Chapter 84: The Spokesperson for the Underdogs!

Chapter Eighty-Four: The Icon of the Underdogs!

Tang Zhong turned around and saw a woman dressed in a black professional suit walking briskly toward him.

The woman had delicate features and was rather attractive. Her tall, slender figure gave the impression she could be swept away by a gust of wind.

Yet, Tang Zhong found himself inexplicably tense because of her. She carried a large fruit basket in her left hand and a box of pastries in her right, striding so swiftly and steadily that it seemed as though boundless strength resided within her slender frame.

Tang Zhong watched her warily and said, "I don't know you."

The woman smiled and replied, "Mr. Tang, someone asked me to deliver a gift to you."

"Who?" Tang Zhong asked.

"It's just a fruit basket and a box of mooncakes," she said, handing him the gifts. "The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. It's a small token, please accept it."

"You still haven't told me who sent it," Tang Zhong refused to take it. "If I'm not familiar with them, you should take the gift back."

"Mr. Tang, please don't make this difficult for me," she pleaded. It was hard to steel oneself against a beautiful woman’s gentle words.

Unfortunately, Tang Zhong gave her no quarter.

"You put me in a difficult position first," Tang Zhong replied with a smile. "Take it back. I don't need it. The school will hand out mooncakes, and they should taste pretty good."

The woman sighed helplessly. "My task is to deliver it directly into your hands."

She stepped forward; Tang Zhong retreated.

Then, she placed the fruit basket and mooncake box on the ground and quickly turned to flee.

Watching her run so fast in high heels gave Tang Zhong a headache.

He walked back, bent down, and picked up the fruit basket and mooncake box.

A sanitation worker dragging a trash cart passed nearby. Tang Zhong hurried after her, handed her the gifts, and said, "Auntie, these are for you. Happy holiday."

He turned and walked away.

"Hey, young man—young man—this isn't right, is it? How can I accept such valuable gifts?" she called after him.

"Young man, are you—are you Xiao Gang, my Qianqian's boyfriend? Since you're here, why not come over to the house for a visit?"

Tang Zhong ignored her calls and the invitation, quickly heading back onto campus.

Once Tang Zhong was out of sight, the delicate woman returned from the corner where she’d hidden. She stared at the sanitation worker, who was beaming as she cradled the fruit basket and mooncake box, her expression odd.

She walked to Xueyuan Road, separated from Xuefu Road by just one street, and stopped in front of a small shop where a black Audi was parked.

She opened the passenger door and got in, apologizing, "I'm sorry, I couldn't complete the task."

"Ah..."

A sigh, so soft it made one's bones tremble, came from the back seat.

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Tang Zhong pushed open the dormitory door and saw chaos inside. Hua Ming's face was covered in black lines as he darted about, while Liang Tao and Master Wang Aiguo blocked him front and back. Li Yu sat in a chair shuffling cards, smiling as he watched the scene.

Seeing Tang Zhong return, Hua Ming rushed over, grabbed Tang Zhong's arm, and pleaded, "Second Brother, you have to stand up for me! I said I wouldn't bomb, but they insist on snatching my double jokers—who plays cards like this?"

"Have you no shame? You said you'd bomb, but when you saw Wang Aiguo had a bomb, you picked your double jokers back up—how is that not a loss? Bring your face over and let us draw two turtles, or we won't let this go."

"Exactly. A real man pays his dues," Wang Aiguo agreed. "It's just two turtles. Your face is big enough—it won't hurt to add a couple more."

"I didn't bomb."

"You threw your cards out and you say you didn’t bomb?"

"They fell by accident."

"So now you're cheating." Liang Tao and Wang Aiguo pinned him on either side, and Li Yu picked up a marker and drew two turtle eggs on Hua Ming’s frantically twisting face—since he moved so much, he could only manage two circles.

"Why are you all playing cards together?" Tang Zhong asked Wang Aiguo. He didn’t recall Wang Aiguo and Hua Ming or Liang Tao being particularly close.

"I came looking for you to discuss something," Wang Aiguo said with a cheerful grin, his own face adorned with several little turtles. "You weren't here. They said they needed a fourth for cards, so I played along."

"What is it?" Tang Zhong asked.

"Let's talk over here. It's department business—I can't let those guys overhear." Wang Aiguo walked to the balcony, with Tang Zhong following.

Master Wang Aiguo looked Tang Zhong over seriously, clicking his tongue in admiration. "I really didn't expect it. Truly didn't expect it."

"Didn't expect what?" Tang Zhong asked.

"Do you remember what I said when we first met?" Wang Aiguo asked.

"I remember," Tang Zhong replied. 'I could tell at a glance you were an underdog.' He guessed he wouldn't forget it for years, maybe even decades.

"Back then I said you were destined for greatness, that you were extraordinary—"

"Pretty sure you didn't say that," Tang Zhong corrected him, wondering if Wang Aiguo gave every freshman the same spiel and had just mixed up his lines. "You slapped the table and said—I could tell at a glance you were an underdog."

"Really?" Wang Aiguo’s mouth gaped in surprise. "Did I say that?"

"Yes," Tang Zhong nodded firmly.

Wang Aiguo looked embarrassed, mumbling, "What I meant was, you’re not an ordinary underdog—you’re a super underdog, a king underdog, a world-beating underdog. You’re the face of underdogs everywhere! Just think, you’d barely arrived at school and Dean Jiao took you as his apprentice. That honor alone is enough to drive hundreds in our department mad with envy. And at your class election, I was there. Damn, I never expected you’d win so many votes. Standing at the podium tallying the ballots, every time they called your name, my body shook—usually the class monitor is the temporary one, familiar face, has a base, everyone votes for him. But you were so fierce, you instantly beat him."

"You came just to admit you misjudged me?" Tang Zhong teased.

"Hey, how could I misjudge you?" Wang Aiguo denied, his face flushed. "Go ask around—of all the freshmen this year, who else have I read the palm for? I knew at first glance you weren’t ordinary, so I cast your fortune—and look, I was right."

"Alright," Tang Zhong decided not to poke at the master’s pride. He smiled, "You said you had something to discuss?"

"Yes," Wang Aiguo said. "First, let me ask: are you willing to join the Student Council?"

"Student Council?" Tang Zhong shook his head. "I never considered it."

"How could you not? Plenty of students want to join."

"What’s the benefit?"

"None."

"Then why join?"

"Well—it’s a chance to train yourself," Wang Aiguo said without conviction.

"No thanks. I’ll pass," Tang Zhong said. "I’ll have plenty on my plate this year, no time for club activities."

"But you have to," Wang Aiguo insisted. "All class monitors must join the Student Council, and you’ll be placed well—usually in the Life or Discipline Departments, which are high-profile and easy to excel in."

"I’d rather not," Tang Zhong shook his head. "I’m most afraid of standing out right now."

"True," Wang Aiguo chuckled. "You’re the most high-profile freshman in our department, the most famous freshman in NANDA. I hear other departments have lots of folks itching to challenge you."

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Tang Zhong sighed inwardly. Was this what it meant to suffer for fame?

"I won’t be joining the Student Council," Tang Zhong said. "Tell me about the other matter."

"The Freshman Welcome Gala," Wang Aiguo said, looking at Tang Zhong like he was from the sticks. "You haven’t heard of it?"

"I’ve heard of it," Tang Zhong replied. "What’s it got to do with me?"

Wang Aiguo seemed exasperated. "Aren’t you a freshman? Not only that, you’re the class monitor. So you’re involved—a lot. There’s a rule: every class must submit a performance for the school. As monitor, you’re in charge of your class's act. Singing, dancing, comedy, skits—anything. The school will cut some when reviewing."

"I’ll give it a try," Tang Zhong said. Jiao Nanxin was the class’s arts committee rep—he’d let her handle it.

"Don’t just try," Wang Aiguo insisted. "After the Mid-Autumn holiday, you must submit a list to me."

"Alright," Tang Zhong had no choice but to agree.

Wang Aiguo patted Tang Zhong’s shoulder and laughed, "I have high hopes for you!"

No sooner had Wang Aiguo left than Hua Ming crept over and whispered, "Second Brother, the department wants our class to send an act for the Freshman Gala?"

"Got any candidates?" Tang Zhong asked.

"Sure," Hua Ming nodded with a lewd grin. "When recommending outsiders, avoid enemies; when recommending insiders, don’t avoid relatives. I nominate myself."

"What can you do?" Tang Zhong asked.

(P.S. Reunion under the moon, only two chapters today. Tonight, let your love rest on your family. Tomorrow, shower your love on Old Liu again.)