Chapter Thirty-Three: Heavens, strike down this monster with thunder!

Chapter Thirty-Three: Heaven, Strike Down This Monster With Lightning!

When Bai Su said she wanted to "have a talk" with Tang Zhong, although Zhang Hepben was pretending to be absorbed in her computer game, her hands slowed and her ears perked up. Lin Huiyin, holding the remote, quietly turned down the volume several notches.

Thus, the entire conversation between Tang Zhong and Bai Su was heard by them.

"If one day I stop throwing punches at them—that means I'm dead."

Hearing these words, the expressions of all three women changed simultaneously. What kind of confidence allowed him to utter such resolute and bloodthirsty words?

Zhang Hepben, with her childlike nature, initially thought Tang Zhong was a villain, someone who had come out of "prison." She didn't like the idea of a man moving into their villa.

But after today's events, she found—well—she found that Tang Zhong was actually quite handsome when he fought. The little resistance she felt towards him had vanished, and she secretly thought it felt quite safe to be with him.

Lin Huiyin's thoughts were more complex; no one knew what she was thinking. However, her gaze lingered on Tang Zhong's profile for an unusually long time.

Facing Tang Zhong directly, Bai Su could sense his mood and the context of his words more deeply.

He wasn't just saying it for effect, nor to win their favor—she knew that he truly meant what he said.

She trusted him, though even she couldn't pinpoint where that trust came from.

Bai Su waved her hand irritably and said, "Tang Zhong, why can't we just be proper celebrities? So many stars never get into fights or conflicts—they live well and get what they want. Flowers, applause, wealth, status—or immortality. You could have all that."

"I could," Tang Zhong replied. "I do want that. No one likes constant conflict and fighting. Like last time, I wanted to finish the event peacefully, and tonight, I just wanted to enjoy a nice meal—I've never wanted to make trouble with anyone. When you punish others, you also affect your own mood."

"Exactly," Bai Su smiled. "So, you shouldn't fight anymore—not because those people don't deserve it, but so you can keep a good mood."

She thought her words would earn Tang Zhong's approval, that she'd be a successful persuader.

Unfortunately, Tang Zhong simply shook his head gently.

"If I don't fight, my mood gets worse," Tang Zhong said. "If I let them go, I'm the only one angry. If I hit them, then two people are angry—and knowing that he's angrier than I am makes me feel better."

"----------"

Bai Su wanted to die.

She wanted Tang Zhong to die even more.

Oh heaven, show mercy—strike this monster down with lightning!

"So it's hard to convince you?"

"Yes," Tang Zhong nodded. "You have two choices. First, kick me out of Butterfly, end this absurd game. Second, let me try to change some things."

"What do you want to change?"

"Stars can live with dignity," Tang Zhong smiled. "Both on stage and behind the scenes. They all deserve respect."

"----------"

Tang Zhong rose from the sofa. "I'm going to take a shower. I need to head back to school soon."

With that, he walked toward his room.

Watching his retreating figure, the three women were left in silent contemplation.

"My head hurts. My head hurts," Bai Su muttered, rubbing her temples as she headed upstairs.

"My body feels awful. I'm going to shower. Huiyin, do you want to come?" Zhang Hepben, in slippers, ran upstairs.

"No," Lin Huiyin replied.

Lin Huiyin sat alone in the living room, silently staring at the television.

After washing off his makeup and changing into the clothes he wore when he arrived, Tang Zhong closed his room door and came out.

Only Lin Huiyin remained in the living room; Bai Su and Zhang Hepben had gone upstairs.

Tang Zhong greeted Lin Huiyin, saying, "I'm heading back to school."

She didn't respond.

Tang Zhong didn't find it odd. If she were enthusiastic, that would surprise him more.

He pushed open the front door, about to leave the villa's courtyard, when Lin Huiyin's voice called from behind, "Tang Zhong."

He turned.

Lin Huiyin stood beneath the eaves, her tall figure wrapped in light and shadow. Even though the lamp was glaringly bright, she still exuded a sense of solitary detachment.

Her silhouette stretched in the light, merging with Tang Zhong's figure at the door.

"Is there something you need?" Tang Zhong asked.

"Thank you," Lin Huiyin said.

With that, she turned and walked away.

Tang Zhong stood there dazed for a long moment before shrugging and walking out.

As he reached the gate of the residential area, the sound of a car engine roared behind him, headlights blazing. Tang Zhong instinctively stepped aside to the edge of the road.

Screech—

The car stopped beside him. Bai Su lowered the window and called, "Get in."

It was the black Mercedes they had taken earlier, not Bai Su's outrageously ostentatious Ferrari. Her clothes had changed too; she wore a black silk nightgown, and perhaps feeling it was too revealing, she draped a silver shawl over her shoulders. The combination was odd, but it in no way diminished her soft allure and sensuality.

Tang Zhong chuckled, opened the door, and got in.

"Didn't you tell me to keep a low profile?" Tang Zhong joked. "Arriving at school in a Mercedes is anything but low-key."

"Taxis are hard to get right now," Bai Su explained. "Besides, I never said I'd drop you at the school gate."

Tang Zhong knew she meant well, so he didn't expose her deliberate nonchalance.

"So, how was it?" Bai Su smiled.

"What do you mean?"

"Huiyin," Bai Su pursed her lips, knowing he was pretending not to understand. "How did it feel to have Huiyin thank you?"

"You heard?" Tang Zhong laughed. Bai Su hadn't been there—how could she have heard?

"After my shower, I was on the balcony drying my hair. I happened to overhear," Bai Su replied vaguely, not caring whether Tang Zhong believed her. "Feels good, right? Huiyin has never thanked anyone first. I've known her for years and never got that treatment."

"That just means she didn't know proper manners before," Tang Zhong said. "After spending time with me, she's changed thanks to my influence."

"How can you be so thick-skinned? You weren't called fat, but you're already panting," Bai Su scolded.

They both burst out laughing.

Bai Su didn't drive Tang Zhong to the university gate; she stopped at the intersection on Academy Road.

"I'll drop you here," Bai Su said. "You'll have to make do. Your status is special—better not attract your classmates' attention."

"No problem," Tang Zhong replied. "This bit of road is nothing, just a few steps."

"Mm." Bai Su opened the glove compartment, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to him. "Here, take this."

"What is it?" Tang Zhong asked.

"A little gift from Liu Mingwei," Bai Su smiled. "Two million. With this money, it'll be easier for you to chase girls at school."

Tang Zhong didn't reach for it. "He said it's for the three of us. I have no right to take it all."

"Take it. Consider it your salary," Bai Su insisted, pushing the check into his hand. "I'll explain to Huiyin and Hepben. Honestly, neither of them care much about money. They agreed to this group because they genuinely love singing. You can hear it—they're talented. Born singers."

"So you're saying they're both heirs, and money is just a number to them?" Tang Zhong smiled. "If that's the case, I'll accept."

Perhaps two million meant little to Lin Huiyin or Zhang Hepben, and even for Bai Su it wasn't a huge sum. But for Tang Zhong, it was tremendous—equivalent to twenty years' salary for the head at Hate Mountain prison. When he left the prison, the head gave him tuition and only two thousand yuan for living expenses.

"I used to scheme to get money from others, but today I'm happily giving it away," Bai Su teased herself. "Liu Mingwei won't let this go—you should be careful."

"They'll only go after Tang Xin, who's abroad, not come to school for Tang Zhong," Tang Zhong said without concern. "But you all should be careful. Call me if you run into them. I'll come as soon as I can."

"Oh, two million and you're bought?" Bai Su laughed.

"Yes. I'm very cheap," Tang Zhong replied.

He pushed open the door and got out, waving to Bai Su.

"Tang Zhong," Bai Su called from the window.

He turned.

What was with these women? Why couldn't they say everything at once?

"You gave me two choices," Bai Su smiled. "I choose the second."

"You've thought it through?" Tang Zhong asked. "It might bring you a lot of trouble."

"I know," Bai Su nodded. "Logic says I should kick someone like you away, as far away as possible—but thinking about it seriously, you're actually quite fun."

"Fun?" Tang Zhong smiled wryly. It was the first time he'd been 'praised' like that—if it could be called praise.

"I've decided to tolerate you," Bai Su said. "I'm looking forward—to seeing who your next opponent is and how you'll torment them. I'm curious to see how far someone with your personality can go in the entertainment world."

"And whether you can become—the blazing king of the stage."