Chapter Eighteen: The Glowing Fireflies!

Chapter Eighteen: The Firefly That Glows!

“How do you write these two characters?” Jiao Yuheng was clearly interested in the only freshman among the more than one hundred present who could recite the school motto. Although his expression remained stern, his tone of voice had softened considerably.

“It’s the ‘Tang’ from the Tang Dynasty and the ‘Chong’ meaning weight,” Tang Chong explained. At this moment, he had no choice but to stand and answer the question. The dean was standing while he was sitting; it would be rather disrespectful otherwise.

Fortunately, he had put on his baseball cap before leaving his room, the brim pulled low to obscure his handsome face from view.

“Since your parents gave you such a ‘weighty’ name, it proves they have high expectations for you—but do you realize your actions might disappoint them?” Jiao Yuheng’s tone grew stern once more. It was not praise, but a rebuke.

This made quite a few students secretly rejoice. They thought to themselves, luckily I don’t know the school motto. Otherwise, if I’d tried to show off, I might have been scolded by this eccentric old man too.

Tang Chong was speechless. Wasn’t this accusation a little too much?

Besides, he’d never felt his bearded father had such lofty expectations for him. Otherwise, he would have been steered toward law or economics—those popular majors—instead of being allowed to choose the little-known field of psychology.

“Are you feeling dissatisfied? Do you think I’m putting an unfair label on you?” Jiao Yuheng’s sharp gaze fixed on Tang Chong’s face, as if he could see right through him. “Why didn’t you answer my question earlier? Why didn’t you respond the first time I asked? Or the second? What were you waiting for?”

“What’s wrong? Unwilling to explain? Fine, then let me try to analyze your psychological process,” Jiao Yuheng continued. “The first time I asked, you assumed some other student would know the answer, so you had no intention of stealing the spotlight. When I asked a second time and found that, apart from you, no one else knew, you became even less willing to stand out—after all, the nail that sticks out gets hammered. You were worried that drawing too much attention would provoke the envy of your peers. Only when I said I was disappointed in the overall quality of this year’s freshmen did you, stung or humiliated, finally give the answer you knew—am I right?”

Tang Chong stared wide-eyed at the domineering little old man on the podium, caught between surprise and delight. He was shocked that the old man had read his thoughts so clearly. And delighted—because he knew, one day, he would become a person like that himself.

His interest in psychology grew stronger. The subject was truly fascinating.

“To live is not just to gain knowledge, but to learn how to conduct oneself. If this is your way of dealing with the world, I must say, as your teacher, I am deeply disappointed. Honor is something you strive for, not something you wait for. If you always try to blend in with mediocrity, you’ll soon become just as mediocre yourself—”

“These words are not just for you, but for all freshmen here today,” Jiao Yuheng’s gaze swept over the hall. “If you wish to escape the envy of the mediocre, then leave them so far behind they can no longer even see your shadow.”

A crackling burst of applause—

Though Jiao Yuheng’s words were not exactly pleasant to the ear, they were full of truth. He pierced right through that thin veil of hypocrisy between people, teaching them to be bold, to forge ahead, and to leave mediocrity far behind.

In that instant, the passion of these young freshmen was ignited, and they gave him a rousing round of applause without reservation.

“This old man is pretty cool.”

“Yeah, crude but right. I’m going to leave you all in the dust someday—”

“Ha! I’ll be the one leaving you all behind—”

Jiao Yuheng tapped the desk, signaling everyone to quiet down.

His authority was undeniable. With just two knocks, the large lecture hall instantly fell silent—one could hear a pin drop.

“Of course, as the only student to answer the question, you deserve a reward,” Jiao Yuheng said, looking at Tang Chong. “From today on, in addition to your scheduled classes, you will study practical psychological techniques with me—as long as you consider this a reward.”

Boom—

The entire hall erupted!

Everyone had found it odd that Tang Chong, after answering the question, was harshly scolded by Jiao Yuheng, but they could accept it. What they hadn’t expected was that Jiao Yuheng would, right there and then, accept him as a student—

One should know, Nanda was one of the most prestigious universities in China, and its psychology department was renowned throughout the nation. Jiao Yuheng was the dean of the psychology school and a leading expert in clinical psychological application. His personal influence and connections were both deep and formidable.

For Tang Chong to become his student meant that, as long as he didn’t perform terribly, he would likely go straight on to become a graduate student, then stay on to teach or go into the world to start his own business—whatever path he chose, Jiao Yuheng’s name would smooth the way for him.

This was an extraordinary gift, one so generous the other students could only—envy it.

“How could that guy be so lucky? Just for answering the school motto?”

“Is there something shady going on? Maybe the old man’s a relative? An illegitimate son? Or even a grandson—?”

“Heavens! If I’d known, I would have memorized the school motto too—how I regret it now!”

—

Jiao Yuheng ignored the reactions of the other students. In his eyes, honor should be awarded to the outstanding.

“I hope you all find fulfillment in your studies and happiness in your lives. That’s all I have to say.”

With that, he stepped down from the podium and walked out of the classroom.

By the time the students realized it was time to applaud, his figure had already disappeared.

The other department heads also hurried out, just as they had come, jogging all the way. Clearly, Jiao Yuheng commanded great respect within the faculty—even the other teachers held him in high regard.

Li Qiang, the advisor Tang Chong had met once before, stepped up to the podium, smiling amiably at the students.

“Are you all jealous of him?” he asked.

“Yes,” the students answered in unison.

“I’m jealous, too,” Li Qiang joked. “Dean Jiao selects one student every year. All those he has accepted have gone on to become authorities in the field of psychology—limitless prospects. Let me mention a few names. If you’ve studied psychology, you’ve probably heard of Li Xinsheng, Wang Jikui, Cai Guangzhao, Zhu Xiaoxiao? That’s right, all of them were Dean Jiao’s students.”

A wave of excitement swept through the students once more.

They were full of regret, frustration, envy, and even resentment.

They had all started on the same starting line, but that guy, by answering just one question, had been whisked halfway down the track before the starting gun had even sounded—it was infuriating enough to make one spit blood.

Especially Liang Tao, who sat behind Tang Chong. His emotions swung wildly, the whole thing just too overwhelming.

He’d been furious when Tang Chong answered Dean Jiao’s question. He’d been delighted when Jiao Yuheng scolded Tang Chong. And now, when Jiao Yuheng accepted Tang Chong as a student—he no longer knew what to feel.

Moments ago, he’d been plotting how to deal with him, how to isolate him. But now—what use would isolation be? If what Li Qiang said was true, and with Tang Chong’s unstoppable prospects, was it wise to make an enemy of him right now?

Hua Wuque snuck a glance over and saw Liang Tao’s face clouded, his body trembling slightly, his hands digging hard into his own thighs.

“But envy is pointless,” Li Qiang continued. “You only have yourselves to blame for not paying more attention. For a student of psychology, the most important quality is meticulousness—if you’d been just a little more observant, how could you have forgotten the eight-character motto inscribed on the stone at the school gate? Every student Dean Jiao chooses is razor-sharp in their attention to detail. Their success is due in part to his guidance, and in part to their own abilities.”

Li Qiang looked at Tang Chong. “Congratulations, Tang Chong. With such a good start, work hard and make the most of it.”

“Thank you, Mr. Li,” Tang Chong replied gratefully.

He was a little excited, and a little anxious.

He knew today was the first day of school. Bai Su had specifically taken him aside yesterday for a long talk, repeatedly warning him to keep a low profile at university, to stay humble and unnoticed—

But he was like the only firefly glowing in the vast night. What could he do about it?

(Footnote: All you fireflies who can shine, charge ahead with Old Liu!)