Chapter 56: Chen Meng Is a Good Student

However, Chen Meng wasn’t particularly afraid. No matter how powerful the Dean of Students acted, he couldn’t stop Chen Meng from taking the college entrance examination. Once he was admitted to Jiangdu University, what would any of this matter? Since he was already late, he decided to take his time and strolled toward the entrance.

“Stop right there!”

The Dean of Students was a short, stout man with a prominent belly and an air of authority about him. He blocked Chen Meng’s way directly. “Do you even know what time it is?”

Chen Meng fell silent. Should he say he knew, or that he didn’t? In truth, he’d been carrying his phone with him lately, but if he took it out to check the time, this guy would surely use it against him.

Seeing Chen Meng remain silent, the dean became even more domineering. “You’re late—do you know that? Which class are you in? What’s your name?”

Chen Meng had no choice but to state his class and name.

“Chen Meng… why does that name sound so familiar?” The dean muttered as he fished a small black notebook from his pocket, flipping through it. Sure enough, Chen Meng’s name was there, which gave him renewed confidence. “Ah, it’s you. You took a day off last Friday, and took leave again this morning. Why do you have so much going on? Are you busier than me? You’re a senior about to take the college entrance exam, what are you taking leave for? Do your parents know? Where’s your leave slip?”

Looking at the furious dean, Chen Meng quickly turned his head aside, afraid the man’s spit would land on him.

“Not to mention the leaves, now you’re late again. Do you even consider yourself a student? Your grades are at the bottom of the year. With performance like yours, what university do you expect to get into? What will you amount to? You’re just a waste! Never mind serving your country—if you don’t become a burden to society, I’ll thank the heavens!” The dean’s voice boomed as if he were giving a speech. Chen Meng almost felt embarrassed to interrupt his enthusiasm.

Such a venomous tongue, no wonder he’d heard that girls had been brought to tears by him before.

“Uncle!”

A voice called out from the entrance, and a figure Chen Meng found somewhat familiar appeared. Chen Meng paused—wasn’t that the bookstore owner where he’d bought “Five Years of College Entrance Examinations, Three Years of Simulations”? So the man really had relatives who worked in the school’s administration.

The bookstore owner also saw Chen Meng and immediately recognized him—the impression was too deep. “Well, if it isn’t you, you little rascal. I haven’t forgotten how you tricked me last time. Watch me teach you a lesson.”

Chen Meng frowned slightly at this. If it came to a fight, he wasn’t afraid of the bookstore owner.

“Ahem!” The dean cleared his throat, stopping the bookstore owner. But now he glared at Chen Meng even more maliciously, as if to say, “Now watch me deal with you.”

Chen Meng was speechless. How unlucky could one be? It seemed today was not a good day to go to school.

Just then, as fate would have it, his phone rang.

He was doomed.

Chen Meng caught sight of the dean’s face, which had turned stormy.

Before he could even answer the call, the dean was already roaring, “You dare bring a mobile phone to school? This is outrageous! Do you have any respect for school rules? What do you take this place for? That’s a major demerit—this must be recorded as a major offense!”

A major demerit?

Chen Meng was startled. That was the harshest punishment short of expulsion—it could even affect the political review before the college entrance exam.

Just as he was about to protest, the call abruptly ended. Glancing at the number, he saw it was Han Hao.

Chen Meng felt like crying. Wasn’t this just digging him a pit?

You call, it rings twice then hangs up—are you in league with the dean?

At that very moment, a law enforcement vehicle, sirens blaring, pulled up at the school gate.

“A law enforcement vehicle?” The dean looked up at the car and then at the license plate, immediately startled. He was knowledgeable enough to recognize that this was no ordinary law enforcement vehicle.

The security guard also noticed and promptly opened the electric gate.

The car entered the school but didn’t proceed further, stopping right at the entrance. Han Hao stepped out.

“I was just calling you, but then I saw you at the gate, so I hung up,” Han Hao said, signaling to the driver. “Xiao Li, go sign in as a visitor.”

“Yes, Captain,” replied the young officer, hurrying off to the security office.

The dean was confused. Was Han Hao talking to him?

The bookstore owner discreetly gave a thumbs up, thinking to himself how well-connected his uncle was—even the law enforcement bureau was in the family network.

But just then, Chen Meng spoke up, “Captain Han, why did you call me for no reason? If you hadn’t called, no one would have known I had a phone. But you called, and now our dean found out. Didn’t you hear what he said? He’s threatening to give me a major demerit—you’ve landed me in real trouble.”

Han Hao was dumbfounded. Was it wrong to make a phone call now?

The driver, Xiao Li, was startled—who was this kid, daring to talk to their captain like that? He nearly dropped his pen in shock. The dean and the bookstore owner were even more flabbergasted. What was going on?

This law enforcement captain was here for Chen Meng?

They didn’t know why, but from the tone between Chen Meng and Captain Han, it was obvious the two were quite familiar.

Cold sweat broke out on the dean’s forehead. He knew the stature of the law enforcement bureau—its standing was formidable in any province or city, and a captain was no ordinary figure.

“I was only joking! Just joking. How could I possibly record a major demerit? Chen Meng only carries a phone to keep in touch with the law enforcement bureau, right?” The dean was nothing if not adaptable; seeing the situation change, he immediately put on a new face. “Chen Meng is an excellent student!”

Chen Meng was stunned. Was it really possible to spout such nonsense? “So, I won’t get a major demerit?”

“Of course not—this is nothing serious,” the dean replied without batting an eye, so convincingly that even Chen Meng believed him. Yet just moments before, it had clearly been a huge deal.

Han Hao was also a bit dumbstruck. He’d never seen someone so shameless. Still, remembering his real purpose, he said, “If it’s nothing serious, that’s good. Since you’re his dean, I actually came to see Chen Meng today about something that needs to be explained to the school. If possible, could you also call his homeroom teacher?”

The dean didn’t dare refuse. “Of course, Captain Han. We’ll discuss the details in the conference room. I’ll call Chen Meng’s homeroom teacher right away.”

Han Hao nodded.

He didn’t get back in the car, but walked with Chen Meng instead. As for the bookstore owner, seeing his uncle so cowed, he quietly slipped away, deciding to play the part of a passerby.

On the way, Chen Meng thought of Lu Guang and said casually, “The coach and the others are heading to the Wildlands. Did you know about that?”

Han Hao sighed, “Yes, I know. They’ll probably leave within a week. I really don’t know what’s gotten into them, insisting on going to the Wildlands. If Lu Guang goes, so be it, but Xiang Yan is going too. Are those two really planning to be star-crossed lovers?”

Chen Meng couldn’t help but feel Han Hao sounded a bit jealous. Could it be that he and Lu Guang were rivals in love?

“Did you get a lot of rewards for what happened last time?” Chen Meng asked.

“Not bad,” Han Hao replied modestly. “In about two years, I should be able to attempt advancement to Fourth-Rank Divine Body Lifeform.”

“Impressive,” Chen Meng praised him, though thinking of himself—still not even a Divine Body Lifeform—he felt somewhat dispirited.

Behind them, the dean shivered. If Han Hao was about to reach Fourth Rank, he’d be destined for a group leader’s position at the bureau, maybe even deputy director if he did well.

Seeing Chen Meng chatting so familiarly with Han Hao, the dean felt he’d kicked an iron wall.

The three of them finally reached the conference room, but the dean found that Chen Meng’s homeroom teacher had not yet arrived. Growing anxious, he immediately made another call to hurry things up.

At that moment, Chen Meng’s rune teacher, Yang Shu, hurried in. “Old Wang’s stomach is upset—he’s in the infirmary. If it’s about Chen Meng, I can stand in for him. Feel free to speak.”

Seeing Yang Shu, Chen Meng smiled and nodded. Among his teachers, aside from Chu Jiang, Yang Shu was the one he was most familiar with and who had treated him the best.

Noticing their rapport, Han Hao nodded. “Very well, I’ll get right to the point. First, regarding the incident where Chen Meng killed Wang Jie, a student from Jiangzhou University: after investigation, this has been ruled as legitimate self-defense, and Chen Meng bears no legal responsibility.”

“Wang Jie? Who’s Wang Jie? Chen Meng killed someone?” The dean was dumbstruck, glancing at Chen Meng in disbelief. He had actually killed someone—that made him tremble.

“Could it be that Jiangzhou University student who stole the advancement serum?” Yang Shu recalled a recent news story and ventured a guess.

“Yes,” Han Hao confirmed. “The details are clear, but there’s one more point I need to verify with Chen Meng.”

“Go ahead,” Chen Meng replied.

“What happened to the remaining vial of advancement serum Wang Jie had?” Han Hao asked, while Xiao Li got ready to take notes.

“It was eaten by Mouse Beibei—otherwise, how do you think it became a Divine Body Lifeform? Mouse Beibei probably hasn’t finished metabolizing the serum yet. You can take its blood for testing if you want,” Chen Meng replied truthfully.

Han Hao was taken aback, then signaled Xiao Li to note it down. As for blood testing, that would be impossible—the Animal Protection Association would never allow it.

“Did Wang Jie have sixty thousand yuan on him?” Han Hao continued.

“No, absolutely not. I never saw any sixty thousand yuan,” Chen Meng replied confidently. “I swear, there was never sixty thousand yuan.”

Though Chen Meng sounded quite righteous, Han Hao couldn’t help but feel he was being less than honest.

Chen Meng had his own thoughts: there really wasn’t sixty thousand—it was fifty-nine thousand eight hundred.

“Record it as he says,” Han Hao instructed. “That’s all for that case. Sign here and it’s closed.”

Chen Meng let out a sigh of relief—it seemed he had gotten away with it.

After Chen Meng had signed, Han Hao continued, “Next, regarding your killing of a second-rank Divine Body Lifeform cultist and protecting Mouse Beibei: the bureau has recognized your contribution and prepared three reward options for you to choose from.”

As soon as Han Hao finished speaking, the dean staggered and nearly crashed into the conference room door.

Chen Meng had killed a second-rank Divine Body Lifeform?

Even Yang Shu, his rune teacher, felt as if he were hearing a fairy tale. This seemingly harmless student had killed two people—both Divine Body Lifeforms.

But he was just an ordinary person!