Chapter Seventy-Two: He Never Taught Me How to Bow My Head!

Chapter 72: He Never Taught Me How to Bow My Head!

In the minds of Liang Tao and Li Yu, even though Tang Zhong was second oldest in the dorm because of his age, they both naturally believed he was the true “big brother” of their room. Whether it was his breadth of mind, sense of responsibility, speech, or ability, he was far more mature and steady than they were.

It was only natural then that they grew accustomed to centering themselves around him, unconsciously orbiting in his sphere.

If it had been before, when Hua Ming declared, “I’m under his protection,” they wouldn’t have found it strange at all. After all, the members of Dorm 307 were indeed under Tang Zhong’s wing. Thanks to the reputation Tang Zhong had “fought” to build, his roommates shared in his glory. Wherever they went, others looked at them with new respect.

Tang Zhong was a star in the university—they were the family of the star.

Yet what happened tonight made them realize that Hua Ming’s status was far from simple. That man driving the Audi A8 with a military district red plate also knew him, and seemed compelled to take his attitude seriously—Liang Tao’s own pride in his status suddenly seemed to pale in comparison.

Despite all this, Hua Ming still called out, “I’m under his protection,” which, while both laughable and touching, made them feel a genuine warmth at his sincerity. No matter how identities shift, brothers remain brothers.

Though Liang Tao had always been close to Hua Ming, their friendship had only been on the surface—he’d never truly understood him. Hua Ming was always grinning, acting the fool, sometimes so exasperating you wanted to kick him into the ground. But tonight, his actions made Liang Tao want to weep.

“Hua Ming, are you crazy?” Wei Feng shouted, exasperated. “Do you even know what you’re doing?”

He wasn’t upset about the car, but about Hua Ming’s attitude. In his eyes, he and Hua Ming were of the same kind, true brothers. How could Hua Ming side with Tang Zhong? How could he smash the car with a brick? What for?

“I know,” Hua Ming replied seriously, his dark face grave. “I’ve never been so clear-headed as tonight. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

“You idiot—” Wei Feng wanted to keep berating him, but after locking eyes with Hua Ming, he realized nothing he said would get through.

“Apologize to Uncle Wei for me,” Hua Ming said with a big, guilty grin.

“You don’t need to apologize to my dad—think about how you’ll explain this to your own family,” Wei Feng scoffed.

More and more students had gathered; teachers and campus security, having heard the commotion, rushed over as well.

“What’s going on here? What’s going on?” shouted an elderly professor with white hair. “Are you still students? Do you have any sense of decorum? If you love fighting so much, why come to the university at all? This is a place for learning, not brawling!”

Security chief Zheng Chengfeng had received a report, assuming it was just students messing around. But when he arrived at the gate and saw not only a swarm of students but also a smashed Audi, he realized this was serious.

When Zheng spotted the familiar faces of Tang Zhong and Hua Ming, his head practically doubled in size. “You again? Why is it always you? Every fight, you’re involved!”

The incident with Teacher Zhang had just been resolved—though he still hadn’t really understood how. Yet seeing Tang Zhong and Hua Ming mixed up in another fight made him furious. To him, Tang Zhong and Hua Ming had become the very definition of troublemakers.

“Sir, we weren’t fighting—we were attacked!” Liang Tao protested loudly. He pointed to the crowd. “Ask them if you don’t believe us. They can all testify!”

A commotion swept through the onlookers—the crowd instantly shrank back in unison. They loved the spectacle, but didn’t want to become part of it. Standing up for justice only happened in novels and movies.

“I’ll find out for myself whether or not it was a fight. Don’t think you can talk your way out of this. Do you think I’ll just believe whatever you say?” Zheng Chengfeng didn’t buy Liang Tao’s excuse. “You, you, and all of you—come with me to security!”

He pointed out everyone in the circle: Tang Zhong, You Mu, Hua Ming, Liang Tao, Li Yu, and the rest.

Now that the university had intervened, You Mu couldn’t push things further. He pointed at Tang Zhong and said, “My word stands forever.”

It was a promise—someday, he would take a leg from him.

He nodded at Hua Ming, then turned to leave.

“Hey, you stop right there—” Zheng Chengfeng rushed forward to block You Mu.

This kid was too arrogant. He’d already been told to come to security for questioning and was now acting like he hadn’t even heard.

Just as Zheng grabbed You Mu’s sleeve, You Mu stepped back, falling perfectly into Zheng’s arms. Then, with a sudden burst of strength, Zheng’s body was lifted off the ground.

Tang Zhong saw it clearly—it was a beautiful shoulder throw, sending Zheng flying.

With a thud, Zheng hit the ground and didn’t move.

You Mu didn’t even glance at him, limped past, and left the scene.

With You Mu gone, Wei Feng saw no reason to stay. Without another word to Hua Ming, he jumped into his Audi, started it, and drove away.

The security staff wanted to stop the car, but at the sight of those plates, they all sensibly stepped aside. Who would dare block that kind of license?

Tang Zhong’s phone rang. The caller ID displayed Dean Jiao Yuheng’s name.

He answered; Jiao Yuheng spoke only one sentence: “Come to my office immediately.”

Tang Zhong smiled. The dean already knew what had happened tonight. Being the dean’s student had its perks, but it also meant his flaws would be magnified. Surely, Dean Jiao hadn’t expected to take on such a troublemaker.

He walked over to Hua Ming and asked, “Are you alright?”

“What could possibly happen to me?” Hua Ming said breezily, brushing the footprints from his clothes. “That lame guy didn’t hit hard—felt more like he was tickling me.”

“As long as you’re okay,” Tang Zhong said, relieved. When he saw Hua Ming get kicked down by You Mu, he hadn’t expected that nondescript cripple to be so formidable—probably no weaker than Wei Feng, who’d just fought Tang Zhong. He’d have to be wary of him in the future.

Liang Tao and Li Yu ran over as well. Liang Tao eyed the bruised mark on Tang Zhong’s forehead. “You fought that guy?”

“Yes. Traded a few moves,” Tang Zhong replied calmly. He didn’t want to recount the fight. For many, it would be an honor, but for him, unless necessary, he never wished to raise his fists.

Of course, saying such a thing now sounded pretentious—like a famous celebrity sighing about wanting a quiet life, or a rich man claiming he didn’t care for money.

“Your forehead’s purple,” Liang Tao pointed out. “Want to visit a hospital?”

“It’s nothing. I’ll just put a hot towel on it when we get back,” Tang Zhong said with a smile. When sparring with the Big Boss, the blows had been much harsher than Wei Feng’s. Tang Zhong knew how to protect and heal himself.

Su Shan walked over, tilting her head to look at the bruise on his forehead. “Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“No, it’s fine,” Tang Zhong replied.

Su Shan nodded. “Do you know who he is?”

“No idea,” Tang Zhong shook his head.

“You must have guessed something,” Su Shan said. “Weren’t you being a bit reckless?”

“Reckless?” Tang Zhong smiled. “I read a news story not long ago. There was a man—honest, timid. He had a friend who was the local militia chief. That friend often forced him to drink; if he refused, he’d get beaten up. Later, this friend set his sights on the man’s wife. He threatened to kick the man out, then pulled down the shop’s shutter and raped his wife. The man was furious—so furious he cried—but he did nothing.

His wife went insane, suffering horrible psychological and physical trauma. There had been security cameras in the shop, and the footage of the whole thing eventually leaked and the scandal broke.

Was his friend hateful? Of course—he committed a monstrous crime. But the cowardly husband was ten thousand times more detestable—what good is a man who can’t even protect his own woman? There’s no greater crime in this world than weakness.”

Tang Zhong adjusted his glasses and squinted, smiling. “Because I’m close to you, he tells me to get lost. If one day he sets his sights on my wife, should I step aside again?”

“That’s why you fought back so fiercely?” Su Shan asked. She’d read the news story too; it had left her indignant, unable to imagine such a pathetic man existed. She hadn’t expected it would affect Tang Zhong so deeply.

“That’s part of it,” Tang Zhong said.

“And the other part?” Su Shan pressed, wanting to know him better after tonight’s events.

Before, she’d thought of him as just a boy.

Now, she saw a man. And he had a band of loyal brothers. Even with family and elders pressuring him, Qian Ming still stood by his side—worthy of admiration. But didn’t this only prove Tang Zhong possessed a rare charisma?

“There was a man who taught me many things,” Tang Zhong said, lips curving into a nostalgic smile. “But he never taught me how to bow my head.”

(P.S. Wrote from morning until now. Four chapters, twelve thousand words. Third place in red votes, still not first—I wanted to write a fifth chapter to move you all, but I really can’t keep going. I’m exhausted. Time for a break.)