Chapter 112: This Is an Order!

Chapter 112: This Is an Order!

The vastness of the sea cannot be measured by a bucket; a person’s true nature cannot be judged by appearance.

No one had expected that Hua Ming, with his burly frame and pancake-like face, and comical demeanor, could sing such a deeply moving and beautiful song.

Experts can tell at a glance. Even with just an a cappella performance, he rendered it so well. If accompanied by music, wouldn’t it be nearly indistinguishable from the original?

When the song ended, the audience erupted into enthusiastic applause.

“Good. Very good. Excellent,” Li Qiang said excitedly, raising his voice.

“Well sung,” smiled Wei Feng, president of the student council. “This song really resonates. If chosen by the school to perform at the freshmen welcome party, it might even spark a wave of nostalgia. It would be even better if our department could win the ‘Top Ten Campus Singers’ trophy again.”

Every year after the freshmen party, the school selects the ‘Top Ten Campus Singers.’ In the past, the spots were dominated by departments with strong artistic backgrounds like the Art Academy, Fine Arts, and Foreign Languages. The International Trade Department, with its large student body, was also a formidable competitor.

The Psychology Department, being small with few performances, had never won this honor since its establishment.

“Let’s see the other performances. Hopefully, we can find more talent,” said Gao Jia, the arts minister. “But my personal vote goes to him.”

Huang Wenya’s face was extremely awkward.

She had thought this guy looked like a clown, behaved like a clown, and would only perform like a clown. Yet he had won such warm applause.

However, since everyone praised him, she couldn’t deny Hua Ming’s singing—otherwise, others might think she was either crazy or had poor taste.

So, swallowing her pride, she offered a few compliments as well.

Class One had only Hua Ming’s performance. After it ended, it was Class Two’s turn. A delicate girl sang “Moonlight,” a bespectacled boy sang “Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies,” and two girls performed street dance. Especially the last street dance, dynamic and fiery, was highly entertaining, dazzling everyone once again.

Class Three brought a guitar singer-songwriter and a stand-up comedy act. The guitarist performed an unfamiliar song he had written and composed himself, playing and singing—a true all-round creative talent. The students admired such talent deeply.

After some discussion among Li Qiang and several student council officers, they decided to report Hua Ming’s “I Am a Wolf from the North,” the street dance from Class Two, and the guitar performance from Class Three to the school. This way, each class would have one program.

Li Qiang then approached Tang Zhong with a smile. “I know Class One has two classes this afternoon. Before class, ask if anyone else wants to join the selection. If so, bring them to me after the first class. I’ll review them. Those approved will be added to the list along with today’s names. If not, we’ll just submit today’s list. Wei Feng must take the program list to the student council meeting after the second class.”

“Okay, thank you, Teacher Li,” Tang Zhong said gratefully. Then he apologized to the other council officers, “Sorry for keeping you waiting. I’ll treat everyone to a simple lunch today to make up for it. Please allow me this chance to apologize.”

“Oh, someone’s competing to treat me,” Li Qiang laughed. “Alright, let’s give Tang Zhong this chance today. He treats; next time it’s my turn.”

Gao Jia, the arts minister, asked cheerfully when “next time” would be, and everyone burst into laughter.

The meal was lively and warm, quickly bringing everyone closer together.

After lunch, Tang Zhong and Hua Ming walked back to their dormitory.

“Second bro, do you know why that bespectacled girl Huang Wenya has been targeting you?” Hua Ming asked with a toothpick dangling from his mouth, grinning carelessly.

“I’ve been wondering too,” Tang Zhong smiled. “I never even knew her before, never interacted with her. Why is she so hostile towards me, like we have some deep hatred?”

Hua Ming chuckled, “Because she’s Lu Yifei’s girlfriend.”

Tang Zhong was stunned but suddenly understood.

After Lu Yifei’s plot to sabotage Tang Zhong failed, and Tang Zhong’s fierce slap left him humiliated in class, he not only failed to become class president but also gradually lost friends. He was now isolated, rarely speaking to anyone.

Unexpectedly, this guy was quite cunning and had quietly won over the class president of Class Two.

Presumably, Lu Yifei had badmouthed Tang Zhong to his girlfriend, explaining her unrelenting grudge.

“Being hated by a woman is really uncomfortable,” Tang Zhong laughed.

“I thought you’d jump up and slap her like before,” Hua Ming said. “I’ve never seen you hit a woman. I’m looking forward to it.”

“—” Tang Zhong was speechless at Hua Ming’s perverse nature. “Actually, there are other ways.”

“Like what?” Hua Ming asked curiously.

“You steal her away from Lu Yifei,” Tang Zhong said. “Huang Wenya’s not bad looking, fits your taste, right? You, carrying a rabbit, should have no trouble. Once she’s your girlfriend, she won’t target me anymore, right?”

“Is this such a simple matter that the dorm leader has to get involved?” Hua Ming declined. “Let Liang Tao handle this. He’s been frustrated lately; we should give him some motivation.”

“Fine. You talk to him,” Tang Zhong smiled. “You go back first, I have some things to do.”

Hua Ming suddenly grabbed Tang Zhong’s shoulder and asked, “Second bro, be honest, who are you going to see? Su Shan? Qiu Yihan? Or Jiao Nanxin?”

“You think too much. Go back to sleep,” Tang Zhong slapped him away.

“Ah,” Hua Ming sighed as he left. “It’s not that I don’t understand, it’s the world that’s changed fast. Do girls nowadays like scruffy-looking guys? No one likes those who are upright, gentle, and loving?”

“—” Tang Zhong touched his face, thinking he was still more normal than Hua Ming was when he was normal.

Tang Zhong passed the second cafeteria, the lovers’ path, a fake rockery, and headed south toward Mingli Lake at the university center.

The autumn wind was chilly, and even the lake water became cold, deep, and clear. Without sunlight, the shimmering gleam on the lake’s surface disappeared.

By the shore lay piles of withered plane tree leaves, crunching softly underfoot.

As Tang Zhong prepared to cross the wooden bridge leading to the bamboo pavilion in the lake’s center, he noticed two figures—one tall and one short—walking from the pavilion toward the shore.

The bridge was narrow. If it were a couple holding hands, it wouldn’t seem odd. But these two men, one tall and burly, walked side by side, making the bridge feel cramped. Neither seemed willing to fall behind the other.

Tang Zhong paused at the bridge’s entrance, waiting silently.

The two on the bridge noticed Tang Zhong standing there. The tall man, bearded with a broad chin, looked at him thoughtfully, while the short man, limping slightly, narrowed his eyes.

Clang—
Thud—
Clang—
Thud—

Their footsteps made two distinctly different sounds.

One strode with the power and confidence of a dragon and tiger; the other moved gently and softly.

When You Mu reached the bridgehead, he stopped. One more step would place him off the bridge onto solid ground. Yet he refused to take it.

By not stepping forward, he blocked Tang Zhong's path onto the bridge.

The burly man at the shore turned to look at Tang Zhong, then at You Mu, grinning broadly.

“Isn’t this what they call bitter enemies meeting on a narrow path?” You Mu looked down at Tang Zhong from the bridgehead.

“If you’re standing where I am, it’s more like a bad dog blocking the way,” Tang Zhong replied with a smile.

“Interesting,” You Mu squinted and sneered coldly. “I don’t know who you are. But what I said still stands.”

He pointed at Tang Zhong’s left leg, then at his right leg. “Before, I only wanted one leg. Now—both.”

“This isn’t the first time you’ve said that, right?” Tang Zhong sneered. “But I’m still standing here perfectly fine—intact. From a psychological standpoint, a successful person should do more and talk less. Boasting before success severely damages one’s image. You probably don’t understand that, do you? Of course, you’re hardly a successful person yourself.”

“Ha ha ha—” The burly man beside You Mu laughed. “You Limping You, looks like you’ve met your match. No respect at all.”

“Presumptuous little worm. You think you can be my opponent?” You Mu wasn’t angered by being called ‘Limping You.’ Calmly, he said, “Be serious. Many problems will be solved.”

Tang Zhong had long known You Mu’s vindictive and twisted nature, but the towering man—nearly 1.95 meters tall and walking like a moving mountain—calling him ‘Limping You’ didn’t anger him. This made Tang Zhong glance at the burly man a few more times.

“I’m different,” Tang Zhong said. “When I make a promise, I find a way to keep it.”

Pointing at You Mu’s only good leg, he declared, “Take good care of it. It belongs to me.”

You Mu raised his brow, eyes gleaming with murderous intent, smiling, “Is that a challenge?”

“No,” Tang Zhong shook his head. “It’s an order.”