Chapter 24: Have you ever experienced the feeling of being slapped in the face?

Hua Wuchai, in a hurry, scolded Tang Zhong as a "fool," proving that he indeed cared about Tang Zhong's future.

Anyone with a brain would know what it means to be taken on as a disciple by a prominent figure in the field of psychology.

What Tang Zhong should have done was to immediately bring a generous gift to Jiao Yuheng's office, or even more considerately, find his home address to express his gratitude, instead of foolishly running to ask him for help, especially for someone who had no connection to Jiao Yuheng and whom Jiao Yuheng didn't even know.

From Jiao Yuheng's perspective, what would he think?

Arrogant because of favor? Lost in self-importance?

What? Becoming the disciple of the dean makes you special? Makes you superior? Allows you to use his name to fight and brawl? Does he, as a teacher, exist just to clean up your mess?

"I've already told you. This is my personal matter, and none of you should get involved," Hua Wuchai said firmly, but there was a soft, gentle feeling in his heart. Even he felt that Tang Zhong shouldn't have taken such a risk for him, yet he did, and he had no reason not to be grateful. "I really don't believe they can fry or boil me alive."

"Hua Ming," Tang Zhong frowned. "Don't throw a tantrum. For now, let's not say anything or do anything. Dean Jiao will communicate with them."

Why didn't Tang Zhong fight those people at the campus restaurant? He had already secured a favorable position, so why did he let them off so easily?

Because he saw through the essence of the matter at a glance. The conflict with the campus bullies was a minor issue; the bigger problem was how to calm the anger of the restaurant owner whose head Hua Ming had broken. At any university, without solid connections, who could secure a gold mine like a campus supermarket or restaurant, which could generate annual profits in the millions?

Dream on!

He, like Hua Ming, was just a new student who had just reported in. Li Qiang was just an ordinary counselor, not even a full-time staff member of the school. Therefore, the only person who could resolve this issue was Jiao Yuheng, who had just taken him on as a disciple.

So, Tang Zhong went to find him.

Hua Ming, startled by Tang Zhong's low growl, fell silent.

He hung his head and extended his hand to Liang Tao, saying, "Give me a cigarette."

"I think you'd better not provoke them further," Tang Zhong said. Breaking someone's head with a beer bottle and then smoking leisurely afterward would make the victim's family very uncomfortable.

At least, Tang Zhong still wanted to resolve the issue "peacefully."

Even if Dean Jiao agreed to make the call, if they could ease the tension with the other party, it would be beneficial for the situation to develop positively.

"No," Hua Ming grinned. "I just want to smell it."

Liang Tao, standing beside him, was secretly amazed. This Tang Zhong was really something. Just by going out for a bit, he had made Hua Ming, the big fool, follow his orders without question. If he had gone out to look for help, whether or not anyone actually helped, he would at least have left a good impression, right?

Li Qiang, with a dejected expression, walked over, nodded at Tang Zhong, and said to Hua Ming, "You did injure a teacher at the school. This matter might not be easy to resolve. You should go to the security office with them to explain what happened. I'll go with you. They won't do anything to you."

"Teacher Li, you don't have to go with me. I know you've done your best," Hua Ming patted Li Qiang's shoulder manfully. "I'll go by myself. They can't do anything to me."

Li Qiang smiled bitterly. This brat was really broad-minded, as if he had injured someone and was comforting him.

"Regardless, I am your counselor," Li Qiang insisted. "I'll go with you. They will have to give me some face."

"Hua Ming, let Teacher Li go with you," Tang Zhong said. He wasn't sure when Jiao Yuheng would make the call. Before he did, if Huang Jie really wanted to teach Hua Ming a lesson, it wouldn't be difficult. They wouldn't need to hit him; just not giving him food, water, or bathroom access would be enough to make him miserable.

"Thank you, Teacher Li," Hua Ming said gratefully.

"It's my duty," Li Qiang said.

Security Chief Zheng Chengfeng, along with two subordinates, walked over, glanced at Hua Ming, and sneered, "Kid, you've got some nerve. I've only heard of freshmen fighting each other, but never of a freshman breaking a teacher's head with a beer bottle."

"Let you laugh," Hua Ming chuckled. He said he was letting others laugh, but he was the one laughing the most.

"Hey, you're pretty pleased with yourself?" Zheng Chengfeng laughed. "Come with us. Let's see how we can resolve this."

"Chief Zheng," Li Qiang approached with a smile, took out a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes, and handed it to Zheng Chengfeng. "Chief Zheng, they're just kids. Let bygones be bygones. Don't take it to heart."

Zheng Chengfeng glanced at Li Qiang and said, "Li Qiang, if I were you, I'd stay far away from this. You saw how angry Director Huang was. Are they kids? Do we deserve to be treated like fools? Didn't you see how we were scolded just now?"

"Yes, yes. Consider it a favor I owe you, Chief Zheng," Li Qiang pleaded.

"I'd like to owe you a favor, but I'm more afraid of Director Huang and Teacher Zhang giving me a hard time," Zheng Chengfeng waved at Hua Ming. "Come on. Follow us."

"I'll go sit for a bit," Hua Ming said to Tang Zhong. "Don't worry. It'll be fine."

Tang Zhong nodded. "I'll wait here. After Teacher Zhang is examined, I'll talk to him and see what he thinks."

Hua Ming patted Tang Zhong's shoulder and walked out.

"I'll wait here too," Liang Tao called out to Hua Ming.

Hua Ming glanced back at Liang Tao and continued walking forward.

Seeing Hua Ming being taken away by the security officers, Huang Jie's expression became even more smug, like a victorious hen.

Tang Zhong thought for a moment and then walked over, saying, "Director Huang, hello. I'm Tang Zhong. Hua Ming, who accidentally injured Teacher Zhang, is my roommate."

"What? Accidentally?" Huang Jie screeched. "Just because you say it was an accident, it is? Is this how accidents happen? Breaking someone's head with a beer bottle is an accident? This is murder. A premeditated crime. I'm telling you, your roommate is going to jail."

Tang Zhong's eyebrows raised. This woman was really good at making mountains out of molehills. Accidentally injuring her husband, and she wanted a young student to go to jail? She had no sense of a teacher's dignity.

"What? You look不服气 (unconvinced)?" Huang Jie said disdainfully. "I don't care what you think. This is how it's going to be. He has to go to jail."

"Have you ever experienced the feeling of being slapped in the face?" Tang Zhong looked at Huang Jie, squinting and smiling. Although he had promised Bai Su to keep a low profile and not cause trouble at school,

these guys had successfully provoked his anger.

Huang Jie took two steps back, staring at Tang Zhong with a wary look. "What do you want? I'll tell you, my uncle is the vice-principal. If you dare to touch me, my uncle will have you expelled from Nan Da."

"I know, I know," Tang Zhong nodded seriously. If his smile wasn't so hateful, it would seem like he was completely intimidated by Huang Jie. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be a deputy director, and you and your husband wouldn't have the campus restaurant."

"You—" Huang Jie pointed at Tang Zhong, wishing she could scratch his face.

This little punk was so annoying, how could he say that she and her husband had climbed up because of her uncle, even though it was true. But saying it so bluntly was embarrassing and hard to accept.

"Can't think of a comeback?" Tang Zhong smiled. "It shows you're guilty."

"What's your name?" Huang Jie's voice trembled. No matter what, she had to find a way to kick this student out of Nan Da. He was too hateful, even more so than Hua Ming, who had put her husband in the hospital.

"Tang Zhong," Tang Zhong said. "Tang as in Tang Zong Song Zu, and Zhong as in weight."

"Tang Zhong, I'll make your life miserable," Huang Jie said through gritted teeth.

"Living well is enough. Who cares about what happens after death?"

"You have guts—"

Just then, Huang Jie's phone in her bag rang.

She unzipped it, took out her phone, looked at the caller ID, and immediately put on a sad face, sobbing, "Uncle, Haiyang was hit on the head by a student and is still being examined."

"Is he seriously injured?" a steady male voice came from the phone.

"His head is fine. I'm having the doctor do a full body check," Huang Jie didn't dare to lie to this man.

"That's good. Let him rest in the hospital for a couple of days. Let this matter drop. Don't make a big deal out of it, and don't make it hard for the students."

"Uncle, how can that be? The student who injured Haiyang—"

"Enough. I'm busy. This is how it's going to be." The man was impatient with the woman's voice and hung up.

Click.

Hearing the crisp sound, Huang Jie's face burned with pain.

She finally understood how vicious the question that kid had asked her was: Have you ever experienced the feeling of being slapped in the face?