Going Crazy

Chapter 17: Going Crazy

Su Ming calmly turned his head to look. Chen Tong had his legs crossed on the table, a mocking expression on his face.

However, Su Ming didn't get angry. He simply replied calmly.

"Then you go!"

"Why should I? I'm not going."

Chen Tong sneered in response.

"If you're not going, then shut up. Minke, let's go!"

Su Ming couldn't be bothered to argue with Chen Tong and immediately got up to walk towards Minke.

"Okay!"

Minke nodded.

However, just as Su Ming and Minke were about to leave through the doorway, Chen Tong suddenly stood up and shouted.

"Wait!"

"What is it?"

Su Ming turned his head to look at Chen Tong.

At this moment, Chen Tong sauntered over and said.

"I'm going too."

"Weren't you not going? Why do you want to go now?"

Su Ming sized up Chen Tong and replied.

"None of your business. I want to."

Chen Tong replied with a look that was begging for a beating.

Minke was a little worried that Su Ming and Chen Tong would start arguing, so he quickly said.

"Since you want to go, let's go together. I'm sure Teacher Tang will be very happy to see us."

Su Ming didn't say much more. The three of them then left together.

An hour later.

Su Ming and the other two appeared in a residential building near the school. Minke stepped forward and knocked on the door in front of them.

Knock knock~

Soon, the closed door opened. A middle-aged woman with slightly white hair, a face full of wrinkles, and a kind appearance looked curiously at the three of them.

"Who are you?"

"Auntie, is this Teacher Tang's home? We are Teacher Tang's students."

"Oh, yes, I am his mother. Please come in quickly."

Tang Yan's mother enthusiastically invited Su Ming and the other two in.

Su Ming entered the house and looked around. The furniture inside was a bit old, and the table and chairs were quite aged. The living room was also a bit small. The entire apartment was probably only about 80 square meters.

"Why don't I see Teacher?"

Minke asked doubtfully.

"He's in that room. You can go in."

Tang Yan's mother said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the three of them walked to the door of Tang Yan's room.

The door was ajar.

"Teacher, we've come to see you."

Minke called out, but there was no response.

Su Ming and the other two exchanged glances, then pushed the door open and walked in.

The narrow room had its curtains tightly drawn, making the light dim.

A clock on the bedside table was constantly emitting a beeping sound.

The gazes of Su Ming and the other two fell on the bed. They saw Tang Yan curled up on the edge, wrapped entirely in a quilt, his head buried between his legs, like a wounded ostrich.

Minke stepped forward and asked cautiously.

"Teacher Tang, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, how could I be fine? My life, my love."

Tang Yan replied dejectedly, his head still buried.

Su Ming felt a headache seeing Tang Yan in this state. But no matter what, his current condition seemed somewhat related to him. So, he carefully tried to comfort him.

"Teacher Tang, you need to pull yourself together. Although dreams are far away, life is about striving. As long as there's a sliver of hope, we cannot give up! When you succeed, everything you've gone through will just be a bit of hardship."

"You mean I still have a chance?"

Tang Yan slowly raised his head to look at Su Ming, a hint of hope in his eyes.

"Of course, Teacher. You're such a good person, you'll definitely be rewarded."

Seeing Tang Yan's flicker of hope, Minke quickly chimed in to comfort him.

Su Ming also seized the moment to add his encouragement.

"Teacher Tang, you have to work hard now. You're not fighting alone; you have us! As long as you teach us well, your spot will be secured, and you can pursue your dreams."

"Right, I still have hope, it's just..."

Tang Yan's faint spark of hope ignited.

At this moment, Minke glanced at Chen Tong, gesturing with his eyes for him to say something too, instead of just standing there like a statue.

Although Chen Tong was a bit reluctant, he still spoke up.

"Teacher, even though you're quite old, there's still hope."

"Ah, I'm old already? It's over then. You're just comforting me; I really have no hope at all."

Tang Yan's weak flame of hope was completely extinguished, as if doused by a bucket of cold water. He buried his head in his knees once more.

Su Ming and Minke both looked at Chen Tong. They had finally managed to comfort him, only for him to mess it all up.

Chen Tong shrugged, acting as if it wasn't his fault.

Su Ming and Minke were helpless and could only continue to comfort Teacher Tang.

"Teacher, Chen Tong didn't mean it like that. You're not old at all; our lifespans are so long."

An hour later.

Under the night sky, Su Ming and the other two walked out of Teacher Tang's house dejectedly, strolling along the deserted street.

"Chen Tong, you said Su Ming couldn't talk, but you're just as bad!"

Minke was about to lose it. They had come to comfort Teacher Tang, but the situation had only gotten worse.

"Tch, what could I do? He's just too sensitive."

Chen Tong retorted dismissively, hands in his pockets.

"You know how fragile Teacher Tang is right now, yet you spoke without thinking. What do we do now? If Teacher Tang can't get his act together, we'll have to study on our own tomorrow. There are no substitute teachers."

Minke said angrily.

"What's it to me? I don't care."

Chen Tong stubbornly replied.

Just then, Su Ming, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped. Chen Tong and Minke, who were arguing, almost bumped into him.

"Su Ming, why did you stop so suddenly?"

Minke asked Su Ming, confused.

Su Ming didn't answer Minke, his brow furrowed as he looked ahead.

Minke and Chen Tong immediately sensed something was wrong and also looked forward. They saw ten thugs with unfriendly eyes, dressed flashily and armed with wooden sticks, emerge from the alley ahead.

Leading them was a muscular man with a full beard, orange hair, and a cigarette dangling from his lips.

They walked straight towards Su Ming and his two friends, blocking their path.

At this moment, one of the thugs excitedly said, "Brother Qiang, it's that fatso! We finally caught him."

"You don't need to tell me."

Wang Qiang replied with a cold laugh.

Su Ming took a deep breath. So, it was really after him. He had been too careless; he shouldn't have left school.

But there was no point in regretting it. What was coming would come, so Su Ming turned to Minke and Chen Tong and said, "They're after me. It has nothing to do with you. You guys should go."

"No way! As class monitor, how could I abandon you?"

Minke said with overflowing responsibility, striking a boxing pose.

Seeing that Minke wasn't leaving, Su Ming turned to Chen Tong. Noticing he was standing still, Su Ming asked curiously, "Why aren't you leaving?"

"Hmph, you want me to leave, so I'll leave? Do I have no pride? I'm not leaving today."

Chen Tong replied arrogantly.

"Alright, then we'll face them together."

Su Ming smiled wryly. Although Chen Tong was sharp-tongued and usually acted tough, he was actually quite loyal when it mattered.