Chapter 2218: Late Autumn in the Golden City (Part 18)

Lex keenly discovered the change in Shiler's temperament.

This made his heart sink to the bottom, because he found that this change was negative. Shiler was angry.

Lex immediately put down the knife and fork. He sat in place, lowered his head and said, "Professor, I am extremely sorry for occupying your private time, but I am afraid that the academic problem is a problem we have to face now. Perhaps we can solve it here, and later we will go to the restaurant to finish dinner."

Shiler came back to his senses, and then looked at Lex.

He was sure how much pressure this look would bring to the other party. That focused gaze with indifference would almost pull anyone into the abyss of self-reflection.

"I know that during the completion process of the entire project, I lacked some communication with you. Professor Fries once pointed this out to me. The lack of presence of a graduate supervisor in the graduation process doesn't completely mean that the student is excellent and independent; it may also be a manifestation of his arrogance or perfunctory attitude."

"But I think it's not too late. You are right. Prioritizing the academic problem on Professor Fries's side is a good choice. We still have at least three months to solve the problems in psychology and sociology. I am confident that I can let you sign my completion file before December."

Shiler almost wanted to applaud him.

This was a perfect response, from beginning to end.

Facing Shiler's capriciousness and repeated probing, Lex always firmly expressed himself. He wasn't trembling at the contradictory topic thrown out by Shiler, was slightly suspicious and confused, but was completely clear-headed and could think rationally.

Later, the evaluation of the taste of the dishes was more of a perfect expression of his own feelings. He didn't struggle to explain the things that couldn't be explained, such as why he liked this taste, nor did he use privacy or personal preferences to perfunctorily deal with it.

And, although he seemed to have answered the multiple-choice question thrown out by Shiler, in fact, he didn't answer the options. For example, why cooked food was more delicious, he didn't make any explanation from beginning to end.

He just said he preferred the taste of the spices added to the cooked dishes. This was not any of Shiler's options, but a topic of his own.

"Not explaining" is the most obvious feature of being unmanipulated.

Then Shiler tried to further exert pressure on him. Although recalling Bruce indeed made him a bit angry, he could actually cover up his emotions well, but he didn't. The purpose was to let some real anger turn into certain pressure to further test Lex's pressure.

Lex's performance could be called perfect.

He didn't complain that Shiler called him here to eat but got angry for no reason, nor did he feel angry about Shiler's capriciousness of saying not to talk about studies first and then obviously getting angry because of some things outside the dining table. His emotions were very stable from beginning to end.

The core of everything he said was only one thing: solving the problem. First, propose a reliable plan, which was not to eat and make things clear, and then change to another place to eat after solving the professional problem.

After Shiler denied this answer with his eyes, he began to hand over more core cards, admitting a part of his mistakes in the graduation creation, but not talking about his own feelings, but saying how a certain type of person made mistakes.

Being unrepentant and good at sophistry are usually shortcomings, but because the way of expression is different, they can be completely turned into foresight, courage to take responsibility, and a positive attitude.

Lex perfectly demonstrated this. First, express his positive attitude to solve the problem, then expound that his choice to prioritize Victor's studies was correct, express a kind of ambiguous feeling of "this is not a mistake, everything is under my control," and then give a guarantee of the deadline, and finally secretly mention, who is the person who obviously said he would sign the next day but now goes back on his word?

In general, it is still a typical example of being unrepentant, but because the emotions are too stable and the response method is too perfect, it makes the party pursuing responsibility appear aggressive and not very reasonable.

This is actually a reaction that a normal person with stable emotions, strong self-control, and rich social experience can make.

But what is not normal is that Shiler didn't feel any manipulation tendency in this.

Luthor is indeed more normal than this group of people in Cat Getan, but he is still an arrogant genius, even more arrogant than Batman. Narcissistic arrogant people often have a tendency to manipulate others, which is independent of whether there is a real mental illness.

Lex Luthor is so pure? Shiler doesn't believe it at all. Even in his own analysis, Lex Luthor in this universe is definitely not a good person.

Then he hid his manipulation tendency, and it shouldn't be like this to everyone. Victor was obviously manipulated to a certain extent, and all the evaluations of Lex were good words.

That is to say, he only hid this tendency in front of himself. Is it fear, waiting for an opportunity, or something else?

Shiler is not sure whether to continue probing, because the pressure a person can bear in a short time has a threshold. Exceeding the threshold will lead to numbness in addition to collapse, and the effect will not be very good. But if it is done repeatedly in a short time, it is actually mental abuse.

Throw a bait and see how deep the fish is hiding.

Shiler sighed, put down the cutlery and said, "I said, this is not a conversation about your academic problems. You make me feel a bit disappointed, Lex."

Lex looked at Shiler. Shiler looked into his eyes and said, "Perhaps it is my wishful thinking. I thought your decision to choose Cat Getan University was at least partly influenced by me, or at least recognized my academic ability."

"In my opinion, your talent and ability are completely enough to complete the learning of most theories in textbooks during the undergraduate period, but you don't seem to be very interested in this."

"Of course, there are many opportunities to embark on a more professional path during the process of reading for a master's degree, but it seems that you care more about the breadth of the discipline than the depth of the major."

Shiler wiped his mouth and said, "Can I understand that the double master's degree certificates in physics and psychology have a more significant impact on your future than I thought?"

Lex heard the sharp irony in this sentence. How could Luthor care about any double degree? This is like someone mocking Wei En University for poor grades. Academic qualifications have no meaning to them at all, not even icing on the cake.

But Lex was indeed very shocked by Shiler's words. He really didn't expect Shiler to say this.

So Shiler was waiting for himself to find him?

After understanding this step, Lex actually wanted to say, then why didn't you come to find me.

But he thought about it and felt that he was a bit excessive. He is the world's top psychology expert, and he can still chase after an undergraduate student to let him pursue further studies?

Then Lex felt a bit confused again. He indeed didn't study psychology very seriously, but because of this, he almost never showed any talent in this regard.

Even if Bruce Wei En is very bad in this regard, can't one say that a chicken scattering rice is better than him? Or is it that Shiler doesn't want to teach a genius, but just wants to teach a richest man?

Lex analyzed calmly. Although his emotions were indeed a bit excited, because of surpassing Wei En, and because of Shiler's affirmation and attention, this didn't affect his reason at all.

"I am very sorry." Lex lowered his head and said, "Actually, I have always had this intention, and I can't say I have no interest, but I am afraid that the level of psychological knowledge I have come into contact with is too far from your professional level. I think people cannot participate in track and field races without knowing how to walk."

The fish is cautious, but the angler is more patient.

"If you want to say that your level is only this much, then you are lying." Shiler picked up the cutlery again, started to eat methodically, and said while cutting food, "The experience accumulated in the cruel struggle during the period of independent survival, reflected through other thousands of mirrors, is enough for you to judge what level you are at. Don't perfunctorily deal with me."

"I have absolutely no such intention, Professor. It's just that I have never been good at thinking about things so simply. This is not something that can be solved by walking over and knocking on your office door and then expressing your wishes."

"Then what other difficulties do you have?"

Lex opened his mouth, took a slight breath, pursed his lips and said, "When I saw you that year, your condition was not good. I am not sure what happened at that time. The contact information you left me allowed me to get a lot of help from somewhere, but because of the situation at that time, I have never been able to go deep."

Not enough, Shiler thought, just one step away.

"Lex Luthor, you are not a hesitant and fearful person at all. In fact, you are as arrogant as you are smart, confident that you can find your position in any situation and anchor your existence."

"You do something, not because you believe it is like this, but because you are sure of what you are, so no matter what the matter is, as long as you do it, everything will change with you and be controlled by you."

"And you don't do certain things, not because you don't understand certain situations, but because you failed to find your position in the environment. If your genius wisdom even failed to let you see where you are in the end, you wouldn't do anything."

The veins on the back of Lex's hands bulged.

"I am sorry, Professor." Lex was silent for a while, lowered his eyelids and said, "I think I have mentioned certain identities and positions I envisioned in an inadvertent posture, but you didn't respond at that time, and neither did you later."

"I think I understood this as a rejection, which is the choice least likely to make mistakes. At that time and now, I have no clues to determine what degree of offense you can accept."

Hooked, Shiler revealed a smile in his heart.

Shiler admired Lex's expression.

The panic revealed by the slightly furrowed brows, the slightly sad eyes that seemed to be hiding with eyelashes but were actually attracting attention, the anger characteristics revealed by the pursed lips, the expressions similar to wry smiles and nostalgia made by the raised zygomatic muscles and pressed corners of the eyes—they all have a common name—mental manipulation.

Too skilled, a pure repeat offender. Because of this, the disguise when facing the police is also more perfect. If Shiler didn't deliberately throw bait, he could act this play for at least ten years until no one could shake his advantage.

Shiler was also bored, deciding not to pull the rod first, but to pull for a while, so he first loosened the fishing line.

"Lex, if it is me who made you fail to find your position in a certain environment, then I am sorry."

"But I ask you to answer honestly, for you, even if you are in an extremely unfavorable position, controlled and hurt by drugs, is it safer than living in an environment without a landing point?"

Lex let go of the cutlery he was holding, his arms gradually moved out of the table, his body leaned back on the chair back with a tilt, lowered his head, and after a long while, nodded silently. ===== CHAPTER 2219 =====