Lingering Echoes

In the examination hall, Zhong Wu was wheeled out. His weight of over two hundred kilograms was manageable enough, but he was simply too wide, with his limbs hanging off the stretcher. Several emergency personnel had to support his arms and legs separately before carrying him into the emergency treatment room nearby.

Yet the doctors in the treatment room all shook their heads, saying they could not handle it, so he was sent back out again.

The back-and-forth caused quite a stir. Not only had a student responsible for the sparring portion been removed, but someone had to be found to replace him, and the announcement process had to be redone. The commotion was considerable.

Once the candidates figured out what had happened, they all grew excited, shouting, "It's Zhong Wu! Zhong Wu, that senior student in charge of the test! Look, hurry, look! He's the one on that stretcher!"

"They wheeled him out? Even emergency treatment can't save him?"

"Looks like he can't be saved."

"Even emergency treatment can't do anything? How badly was he beaten? Hahaha, which candidate beat him up? Damn, who's that awesome?"

"Definitely! It must have been one of the students who went in just now! I wonder which one? Well done! He's practically our savior! Hahaha, if he were standing in front of me, I'd kneel for him no matter what."

For some reason, the remaining candidates all felt an indescribable sense of relief well up inside them. The pent-up resentment in their chests had finally found an outlet! Even those who had held their tongues to maintain appearances silently cheered in their hearts.

"No loud noise!"

The female teacher barked out a reprimand, but this time she did not use the rules to pressure them. She merely told the candidates to return to their seats and did not stop them from continuing their conversations.

She knew of Zhong Wu as well. He was a highly capable upper-year student who had received a great deal of resources. Now he had been beaten into this state—had that candidate from earlier done it? Recalling the feeling she had when Chen Chuan passed by her just now, she immediately confirmed her judgment.

Inside the emergency treatment room, Fang Zhiming also watched Zhong Wu get sent in, then pushed back out. Wait, I just got in here, and you followed me in? Oh, and now you're leaving again...

Even as he found it hard to believe, he suddenly relaxed. Once he understood what had happened, he gave a sharp "Heh!" and fiercely pumped his fist. That tugged at his injuries, making him grimace. After resting for a while, he began smiling happily up at the ceiling again.

On National Avenue in East City, Yangzhi City, an extended Lan Hui luxury sedan slowly drove up and stopped.

Meng Shu sat in the back seat, with a Female Assistant wearing black-rimmed glasses beside her. She asked, "Wu Yi's second examination is today?"

The Female Assistant answered seriously, "Yes, Miss."

Meng Shu said, "Go ask. I want the result now." The Female Assistant immediately opened the door and got out, then went to give instructions to the people who had followed behind them.

In the front passenger seat, an elderly man who looked like a Butler turned back and said, "Miss, do you think that highly of your classmate? You did play together as children, but people change. Can he still live up to your expectations now?"

Meng Shu said, "Yi Bo, my evaluation of him is not colored by any childhood filter, nor am I acting on emotion.

"I'm almost eighteen. I need someone of clean background whom I can trust to act as my agent, to serve me and serve the family, so that the company can continue for the long term. He is the most suitable candidate I have ever seen."

Yi Bo said, "I've read Chen Chuan's file. He had good grades in middle school. Before taking the Wu University entrance examination, he had never joined any boxing club or trained at any gym, yet he still got into Wu University through his own ability. Miss, you truly have a good eye. With a little cultivation, someone like him would make an excellent choice."

Just then, footsteps approached. The Female Assistant leaned close to the car window and said carefully, "Miss, that Chen Chuan... passed Wu Yi's second examination."

Meng Shu said nothing more. Looking ahead, she said, "Let's go."

"Wait, Miss." Yi Bo suddenly said, "If you want to secure this young man's service, perhaps I can think of a way."

Meng Shu looked at him. "Yi Bo, if I remember correctly, you're from Yangzhi?"

"Yes."

Yi Bo sighed. "I'm getting old. In my early years, I followed the Fifth Young Master everywhere. My body is still holding up, but my heart is tired. I might as well retire in my hometown and help Miss keep an eye on this talent."

Meng Shu said, "I understand Chen Chuan's character. It is impossible to force him into submission with harsh methods. You may stay, but do not do anything unnecessary."

Yi Bo said, "Miss, I know my limits. I will not do anything that puts you in a difficult position. It is not easy to become an Upper Dorm Student at Wu Yi, especially for a student without that kind of background. The more outstanding he is, the greater the pressure he will face." He smiled serenely. "Miss, I will not take the initiative to do anything. I will merely offer him a choice when he needs one. I believe he will understand Miss's good intentions."

Meng Shu said, "Yi Bo, remember your promise."

The front and rear doors opened at the same time. The Female Assistant got in, while Yi Bo stepped out, closed the door from outside, retreated two steps, and bent to wave toward the people inside.

Meng Shu looked ahead and said, "Let's go. Back to Central City."

The headlights ahead suddenly lit up, illuminating the road. A lead car drove off first, and only then did the luxury sedan begin moving. Behind it, sedan after sedan and armed vehicle after armed vehicle followed closely, heading down the avenue toward Central City.

Inside Wu Yi University, Chen Chuan stood outside the examination hall for quite a while. Only after finishing that strip of beef jerky did he leave the campus. He retrieved his vehicle from the square and headed home.

Nian Fuli, Yu Wan, and two younger cousins were waiting there. When the sound of the vehicle bell came from outside, Yu Wan hurriedly moved to go out, but Nian Fuli grabbed her and said sternly, "Don't act like you care too much. If the kid didn't pass, seeing you like this would only make him feel worse."

Yu Wan hesitated and did not go out.

The door creaked open, and Chen Chuan walked in from outside. He glanced around. His younger male and female cousins were sitting there obediently, their round eyes fixed on him, while Nian Fuli reclined on the sofa reading a newspaper.

Yu Wan was knitting a sweater. Seeing him enter, she pretended not to care and asked, "Chan'er, how did the test go?"

Chen Chuan smiled. "Aunt, Uncle, I passed."

"Whew..."

Yu Wan seemed to go limp at first. She lowered the sweater in her hands and let out a long breath, then shot Nian Fuli a glare. "It's all your fault!" Then, as if she had suddenly remembered something, she turned sideways and wiped away her tears.

Nian Fuli was also visibly delighted upon hearing the news, but he still managed to keep up appearances. Pretending to be indifferent, he said, "All right, all right, Yu Wan. He passed, not failed. What's the big deal?"

Yu Wan turned back. "Can't I be happy? Is it wrong for me to be happy?"

Nian Fuli muttered, "When Xiao Qian got into the Military Academy in the army, I didn't see you this happy..."

"How could that be the same? Qian'er had your brothers in the army looking after him."

"I'm not arguing with you."

Yu Wan stood up, walked over, and snatched Nian Fuli's newspaper away. Annoyed, she said, "What are you pretending for? You didn't even notice you were holding it upside down."

Nian Fuli looked a little embarrassed and coughed. "The lights in this house need replacing. My eyesight's been getting worse lately."

The younger cousins could tell how their parents felt too. They jumped up with whoops and cheers, clapping nonstop. Being happy together was all that mattered.

Nian Fuli said, "Xiao Chuan, you haven't eaten yet, have you?"

Chen Chuan said, "Not yet."

Yu Wan said, "Your Uncle said we should wait for you to come back. The timing worked out perfectly."

Nian Fuli stood up, waved his hand, and said, "Bring it out. Xiao Chuan, you and I are having a couple of drinks today."

"Food time! Food time!" the two little ones cheered.

Yu Wan smiled as she went into the kitchen and brought out plate after plate of warmed dishes. Once everyone in the family had taken their seats, she brought over cups, poured Nian Fuli a cup of yellow wine, then said to Chen Chuan, "Xiao Chuan, you practice martial arts, so you don't need to drink. Let your Uncle drink. I bought you soda."

"I want some too! Me too!"

Nian Fuli gave a grunt and muttered something about needless fussing, but he did not force Chen Chuan to drink.

Chen Chuan smiled. After Nian Fuli had eaten a few bites, he picked up his cup and used his drink in place of wine to toast him before saying, "Uncle, Aunt, after school starts, I'll move into the university."

Nian Fuli said sentimentally, "That's only right. You've made something of yourself now, and your Aunt and I can finally put one worry to rest. Study hard after entering Wu University. As for how far you can go in the future, your Uncle's horizons are too narrow to see it. Just remember to come back often and visit your Aunt and your younger brother and sister."

Chen Chuan smiled. "Uncle, I'll be at Wu University, not far from here. It's only a few steps away. As long as Uncle doesn't find me a nuisance, I'll come back often to taste Aunt's home cooking."

Yu Wan said happily, "If Chan'er likes it, Aunt will cook for you every day."

At that moment, Nian Fuli suddenly slapped the table with a bang. Yu Wan jumped in fright, glared at him, and complained, "What are you doing, startling people like that?"

Nian Fuli rubbed his scalp and said, "That mop of Wei Laohu's—I need to go back and find it. Mm, find it."

"What mop?" Yu Wan asked, utterly confused.

Chen Chuan smiled. "There's no hurry. School hasn't started yet. Captain Wei won't get the news for another few days."

Nian Fuli chuckled, rolled up his sleeves, and pointed with his chopsticks. "Didn't he want me to feed him? I'll feed him, then we'll see if he can swallow it. That Wei Laohu—I want to see how he dares bark in front of me from now on."

Yu Wan muttered, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Nian Fuli waved his hand. "Men's business. Don't concern yourself with it."

Yu Wan said irritably, "As if I want to concern myself with you."

Chen Chuan then said to Yu Wan, "Aunt, there are some things that aren't convenient for me to take with me. I want to leave them with you for now."

Yu Wan thought about it and said, "They're your second sister and second brother-in-law's things, right? Leave them here with Aunt. Take them back after you graduate and get settled."

At the same time, the entire retest at Wu Yi University had ended. Gao Shi returned to his office, picked up the phone, and after connecting, said to the person on the other end, "You know about what happened in the examination hall, right? Yes, that kid is interesting. If you ask me, he did well to beat him. A student like that must be cultivated properly, but whether he can make it and stand firm will depend on himself."

A voice came from the other end. "That fine sapling has only just emerged. Don't pile too much on him, or he'll be crushed. We need to support him for a while first."

Gao Shi said, "What good sapling ever grew beneath the eaves? Oh, you think everyone's like you, finding a good wife and relying on a good father-in-law?"

The voice said, "All right, Lao Gao, making jokes at my expense? Looks like you're in a good mood. I should find you more work to do..."

Before he could continue, Gao Shi's expression immediately turned solemn. "Enough, cut the nonsense. I'll do what I'm supposed to do. As for Committee Member Jiang, you're a university director. You handle it properly."

The voice replied steadily, "As long as it conforms to Wu Yi's rules, I can suppress it for you!"