Chapter 34

Chapter Eighteen: Fists and Kicks in a Wild Frenzy

Gu Wenyuan, standing in the crowd, let out a heavy sigh. Regret filled his mind. Since he was next to Ji Su, he shouldn't have come down, and after coming down, he shouldn't have let his anger get the better of him and offend Ning Xiaoning. He had hoped that Mu Shanshan would humiliate Wen Liang on the basketball court and regain some face, but who would have thought that not only did he not regain his face, he even lost his dignity completely.

"A bunch of good-for-nothings!"

Hou Qiang, Hong Hou, and the others exchanged glances but remained silent. A group of grown men who couldn't even win against such a team—what else could they be but good-for-nothings? Gu Wenyuan didn't even glance at Mu Shanshan, who was sitting on the ground, and didn't give Wen Liang the chance to humiliate him. He turned and left, returning to where Ji Su had been standing. The stands were empty, and her figure was nowhere to be seen. Gu Wenyuan stood there for a long time, thinking that Ji Su might now have a bad impression of him. All his efforts over the past two years would be in vain, and his resentment towards Wen Liang grew even more. He truly liked Ji Su, so he had done everything he could to get close to her, unwilling to leave any bad impression. But after today's incident, even if he tried to explain, with Ji Su's intelligence, she wouldn't believe that he had no relationship with Ning Xiaoning. Or perhaps, she simply didn't care? Gu Wenyuan's handsome face twisted into a smile. "First a gentleman, then a scoundrel. I wanted you to fall in love with me willingly, but since this path is blocked, don't blame me."

Gu Wenyuan gave a cold laugh and stomped his foot on the ground several times. He had always been the one standing at the highest point in any situation, praised and admired by his classmates. But now, the despicable guy on the basketball court was receiving the cheers and admiration of the crowd, while he had to leave in disgrace.

Sometimes, winning the respect of the crowd only takes one game, one shot. It's simple but extraordinary.

Guan You and Shi Youcai ran over to help Mu Shanshan up, and the other onlookers gathered around. Mu Shanshan, humiliated, sneered, "Want to be grandpa? In your next life!" He swung his right hand and punched Wen Liang in the face.

The others, who had been coordinating with him for a long time, almost simultaneously attacked Wen Liang from all sides. The crowd, seeing the game turn into a brawl, scattered like birds and beasts. Xu Yao, her beautiful eyes wide with anger, stomped her foot and was about to rush over to help, but Ning Xiaoning held her back. "This is a man's business, don't go! A girl fighting with a bunch of smelly men—what a sight! Wen Liang provoked them, so he has to bear the consequences!"

"But how is this Wen Liang's provocation? It's clearly..."

"He won the game and should have ended it gracefully, saying a few nice words to let Mu Shanshan save face. If he had, the matter would have been settled. But he insisted on making Mu Shanshan fulfill his promise, which was overestimating his own strength! Since he chose this path, he has to bear the consequences!" Ning Xiaoning's words were cold, but the concern in her eyes couldn't be hidden.

Ning Xiaoning was right. Assessing the situation is a crucial skill for smart people. But what she didn't know was that the conflict between Wen Liang and Mu Shanshan was far more complex than just a joke about Ji Su. Even if Wen Liang had given Mu Shanshan a way out, Mu Shanshan might not have taken it. Wen Liang was certain that, win or lose, this fight was inevitable.

If so, then let it come. A man's growth process would be incomplete without a good, intense fight in his youth.

As they spoke, three people were already lying on the ground. Wen Liang's fighting style was extremely aggressive, with wide, sweeping movements, but he was very measured in his attacks. He avoided vital areas like the chest, back of the head, groin, and eyes, focusing instead on the waist and joints of the limbs. This way, he could cause significant pain without serious injury and quickly incapacitate his opponents. In a situation where he was outnumbered, this strategy was key to victory. Guan You and Lü Qinghua didn't join in, but Shi Chengcai charged forward, baring his teeth and attacking fiercely, as if he had a personal grudge against Wen Liang.

However, the more aggressive one is, the sooner they die. Wen Liang just stepped on his foot and hit him in the abdomen with his elbow, and the guy was rolling on the ground in agony. These second-generation rich kids, if there were eight or nine of them who were really good at fighting, Wen Liang would have been beaten to the ground. But apart from Mu Shanshan, who was a bit stronger, the others would collapse after just one or two hits, all show and no substance. Bai Huan, though he looked delicate, was quite brave. Especially since Wen Liang had offended him before the game, he found an opportunity to grab Wen Liang from behind. Hou Qiang followed with a punch to Wen Liang's left face. Wen Liang endured the pain, hit Bai Huan in the chest with his elbow, twisted his body, and threw him to the ground, then kicked Hou Qiang. In a short time, seven or eight people were lying on the ground groaning, with only Mu Shanshan, who had a higher pain tolerance, still struggling with Wen Liang, shouting, "If I don't beat you to death today, I'll get you sooner or later!"

Wen Liang, enraged by the threat, grabbed Mu Shanshan's right arm and twisted it backward, kicked him in the knee, and when he knelt, kicked him in the buttocks, knocking him to the ground.

Mu Shanshan felt a sharp pain in his elbow, as if the bone had cracked. Sweat poured down his face, and despite his toughness, he groaned and didn't get up again. Wen Liang had been kicked several times and punched in the left face, but the years of pent-up frustration in his heart were now gone. Indeed, building happiness on someone else's pain is the surest way to feel good.

"Anyone else不服 (unhappy)?" Wen Liang, indulging in his dark side, mimicked the exaggerated pose from the movie "Kung Fu" and shouted. The second-generation rich kids on the ground remained silent, not out of fear, but because they knew better than to fight a losing battle. They would settle the score later!

"Wow, can I have your autograph, idol?" Xu Yao pulled up her jersey and held it in front of Wen Liang's face.

Ning Xiaoning, noticing Wen Liang's lecherous gaze, pulled the dazed Xu Yao behind her and said in her usual tone, "Brave but foolish!"

Wen Liang grinned, the pain in his bruised face pulling at his cheeks. He turned and found the person who had hit him, pulled him up, and punched him in the face.

That person was Hou Qiang, who cried out, "Why just me? Is that fair?"

Ning Xiaoning and Xu Yao chuckled, then exchanged glances, both realizing the same thing: Wen Liang, this guy who holds grudges, is really bad!

The teachers, like the police in a crime drama, always show up at the last minute. Someone must have tattled, because the bald principal, Huaxi Que, and a group of teachers rushed over. Huaxi Que's real name was Huaguo Zhang, just one character different from the former president. He loved wearing floral shirts and often rode his bicycle around the campus, shouting through a megaphone, "Run, run, a day is as precious as gold, failing to get into Tsinghua is because you wasted a few minutes." Later, he earned the nickname "Not Tsinghua, Huaxi Que," which became widely known.

The group didn't have time to run and was surrounded and caught by the principal and his team. After understanding the situation, the principal had the two groups stand on opposite sides. The effect was clear: Mu Shanshan's side had nine burly men, while Wen Liang's side had one man and two women, who could pass for three women in terms of build. Additionally, while Mu Shanshan's group was groaning, Wen Liang was covered in footprints and had a bruised face, but the two girls were beautiful and unharmed. The principal quickly concluded: Mu Shanshan had organized a group fight and bullied the weaker side, and all their parents were called to come and take them away.

Wen Liang held back his curiosity about the meaning of the word "孺" (young) and the principal patted his shoulder kindly, saying, "A fly doesn't bite a seamless egg. They were wrong, but why did they target you? You should also think about whether you did something wrong. Especially since you just started high school, you should focus on your studies..." He glanced at Xu Ning and Ning Xiaoning, his meaning clear.

Wen Liang had never caused trouble in his previous life, so this was his first time in the legendary "72nd Dungeon" of the school's administration. Seeing that Huaxi Que handled the situation fairly (fair to him, of course), spoke kindly, and was very measured in his words and methods, he realized that the principal wasn't a rigid, harsh old man.

Indeed, if he were, the subsequent events wouldn't have happened. Thinking about the affairs Huaxi Que had with a married female teacher in his previous life, Wen Liang's eyes showed a hint of something.

According to Huaxi Que's plan, Mu Shanshan and the others would call their parents the next day, as fixed-line phones were still a luxury item, costing around 5000 yuan for installation. But soon, several slips of paper with phone numbers were handed over, some even with mobile phone numbers.

"Principal, you should call the parents. We were beaten up in school, and the parents should come to demand an explanation." Mu Shanshan's words caused a wave of groans, and Hou Qiang, still in pain, even shed tears.

Huaxi Que realized he had made a mistake and offered everyone seats, asking for more details, which shocked him. Among the nine, there were several with influential backgrounds, not necessarily prominent, but they were local power players. Hong Hou and Hou Qiang were one thing, but Bai Huan was the son of a vice-mayor, and Mu Shanshan's father was the vice-president of Qinghe Group, who had connections with the top leaders of the city. Individually, Huaxi Que wouldn't be intimidated, but with so many together, it was a group incident. As the principal of a key high school, how could he handle this without causing trouble?

It was Huaxi Que's bad luck that Mu Shanshan and the others were new students this year, and the principal and other leaders knew about their backgrounds but hadn't informed him yet. Otherwise, he would have blamed Wen Liang from the start. Huaxi Que put on a stern face, maintaining the dignity of a teacher. The key now was to minimize the incident and avoid further trouble.

"I understand what happened. Both sides were at fault. Everyone should write a reflection and submit it tomorrow. In school, you should behave like students. Fighting and brawling is unacceptable. Since you all seem to have a good attitude, I won't call your parents, and we'll consider this matter closed."

The worst group fight in the history of Qingyi High School, and Huaxi Que wanted to sweep it under the rug without punishing anyone. If this news got out, what would the other students think? They might think the school was weak, and various disciplinary issues would arise. If he tried to enforce strict rules, they would say he was picking on the weak. The school, after all, is a place for education, and it needs to maintain its reputation.

So, Huaxi Que's idea was terrible, even Mu Shanshan, with his low IQ, could see the problem and whispered to the principal.

Wen Liang knew it was bad. Sure enough, when Huaxi Que looked at him again, his expression changed. He said coldly, "You were the one who first hit Mu Shanshan's nose during the game, right?"

That was true, but wasn't it normal for things to happen during a game? Wen Liang didn't bother to argue and nodded.

"And you were the one who made Mu Shanshan call you grandpa after the game?"

Another nod.

"Good!" Huaxi Que slapped the table, startling everyone. "Are you a student or a thug? Hitting people, cursing, and what's your relationship with these two girls?"

Xu Yao raised her eyebrows, about to speak, but Mu Shanshan, seeing the wide scope of the attack, cursed silently and leaned in again, feeling like a dog's advisor.

Mu Shanshan knew Ning Xiaoning's background and had been warned by Gu Wenyuan not to provoke Xu Yao. He couldn't explain their identities, so he whispered to Huaxi Que, "These two girls are from the provincial..."

Huaxi Que trembled, then realized that Xu Yao was the recently famous "Top Ten Communist Youth League Member." His face remained serious. "Regardless of your relationship, that's not the point..." The group's mouths twitched in unison.

"But considering you two are girls, you were probably involved involuntarily, so I won't pursue it. But you, Wen Liang, to be so mischievous at your age, what will become of you? Call your parents now, I need to talk to them."

Mu Shanshan and the others sneered, looking forward to the show. Children generally don't want their parents called, especially for fights. Being beaten by their parents was one thing, but the reputation damage was worse. They all looked forward to seeing Wen Liang's father angrily beating him, and Hong Hou and Hei Hou even giggled.

"Can't we not call the parents? My family has a bad temper..."

"No, if you don't call them today, you'll be expelled tomorrow!"

This was more of a threat than a real threat. It might work on other kids, but Wen Liang didn't even bother to listen. He put on a pitiful face, which delighted Mu Shanshan and the others.

Xu Yao was about to speak, but Ning Xiaoning held her hand and shook her head. Xu Yao understood her meaning. Getting involved in this as girls would be bad, and if their families found out, the consequences could be severe. If their parents believed rumors, thinking they had an inappropriate relationship, the worst-case scenario would be a transfer, and Wen Liang would suffer too.

"But..." Xu Yao was worried, but Ning Xiaoning tightened her grip and remained silent. Xu Yao was worried, but Ning Xiaoning was calm. Someone who could borrow the college basketball court must have connections in the education system, and this was a small matter.

"Alright, I'll call now." Wen Liang picked up the office phone, dialed a number, and spoke quietly. He returned to his spot. "They'll be here in ten minutes, very soon!"

Huaxi Que was surprised that Wen Liang had a phone, but then thought, since you were in the wrong, having some connections might be useful. Maybe he'd have dinner tonight, so he relaxed and sipped his tea.

If he knew Wen Liang was calling a mobile phone and knew the owner, he might have regretted catching them today.