Chapter 25: Dismounting Without Dignity

The Huahai Canteen was bustling with people. // Baidu Search: Read Novels

Huahai University's eight canteens serve over 30,000 teachers and students. During meal times, it's inevitable that the canteens become crowded and noisy. Zhao Heng and his friends entered the overcrowded Southwest Canteen, queued up for food, and waited for seats. Occasionally, they were scrutinized and mocked by self-important senior students, who pointed and laughed, venting their frustrations from their own rookie days.

Zhao Heng had no complaints; he felt that arguing with these people would only lower his status. So, he led the two of them, ignoring the commotion, and followed the queue in the stir-fry section. Qiao Yuncai, meanwhile, was checking the menu on the wall to confirm his favorite dishes, and in his spare time, he scanned the surroundings for beautiful girls, often flashing a rather eerie smile.

However, he soon realized that most of the girls were looking at Zhao Heng.

Song Qingguan also noticed this and couldn't help but sigh at Zhao Heng's strong charisma.

Fifteen minutes later, five reasonably priced stir-fried dishes and six bowls of white rice were placed in front of the three of them. Without much ado, Qiao Yuncai immediately picked up his chopsticks and started eating. By the time Zhao Heng and Song Qingguan had only half a bowl of rice left, Qiao Yuncai had already started on his second serving, his speed leaving Zhao Heng and Song Qingguan in awe.

"Ding Lingling, the fourth sister of the Ding family."

As Zhao Heng was about to put a piece of fish in his mouth, Song Qingguan's expression changed slightly. He then lowered his voice and said, "Eight meters to the east, at that seat, is the popular new student, Ding Lingling, the younger sister of the third young master of the Ding family. Although she doesn't match Du Ziyang in beauty, her admirers are no fewer than Du Ziyang's."

"However, her reputation isn't good; it's said that she has countless boyfriends."

Song Qingguan recounted what he knew to Zhao Heng and Qiao Yuncai, even pointing to the east to indicate Ding Lingling's location. Zhao Heng didn't even look up from his meal, while Qiao Yuncai, holding a chicken wing, turned around and saw a few tall, aggressive-looking girls nearby, one of whom was particularly proud and elegant.

Her long, smooth hair swept to the left, she wore a pink, low-cut sleeveless top, a short denim skirt, and a pair of light-colored high heels. Her legs were wrapped in black stockings with lace trim, and the tips of her shoes were slightly trembling. This outfit not only didn't detract from her beauty but added a mature charm.

This attire perfectly highlighted her alluring and seductive figure.

Qiao Yuncai swallowed the entire chicken wing. Although he didn't know who the fourth sister of the Ding family was, he recognized the girl at first glance, and he realized she was the one who had spilled a bottle of cola on him. He turned to Song Qingguan and asked, "Is it the girl in the middle wearing the Luohua stockings?"

Song Qingguan, surprised by Qiao Yuncai's knowledge of stockings, immediately nodded and replied, "Yes, that's her, Ding Lingling, the fourth sister of the Ding family. I used to have some connections with their circle, but it didn't suit my personality, so after a few chats, I stopped interacting with them. Besides, I'm not in their league."

With the backing of the Du family, how could the children of the Ding family look at Song Qingguan?

This time, Qiao Yuncai didn't tease him but looked at Zhao Heng and said, "Brother Heng, so the one who rudely scolded you that day was Ding Lingling? How did you offend such a haughty girl? I thought she was just a regular rich second generation, but it turns out she's the fourth sister of the Ding family. This could be interesting in the future."

Zhao Heng remained silent, continuing to eat calmly.

"Hey, Brother Heng, you have a grudge with Ding Lingling?"

Song Qingguan, who was drinking a soup with too much monosodium glutamate, was taken aback and exclaimed, "Brother Heng, you have a conflict with Ding Lingling? This is troublesome. Although she is as beautiful as a goddess, she is known for her vindictiveness. If you offend her, she will continuously target and attack you. Shall I act as a mediator?"

He added uncertainly, "Maybe she will give me some face."

Zhao Heng put a piece of beef in his mouth and replied calmly, "No need! Since she is vindictive, how would she accept your mediation? Your involvement would only make her look down on us and drag you into the conflict between her and me. So, don't get involved."

Song Qingguan, knowing Zhao Heng's character, sighed, "Alright."

Qiao Yuncai couldn't contain his curiosity, "Brother Heng, what's your beef with her?"

"Zhao Heng!"

Before Zhao Heng could answer, a loud voice came from the side, and five or six muscular boys approached, each holding stainless steel utensils, their faces filled with hostility. One of them, wearing a plaid shirt and a shaved head, stepped forward and shouted, "Who is Zhao Heng?"

Zhao Heng looked up, "What's the matter?"

These boys, clearly athletic students, not only didn't show any nervousness when they saw Zhao Heng but instead adopted a condescending attitude, their eyes filled with anger. The boy in the plaid shirt shouted, "Are you Zhao Heng? If you're not Zhao Heng, shut up! Otherwise, don't blame us for beating you up."

It was clear they were looking for trouble.

At this moment, another boy rushed over and pointed at Zhao Heng, "He's Zhao Heng!"

It was evident he had accurate information, as his tone was absolutely certain. Qiao Yuncai, sensing something, turned around and saw Ding Lingling and the other tall girls looking at him with a playful expression. When they noticed he was looking at them, they glared at him and gave him the middle finger, a gesture of arrogance and defiance.

Qiao Yuncai's cheeks flushed with anger: This woman is still so arrogant!

There was no doubt that these were people Ding Lingling had sent.

"Are you Zhao Heng?"

The bald boy handed his utensils to a companion and walked over, patting Zhao Heng on the shoulder with a particularly sinister smile, "Why didn't you respond when I called you? Did you take my question as a joke? Freshmen are so arrogant these days. Come, let's go outside and have a chat. We have something to discuss with you privately."

"No time!"

Zhao Heng replied coolly, a hint of disdain in his eyes. The faces of the four or five boys around him changed dramatically, their eyes filled with anger at Zhao Heng's refusal to cooperate. If this were not a canteen, a fight would have already broken out. The bald boy, however, didn't curse but instead put his arm around Zhao Heng's shoulder as if they were good friends:

"Not going? Do you want to make me angry?"

His smile was tinged with malice, "Can you bear the consequences of making me angry?"

Zhao Heng brushed his hand away and said calmly, "Get lost!"

Song Qingguan and Qiao Yuncai knew Zhao Heng's capabilities and were afraid he would hurt the bald boy and his friends in public. These were the school's prized athletes, mostly local officials' and rich families' children. If Zhao Heng injured them, his academic career might be over before it even began. So, Qiao Yuncai timely interjected:

"Brother Heng, this is a canteen; it wouldn't look good."

Song Qingguan also tugged at Zhao Heng's sleeve, and Zhao Heng, understanding his roommates' concern, nodded lightly to indicate he wouldn't act rashly. However, the bald boy misinterpreted this as Qiao Yuncai's fear of them hurting Zhao Heng, so he sneered and put his hands on his hips:

"So what if it's a canteen? We can handle it."

These athletic students, recruited by Huahai University, often represented the school or the city in various competitions, giving them special privileges on campus. Unless they committed serious crimes, they were considered the leaders among students. They frequently fought on campus or outside, and the school usually just gave them warnings.

Even if they faced public pressure, they would only receive a severe reprimand, but they would never be expelled. Thus, the bald boy's arrogance was not without reason. Although bullying freshmen didn't sound good, it didn't mean they wouldn't do it. So, the bald boy patted Zhao Heng on the shoulder and said with a hidden threat, "Be sensible, come out with me."

Zhao Heng looked up and said, "Get lost!"

"Good, good, you have guts!"

The bald boy's anger at Zhao Heng's defiance was evident. This was a direct challenge to his authority. He glared and reached for his utensils to throw at Zhao Heng's head but was interrupted by a shout from the entrance, "Old Ye, you're here!" Qiao Yuncai and the others turned to see a group of school leaders entering the canteen, smiling and greeting the students.

"Brother Guang, the school leaders are inspecting the canteen."

A boy leaned close to the bald boy and said, "We can't start a fight."

"I know."

Looking at the school leaders in the distance, especially the white-haired old man leading them, the bald boy had no choice but to suppress his anger. He glared at Zhao Heng and said, "You're lucky. The school leaders' inspection saved you. I'll let you off today, but remember, stay away from Du Ziyang."

"Otherwise, I'll make your life a living hell."

Qiao Yuncai and Song Qingguan were surprised to learn that Zhao Heng had a connection with Du Ziyang. The bald boy pointed at Zhao Heng again, his face dark, and said, "You know what I mean, and you know my capabilities. Zhao Heng, you're just a poor, powerless nobody. Wanting to pursue Du Ziyang?"

"It's like a toad lusting after a swan!"

Zhao Heng replied calmly, "If I'm a toad, why are you afraid I'll eat the swan?"

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