Part 2
The mouse clicked on a desktop video, opening it. “First, unknown persons assaulted a student on campus. Facial recognition identified the injured student as Zhang Jincheng. The two assailants entered the school with Councilman Wang Sichen this morning.”
Everyone looked at Wang Sichen in unison.
Wang Sichen was astonished for a moment, probably not expecting Wen Rong’s senior to be Zhang Jincheng.
But as someone used to big scenes, he crossed his legs elegantly and smiled. “I didn’t expect my bodyguards to use me. I’ll have my secretary deal with them right now. As for that Zhang Jincheng… since he was injured because of me, I’ll pay all medical expenses.”
He found an excuse for himself. The Principal couldn’t make things difficult, nor was it worth falling out with a councilman over a student.
The Principal changed the subject. “What about the second matter?”
The security staff clicked on a new video. “Unknown persons drove to the Liang Zilixue Research Institute.”
The Principal looked panicked. “Did you catch them?”
“They’ve been caught by the institute’s security personnel, awaiting your arrangement.”
“Investigate!”
Liang Zilixue’s research institute was the most special existence in Floriman Academy. Even Liang Zilixue himself was trapped in the academy, let alone his research data. Once those gene-related things leaked, the impact would be more serious than a nuclear leak at a research base. The Principal had to be nervous.
Zhou Xie looked in Wang Sichen’s direction. The old fox remained motionless.
After the Principal said “Investigate,” he dazed out for about two seconds and didn’t speak again, clearly guessing who was behind it.
Logically, this was the time to offer a way out and end the matter. But on second thought, all this was done to help Wen Rong; it had to continue.
Just as Zhou Xie was preparing to nudge the Principal, Zhou Wendong, who hadn’t spoken, beat him to it. “If it’s just these two matters, solve them after the anniversary ends. You still have to meet the media.”
The Principal took the out. “Mm, I’ll go meet the media first.”
“Principal, let me go.”
Wen Rong suddenly spoke up.
The Principal stood on the steps, stunned. “You?”
“My speaking style is suitable for facing the masses. And I am a Special Recruit; this identity is most suitable for being a bridge of communication between the school and the masses.”
“You can’t, you—” The Principal hesitated.
Zhou Xie had to report matters to him first, so the Principal was among the first to know about Wen Rong’s article damaging the school’s reputation.
Honestly, his impression of Wen Rong was very poor.
Students who caused trouble weren’t likable.
“The reputation damage is severe this time because the public is tired of bureaucratic talk in the news. If we use such words to dismiss them again, they won’t be satisfied.”
“Besides, didn’t you recruit me into the school precisely to gain the support of commoners? Currently, there is no student in the entire school with a better reputation than me.”
The Principal hesitated. Wen Rong continued, “If I cannot restore the school’s reputation today, I will compensate the school one billion yuan and voluntarily apply for withdrawal.”
The Principal’s eyes suddenly brightened.
Zhou Xie knew the Principal had fallen into Wen Rong’s trap of “retreating to advance.”
Wen Rong loved such tricks—pretending to be wronged and weak, while actually planning to bite back.
However, Zhou Xie was also curious about what Wen Rong would do.
So, firstly to give the Principal an out, and secondly to satisfy his curiosity, he volunteered: “Principal, I think it’s feasible.”
The Principal still pretended to be worried. “Do you know what one billion yuan means?”
“I know.”
“You couldn’t earn that much money in a lifetime.”
“I know.”
The Principal still hesitated. After weighing the pros and cons, he made a final safeguard. “Zhou Xie, only let him clarify the article matter. You answer the media’s other questions.”
Zhou Xie nodded. “Understood.”
Walking from the fourth floor to the first, no one spoke on the way.
Even entering the screening hall, Wen Rong only handed his computer to Zhou Xie, troubling him to display a photo from the file “Application Regarding the Replacement of Student Council President Zhou Xie.”
Zhou Xie couldn’t help asking, “Are you telling me so blatantly that your original plan was to have me removed?”
Wen Rong nodded. “I’m not planning that anymore, so I won’t hide it from you.”
Zhou Xie: “…”
I’d prefer you hide it from me!
On second thought, forget it. Hiding it would mean stabbing him in the back, which would be troublesome.
“Go up there. Don’t be nervous. If you shrink into a ball on the floor, don’t bother showing your face anywhere in this life.”
“I know. Thank you.”
Wen Rong gently brushed his hands past the seams of his trousers and walked up to the podium, straight and upright.
The moment he went up, the entire screening hall fell silent. No one had even told the media if the person going up was a staff member or someone else.
Perhaps this was the advantage of his appearance. Wherever he appeared, he was like someone carrying his own spotlight, attracting attention.
Wen Rong adjusted the microphone and bowed his head slightly.
Zhou Xie hesitated for two seconds, then finally controlled the camera to focus on that handsome, clean face, projecting the image onto the world’s largest screen behind him.
A fine, straight nose supporting rimless glasses that added a scholarly air. The eyes behind them were light in color, unable to gather light.
The image, which could be called holy, tugged at everyone’s hearts instantly.
Gasps of admiration rang out in the hall.
Perhaps even the media felt that with him standing there, whatever he said would be convincing.
“Good morning, friends from the media. Let me introduce myself first. I am a frog.”
The audience was in an uproar, amused by the humor.
“A frog?”
“So cute.”
“The Frog Prince?”
Wen Rong’s lips curved slightly. After a faint smile, he continued, “I lived at the bottom of a well, viewing the sky from the well, knowing the world by the shapes of clouds.”
It went quiet.
Zhou Xie could even hear the sound of his own mouse click.
It was the first time he had seen this description, but it was skillful. The speaker lowering his stance at the opening could quickly establish intimacy with the audience.
Zhou Xie didn’t know if Wen Rong had systematically studied public speaking, but his performance was mature and successful.
“Later, I jumped out and named myself Wen Rong. And due to some heaven-sent opportunities, I came to study at Floriman Academy.”
After speaking, Wen Rong looked at Zhou Xie across the stage that was the center of attention.
In that instant, Zhou Xie froze.
It felt like that sentence was spoken to him. But his reason told him, no.
Definitely not.
It was a cue.
To the outside world, Zhou Xie only paused for less than half a second.
He clicked open the file and projected the photo Wen Rong mentioned onto the screen—a few months ago, when he saved Zhang Wanfei and her son, a reporter took a photo of him when the Mayor presented a pennant.
Wen Rong in the photo was no different from the start of school: messy long hair, black-rimmed glasses, torn T-shirt, old jeans. Truly a poor kid who wasn’t very good-looking and exuded cowardice.
But the Wen Rong standing before the podium speaking, dressed in a uniform, groomed appropriately, smiling as he spoke, looked like a prince born into a noble family.
“The person in the photo is me before entering Floriman Academy. And the one standing before you now is me studying at Floriman Academy.”
“Here, I made friends, met friendly seniors, and even saw the world’s number one tennis player. Of course, there are many outstanding young people in the school. If I listed them one by one, everyone might fall asleep listening.”
“By saying this, I want to express: Floriman Academy is a good place. It has outstanding people inside. And a not-so-outstanding frog like me, coming here, has also started to look a bit human.”
“So the rumors outside are biased. As someone experiencing it firsthand, I can clearly tell everyone that Floriman Academy is very good. Next year is a new year. I hope everyone’s relatives, friends, or children can become my schoolmates.”
After saying this, a reporter in the audience raised a hand.
Wen Rong responded politely, “Do you have a question?”
The reporter stood up and took the microphone handed by the staff. “Is it true that Zhao Zeyang was expelled? Since his conduct was poor, why did the school recruit a student like him? Is this because the school itself has bad morals?”
“This conclusion reverses cause and effect. It’s not that the school recruits students with bad conduct, but that the school never tolerates bad students. I think this is a manifestation of strict school discipline.”
The reporter asked again, “Then regarding the controversy between Zhang Jincheng and Wang Allen, why has the school delayed responding? It was clearly obvious theft.”
“Because rigorous investigation takes time. The school discipline is strict, but at the same time, the school won’t wrongly accuse any student. We are extremely cautious before making a decision.”
He paused. “But everyone need not worry. In the near future, the school will publicly announce the penalty for Wang Allen’s plagiarism. Please look forward to it, and I invite all media friends to supervise.”
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.
Applause rang out through the venue, thunderous to the ears.
Zhou Xie smiled bitterly amidst the enthusiastic applause.
The Principal wasn’t a bad person, but not a very good one either. He had his difficulties and often could only choose to “muddy the waters.”
Like ignoring Wang Allen’s plagiarism.
Like ignoring Zhang Jincheng’s hand being injured by Wang Sichen.
Wen Rong probably guessed it too, otherwise he wouldn’t have volunteered to face the media.
So he didn’t obsess over fairness determined by authority. Wang Sichen stabbed Zhang Jincheng, he stabbed Wang Allen. He manufactured fairness himself.
The reason for the bitter smile was that Wen Rong’s words didn’t seem improvised; it was highly likely he had prepared them when formulating the plan to “replace the Student Council President.”
Wen Rong.
This gentle, harmless-sounding name, and this shorty who looked like he couldn’t even win a fight with one hand… truly made one’s heart tremble.
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