Chapter 142: So, you enjoy watching me without clothes?

Hua Ming became famous at Nanda.

Someone posted the banner hanging on the nineteenth girls' dormitory—"Men are all bastards, Nanda’s Hua Ming is the biggest scum"—on the Nanda campus forum. Once posted, it immediately sparked widespread attention and discussion.

In the most popular "Water Cooler" section of the campus network, the post's view count quickly surpassed three thousand, with replies exceeding a thousand. The ratio of views to replies reached an astonishing three to one.

Moreover, the students of Nanda began playing a fun chain game under the post.

"Although I am a boy, I still have to shout: Men are all bastards, Nanda’s Hua Ming is the biggest scum. Keeping the formation below."

"Although I am a girl, I have to shout even louder: Men are all bastards, Nanda’s Hua Ming is the biggest scum. Keeping the formation below."

"Although I don't know if I will be a boy or a girl in the future, I still have to shout: Men are all bastards, Nanda’s Hua Ming is the biggest scum. Keeping the formation below."

"--------"

Hua Ming.

A man like the wind, his name spread across the campus at the speed of wind, becoming the target of countless people's verbal and written attacks.

Tang Zhong also became famous.

Because someone couldn't stand seeing Hua Ming being humiliated while Tang Zhong hid in a corner kissing a pretty girl, they posted another thread on the forum: "Hua Ming is not a bastard, he is just the most wronged person in history."

Of course, Liang Tao suspected that Hua Ming, feeling aggrieved, had posted it himself.

The post detailed the whole story of Tang Zhong replacing Hua Ming on stage to sing "I Am a Wolf from the North," and even included a photo of Hua Ming's round, moon-faced appearance during military training, asking everyone to discern whether the person on stage was actually Hua Ming.

The view count for this post also soared, becoming the second most popular thread after the "Bastard Post."

"Tang Zhong? I know that kid. He’s great at fighting."

"The guy who threw our department’s Qiao Lei into the Ink-Washing Pond... Could he be the one Qiu Yihan likes? Is there no justice left?"

"Snakes and dogs of the same nest. Neither of them are any good."

"------To the person above, the idiom is 'snakes and rats of the same nest.'"

Some people believed Tang Zhong was the bastard, but more people remained convinced that Hua Ming was the true bastard. After all, the name announced by the host at the time was clearly "Hua Ming." How could it be wrong?

Where there is controversy, there is conflict; where there is conflict, there is viral popularity.

Thus, on the campus forum, supporters of both sides were locked in a fierce battle.

Tang Zhong pushed open the dormitory door, and Hua Ming, who had been sitting at the computer grinding his teeth, jumped up from his chair. He ran over and grabbed Tang Zhong’s sleeve, rambling like a beggar: "Tang Zhong, I’m finished. I am completely finished now... I shouldn't have eaten that seafood, and even if I did, I shouldn't have eaten those spoiled lobsters. If I hadn't eaten those lobsters, I wouldn't have had diarrhea... and wouldn't have missed going on stage."

"I’m done for. I’m completely done for. Everyone in school is cursing me, people online are cursing me, and just now a group of idiots rushed in looking for Hua Ming... I had to say I was Liang Tao to get rid of them. It's not that I'm afraid of them causing trouble; I’m afraid my reputation is ruined, and no girl will ever take the initiative to confess to me again..."

"Were there any before?" Tang Zhong asked curiously.

"Just because there weren't any before doesn't mean there won't be any in the future," Hua Ming said angrily. "Besides, this rabbit is the most beautiful rabbit I've ever found... They will definitely confess to me for the sake of the rabbit. Even if they don't like me, how could they not like the rabbit?"

"-------"

"Number Two, you have to save me." Hua Ming wiped his nose on Tang Zhong’s sleeve, looking infinitely aggrieved.

"Fine. How do I save you?" Tang Zhong said with a smile. "Should I hang a banner on our dorm building saying, 'Hua Ming is not a bastard, Tang Zhong is the heartless one'?"

"No, no." Hua Ming shook his head desperately. "That definitely won't do."

"Why not?"

Hua Ming looked at Tang Zhong bashfully and said coyly, "If you write that, everyone will know the person who performed on stage at the welcome gala wasn't me, and the person the girl confessed to and presented flowers to wasn't me either... I wouldn't be able to be the campus celebrity, and no one would envy or be jealous of me anymore. No one would talk about me, and everyone would forget me."

"I waited so long to finally reach today, how could I let it end so easily? From being the center of attention to being ignored, falling from such a height, I wouldn't be able to go on."

Hua Ming clutched his chest with both hands, closed his eyes in ecstasy, and said, "Listen. The whole campus is filled with the sound of Hua Ming, Hua Ming, Hua Ming... I am like the only star on stage. Everyone is cheering for me, applauding for me... They are all captives lying under my jeans. This feeling is something you will never be able to experience."

"-------" Tang Zhong really wanted to leave the print of his size-42 shoe on that moon-face of his.

"Didn't you just say you were finished and no girl would confess to you?" Tang Zhong asked.

Hua Ming went ballistic, pulling Tang Zhong to the computer and pointing at the "Hua Ming is not a bastard" post, cursing: "I don't know which bastard is being a busybody, actually posting this... and a group of idiots believe his words. There are even people attacking you now; I'm currently arguing with them... If they attack you, it means they don't believe I'm the tough guy who stood on stage singing and made the girl take the initiative to confess and give flowers. I don't know about you, but I can't tolerate it."

---------

Dean Jiao Yuheng invited him to dinner, and at his own home, which Tang Zhong found quite strange.

However, he got along very well with Dean Jiao Yuheng. He lived up to his reputation as a master in the field of psychology, and Tang Zhong had learned a great deal and gained rich nourishment from him.

Both logically and emotionally, he had every reason to visit his home.

However, for a first visit, he had to choose a suitable gift.

Something too expensive clearly wouldn't be appropriate; Dean Jiao wouldn't accept it. Something too cheap wouldn't do either, as it wouldn't express his gratitude.

The matter of gift-giving has stumped many heroes.

From their previous interactions, he knew Dean Jiao didn't smoke, but enjoyed a little wine.

After thinking about it, Tang Zhong went to buy two bottles of "Qin Jin."

Following the address Jiao Nanxin sent him, he arrived at the Nanda faculty housing area for the first time, walking and asking directions until he finally found Building Seven, where Dean Jiao Yuheng lived.

Building Seven was not a standalone villa, but an apartment building. It was five stories high with no elevator, so he had to walk up.

Dean Jiao Yuheng lived in 302. Tang Zhong stood at the door and pressed the bell. The person who opened the door was an elderly woman with a kind face.

She looked at Tang Zhong and said in a thick Suzhou accent: "Oh, it's Tang Zhong, right? I often hear your teacher mention you. Please, come in."

The old lady looked Tang Zhong over as she spoke.

"Thank you, Madam," Tang Zhong said with a smile. He placed the wine box on the floor, crouched down to change his shoes, and asked the old lady, "Madam, where is Teacher Jiao?"

"Oh, he is in the study playing chess with Nanxin. You go in and keep them company. This old man and young girl both have stubborn tempers; if they don't finish this game, they won't come out..."

The old lady led Tang Zhong inside, knocked on the study door, and said, "Yuheng. Nanxin. Tang Zhong is here."

Jiao Yuheng looked up at Tang Zhong, waved him over, and said, "Come and sit. Nanxin and I will finish this game. Otherwise, this girl won't even be able to eat dinner."

"It's okay. Teacher, go ahead and play. I'll watch from the side," Tang Zhong said with a smile.

Jiao Nanxin was focused on the chess game and didn't even look at Tang Zhong. She was probably still angry with him.

The old lady walked over and patted Jiao Nanxin on the shoulder. Jiao Nanxin knew her grandmother valued etiquette above all else; if she didn't take the initiative to say a word to him, the little old lady would nag her to death.

So, she said listlessly, "You're here."

"I'm here," Tang Zhong said with a smile. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

Jiao Nanxin wanted to say that he was indeed disturbing her, and that now that he was here, she didn't know how to place her pieces, but with her grandmother standing behind her, she could only snort coldly and remain silent.

"How could that be?" The old lady smiled. "You are Yuheng's student, and you're classmates with Nanxin; we're all one family from now on... Tang Zhong, you must come over often; I'll cook for you."

"Alright, Madam," Tang Zhong respectfully agreed.

Jiao Nanxin suddenly got angry and said, "You are not allowed to call my grandmother 'Madam'."

"Why?" Tang Zhong asked, knowing the answer.

"She is my grandmother. If you call her 'Madam' [Teacher's wife], wouldn't that make me call you 'Dad'?" Jiao Nanxin said indignantly.

"--------"

"Ahem..." Jiao Yuheng used drinking tea to hide his embarrassment and said to Jiao Nanxin, "Each to their own. Let's not interfere. Let's not interfere."

"That's right. The Dean is my teacher, so his wife is indeed my teacher's wife," Tang Zhong said with an innocent face.

"You..." Jiao Nanxin wanted to hit someone. This guy was too annoying, as annoying as one could possibly be. He was clearly a very strong person, yet in front of elders, he always pretended to be pathetic, as if others were always bullying him... Had she ever bullied him?

Ever since she met him, she had been in constant contact with the God of Misfortune. Where had she ever encountered anything lucky?

"Don't be angry." Tang Zhong leaned back timidly and said cautiously, "If you won't let me call her 'Madam,' I don't know what else I should call her."

Deliberate.

This guy must be doing it on purpose.

Jiao Nanxin pointed at Tang Zhong and said, "Do you know how to play chess?"

"I know a little bit."

"I'll give you a three-piece handicap," Jiao Nanxin said. "Play a game with me."

Since she couldn't beat him up in reality, she was prepared to retaliate on the chessboard.

"Alright, alright. I'll step aside. Tang Zhong, you and Nanxin play a game." Jiao Yuheng quickly gave up his seat. Playing chess was better than fighting, after all.

Tang Zhong sat down, and Jiao Nanxin leaned forward, whispering in Tang Zhong's ear: "I am going to leave you without a single piece of armor left."

"Without a single piece of armor?" Tang Zhong subconsciously covered his chest and said, "So you like watching me without clothes?"