Even though Ling Chen was fast asleep, the internet was far from calm.
Beneath that headline, the comment count had already surpassed 300,000, with users overwhelmingly cursing him out. Even the former allies who used to help Ling Chen bash the hypocritical saints had turned on him, turned off by his sheer arrogance. Many were even shouting online that they were going to hunt Ling Chen down in person the next day and make sure this little bastard suffered.
The next day.
Ling Chen put on a sharp suit, combed his hair into a mature style, and stepped in front of the full-length mirror.
"Hmm... still looks pretty good."
With his chiseled facial contours, delicate features, and deep pupils, he looked for all the world like a shy, boy-next-door freshman.
Anyone meeting him for the first time would surely take Ling Chen for an honest fellow—the quiet type who loved helping others. But after spending a few days with him, they would inevitably wail, "Appearances can be deceiving! This guy is simply not human!"
The morning campus was filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers. The pathways bustled with students coming and going, far livelier than the day before.
Because today's apology assembly was to be held on the Haicheng University sports field, and Ling Chen was representing the school, all the faculty and students were required to attend. First, to show sincerity; second, to give the general public an account.
As soon as he appeared on campus, he drew the gazes of the surrounding students, who sized him up and discussed him amongst themselves as if he were some rare exotic creature. Yet Ling Chen didn't care; he was long used to this kind of treatment. He stuck to doing his own thing—like it or lump it.
Suddenly, three graceful figures appeared in his field of vision.
"Morning, senior!"
By the edge of an artificial lake, Bai Youxia was sitting on a stone, breathing in and out to cultivate alongside two other girls. She wore a long black dress, her burgundy hair draped casually over her shoulders, her peach-blossom eyes bright and limpid. As one of the campus beauties of Haicheng University, possessing an S-rank talent, she had always been the target of relentless pursuit by the male students, receiving flowers and love confessions almost daily.
"Youxia, Ling Chen is calling you," Jin Moyan teased softly, her tight athletic wear accentuating her alluring figure.
"Don't pay him any attention. I guarantee he's just here to piss people off." Bai Youxia frowned, acting as though she hadn't heard a thing, and went back to flipping through her book to cultivate.
After shouting several times without getting a response, Ling Chen grew impatient. He strode over, stopped right in front of Bai Youxia, leaned down, and said, "Why are you ignoring me? Are you trying to give me the cold shoulder?"
Bai Youxia paused slightly and opened her eyes.
Once it registered, she gritted her teeth and snapped, "You're the one giving the cold shoulder! Having a mental episode bright and early in the morning!"
[Anger +1]
Jin Moyan and the other girl exchanged glances and smiled awkwardly.
Well. If you answer him, he makes you mad, and if you ignore him, he makes you even angrier. It looked like they were completely wrapped around his finger.
"Three senior sisters, I want to cultivate with you guys too. Come on, take in a little freshman!" Ling Chen dropped down right beside them and said shamelessly.
"Go away, go away." Bai Youxia waved a hand in disgust. "You'd better find somewhere to hide today. A lot of people from off-campus are coming, and they're saying they're going to chop you up."
Just as Ling Chen was about to say something, a cold reprimand suddenly came from behind him.
"Ling Chen! The apology assembly is about to start. What are you doing here instead of properly preparing?"
A few young men were walking toward them.
The one speaking was their leader, Gu Mingxuan. He was quite handsome, but his face always wore a haughty expression. Word had it that Gu Mingxuan had grown up without ever knowing what the ground looked like, because he always walked with his chin up and looked down his nose at people.
Still, he certainly had the capital to be arrogant. Not only was he Haicheng University's only SS-rank talent, but he was also the student union president and the heir to the Gu family, one of Haicheng's four major families. Any one of these three identities was enough to let someone walk all over Haicheng unchecked.
Yet there was one person he loathed above all others: the Ling Chen standing right before him.
Ever since this brat had arrived at Haicheng University, he had never once shown him any respect. On top of that, he had openly talked back to him in the activity room just yesterday. Gu Mingxuan desperately wanted to teach this punk a good lesson, but every time, his family elders would solemnly warn him: "Don't mess with him."
He just couldn't figure it out. An orphan abandoned by his parents—what was so untouchable about him? But constrained by the elders' words, he had been holding it in for months.
"The senior is talking to you. Why aren't you answering?"
Gu Mingxuan couldn't take it anymore. Not only did this kid not even look at him, but he was over here chatting animatedly with a bunch of girls.
"Must I answer just because you speak? Which school regulation dictates that?" Ling Chen turned his head and said indifferently.
[Anger +1]
Gu Mingxuan's face instantly went cold.
He immediately shifted targets and asked Bai Youxia, "Junior Youxia, did this brat bully you? Tell me, and I'll go deal with him!"
He was looking for an excuse to vent his frustration using his status as student union president!
Bai Youxia smiled awkwardly. "Thanks for your concern, Senior, but no."
Gu Mingxuan frowned. He hadn't expected this woman to be so unappreciative and unwilling to play along with him. So, he shot a look at the lackeys behind him and barked furiously, "Why aren't you scrambling to get ready! If there are any screw-ups at the apology assembly, the head of department will give you a taste of her wrath!"
His lackeys caught the hint and instantly unleashed a barrage of criticism.
"Ling Chen, know what's good for you. Don't throw away the respect we're giving you."
"Exactly. What status does the senior hold, and what status do you hold? So disrespectful."
"If the head of department finds out you're taking this so lightly, she'll skin you alive!"
"..."
Ling Chen took a deep breath. Before he could retort, their scolding immediately drowned out his voice, leaving him temporarily unable to get a word in.
"Damn, came prepared? Professional haters?"
"Shut your traps!"
With that, he cast the Silence Technique directly on them.
Gu Mingxuan and his entourage instantly fell silent.
"Go on, bark! Why aren't you dogs barking anymore?"
Their faces turned red, eyes bulging wide as if they had seen a ghost.
"Let me tell you little pricks, don't you dare wail at me. You think I'm scared of the head of department?"
"Even if that old hag came over herself, she'd still have to pour tea and hand me water!"
"You old perverts, trying to pull rank and bully a junior here? I..."
Just as Ling Chen was getting warmed up, he suddenly noticed Jin Moyan frantically signaling him with her eyes, while Bai Youxia wore a strange, amused smile.
Realizing something was wrong, Ling Chen turned his head mechanically.
When he saw the sexy figure standing before him—dressed in black silk stockings with a short skirt and long, flowing hair—his voice cut off abruptly.
"Go on, why'd you stop? I'm listening."
Qin Muwan's expression was as dark as a stormy sea. Though she wasn't yelling, the chill radiating from her entire body dropped the surrounding temperature by several degrees!
"Director, you misunderstood. I was stating a declarative sentence, not asking a question."
"What I meant was... I am afraid of the head of department..."
Ling Chen smiled faintly, bowed, and paid his respects.
"Do you think I believe that?" Fire was practically shooting from Qin Muwan's eyes. "I don't have time to deal with you right now. The reporters are all here—follow me to the sports field to apologize right this instant!"
Ling Chen nodded obediently and trailed honestly behind her.