Marshal Tianpeng

The thick bathroom door held back the beast rampaging inside Wang Xiaoliang's chest.

He crouched in the cramped stall until the footsteps outside had faded completely, until the door clicked shut, before slowly rising from the floor.

His legs had gone numb from crouching for so long, and waves of pinprick pain spread upward from the soles of his feet.

Charge out and beat Zhao Shengkai up?

Then what?

Leave Wei Zijin unable to hold her head up in front of her classmates? Turn the gathering she had worked so hard to hold together into a complete joke? Let everyone know that the "boyfriend" she had found was a brute who could only solve problems with his fists?

No.

He couldn't do that.

He took a deep breath and washed his face with cold water again, only turning off the tap once his skin had cooled.

He pulled out a few paper towels, slowly dried his face and hands, and straightened his slightly disheveled clothes.

When he looked up again, the man in the mirror had regained his usual composure.

He turned, pulled open the bathroom door, and walked out.

The lights in the corridor were a little harsh. He immediately spotted Zhou Qiang sitting in the lounge area.

A middle-aged man sat opposite Zhou Qiang, and the two seemed to be discussing something. The man leaned slightly forward in a deferential posture, while Zhou Qiang greeted him with a smile.

Wang Xiaoliang didn't go over to interrupt. He merely glanced their way, then turned and headed back to the private room.

The moment he pushed open the door, a wave of heat carrying the smell of alcohol and food hit him.

The air conditioner in this room clearly wasn't working hard enough.

The atmosphere was still lively. Ouyang Hai was telling a joke that had Wang Fen and Chen Xiaoying giggling. Zhao Shengkai held his glass, his face flushed as he laughed along.

Wang Xiaoliang's arrival brought the laughter to a brief halt.

With little expression on his face, he walked straight back to his seat and sat down.

"Xiaoliang, are you all right?"

Zhao Shengkai sounded concerned. If not for what had happened earlier, Wang Xiaoliang would have believed him.

Wei Zijin leaned closer and asked quietly, her eyes full of worry.

She could sense that something about him was off.

Seeing her concern, Wang Xiaoliang felt a gentle warmth wrap around the cold anger in his heart. He didn't want her to worry, much less put her in a difficult position because of him.

He forced a smile. "I'm fine. I just drank a little too fast earlier. This liquor really sneaks up on you."

It was a flimsy excuse, but the best explanation he could offer at the moment.

Wei Zijin looked at him doubtfully, but in the end, she didn't press him. She simply poured him a cup of hot tea. "Then have some tea and take a breather."

"Okay."

Wang Xiaoliang answered, lifted the cup, and took a sip.

He took out his phone and unlocked it. The screen lit up, and he lowered his head, scrolling aimlessly while carefully replying to messages from classmates who wanted drinks.

He no longer wanted any part in their conversations.

Before long, the door opened again, and Zhou Qiang walked in.

The moment he entered, Zhao Shengkai rose enthusiastically, as though the earlier unpleasantness had never happened.

"You're back, Qiang!" he called, then raised a beer bottle. "We've had enough liquor. Let's open a few beers to rinse our mouths and sober up! Then we'll head to karaoke for round two. It's on me!"

Zhou Qiang sat down and said evenly, "I won't be joining you. I have something to do later."

The enthusiasm on Zhao Shengkai's face froze instantly.

He probably hadn't expected Zhou Qiang to refuse so bluntly.

"Come on, Qiang. Look at the time. What could you possibly have to do?" Zhao Shengkai's persuasion carried a forcefulness that allowed no refusal. "Besides, even if you won't do it for me, you should do it for Lanxiang, right? This is a get-together with her best friends. It wouldn't be right for you to bail on the second half, would it?"

He brought Li Lanxiang into it, piling on the pressure with every word.

Li Lanxiang glanced at him, a broad smile on her face.

"I won't be going either."

A calm but equally firm reply came from another corner of the table.

It was Wang Xiaoliang.

He hadn't even looked up and was still staring at his phone.

"I have something to do too."

Zhao Shengkai's face darkened completely.

He could perhaps tolerate Zhou Qiang snubbing him. After all, Zhou Qiang didn't look like someone to mess with.

But who the hell was Wang Xiaoliang? A country bumpkin wearing ERKE, a penniless nobody who only had a seat here because of Wei Zijin, and he dared embarrass him in front of everyone?

Before he could lash out, however, he caught the warning look Wei Zijin sent his way.

Zhao Shengkai swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue. He didn't want to offend Wei Zijin.

"Fine, fine. You're both busy men. I won't force you."

He turned to Wei Zijin and Li Lanxiang, his voice softening. "Zijin, Lanxiang, shall we go, then? Let those two busy men get on with their business."

Just then, two knocks sounded at the door. A server pushed it open, and a middle-aged man of about fifty walked in.

The man had a balding crown and wore gold-rimmed glasses.

As soon as he entered, he swept his gaze around the room. When he spotted Wei Zijin, his smile grew wider.

"Oh, Zijin, you're here too! A class reunion?"

Wei Zijin immediately stood, her manner respectful. "Director Zhang."

Wang Xiaoliang's interest stirred. A department director?

He watched the man addressed as Director Zhang exchange a few pleasantries with Wei Zijin before eagerly turning his attention to someone else.

Zhou Qiang.

Holding a stemmed glass filled to the brim with liquor, Director Zhang walked over to Zhou Qiang.

"Mr. Zhou, thank you for your contributions to the university!" His manner was deeply deferential, even a little ingratiating. "On behalf of our department, I'd like to offer you a toast! Thank you for supporting our work!"

The entire room fell silent at the sight.

The expressions on Zhao Shengkai's and Ouyang Hai's faces were something to behold.

They simply couldn't understand why a university department director would address Zhou Qiang, a young man who looked much like them, with such respect and adopt such a deferential attitude.

Zhou Qiang didn't even stand. He merely lifted a hand, as composed as ever. "You're too kind, Director Zhang. I'm not drinking. I have to work overtime tonight."

Despite being turned down in front of everyone, Director Zhang showed no displeasure. Instead, he immediately took the offered way out, slipping in another compliment.

"Mr. Zhou, you truly are admirable! A boss of your stature, still working overtime yourself!"

His words sounded utterly sincere, without the slightest hint of pretense.

"How about this, Mr. Zhou? You can have tea instead. I'll finish mine to show my respect!"

With that, he tipped back his head and downed the entire glass-at least a hundred milliliters of liquor-in one go, without leaving a drop.

Afterward, he breathed out a mouthful of alcohol fumes, neither flushed nor shaken.

Seeing this, Zhou Qiang could hardly refuse again. He lifted the teacup in front of him and took a sip.

"Please, carry on, carry on. I won't interrupt your evening." Director Zhang set down his glass and looked around once more, finally resting his gaze on Wei Zijin.

"Zijin, could you... step outside for a moment? I'd like a word with you."

Wei Zijin paused, then nodded and followed Director Zhang out.

The door closed, leaving the room in an eerie, deathly silence.

The lively atmosphere of moments before had instantly turned ice-cold.

The flush had drained from Zhao Shengkai's face, replaced by a pallor that mingled shock, confusion, and embarrassment.

He never mentioned karaoke again.

When Wei Zijin opened the door and came back in, something about her expression was clearly off.

Wang Xiaoliang glanced at her but asked nothing.

Amid the confusion, Chen Xiaoying suggested calling it a night.

Zhao Shengkai hurried to pay the bill, only for the server at the counter to tell him someone had already settled it.

There was no need to ask. It had to be Zhou Qiang.

The group walked out of Hongbin Tower. As the cool evening breeze swept over them, Li Lanxiang seemed to lose her footing and swayed.

"Zijin, give her a hand," Zhou Qiang said, then told the others, "I'll get the car."

With that, he headed toward the parking lot.

Wei Zijin hurried forward to support the unsteady Li Lanxiang.

Zhao Shengkai and Ouyang Hai stood where they were, exchanging looks, the atmosphere unbearably awkward.

Just then, a pair of dazzling headlights came on. A massive black SUV glided silently up to the group and came to a smooth stop.

Its sleek body, enormous grille, and supremely prestigious emblem on the hood all proclaimed its extraordinary status.

"Holy shit... a Maybach?"

Zhao Shengkai let out a startled cry, his voice warping with sheer shock.

The door opened, and Zhou Qiang stepped out of the driver's seat.

He went around to the rear, opened the door, and carefully helped the already somewhat dazed Li Lanxiang into the spacious back seat.

Then he closed the door, turned to the others still standing there in a stupor, and asked calmly.

"Do any of you live off campus? I can give you a ride."

They all shook their heads and told the two of them to go ahead.

Wang Xiaoliang could clearly see that the way Zhao Shengkai and Ouyang Hai looked at Zhou Qiang had changed completely.

Their superior scrutiny and disdain had vanished without a trace, replaced by an almost stupefied awe.

Maybach.

Of course he had heard the name-the legendary luxury car.

But he had always thought it was an independent brand. Only today did he discover that it belonged to Mercedes-Benz.

A Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV bearing a Maybach badge meant a price high enough to buy a sprawling apartment in a prime location in his small hometown.

Everyone shook their heads, declining Zhou Qiang's offer.

Zhou Qiang didn't insist and drove smoothly away.

The three couples, six people in all, parted in silence.

Zhao Shengkai and Ouyang Hai headed in the same direction with their respective girlfriends.

Wei Zijin, however, stayed where she was.

She waited until the four of them were far away before reaching out, taking Wang Xiaoliang by the wrist, and leading him in the exact opposite direction.

Her palm was a little cold.

After they had walked a few dozen meters, Wang Xiaoliang suddenly burst out laughing without warning.

He laughed loudly.

Startled, Wei Zijin stopped and turned to look at him in confusion. "What are you laughing at?"

Wang Xiaoliang finally managed to stop. He looked at Wei Zijin, a strange light flickering in his eyes.

"I just suddenly thought of a joke."

"What joke?"

"When a pig steps out of a Maybach, the people watching won't think it's a pig. They'll gasp, 'Wow, Marshal Tianpeng is here.'"

Wei Zijin froze.

Then she laughed along with him.