C18 From Now on You Are My Big Brother

As Wang Chengxin spoke, his gaze was fixed on Lin Dong, his eyes brimming with a mix of pleading and fear. He was desperate to avoid punishment and the prospect of his parents being called in. He could accept being humiliated by Lin Dong today, but he was adamant about keeping the incident away from the Education Office. A record there could jeopardize his graduation. And if that happened, his father would be furious!

Wang Shenglee's voice chimed in, "Lin Dong, is that the case? Don't let these thug-like students intimidate you. If you're feeling aggrieved, just speak to the director, and they'll back you up." His words were a shield for Lin Dong.

Lin Dong just smiled and glanced over at Wang Chengxin, who immediately pressed his hands together, bowing repeatedly. His demeanor was a far cry from his earlier arrogance; he was on the verge of kneeling and begging Lin Dong for mercy.

Liu Wenming, Tian Chao, and Zhou Hengyu could barely contain their amusement. The scene had been so intense moments ago; they all thought a beating was imminent. Yet, unexpectedly, the situation had taken such a comical turn. Wang Chengxin, having been hit, was now imploring Lin Dong to keep quiet. The irony was too delightful and brought a sense of relief to everyone. It's not every day that the person you've confronted ends up pleading with you to stay silent. They reveled in the secret thrill of the moment.

In the eyes of his peers, Lin Dong's stature grew immensely. No words seemed sufficient to capture Lin Dong's prowess, except perhaps the term "Niu Bi."

With Wang Chengxin's beseeching look upon him, Lin Dong finally said, "Director Wang, there's no issue now. It was all a misunderstanding. I'll get in touch if there's anything else."

"Sure thing, Lin Dong. Feel free to drop by the Education Office for a chat whenever you're free."

"Will do!"

With that, Lin Dong ended the call and pocketed his phone. He turned to survey the crowd, noting the peculiar expressions on their faces. Wang Chengxin, in particular, let out a massive sigh of relief. The scare had nearly been too much for him. Despite his wealthy background, he was still just a kid, and at Jiangyang University, his destiny was firmly in the hands of the school administrators.

Thankfully, Lin Dong was compliant and kept the real situation under wraps.

Otherwise, if Wang Shenglee had brought him up to the Education Bureau, there would have been no turning back!

Once the adrenaline faded, Wang Chengxin's face throbbed with pain.

Lin Dong hadn't pulled any punches; that slap mark wouldn't fade for a week.

Wang Chengxin felt the urge to retaliate, but recalling the recent exchange between Lin Dong and Wang Shenglee gave him pause. Wang Shenglee seemed to be on good terms with Lin Dong, casually suggesting he visit the Education Bureau whenever.

Was that a place one could just drop by for a casual visit?

Yet Lin Dong had been invited.

Could it be that Lin Dong was related to Wang Shenglee?

Wang Chengxin, sharing the same surname, wondered why he couldn't claim any kinship with Wang Shenglee!

A surge of frustration welled up inside him.

In the end, he clenched his teeth and resolved to avoid further conflict. If Wang Shenglee did bring him before the Education Bureau, regret would be the least of his worries.

After all, sometimes it's better to let things lie.

Wang Chengxin turned to Lin Dong with feigned enthusiasm, saying, "Lin Dong, I apologize for earlier. Please don't hold it against me. They say adversity introduces us to ourselves, and now you're my elder brother. Let's shake hands and bury the hatchet!"

His approach was conciliatory, his demeanor submissive as he addressed Lin Dong as his elder brother.

This turn of events was immensely satisfying for Liu Wenming, Tian Chao, and Zhou Hengyu, who stood behind Lin Dong, as if they were savoring a chilled sour plum drink on a scorching summer day.

Wang Chengxin, who had been so arrogant before, was now humbly calling Lin Dong 'big brother.' As Lin Dong's buddies, they shared in the glory and felt a burst of joy.

Lin Dong, for his part, didn't rub it in. He simply gestured dismissively and said, "Let's not go overboard with the 'big brother' talk. Today, your guys were out of line, and I struck you because you were being unreasonable. Let's call it even."

Wang Chengxin nodded eagerly. What was the alternative? To keep quarreling and end up in front of the Education Bureau?