Chapter 27: The Remote Control
“The Special Recruit in the posts… is talking about me?”
Wen Rong turned to look at Lin Qizheng. Because he was too shocked, not a trace of blood could be seen on his face; he looked like a smooth piece of porcelain.
Lin Qizheng hadn’t realized the change in Wen Rong yet and said speechlessly, “Are there other Special Recruits in our school?”
“The people posting are…”
“Students of our school, obviously.”
The words on the screen blurred into double images flickering before Wen Rong. He unexpectedly recalled the moment of the earthquake.
Rumble—
The body swaying, screams, sounds of running, all very brief. Only a few seconds later, severe pain struck, followed by loss of consciousness. His body felt like an hourglass, a kind of intangible substance falling away.
Snap. A hand with distinct knuckles slammed the laptop lid shut. “Don’t look. Those people are brain-dead; ignore them.”
“…” Wen Rong pursed his lips for a few seconds. Eventually, unable to endure it, he asked, “Why do they post things like that? Isn’t this an aristocratic academy? Why is everyone a pervert?”
“I’m not!” Lin Qizheng raised both hands.
“I’m not either,” Zhang Lin quickly followed.
Wen Rong realized he had misspoken and apologized weakly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say you guys.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay… understandable that you’re in a bad mood seeing yourself being fantasized about. Don’t take it too seriously; they’re just all talk.”
Wen Rong couldn’t tell them that it wasn’t just posts; he had just been harassed by Zhao Zeryang.
He nodded, not wanting his emotions to affect work, and whispered, “Seniors, please continue teaching me the work.”
“But… we have to open the forum. Can you handle it?”
Wen Rong: “…”
He rubbed his knee hard, unable to resist asking again, “Why do they want to offend me in the forum?”
Lin Qizheng: “Uh…”
Zhang Lin: “…”
“This…”
“Well…”
While Lin Qizheng and Zhang Lin looked troubled, not knowing what to say, the Savage narrowed his eyes at Wen Rong. “Do you not look in the mirror every day?”
Wen Rong was both sad and confused. “Does this have anything to do with looking in the mirror?”
“Are you humblebragging?”
His bodily functions at this moment couldn’t process what humblebragging meant, so he could only remain silent.
“Do you really not know?”
“…”
“Of course it’s because you are beautiful.”
Wen Rong was struck by a bolt from the blue again. “I…”
“I hate talking to people like you the most. Pretending not to know something so obvious.”
“I don’t think I’m beautiful,” Wen Rong retorted.
When he looked in the mirror, he only ever felt that the Floriman Academy uniform was cool and good-looking.
The Savage sniffed loudly, his chin tilting up with the action in dissatisfaction.
Lin Qizheng hurriedly said, “Bro! Bro, look how dazed he is. He might really not know. Don’t be so venomous.”
“Even more annoying if he isn’t pretending.” The Savage crossed his arms. “I hate you people who act cool unknowingly the most.”
Wen Rong: “I didn’t—”
Lin Qizheng patted Wen Rong’s shoulder to interrupt him. “Youngest, don’t take it to heart. Our President has trauma in this area. Also… if our President says you look good, you definitely look good. The President does fashion design; he’s very accurate at judging people.”
Wen Rong shut his mouth aggrievedly.
He thought about how after joining the club, everyone hadn’t distanced themselves because of his Special Recruit status and kindly called him Youngest.
Although they weren’t the kind of friends with common hobbies that Senior Leon spoke of, he wanted to make such friendly friends too.
He should cherish it and not conflict with them.
Most importantly, the Savage’s stubbly face revealed anger; he was truly mad.
— Beautiful is a compliment. I denied it, so the Savage is angry.
Wen Rong forcibly suppressed his sadness, stood up, and bowed sincerely to the Savage. “I’m sorry.”
He added, “I know I’m beautiful now. I won’t pretend anymore.”
The soft apology, mixed with a nasal tone hovering between crying and not crying, echoed in the small room, deafening.
In this moment, Lin Qizheng had only one thought in his mind: I can die. Die right now. Hanging, jumping into a river, anything works. Just don’t let me watch the Youngest hurt our President with such a stupidly innocent expression here. I’m really afraid of becoming an eyewitness to a murder scene.
The Savage: “You—”
Fortunately, Zhang Lin, a second-year with richer life experience, clapped his hands to intercept the impending war. “Let’s continue discussing business, continue.”
“Right, right, right, continue. Youngest, don’t stand, sit down, sit down. Let me tell you about our News Club’s great work content.”
Nodding, Lin Qizheng pulled the computer out from under the President’s palm and flipped open the lid—the forum had stirred up new commotion.
[Thinking about it now, the 756th Floor Bro is truly too comprehensive. Dull unrequited love is beautiful, but forced love is more fascinating. Want to use some methods on the Special Recruit.]
As luck would have it, the Original Poster attached a screenshot of the 756th Floor’s comments.
Because it was too explicit this time, the emotions Wen Rong had just processed surged up again.
Lin Qizheng didn’t know what to say anymore.
In another silence within the shack, Wen Rong asked feebly, “This 756th Floor is…”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Th-This person is Zhao…”
Because the wording was too similar to what Zhao Zeryang’s group had said just now, Wen Rong had a faint answer in his heart, but he felt it was wrong to assume without evidence.
“Don’t know. Anonymous forum, can’t see who it is.”
Zhang Lin: “Sigh! Stop hiding it from him. Actually, everyone’s comments were fine at first. Ever since this 756th Floor Bro said he wanted to do that to you… the whole forum’s atmosphere went crooked.”
Zhang Lin finished and patted Lin Qizheng’s head. “We’re all brothers; just open it and show him. Look at Youngest’s eyes; if he doesn’t see it, he definitely won’t sleep tonight.”
Lin Qizheng hesitated for a few seconds, his expression changing unpredictably, eyes darting around… landing on Wen Rong’s pitiful and pale face. He sighed as if throwing caution to the wind. “Fine, fine. We’re all brothers; I’ll show you.”
“You aren’t allowed to tell anyone!”
Wen Rong used his scarce remaining strength to support his chin and nod, indicating he would definitely keep it secret.
Lin Qizheng took the computer from in front of Wen Rong, fingertips tapping nimbly on the keyboard.
A strange window appeared on the screen, strings of code drifting past. After a while, he logged out of Black Pigeon, entered another account string, and logged back in.
The forum interface changed. The IDs that were 1st Floor, 2nd Floor a few minutes ago turned into real names.
Lin Qizheng opened a thread and turned to the later pages.
756th Floor: Zhao Zeryang.
Perhaps because he was mentally prepared just now, Wen Rong wasn’t surprised when he saw this name definitively.
Lin Qizheng and Zhang Lin weren’t surprised either.
“Hah, I knew it was him!”
“His family runs an entertainment company. The circle he mixes in is very messy. When he bullied the last Special Recruit away…”
Wen Rong’s low mood fluctuated slightly. “There was another Special Recruit?”
“Yeah. There was one a few years ago, but he dropped out after only staying for half a year.”
“Dropping out seems to require compensation—”
“Had to pay it.”
“…”
“You have to be careful. A person like Zhao Zeryang won’t accept a loss. He even fought for you today; for the sake of his face, he will definitely get his hands on you.”
Wen Rong shuddered all over, a chill rising up his spine. “G-Get his hands on me means?”
“Just the kind mentioned in the thread—”
Wen Rong didn’t wait for him to finish. “But I’m a male.”
“The Federation passed the law for men to marry men over ten years ago.”
“…”
He had received too much information today; Wen Rong couldn’t digest it all.
His temples throbbed with pain, as if someone had punched him hard.
Lin Qizheng couldn’t help suggesting, “How about we stop here for today?”
Wen Rong stood up abruptly. “Can I go out for a bit?”
Lin Qizheng: “Where are you going?”
Wen Rong gripped his phone tight. “Just ten minutes, I’ll be back very soon.”
Zhang Lin said, “Actually, you don’t need to come back. If you really feel unwell, you can go back to the dorm to rest.”
“I really will be back soon. I still have to familiarize myself with the club work.”
He rushed out of the shack. His steps were faster than usual, like two out-of-control wheels spinning at their own frequencies. Before his left foot stepped down, his right foot was impatiently lifting. His body fell downward for a moment, then straightened up again, stumbling toward the room next to 101.
Knock, knock, knock.
Click.
Wen Rong asked impatiently before the other party fully appeared, “Is Senior Leon here?”
It was the same boy who opened the door earlier. Seeing Wen Rong, he turned back with an ambiguous smile. “Leon, your little Junior is here again.”
The drill sound in the room stopped, and Leon walked out.
“So clingy. Coming to find you again after only ten-something minutes.”
Leon kicked the boy. “Go to work.”
Turning back to ask Wen Rong, “What’s wrong?”
Wen Rong pursed his lips. “Senior, there is something I want to consult you about.”
“What?”
Wen Rong looked at the boy inside who hadn’t walked away and took a step back. “Can we talk alone?”
Leon frowned strangely, stepped out, and closed the door behind him with his hands behind his back. “What happened?”
Wen Rong took out his phone and showed the photo to Leon. “The Student Council Senior said using violence leads to expulsion. I took a picture of Zhao Zeryang fighting someone. Can I report him? Will it succeed in getting him expelled?”
Leon was stunned, surprised that Wen Rong would do something like reporting someone to get them expelled. In his understanding, Wen Rong was a child who was too kind.
“Did he bully you again?”
Wen Rong: “…”
Leon temporarily bypassed this topic. “Getting him expelled will be a bit difficult because at Floriman Academy, the impact of expulsion is enormous.”
“Do you also need to pay over a hundred million if you get expelled?”
“Money is a small matter. Mainly, in the history of Floriman Academy, almost all expelled students have disappeared from the upper-class circles.”
“D-Died?” Wen Rong was frightened. He didn’t want Zhao Zeryang to die; he just wanted him expelled.
Leon smiled. “Not died. It’s something more painful than death—class degradation.”
After speaking, Leon realized he had said something ridiculous. Wen Rong had always been at the lowest level of the entire Federation; how would he know what class degradation meant?
Leon changed his wording. “Do you know about alumni?”
Wen Rong nodded.
“As long as a person is expelled from Floriman Academy, it means their level cannot meet Floriman Academy’s standards. They will carry this brand forever, never able to integrate into the Floriman Academy alumni circle again. And Floriman Academy students are leaders holding power in every industry, always maintaining close interest ties with each other. Not integrating means being excluded from the power class.”
“Why are these people in our school qualified to become leaders?”
Leon froze.
Wen Rong was questioning.
His expression at this moment was exactly the same as that day—a sharp aura surfacing on his soft features.
Leon ultimately couldn’t bypass the original question. “Did something happen?”
“They are all perverts.”
“Perverts?”
Wen Rong became emotional. “They keep blocking me; actually, it’s harassment. They want me to be that kind of friend with them.”
He continued, “This morning, Zhao Zeryang brought so many people to surround me, wanting me to be with him.”
Leon’s eyes darkened. “Wanted you to be with him?”
“Mn. It was too much. This is something only creepy uncles would do.”
Leon lowered his eyelids, covering the flash of anger in his eyes.
A moment later, he asked, “Is that why you want him expelled?”
Wen Rong nodded firmly. “Mn.”
Leon looked away into the distance. After a few seconds of silence, he made a decision and turned back to ask Wen Rong, “Do you know the penalty card system?”
Wen Rong shook his head.
“It’s the Yellow Card. Zhou Xie gave you one on recruitment day, and Zhao Zeryang also got one yesterday.”
Wen Rong remembered this and nodded.
“Our school rules are strict but also relatively humane. First violation gets a Yellow Card, second violation gets a Red Card. A Red Card means you are no longer protected by school rules. From then on, no matter who does anything violating the rules to you, they won’t trigger the school regulations.”
Leon wanted to say that getting a Red Card would lead to bullying by the whole school, but thinking that Wen Rong had endured these long ago, having a Red Card or not would have absolutely no impact on him.
Leon: “Because the consequences of a Red Card are quite severe, it’s usually decided by the School Board.”
Wen Rong understood. “Senior, I understand what you mean.”
He was telling him that getting Zhao Zeryang expelled was difficult.
Such situations had happened at his previous school too.
The school gave disciplinary action to those who bullied him, but because a second offense would mean expulsion, when those people bullied Wen Rong again, the school would require them to stand under the flag platform for self-reflection. Once, twice… they would never let them receive punishment and get expelled again.
“Senior, I don’t like this school anymore.” Wen Rong’s voice was muffled, as if hummed through his nose.
Leon reached out to pull Wen Rong’s arm. “Did something happen at the News Club? Tell me, I can help you.”
“I saw the forum.”
“…”
“Those people want to kiss me and want to develop that kind of improper relationship with me.”
Speaking of this, Wen Rong seemed to remember something, and the conversation turned. “Senior, you discovered it long ago, right? You told me not to be too polite.”
Leon didn’t know how to answer Wen Rong’s question.
“I also saw many people claiming to be the jury speaking. Actually, staring at the jury’s faces… it was all fake. They only helped me because they had that kind of thought about me.”
“My advantage is looking like something perverts like.”
Leon gasped. “That’s not it.”
“Senior, you don’t need to lie to me. I’ve already seen their comments.”
“Wen Rong, you cannot say your looks make others like you.”
Wen Rong got angry. “Then what should I say? The President made me admit I look good, you tell me not to admit it. I don’t know how to make you guys not angry.”
Leon took a deep breath. “Your appearance isn’t for others to see; it is a gift your parents gave to you.”
Wen Rong trembled violently.
The word “Parents” was like a flood suddenly rushing into this corridor. Originally dizzy with anger, he felt a muffled, heavy impact, and his emotions collapsed instantly. Large drops of tears fell from his red, stinging lower eyelids.
Illusory parents, at this moment, felt real for the first time.
“Everyone’s looks are inherited from their parents. To give birth to you so beautifully, your mother found a very handsome father for you. For a long time afterward, they worked hard to cross the conflicts in love, prepare money and careers, and successfully marry before finally giving birth to you with great difficulty. Although she couldn’t be by your side for some reason, this gift has always grown with you, belonging solely to you.”
“Don’t say your advantage is looking like something others like. Your advantage is—you can easily get everyone’s liking. The subject is you, not pandering to them.”
The tears retracted during the long speech. Wen Rong was like someone miraculously surviving a flood. Overwhelming joy filled his heart, comfortable as if soaked in warm water.
Senior Leon’s eyes at this moment also turned into a sky finally clearing after a disaster.
Wen Rong heard him continue, “If someone likes you, it means this person has handed their control over to you. Have you seen a remote-controlled toy car? With the remote control in hand, you can command it to go forward, backward, left, or right as you wish. As for where to go and what to do, it’s all decided by you. You can treat those words on the forum as a signal that they are handing the remote control to you. You can learn to use that remote control now.”
“Remote control…”
Wen Rong murmured while pondering, his eyes suddenly widening.
So guiding others to get angry and observing others’ expressions are all superficial; in reality, it is looking for others’ remote controls.
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