In the sickroom, Alfred coughed, asking, "Who's here? Why do I seem to hear Professor Shearer's voice?"
"No, there's no one," Bruce instinctively denied. Alfred took a couple gasps for breath, had a sip of water, and then said, "It's been a long time since I've spoken to the professor. I wonder how he's been..."
"He's been well," Bruce turned back and adjusted the hospital bed for Alfred, filled up his water glass, then said, "I'm sorry, Alfred. I'm afraid I can't attend to you tonight. I'll come and see you tomorrow morning."
"Go on, Master, Dick and Aisha still need you… Do tell, you should be in your fourth year of college this year, shouldn't you? I heard that Gotham University nominates outstanding graduates. Back in the day, Master Thomas was a top graduate. I don't think he would mind adding another diploma to the Wayne family's wall of honor."
Bruce coughed twice, saying, "…I will."
Having said that, he left without turning back. Alfred showed a smile. After Bruce left, he murmured, "Who has no farsightedness must have immediate worries. If someone constantly has immediate worries, perhaps, they wouldn't indulge in random thoughts."
Bruce didn't hear what Alfred had said as he left. However, he now recognized that some long-accumulated conflicts might be ignited, the explosion of which would not necessarily wipe out Gotham City, but would surely watch him stumble.
Reflecting on his three years of education, Bruce's academic style couldn't be described 'diligent', but rather 'off and on'. His academic performance could not be considered exceptionally good but merely lucky. If it weren't for his last name being Wayne, he would have been expelled long ago.
On the way back to the city, Bruce thought that he had ample reason to account for all of it.
After all, Batman also only has 24 hours in a day. First, he needs 4-5 hours of sleep to maintain a baseline level of energy; this would leave only about 20 hours in a day.
Batman's crime-fighting activities often take up about 7-8 hours, which would leave him a few hours for studying.
But, don't forget, Batman develops all his own equipment, not to mention that he has to work with hardware like the Batmobile and the Bat suit, and he also has to research medical technology and pharmaceutical developments, leaving barely 5-6 hours in a day.
In these 5-6 hours, subtracting the necessary meal times, the rest of the time is basically spent maintaining these pieces of equipment. Occasionally, he might spare 1-2 hours to accompany Dick and Aisha. Regarding studying, he considers himself extremely free if he could spare half an hour a day.
Indeed, he has ample reason to explain his mediocre academic performance, and why his assignments are always not submitted. However, whether the person he needs to explain to would be willing to listen to his explanation is another matter entirely.
Batman has never felt the need to explain anything to anyone. but the condition is that he must be able to win against the other person.
Bruce knew that he had a plan to deal with Shearer, but he couldn't possibly activate the plan because of an issue like not turning in homework. Not to mention, regardless of whether he is the one who is right, if Alfred finds out that he not only didn't turn in his homework but also planned to attack a teacher, he would be done for.
Since evading homework is impossible, then he will just have to attempt to complete it.
On the way back to the city, Bruce grabbed the steering wheel and felt the whooshing night wind of Gotham swept by his ears. He clearly felt his hand gripping the steering wheel sweating and his speed accelerating until his vision started to blur.
But that's always the case in Gotham. When you are all in to do something, there will always be unexpected obstacles to change all your plans and preparations.
With a sizzle, a nerve-racking sound of brake echoed, and Bruce's body lurched forward, bumping back to the chair. But before he could make a sound, the driver ahead yelled in fury.
You damn fool! Don't you have eyes? Get out of the way!!"
After saying that, the truck in front drove away. But Bruce suddenly felt that his car got rear-ended.
He unfastened his seatbelt, got out of the car to check, found that the impact was not heavy, but there was a dent at the rear of his car.
The car that rear-ended him was similarly fancy, and the one who came out of it was somebody Bruce had just seen before.
"Oh my God, Mr. Wayne, how come you are here too?" Lady Goth adjusted her shawl, walked to the rear of Bruce's car, and said in surprise with her hand covering her mouth, "My God, I'm so sorry! Leon! Leon! Come over here. You wrecked Mr. Wayne's car!"
Leon, the fat man sitting in the driver's seat, got out of the car, wiped the sweat from his forehead and said apologetically to Bruce.
Bruce frowned a little, but then he showed a furious expression. He said, "How did you guys make this happen? This is a new car! And there are no spare parts for this car in Gotham, I have to send it somewhere else to fix!"
"We're truly sorry, Mr. Wayne, we will cover all the expenses." Lady Gothic pulled her daughter who had just came out. She said, "We just had a murder case in the theatre and everyone was scared. Leon must have been shaken too, so he didn't pay attention to the front. Please forgive him. We will pay you back!"