Volume 1: The Happy Life in the Ivory Tower Chapter 27 Don't Underestimate the Weak Crown Prince

  "There's nothing more to say."

  Gou Ke looked at Shan Yong and sneered, somewhat underestimating the "egg brother" that this student was talking about. He thought to himself that no matter how much of a fuss he kicked up, he was still just a naive kid who couldn't stir up any big waves. With a scornful smile, he changed his tone to a more gentle and soft one and said:

  "Kid, I have to admire you. You're still a student and yet you've managed to stir up such a big deal. Do you know how much loss your nonsense has caused the logistics department? On the day of the boycott, the loss was already tens of thousands. These past few days, the cafeteria's revenue hasn't even been one-third of what it usually is, with losses of over ten thousand every day. I really don't know who to hold accountable for this bill."

  "Then you count on me, I can't afford it either? Besides, Director Gou, those who posted big-character posters and blocked the door, they are all adults now, let them take responsibility for their own actions. Can't blame others for inciting them. Or try this, I'll instigate them to jump off the building, see how many people will jump."

  Shan Yong said a sarcastic remark, which made Zuo Xiying roll her eyes. Even the principal was annoyed by this. This is simply absurd logic. Before anyone could respond, Shan Yong interrupted and said: "So, I think you shouldn't look for problems with me. Improve the food quality, don't use cheap materials just to save money, and stop raising prices for no reason. If everything is fine, why do you still need to bring up the issue of the cafeteria? If it's really a big deal, then it's not the students' problem anymore."

  "Hmph, I don't need your education! Now it's time to deal with you as a student first, and the food issue is not for you to worry about." Director Gou's tone turned cold and unpleasant.

  "So how do you plan to deal with me?" Dan Yong asked.

  "I know who you are and that you have some ability." Gou Kechang was cautious, but he couldn't see any fear in Shuang Yong's eyes. This made him most surprised - did he have something to rely on? Was there still a backstage? These things really had to be considered. He smiled and said: "However, no matter how great your abilities are, I advise you to recognize your own identity. You're just a student after all. Don't think that our security department doesn't have the power of law enforcement and can't do anything about you...I will handle this matter fairly and squarely so that you won't be able to say anything. First, write out a deep self-criticism regarding this incident and wait for the school's handling."

  This is just a trick, as long as the inspection is obtained, as long as the other party admits that he was the one who incited it, then the rest of the matter will be easy to handle. The school hates this kind of student who does not obey discipline and damages the school's reputation everywhere. Director Gou was afraid that Xiaoyong would catch something from his words, so he changed his tone to a humble one: "Young man, it's not easy to attend university, just a few years' tuition is tens of thousands of yuan, and you're about to graduate soon. If you get involved in trouble, it won't be worth it. We don't plan to investigate this matter thoroughly, but we need to have some results. Handling it early is better than handling it late, the sooner the better... How about notifying your parents to come and take you back for reflection?"

  Shan Yong smacked his lips, a bit angry. The school's usual way of dealing with this was to make him stand in the corner and pay a fine, and then call his parents. You had to admit, sometimes this method worked pretty well, at least it did on Shan Yong. What he feared most was his dad and mom finding out that he had been fooling around in school.

  It worked, and Dan Yong's difficult expression fell into the eyes of Gu Kezhang. Gu Kezhang smiled secretly, and his trump card was revealed: "Alright, I won't say any more nonsense. Give you a morning to write the inspection report well. When it's done, notify your department head to come and pick you up. If you can't finish writing, you can't leave here... Don't say that I'm restricting your personal freedom, out of consideration for student safety, our security department has the right to detain students on campus until they are safely handed over to their parents. You don't have any objections to this, do you?"

  Damn, this old fox is really sinister, and he's going to cling to me and not let go. Shanyou thought to himself, knowing that this matter couldn't be resolved peacefully. You'll have to wait for the school to settle accounts with you after autumn, and being kept in school for inspection or even expelled are just minor punishments - who knows, they might even expel you and make your parents come to fetch you back home in shame. Having dealt with the security department for several years, Shanyou had quite a rich experience of struggle, and he knew what was at stake. He himself didn't care, but his family wouldn't be able to bear it.

  One thought, Shan Yong looked at Gou Guoping's long-faced, skin-deep smile, the students called this guy "mad dog". For any small mistake or fault, parents wouldn't be able to get through without giving a thousand or eight hundred yuan. Sometimes, even graduates who missed the deadline for transferring their household registration had to give some benefits, otherwise they would drag their feet and not do it. In these four years of university, he hadn't had few dealings with the security department, several hundred packs of Chinese cigarettes had been extorted from him, but this time's matter, Shan Yong reckoned that it was really related to interests and harm, it wasn't something that could be settled with just a few packs of cigarettes.

  It should be a personal vendetta. Looking at Gou Kechang's calm and determined expression, Shanyong secretly made this judgment, otherwise the school would not have gone to great lengths to cover it up, let alone make a big show of letting the security department investigate. And this time, it was likely to be more dangerous than ever before, Shanyong gritted his teeth, as if he had made up his mind.

  "As long as the country is at peace..."

  Shan Yong owed a debt of gratitude to Shan Zi, but he seemed out of place after sitting for so long. Suddenly, he called out his name and changed his tone to one of negotiation, causing Gu Kechang, who was about to stand up, to be slightly taken aback by the sudden change in address. As he looked up, he saw that Shan Yong's expression had become humble, which pleased him greatly. He responded with a nod, and then heard Shan Yong ask: "Many people at school know that Xia Mingtang, who runs the cafeteria, is your relative. Is this true?"

  Gu Ke Chang was startled, didn't respond, and simply stared at Shan Yong with great displeasure.

  "How can I not think that you're taking revenge on this matter? The cafeteria's food is of poor quality and overpriced, the service is terrible, it's all obvious. The chefs hired by the cafeteria have fought with students before, and every time the result is that the student is at fault. Are you suppressing the students who dare to speak out, protecting your own interests?" Yanrong's words were harsh, as if intentionally provoking Director Gou, trying to pick a fight. Zuo Xiying listened, paused for a moment, and it seemed there was more to the story.

  However, he underestimated the thickness of Gu Kezhang's skin. Gu Kezhang's face showed a few points of ridicule: "That's right, it's my relative who runs it. What are you, daring to point fingers at me? I've already given you face by inviting you politely, how about that? Are you trying to force me to take drastic measures?"

  "Ruthless? I'd like to hear how you plan to deal with a defenseless student like me, just because of the loss in your relative's cafeteria? Don't you think you've already embezzled enough ill-gotten gains from students?" Dan Yong asked sharply.

  "I'm not afraid of you, but I think you're being redundant." Director Gou lowered his voice and adopted a serious tone, observing the enclosed space to ensure it was safe before continuing in an even deeper tone: "Shan Yong, you're the ringleader of this incident. If you can restore order in the cafeteria quickly, everything will be fine. Otherwise, do you think I won't be able to handle you? Someone has accused you of inciting trouble and posting attacks on the school online. These things may not seem like a big deal, but they're enough to warrant disciplinary action against you. What if we investigate your dormitory's recent thefts and find out you're a suspect? Or, since you're about to graduate soon, can you guarantee that you'll pass certain subjects without being held back? Even if I don't expel you, I can still withhold your graduation certificate and household registration, which means you'll have to deal with me again."

  A few light words, but they made Shanyong's whole body feel cold. How could the world be so dark? The implied meaning of this hint is probably that it would be easy to get rid of me.

  Dan Yong could still take it, but Zuo Xiying couldn't. She said to Gou Kezhang: "You... you are a national civil servant, how can you be like this?"

  "I'm like this, what's wrong with that? Within my authority, I'm still reasonable and lawful, what's wrong with that?" Guo Ping irritated Zuo Xiying with one sentence, and even if Zuo Xiying looked like a celestial being, it didn't work on this person who was only interested in his own gain.

  "Sister, don't talk." Shuang Yu blocked the conversation and comforted Zuo Xiying who was indignant. He turned around and said to Guo Kezhang with a smile: "It seems that Director Guo Kezhang, you want to teach me a lesson... No problem, one person does things and one person takes responsibility. I'll stay behind, but you have to let my girlfriend go, she has nothing to do with this."

  Zuo Xiying felt a slight surge of gratitude, but didn't expect that at this time, Shan Yongxian was only concerned about himself. He glanced over and saw that they were closer together, but there were those who couldn't bear to look. Director Gou hummed and said: "No way, you two can't leave for now."

  It seems that the more you are afraid of someone, the more they will make an effort to attack your weak points. It's time to take a strong stance and force them to back down.

  "My girlfriend's father is a professor, he and Professor Song Chengyang from our school are good friends. Director Guo Guangping, at least give him some face." Yuan Rong seemed to be persuading, but also seemed to be begging.

  However, at this time, Guo Ping looked like he wanted to let the person go and seek external help. He smiled and shook his head, saying: "Don't waste your energy, it's not going to work. Don't you think you're being a bit childish? Do you think I'll buy what you're selling? If your dad were the principal or the director of education, maybe it would be okay, but isn't he just a cook?"

  Shan Yong was stunned, it seemed that he had investigated his background before daring to take drastic measures. With this thought in mind, he said: "Guo Pingke, Director of the Department, I'm talking about Professor Song Chengyang, a man of great virtue and prestige, who is really good friends with my girlfriend's father, and also my future father-in-law. Can't you give me some face?"

  "This is what you said, Zuo Xiying glared at Shan Yong, and got annoyed. Kou Kechang was even more furious, slapping the table and saying: "Ignorant, you are really ignorant... Now you know to save face, where did you go early? I've seen many poor students like you, what's the matter with you? You think bringing up Song Chengyang can intimidate me? Nowadays, school lecturers are everywhere, professors are as numerous as dogs, let alone retired and dying ones!"

  "It seems that in your eyes, we students are all poor devils, and you can bully us as you please?" Dan Yong asked, suppressing his anger.

  "What? You think you're a city person just because you've been to school for a few days? Hmph! A poor and worthless wretch for life..." Principal Guo sneered.

  She rolled her eyes and got angry, Zuo Xiying naturally knew that the old professor who had donated all his property to collect books was being evaluated like this by someone in the same school. She was so angry that her face turned pale, but she couldn't say a word. She stared at the Dean of the department with a gaze that seemed to want to kill him. Shuang Yong didn't expect his teacher's reaction to be so intense, and he quickly grabbed her hand, holding it tightly, afraid that his teacher would lose her composure and rush up.

  At this moment, the depression in his chest was gone. Looking at the pair who were speechless and had a self-satisfied expression, he stood up and knocked on the door, calling in the guards from the Security Department. He pointed to Shan Yong and Zuo Xiying: "Watch them write their confessions. They are not allowed to leave until they finish writing, nor are they allowed to make phone calls... nor are they allowed to contact the outside world."

  After finishing speaking, he closed the door and walked away with a huff. The security guard surnamed Ye pulled over a chair and sat down opposite Shuang Yong and Zuo Xiying, slapping the pen and paper onto Shuang Yong's face. Shuang Yong took it in his hand, looked at his slightly calmer master sister, and asked softly: "Master sister, this is the glorious tradition of Lu Institute, do you think I should write this inspection report or not?"

  "It's not fair to write, it's too bullying." Zuo Xiying's phoenix eyes blazed with fire, snatched the pen from Shan Yong's hand and threw it away with a "pa" sound. It seems that Fang's heart is inclined towards Shan Yong's side now.

  "Be honest." The security guard glared at Shan Yong and Zuo Xiying, picked up the pen and slapped it in front of Shan Yong again.

  Shan Yong and Zuo Xiying stared at each other, Zuo Xiying's face was full of indignation, she stretched out her hand to grab the phone, but unexpectedly it was snatched away by the security guard, who pulled out the battery, making her angry and wanting to argue, but Shan Yong held her back. This guy was determined to get what he wanted, and asked Shan Yong to cooperate, Shan Yong surprisingly cooperated very well, taking the mobile phone from his pocket and throwing it onto the table, which was also had its battery pulled out by the security guard.

  Nice words are easy to say, but there's no use arguing with these people. Zuo Xiying was very displeased with Dan Yong's weak attitude, but as she gazed at him, he seemed like a carefree person, apparently enjoying her expression with great interest. He paused for a moment, and his expressive eyes moved slightly, as if catching the subtlety in Dan Yong's awkward expression.

  Suddenly, Zuo Xiying had an epiphany and remembered the soft, sharp whistle she heard before entering the security department. The whistle was different from what she usually heard; sometimes it was cheerful, sometimes sarcastic, but the one she just heard was very soft yet sharp and urgent. Could it be...? When she saw Shan Yong still hesitating, holding a pen in one hand and biting on the tip while thinking deeply, with the other hand reaching into his pocket, bulging with something, making some suspicious small movements that only she could see from this angle, there was another phone in his pocket...