead of making things difficult for me in this roundabout way."