61: Chapter 61 The Belated "Justice" and the Transfer Student

That voice, filled with obvious hostility and interrogation, sounded like nails scraping against a chalkboard, causing physical discomfort.

Huang Mao happened to recognize this sound, and he knew who it was without even turning around.

This voice was too recognizable, carrying a sense of lofty superiority and that affected tone, as if he had a hot eggplant in his mouth.

He turned around, and sure enough.

Standing at the back door of the classroom were two male students.

The one in the lead wore a well-tailored casual suit, his hair combed meticulously, and his face wore an expression that looked pained but was actually full of scrutiny.

Zhao Yu.

The Student Union President of Xinghai Private University and one of the most prominent figures on campus.

At this moment, he was staring at Huang Mao with a gaze that seemed to be looking at non-recyclable trash.

Beside him followed a tall, burly henchman with a face full of excess flesh, the type clearly responsible for doing the dirty work—a "warrior."

"Yo, isn't this President Zhao?"

Huang Mao leaned against the desk with his hands in his pockets, his calm expression not changing in the slightest.

"What wind blew such a big shot as yourself to our humble Department of Literature?"

"What's the matter, does the Student Union have nothing better to do? Or are you here to collect some activity fees that are 'voluntary' in name but 'robbery' in reality?"

The students around them let out a low burst of laughter.

It seemed that although Zhao Yu had a big name in this school, his popularity with the bystanders didn't seem very good.

Zhao Yu's brow twitched violently, but he quickly adjusted his expression.

He strode into the classroom, his gaze first scanning greedily and discreetly over the cold back of Leng Qingxuan in the front row, before turning to look at Huang Mao and speaking righteously:

"Student Huang Mao, please do not change the subject. I have come this time for the reputation of Student Leng Qingxuan and to maintain the moral atmosphere of our school."

As he spoke, he took out his phone and pointed at the trending post on the screen, his tone aggressive.

"This post has caused a very negative impact! Student Leng Qingxuan is the face of our school and represents an excellent image; she absolutely cannot be tarnished by such baseless rumors!"

Huang Mao raised an eyebrow, almost laughing out loud.

Listen to that, just listen.

The way he said that, if someone didn't know better, they would think he was Leng Qingxuan's own father.

"So what?" Huang Mao tilted his head, "Does President Zhao think this has anything to do with me? I'm also very distressed; I've been slandered too."

"Slandered?"

Zhao Yu sneered, stepped forward, lowered his voice, and spoke at a volume that only the few people nearby could hear:

"Huang Mao, we are all adults, so stop pretending. This kind of tactic is just too low-class."

"Do you dare say this post wasn't something you got someone to post? Or perhaps you posted it yourself?"

"Using such ambiguous photos to create rumors, using public opinion to bind yourself to Student Leng Qingxuan in order to attract her attention,"

"And next, are you going to attempt to 'force her hand' so she has no choice but to respond to you? Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Zhao Yu shook his head with an expression that said he saw through everything.

"This kind of 'toad wanting to eat swan meat' drama is something I've seen enough of in novels. Do you think this will make Student Leng Qingxuan look at you even once?"

"Stop dreaming; this will only make people think you're disgusting."

After hearing this long-winded lecture, Huang Mao was stunned.

Seriously.

He was deeply impressed by Zhao Yu's bizarre train of thought and powerful ability to project himself onto others.

"No, President Zhao."

Huang Mao laughed in spite of his anger and helplessly spread his hands.

"With such a rich imagination, it's a pity you don't write web novels."

"And..."

Huang Mao shifted his tone, his eyes carrying a hint of mockery and sarcasm.

"Since you think this trick is so 'effective,' why don't you try it yourself?"

"Anyway, you've been chasing Student Leng Qingxuan for more than a day or two, and besides having your flowers rejected, your confessions rejected, and being ignored during public speeches, it seems like you haven't made any progress, right?"

"Why don't you go take a couple of candid photos and post them to see? Maybe she'll actually pay attention to you then?"

These words could be said to be pearls of wisdom, each one striking right at the heart.

The girls around them who were originally just watching the drama all covered their mouths, desperately trying to hold back their laughter.

Who didn't know that Zhao Yu's pursuit of Leng Qingxuan was known by the whole school, but the campus belle hadn't even looked at him properly once?

This was practically exposing his shortcomings in public, the kind that rips away that layer of fig leaf completely.

Zhao Yu's face instantly turned the color of a pig's liver.

The mask of the "elegant young master" that he had maintained all along could finally no longer be held up.

"You...!"

He pointed at Huang Mao, gritting his teeth, the anger in his eyes almost bursting out.

"You ungrateful wretch! If you refuse a toast, you'll be forced to drink a forfeit!"

It just so happened that this was a small blind spot for the surveillance cameras, and with people still crowded around, he gave a wink to the burly henchman beside him.

That henchman was clearly unable to hold back any longer; it seemed he was used to acting like a bully while following Zhao Yu.

"Damn it! Is that any way to talk to the President? Keep your mouth clean!"

He took a step forward directly, swung his hand, and slapped towards Huang Mao's face.

If that slap had landed, his face would definitely have swollen up.

The girls around them screamed in fright and scrambled backward.

Leng Qingxuan, who had been sitting in the front row trying to maintain her composure, felt her body tremble violently upon hearing the commotion behind her, and she instinctively moved to stand up.

However.

The crisp sound of a slap that was expected did not ring out.

Instead, there was a dull sound of flesh colliding, followed immediately by a scream like a pig being slaughtered.

"Ah—!!!"

Before the crowd could react to what had happened, they saw the henchman—who looked like he was 1.85 meters tall and as strong as a bull—lying on the ground in an extremely twisted posture.

One of his arms was twisted behind his back, his entire face was pressed firmly against the floor, and his features were distorted.

And Huang Mao.

He hadn't even moved a single step from where he stood.

He was just holding the man's wrist with one hand, his knee gently pressing against the small of the man's back, and he himself still looked lazy and sleepy.

It was as if the person who had instantly subdued a burly man just a moment ago wasn't him at all.

"Oh, my apologies."

Huang Mao looked down at the henchman struggling at his feet, his tone devoid of any apology.

"Reflex, just a reflex. Next time, remember to say hello before you strike; don't be so sudden, it's easy to scare people."

The whole room was silent.

Everyone stared with wide eyes, looking at Huang Mao as if they were looking at an extraterrestrial creature.

This... is this the Huang Mao who usually has no presence and only sleeps on his desk?

This martial prowess, this reaction speed, isn't it a bit absurd?!

Zhao Yu was also stunned.

He looked at his "golden warrior" who claimed to have practiced Sanda, now being pressed into the ground by Huang Mao like a dead dog, and his brain couldn't process it for a moment.

But soon, he came back to his senses, and his expression became even gloomier and uglier.

"Huang Mao!"

He stared at Huang Mao, a complex light flickering in his eyes.

"As expected... you are still the same as before, only knowing how to use this kind of barbaric, violent means to solve problems."

"It seems you haven't learned a single thing from the previous lessons."

Upon hearing this, Huang Mao's previously indifferent eyes suddenly darkened.

In that instant, the lazy temperament about him vanished, replaced by a chilling aura that made people's hearts palpitate.

But Zhao Yu seemed completely unaware of this.

Just as he was preparing to bite the bullet and throw out a few more harsh words.

A crisp and pleasant, yet slightly cold, female voice suddenly came in from the outside of the crowd.

"President Zhao, I've managed to record the whole scene just now."

The crowd automatically parted.

Su Muxue held up her phone, the recording interface glowing on the screen.

She was wearing a simple beige knit sweater paired with slim-fit jeans, yet that could not hide the elegance and nobility that seeped from her bones.

"From the moment you entered and started provoking, to this student striking first, and then to Student Huang Mao being forced to act in legitimate self-defense..."

Su Muxue shook the phone in her hand, her tone terrifyingly calm.

"The video is clear, and the audio is normal too."

Zhao Yu's face instantly turned pale as a sheet.

He stared fixedly at the phone in Su Muxue's hand, as if he wished he could pounce on it and snatch it away.

"You...!"

Zhao Yu pointed at Su Muxue, then looked at Huang Mao, who was still pressing the man down, and trembled all over with rage.

"Fine! Very well! You win this round!"

He took a deep breath, trying hard to calm himself down, and finally glared viciously at Huang Mao one last time, tossing out a parting shot:

"Huang Mao, you just wait! For the sake of Student Leng Qingxuan, this isn't over! I will be watching you, and as long as I can catch you in a single mistake..."

After saying this, he roared at the henchman on the ground: "Get up already! Are you not embarrassed enough?!"

Huang Mao shrugged and let go.

That henchman, as if granted amnesty, scrambled to his feet, clutching his arm that had almost snapped, and scurried away after Zhao Yu.

That retreating figure looked pathetic no matter how you looked at it.

The classroom was silent for a few seconds.

Then, it erupted into a burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers.

"Holy crap! That was so cool! Huang Mao, what move was that just now? Was it a grappling technique?"

"Satisfying! So satisfying! I've long found that Zhao Yu to be an eyesore; he acts all high and mighty all day long, what is he pretending for!"

"Exactly! And claiming it's for Student Leng Qingxuan... Ugh! The campus belle hasn't even said a word, so why does he need to meddle!"

"That henchman deserves it too! Striking the moment he came up, does he really think the Student Union is a criminal gang?"

The girls crowded around Huang Mao, stars sparkling in their eyes.

The previous gossip had long been thrown to the back of their minds; in their eyes, the current Huang Mao was a hero who was both wise and brave, standing up against evil forces!

As for Leng Qingxuan sitting in the front row.

She was gripping the pen in her hand tightly, her knuckles turning somewhat white from excessive force.

She had really almost rushed over just now.

When she heard that the henchman was going to strike, her heart had almost stopped beating.

But...

She couldn't go over.

If she were to go over to show concern for him now, even if it were just to ask, "Are you hurt?", it would immediately confirm the rumors.

By then, it would likely only bring even more trouble to Huang Mao.

Leng Qingxuan bit her lip, her heart filled with grievance and a sense of powerlessness.

It was clearly he who protected her, it was clearly he who was bearing pressure for her sake, yet she couldn't even say a thank you to his face.

This feeling was truly terrible.

Huang Mao seemed to sense that burning gaze.

He did not look at Leng Qingxuan, but instead waved his hands at the surrounding students and said helplessly:

"Alright, alright, everyone disperse, class is about to start."

"This misunderstanding is indeed quite big; in short, I'm just an unlucky guy who got set up. Everyone, stop watching the drama and get back to what you were doing."

After calming down the restless students, Huang Mao turned around and looked at Su Muxue, who was standing to the side.

At this moment, Su Muxue had already put away that cold, queen-like air from before and had turned back into that gentle, lovely girl next door.

"Thanks."

Huang Mao looked at her, his eyes carrying a hint of sincerity.

"If you hadn't come out in time just now, that guy would probably have kept pestering me for a long time; it would have been quite troublesome."

Su Muxue smiled slightly, two blushes appearing on her cheeks, seemingly feeling somewhat flattered by Huang Mao's gratitude.

"It... it's nothing, Master, Student Huang Mao."

She shook her head gently, her voice soft.

"We are all classmates, after all, and... I also can't stand people who bully others by abusing their power."

Huang Mao nodded, then sighed, his gaze drifting somewhat.

"If only back then... there had been someone like you around, it would have been good."

He said this very lightly, as if talking to himself.

But Su Muxue still heard it.

She was stunned for a moment, a trace of doubt and inquiry flashing in her eyes.

"Back then? Do you mean...?"

Huang Mao came back to his senses, looked at Su Muxue's concerned eyes, hurriedly shook his head, and smiled in a way to cover it up.

"It's nothing."

At this time, the students who hadn't dispersed yet finally turned their attention to Su Muxue.

They had been too busy watching the fight just now, but now that they came back to their senses and looked...

Who is this beauty?

She is too good-looking, isn't she?!

Her figure is unfairly good, and her temperament is so gentle; she's practically at the level of a goddess!

"Eh? Wait... this seems to be... Su Muxue?!"

Suddenly, someone exclaimed.

"Su Muxue? Miss Su? The other Campus Belle of our school?"

"Holy crap! It's really her! She's even better-looking in person than in photos!"

"Oh my god! Why is campus belle Su here? And she helped Huang Mao out of a tight spot? This... what is going on?"

"Could it be... new gossip?!"

For a moment, the fire of gossip in the classroom burned fiercely once again.

Everyone looked at the "rumored girlfriend" Leng Qingxuan in the front row, and then at the "savior" Su Muxue standing beside Huang Mao,

their eyes darting back and forth between the three of them, their brains already concocting a million-word drama of wealthy family grievances and entanglements.

Huang Mao felt his head starting to ache again.

And a sharp pain at that.

"Um... Student Su Muxue."

Huang Mao bit the bullet and asked tentatively.

"You... why are you here? Your major's classroom shouldn't be in this building, right?"

On one hand, he was seeking help from Su Muxue, wanting her to explain, and on the other hand, he did indeed have some doubts.

Although it was said that they would meet again soon, this was a bit too fast.

Su Muxue looked at Huang Mao's expression of despair, a flash of sly amusement crossing her eyes.

She didn't feel the slightest bit uncomfortable because of the discussions of the people around her.

On the contrary, she quite enjoyed the feeling of standing beside him and being watched and discussed.

But now, her primary task was to help her master solve his problems.

She took a step forward, facing the eyes of all the students in the class, which were filled with curiosity.

Then, she revealed a sweet smile capable of melting ice and snow.

"Everyone, don't misunderstand."

"I helped Student Huang Mao because I just happened to run into this kind of incident, and I definitely have to stand on the side of justice."

"And the reason why I appeared here is not anything strange."

"Because—"

She paused, glanced at Huang Mao out of the corner of her eye, and then announced:

"I have applied to transfer majors, and starting from today, I have officially transferred into the Department of Literature."

"In other words... from now on, I will be everyone's classmate, so please take care of me."