Chapter 65
Zhao Guang's words were incredibly rea.s.suring to Hao Ren. As the entrance of the dorm had not yet closed, he hurriedly took a taxi back to school.
At this time, more than a dozen people had gathered in Room 302. They were all male students from neighboring dorm rooms.
Seated spa.r.s.ely on the beds, chairs, and desks, they were trying to come up with a way to deal with this situation.
"How come you're so late?" Yu Rong questioned Hao Ren as he saw Hao Ren walk in.
"I had some tutoring to do tonight," Hao Ren answered.
"Zhao Jiayi is about to get expelled, and you are still in the mood to go tutor someone?" Yu Rong seemed a little irritated.
"Who said Zhao Jiayi is getting expelled?" Hao Ren asked sincerely as he placed his tutoring materials on his desk and turned to Yu Rong.
"I heard from a few friends of mine who are a part of the Student Council. They said that the school is taking the incident very seriously and will be strict in handling it," Yu Rong explained.
Yu Rong was the best source for information in the Dorm Building No.7, and no one would ever question his sources.
"You know what they mean by strictly handling; ordinary students with no powerful connections will be the ones suffering the consequences," Yu Rong added.
"Exactly. There was a similar incident before; a student and the basketball team fought over the use of a court, and it wasn't even as bad as this one. Yet, that student got a disciplinary warning," Gu Jiadong interrupted.
"I was in the fight, too. They'd better penalize me as well," Hao Ren said.
"You will be fine!" Yu Rong stated, "My friends in the Student Council told me that the nature of fight would be examined. The one who started the fight would be the most at fault. Your initial intention was to mediate the fight but accidentally got caught in the fight and had injured others, so it was not that bad. When both sides are at fault, the side who threw the first punch will receive harsher penalties. Besides, we all know the school has always been partial to the basketball team."
His words made everyone's face somber. Zhao Jiayi was sitting by his bed, not knowing what to say.
Zhao Jiayi was quite popular among the residents in Dorm Building No.7. He was frank and straightforward, an overall pa.s.sionate and friendly person. Therefore, knowing that he could face severe consequences, everyone was upset and worried.
If Zhao Jiayi were to be expelled from the school for something like this...
"Guys, guys, there's no use talking about this. Everyone, go back to your room and get some rest now," Hao Ren waved at the crowd as he a.s.serted.
"That's right. Go, don't worry about me!" Zhao Jiayi got up and started driving the crowd out as well.
Knowing that they could not be of much help by staying and might only upset Zhao Jiayi even more, everyone began walking out of Room 302.
When the four were left in the room alone, silence had instantaneously taken over. One by one, they each went back to their own beds. After, Hao Ren said to Zhao Jiayi who was resting below him, "Zhao Jiayi, don't worry, everything should be fine."
"Haha," Zhao Jiayi responded with bitter laughter. He seemed to think that there was no way of escaping his doom.
"Do your parents know about this yet?" Zhou Liren was concerned.
"I didn't tell them!" Zhao Jiayi responded.
"Or we can start a pet.i.tion against the basketball team to reveal their detestable
"Don't be naive. It is obvious that the school would do anything to protect the basketball team," fiddling with the coin in his hands, Zhao Jiayi said calmly.
"Ay, let's go to sleep! We will deal with this tomorrow!" Zhao Jiayi turned off the light with a smack.
With heavy hearts, no one spoke again that night.
The next day, Zhao Jiayi went to cla.s.s as usual with Hao Ren and the others. However, the more he casually joked and laughed with Zhou Liren and the others, the more his cla.s.smates could tell that he was laden with anxiety.
After all, all he could do now was wait for the school's official statement.
After they finished their morning cla.s.ses, Hao Ren excused himself from having lunch with the others and stealthily got into the Administrative Building. He was heading to the 6th floor for Lu Qing, the vice princ.i.p.al.
This time, he brought along Lu Qing's business card. This way, if Lu Qing was not in his office, he could reach him directly by phone.
Knock, knock… Just as Hao Ren started gently knocking on the door, Lu Qing's voice came through, "Please come in."
Hao Ren opened the door and walked in. He saw Lu Qing seated at his desk, looking up some information.
"h.e.l.lo, El… Princ.i.p.al," Hao Ren greeted. The moment he opened his mouth, he suddenly became unsure whether he should address him as Elder Lu or Princ.i.p.al Lu.
"Gongzi Hao, come in and have a seat," pointing at the chair across from his, Lu Qing said politely.
Hao Ren closed the door and sat down across from him uneasily. "You can just call me by my name," he said.
This was his first interaction with Lu Qing as his vice princ.i.p.al. Moreover, it was taking place in the vice princ.i.p.al's office at the university. Hao Ren had never imagined he would one day be talking directly with any high-rank personnel from the school management team.
"Hehe, alright." Lu Qing nodded with a smile.
"I am here to talk to you about the fight that took place yesterday," Hao Ren went straight to the point, "I believe you have heard that I also partic.i.p.ated in the fight. It seems that the school is planning to deal with the student who initiated the dispute harshly. You see, that student is a good friend of mine…"
"About this," Lu Qing stopped Hao Ren and said "It had already been discussed at the school affair meeting today. From the school's perspective, such incidents could influence the entire school's spirit and discipline. Hence, we must handle it seriously."
"Yes?" Hao Ren's heart began to sink at Lu Qing's words. He wondered if Zhao Guang's phone call exerted any impact.
"How do you think this incident should be dealt with?" Lu Qing suddenly turned his focus on Hao Ren.
Hao Ren hesitated for half a second then stated, "To me, I think the basketball team initiated the provocation, and Zhao Jiayi had no choice but to fight back. The basketball team was the most at fault. Not to mention, most of the students have been upset about the basketball team overtaking the outdoor basketball courts when they have their own training facility…"
Lu Qing looked to Hao Ren with his smiley eyes and interrupted, "You don't have to give me your reasoning. Just tell me how you'd handle this."
"Zhao Jiayi was not the most at fault and was also injured by their joint attacks. At most, he needs some advice and disciplining from the Guidance Counsellor. As for those on the basketball team, it should be in the rules that they are not allowed to occupy the outdoor basketball courts which are intended for the use of regular students. Also, they jointly a.s.saulted a student, and they should at least receive disciplinary measures for their actions," Hao Ren proposed.
Observing Hao Ren, Lu Qing was silent for a few seconds. Then abruptly, he nodded his head and said, "Good, let's do as you said."
Hao Ren looked at Lu Qing, shocked by his response. He only intended to raise some suggestions and hoped to clarify his att.i.tude. He did not expect Lu Qing to make the decision based on what he had said.
"Actually, the princ.i.p.al did mean to be stricter about this," Lu Qing seemed to be able to read Hao Ren's thoughts. He leaned forward and asked, "You asked Zi's father to make a phone call, didn't you?"
Hao Ren nodded lightly.
"The boss is very busy, try not to bother him with such small things in the future. I knew immediately that the boss had quietly exerted his influence when the princ.i.p.al clearly stated his stance to be partial to the regular students at today's meeting," Lu Qing said with a chuckle.
Hao Ren tried to explain, "I was just so worried…"
"Haha," Lu Qing looked to Hao Ren in a kind and friendly way, "You broke through the second level already?" he asked.
"Yes, that was a few days ago."
"Good job," Lu Qing seemed gratified. "I'd never imagined that Su Han would be willing to help anyone cultivate in person. She is the second best master I know of. Learning from her, you will progress rapidly for sure."
Hao Ren supposed the No.1 master would be Zhao Yanzi's Third Uncle - Zhao Kuo. Nevertheless, he had had a taste of Zhao Kuo's violent temper and did not expect to receive any guidance or pointers from him.
"I still have cla.s.ses in the afternoon. I should go now," Hao Ren said as he got up. It was making him uncomfortable to stay in the vice princ.i.p.al's office for too long.
"Go…" Lu Qing waved at him casually..
After getting out of the Administrative Building, he went for lunch in the cafeteria. He planned to meet up with Zhao Jiayi and the others in the afternoon and continue going to cla.s.s.
After forcing himself to smile and act normal for the whole morning, Zhao Jiayi had become enervated by the afternoon. He cus.h.i.+oned his arms with his books underneath and decided to take a nap.
"Breaking news! Breaking news!"
A few minutes before the cla.s.s was about to start, Yu Rong rushed into the cla.s.sroom, waving both of his arms in the air as he shouted, "The notice of disciplinary measures is out!"
"Oh?" everyone in the cla.s.s including Xie Yujia looked up curiously and anxiously.
Expectantly, Zhao Jiayi's head also immediately bounced up from the desk.
"The notice is posted in the display window on the first floor of the Administrative Building. The students on the basketball team who were involved in the fight: four are receiving disciplinary measures, two are given verbal warnings, and they are all temporarily expelled from the basketball team! Moreover, they are to pay for Zhao Jiayi's medical expenses! The most important thing is, Zhao Jiayi is exempted, and so is Hao Ren!" Yu Rong screamed exhilaratingly.