Chapter 34: One Person, Five Outfits, Singing "Conquest"

What else could he do? With a sharp smack, Hua Tianyu landed a heavy slap on her backside.

Lin Lin was stunned by the blow. She was not Tian Li, and had no masochistic tendencies.

As soon as she regained her senses, she roared in anger, “Hua Tianyu!” She charged at him, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks. How dare you hit me? Even my father never laid a hand on me!

Her blows landed squarely, each one echoing through the room. This time, Hua Tianyu neither dodged nor retaliated. He simply stood there, allowing Lin Lin’s fists and feet to fall as they would.

He endured her attacks in silence. With his skills, avoiding her strikes would have been effortless, but he made no attempt to move.

In truth, Lin Lin’s blows were not heavy—she was venting, more emotional than physical. She tried her best, but she was lacking. In that moment, she even thought of her father, who had vanished without a trace.

After a few hits, Lin Lin stopped.

“Are you done?” Hua Tianyu asked.

“Why didn’t you dodge?” Lin Lin retorted.

“I was just thinking—if you tried to hit your father, would he dodge?” Hua Tianyu’s gaze was deep, fixed far away, in the direction where Bear had made his sacrifice.

A sudden ache gripped Lin Lin’s heart, and something prickled at the corners of her eyes. “Actually…” she began.

But Hua Tianyu didn’t let her tears fall. With a wave of his hand, he cut her off. “Let’s go.”

“To where?” Lin Lin asked.

“To get scolded, of course,” Hua Tianyu replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Let’s go!” Lin Lin smiled through her tears, her laughter bright as pear blossoms in the rain.

Shangjiang Academy was the premier university in Shangjiang City. The last time Hua Tianyu came looking for Lin Lin, it had been at night, and he hadn’t seen much. Today, he arrived during the busiest part of the day.

Along the way, they passed groups of girls whispering to each other, boys calling out to friends as they played basketball on the court, and couples cozying together in the small grove.

Students from all corners of the country gathered here, weaving a tapestry of peace and harmony.

Perhaps this was the meaning behind Bear’s sacrifice, Hua Tianyu thought as he observed the scene.

Soon, the two of them arrived at a gray building nestled amidst greenery. The weathered walls spoke of its long history.

“This is the place,” Lin Lin said, pointing at a yellow wooden door.

After knocking three times, Hua Tianyu pushed the door open and walked in.

The office was small, containing only two desks. One was empty, while at the other sat a man in his forties or fifties, working intently.

“Mr. Zhong,” Lin Lin greeted as she entered.

“Oh,” replied Zhong Zhixing, glancing up to see Lin Lin before giving Hua Tianyu a cursory once-over. He answered perfunctorily, then went back to his book.

Lin Lin edged closer to Hua Tianyu and lightly nudged him. “Mr. Zhong is my biology elective teacher,” she whispered.

Hua Tianyu nodded in acknowledgment.

Zhong Zhixing held a book, reading at a leisurely pace—about one page every thirty seconds—but he remained silent.

After he’d turned five or six pages, Hua Tianyu finally cleared his throat. “Mr. Zhong, I’m Lin Lin’s family member. I’m sorry Lin Lin failed her makeup exam again and caused you trouble.”

“Oh, you’re Lin Lin’s family? And who exactly are you to her?” Zhong Zhixing finally spoke again.

Standing beside him, Lin Lin frantically signaled to Hua Tianyu with her eyes, but he ignored her. “I’m her…” He paused, then continued, disregarding Lin Lin’s anxious looks, “uncle.”

“Uncle? Heh.” Zhong Zhixing let out a cold laugh, his face stony. “You’re probably not even her real uncle, are you? How much did she pay you—several hundred—for this act?”

“Paid a few hundred for this act?” Hua Tianyu looked at Lin Lin, puzzled. Was there more to this story?

Lin Lin coughed awkwardly, her eyes fixed on the floor, unable to meet Hua Tianyu’s gaze.

Hua Tianyu understood now. Clearly, Lin Lin had hidden something from him before.

“Mr. Zhong, perhaps Lin Lin made a foolish choice in the past, but I truly am her uncle,” Hua Tianyu explained helplessly.

“I don’t care if you’re her real uncle or not. I’m not interested. As I’ve told her before, I only speak with her parents. So, I’m sorry, but I won’t see you today.” With that, Zhong Zhixing picked up his book again.

Lin Lin sighed internally. It was over. She’d had him pretend to be her father before—what a colossal fool she’d been.

Under Hua Tianyu’s gaze, Zhong Zhixing read another five or six pages at the same slow pace, the office enveloped in silence.

Finally, Hua Tianyu broke the stillness. “What did you score on your makeup exam?” he asked Lin Lin.

She hesitated, glancing furtively at Zhong Zhixing, and replied in a barely audible voice, “It was a bit low. Combined, the two exams totaled fifty-nine.”

Hua Tianyu drew in a sharp breath. That score… it gave him a headache.

No wonder the teacher insisted on meeting with her family. Coupled with her earlier mischief, it was only natural that Mr. Zhong now demanded to see her parents.

But Lin Lin’s mother had passed away a few years ago, and Bear had now sacrificed himself. For others, Mr. Zhong’s requirement was reasonable, but for Lin Lin, it was truly difficult to fulfill.

Hua Tianyu gathered his thoughts. “Mr. Zhong…”

“I don’t teach children who have someone to raise them but no one to discipline them. I only speak to her parents,” Zhong Zhixing said, refusing to give Hua Tianyu a chance to speak.

Beside him, Lin Lin began tugging at his sleeve, gesturing toward the door.

Hua Tianyu shook her off, ignoring her. If I leave today, are you just going to find someone else to pretend to be Bear tomorrow? Ridiculous.

“It’s like this…” Hua Tianyu tried again.

“Out! Please don’t interfere with my work,” Zhong Zhixing snapped, not giving him the slightest chance to speak.

Hua Tianyu was nearly suffocated by Zhong Zhixing’s intransigence. This was an upright citizen of China, and his intentions were good—Hua Tianyu could never resort to force.

He considered for a long moment, finally making a decision. He took out his phone and opened the photo album. “Mr. Zhong, please take a look at this…”

But Zhong Zhixing abruptly stood up, cutting him off. “If you won’t leave, I will!”

He set his book down and strode toward the door without a backward glance, not giving Hua Tianyu the slightest chance.

“Stop!” Hua Tianyu suddenly barked, his tone icy.

A chill swept through the room. Zhong Zhixing shuddered involuntarily, his feet rooted to the spot as he cast a meaningful glance at Hua Tianyu.

Seeing Zhong Zhixing halt, Hua Tianyu let the tension fade from his voice. “Mr. Zhong, please look at these two photos. After you’ve seen them, if you still want us to leave, I won’t say another word.”

“Very well, as you wish,” Zhong Zhixing said, returning to his seat.