C12 I Came up with a Plan

Zhao Huaiyuan interpreted Feng Manlou's hesitation as fear and cowardice, smirking with disdain as he gestured towards the stairs with a nod of his chin.

"Don't worry, they're my friends. They usually don't bully anyone," he assured.

The four individuals, standing aloft like guardians, snickered in agreement.

"President Zhao is correct. We don't normally bully people," the man with the inch-long scar on his left forehead ominously added.

"Well then, that puts my mind at ease."

Feng Manlou resumed his ascent, with Zhao Huaiyuan close on his heels. Halfway up, the horse-faced man forcefully shut the iron door.

The door crashed into the frame with a resounding clang, echoing like a gong struck with great force.

"Bang!"

The group quickly turned their attention to Feng Manlou.

They fully expected to see him either jump in fright or cower like a turtle.

To their surprise, Feng Manlou's pace remained steady, seemingly oblivious to the noise as he continued his climb.

The group was visibly confused.

They had pulled this rooftop scare tactic several times before. Normally, the mere act of slamming the iron door would terrify the compliant ones they had 'invited' up there, not only deterring them from pursuing Ye Qingling but also making them kneel and call them daddy.

But what was with this guy?

It was as if he hadn't heard a thing. Could he be hard of hearing?

Feng Manlou reached the rooftop, cursing internally, "Damn it, what's with slamming the door so hard for no reason? Trying to scare someone to death? If I hadn't anticipated this kind of ambush, you unruly kids would have scared me into a heart attack!"

"What the hell are you dawdling for? Move it!"

Upon reaching the rooftop, Zhao Huaiyuan's demeanor turned hostile as he shoved Feng Manlou from behind, nearly causing him to stumble.

Feng Manlou surged forward, steadying himself after a couple of steps, and frowned deeply.

The kid might not have been strong, but he was certainly adept at psychological warfare.

The sudden slamming of the door would likely have sent those already frightened students into a complete meltdown, stripping them of any remaining will to fight back. But as Feng Manlou hung his head motionless, just as expected, Zhao Huaiyuan couldn't help but smirk with satisfaction. It appeared this guy was another coward, just as easy to handle as the others.

Zhao Huaiyuan shoved Feng Manlou toward the railing and issued a stern warning, "Kid, I don't care if you're Qingling's old classmate or friend. From now on, keep your distance from her, got it?!"

Feng Manlou had initially planned to deploy the "Clothes Moistening Eighteen Falls" technique, especially since the four muscular guys at the top of the stairs were clearly experienced fighters and not to be underestimated. He knew he had to act fast. But as he activated the system, a new strategy popped into his mind.

Feigning ignorance, he inquired, "Why should I stay away from Senior Sister Ye? Back in high school, she would often treat us junior classmates to meals."

Zhao Huaiyuan scoffed, wondering if this kid was truly clueless. Poking Feng Manlou in the chest with his finger, he arrogantly declared, "Because Ye Qingling is destined to be with me, Zhao Huaiyuan. I don't want any other man within ten steps of her. Understand?"

Feng Manlou nodded vigorously, "Got it. I'll steer clear of Senior Sister Ye from now on."

"At least you're not completely foolish; there's still hope for you," Zhao Huaiyuan said with a smirk, patting his cheek. "Whether you feign a stomachache or have some other excuse, make sure you explain things to Qingling before you leave. We wouldn't want anyone thinking I'm the reason you're leaving."

"Sure, I know what to do," Feng Manlou replied, nodding.

"See, the brain is a muscle that gets sharper the more you use it. You're getting smarter," Zhao Huaiyuan remarked to the four men stationed at the stairway. "Let him pass."

The smokers gave a subtle nod.

As Feng Manlou bypassed Zhao Huaiyuan and made his way downstairs, he casually threw out a question, "President Zhao, may I ask you something?"

"What's the problem?" Zhao Huaiyuan asked with a smile.

This kid seemed to have some sense, so he didn't mind elaborating a bit.

"You bring someone up to the rooftop without even asking questions. Aren't you worried about biting off more than you can chew?"

"Biting off more than I can chew?"

Zhao Huaiyuan paused, then burst into laughter as if he'd heard the funniest joke, "Junior Brother Feng, you really are adorably naive.

There's no one in this academy I can't handle."

"If you can handle anyone, isn't the principal the top authority at the school?"

"Heh, the principal is nothing. To me, he's just a dog that I can call or dismiss as I please."

Feng Manlou couldn't believe what he was hearing. "The principal is just a dog to you?

How is that possible? Since when does a principal fear the student council president? It makes no sense!"

"Ah, such an innocent child. It seems you won't accomplish much in life..."

Zhao Huaiyuan feigned pity as he shook his head, then pointed to his chest with his thumb. "Do you know who my father is, or my mother?

With just one phone call from them, even your revered principal, if he's in the middle of an affair, would have to scramble to meet them.

The principal?

Heh, he might seem important to you, but to people like us, he's nothing."

Feng Manlou's expression grew even more dramatic.

His eyes widened in feigned astonishment. "Your parents are that influential?"

"You're unaware of my background?"

Zhao Huaiyuan was taken aback, then remembering he was dealing with a simpleton, he patted Feng's shoulder and said with a tone of deep sympathy,

"Take some time to browse the campus forum. Naive folks like you are the ones who really risk getting a rude awakening, dying without a clue."

Feng Manlou felt he had gotten what he came for. He lifted his phone and tapped a few times, smiling. "President Zhao, you must be quite the outlier among your peers, right?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Zhao Huaiyuan furrowed his brow.

As Feng Manlou's smile spread across his face, a sudden discomfort took root in Zhao Huaiyuan's heart. It felt as though he had unwittingly stumbled into an enemy's trap, blissfully unaware of the danger.

Glancing downward, he caught sight of a phone in Feng Manlou's hand. "What are you doing with that phone?!" he demanded, his voice bordering on hysterical.

"You're not too bright, are you? If I'm not making a call with the phone, obviously I'm using it to record a video," Feng Manlou said with a smirk.

"What video are you recording?" Zhao Huaiyuan's heart skipped a beat, his voice quivering uncontrollably.

"Come on, President Zhao. You come from such an illustrious background and you're so accomplished for your age. Can't you guess what I'm filming?" Feng Manlou's mouth twisted into a sly grin. "I was capturing your commanding speech just now. Let me see if I can recall exactly what you said..."

He tapped his chin thoughtfully with his index finger. "Ah, now I remember! You were saying, 'Do you know who my father is, who my mother is? With just one phone call, they could have the principal scrambling out of bed. The principal... well, he might be someone of note to you, but to us, he's insignificant.'"

Feng Manlou clicked his tongue in admiration. "That was quite the powerful statement, President Zhao. It takes a certain level of confidence to say something like that. Imagine if I were to share this video online—with all its emotion, hot topics, and class conflict. Wouldn't the netizens be fascinated by President Zhao, his parents, and the principal?"

"You... You... You wouldn't dare! I'll destroy you!" Zhao Huaiyuan tried to sound intimidating, but his voice had become shrill with panic, betraying his desperation.

He was all too aware of the numerous instances where careless words from children had brought their parents—and even grandparents—into disrepute online. His own parents had often cited these cautionary tales, reminding him to be mindful of his conduct. For their social class, disregarding justice was trivial, but to openly admit it was an unforgivable blunder.

"Mr. Zhao, what's the matter? Is this kid giving you trouble?" The four boys who had been guarding the stairway approached with an air of aggression.

Feng Manlou watched the four young men approach, their expressions fierce as they abandoned their cigarettes. He leaned casually against the guardrail, a slight smile playing on his lips.