by Dragon King
“That doesn’t count, that doesn’t count. I wasn’t ready yet!” he waved his hands and said, “You started before I even sat still. That was cheating.”
Hao Ren appeared calm although he felt astonished. Only he knew what was going on in his head.
“One more time!” Zhou Liren gripped Hao Ren’s palm as he wasn’t willing to admit defeat.
“Three, Two, One!” Zhao Jiayi let go of their arms again.
It was a tight match this time around. Zhou Liren gradually applied his full strength. His face turned red as blue veins popped out of his arm and forehead. He slowly took the upper hand.
Bom! Hao Ren’s arm got pushed onto the table.
Zhou Liren jumped up and cheered as he rubbed his sore arm. “Your arm strength has improved, buddy!”
“Still couldn’t beat you,” Hao Ren smiled bitterly, “Alright, alright, let’s split the snacks up.”
“Snacks! Snacks! You took my chips, Gu Jiadong!” The winner Zhou Liren jumped up and grasped Gu Jiadong in excitement.
Hao Ren glimpsed at them and walked to the balcony in silence.
“I didn’t use my full strength just now, yet I was able to defeat Zhou Liren with ease. Then I decreased my strength on purpose so he could win the tight match. That was a horrifying increase in my strength from last week’s arm wrestling match…” Hao Ren looked up at the moon with uneasiness as he rubbed his wrist.
6 Bear the Anger of My Father!
Under the moonlight, the dragon-scale tattoo on Hao Ren’s arm started to become lighter after several washes. It seemed like it was glowing and had a mysterious power.
“The legend about the dragon that my grandma talked about wouldn’t be true, would it?”
“Ren! Come play cards!” Zhao Jiayi yelled, waking Hao Ren up from deep thoughts.
After playing cards for almost the entire night, the weekend had passed. It would be Monday when they open their eyes again.
“Ren, I heard you were flirting with a girl and now she is hunting you down?”
“I heard this girl is pretty crazy, putting up wanted posters all over the school. Ah, too bad I went home on Saturday…”
“I was in the cafeteria. The girl is pretty, and she even touched Ren’s belly!”
“Hey, Ren. What did you do to that little girl?”
“Stop accusing Ren, he is a good guy…”
“Of course, Hao Ren is a good guy! He has gotten the Goodperson Card (friend zoned) six times already within this semester!”
People inside the classroom were discussing with each other during class. Everyone was talking about the girl who came to school to find Hao Ren with great fanfare last Saturday, making it the hottest topic this week.
Hao Ren did not bother to join the conversation. The comfort of the warm sunlight was making him a little drowsy.
He occasionally looked up and watched Class President Xie Yujia who was sitting in the front. She seemed like she cared a bit more than the others about what had happened. However, she immediately avoided eye contacts with Hao Ren whenever he looked at her.
Hao Ren wanted to explain to her that he wasn’t a player, it was he friends who caused everything. Whenever he told his friends about a girl who he found pretty, his friends would confess his ‘admirations’ for him under his name and increased his record of getting the Goodperson Card.
Obviously, Xie Yujia was also one of those who gave him the Goodperson Card.
“Maybe I should ask her to go to the beach with me? Grandma will probably like a beautiful girl like her.”
“But last time when Zhou Liren was messing around for me, she already said she wasn’t interested in me…” When thoughts of that rose up, Hao Ren sighed and continued to sleep on the desk.
The boring afternoon class finally ended. Hao Ren woke up from a blurry dream and felt the numbness in his right arm.
When he was trying to get rid of the numbness by moving his right arm around, he realized that his right arm had become much thicker!
Because of his long-sleeve shirt, Zhao Jiayi and others did not notice the changes in his arm. However, Hao Ren could clearly feel that his right arm was swelling!
After thinking about the weird tattoo, the arrogant little girl, and the sudden increase in strength, Hao Ren found some connections between all of them. He stood up quickly, hesitated for a moment, and then rushed out of the classroom.
“Hey…” Zhou Liren and the other two who were packing their bags and were about to go get dinner suddenly saw Hao Ren’s hurried departure and did not know what to do.
Hao Ren rushed out of the classroom and walked ceaselessly until he flagged down a taxi outside the school.
“Mister, go to LingZhao Middle School. Quick!” Hao Ren hopped into the car and said anxiously.
“Alright!” The taxi driver drove quickly. Within ten minutes, Ren has arrived at the main entrance of LingZhao Middle School.
The middle school students were just leaving school when he arrived. Students wearing uniforms started walking out of the gate like water tides.
Hao Ren was standing on a high fence on his tiptoes. He was trying to find a trace of that little girl.
However, all the students were wearing the same light blue uniforms and their ages were about the same. Hao Ren’s eyes got tired and his head got dizzy, yet he still hasn’t found the girl.
“Uncle, you trying to find me?” Suddenly, a bright voice appeared right behind Hao Ren.
Hao Ren turned around and saw the young girl he had been trying to find.
She was wearing the same light-blue uniform, had the same ponytail, and the same LingZhao Middle School Tag as the other students. The only thing that was different was the name tag on her uniform – Grade 2, Class 2, Zhao Yanzi.
There was another girl right next to her. Even though that girl wasn’t as pretty as her, she was from the same grade and class.
Hao Ren was a bit embarrassed as he jumped off the fence, “Um…”
“I told you, you would come find me.” This girl whose name was Zhao Yanzi said confidently and proudly.
Zi, who is he?” the girl next the Zhao Yanzi asked quietly while looking at Hao Ren cautiously.
“An uncle from East Ocean University. He owes me something,” Zhao Yanzi said to that girl.
Uncle… Hao Ren felt like his brain split into halves when he heard what they called him.
After hearing the response, the girl beside Zhao Yanzi was still cautious about Hao Ren.
“Come on, do I look like a bad guy? I think my face looks pretty kind and harmless…” Hao Ren looked at that girl resignedly.
“Your name is Zi?” Hao Ren asked Zhao Yanzi as he tried to break the awkward moment.
Zhao Yanzi pointed at her name tag.
“Uncle, what’s your name?” she asked Hao Ren.
“My name is Hao Ren,” Hao Ren said.
“Usually those who call themselves good person aren’t really good.” The girl next Zhao Yanzi said.
“Ling, you can go home first. I still have some things I want to talk to this uncle about. I won’t be able to go home with you today.” Zhao Yanzi said to the girl next to her.
“Okay… Be careful…” the girl looked at Hao Ren cautiously again and reminded Zi worryingly.
“Uncle, isn’t it too late to come find me now?” Seeing Ling walking further away, Zhao Yanzi looked at Hao Ren and said.
“Don’t call me uncle, just call me Ren.” Hao Ren’s head was about to explode.
“Alright, uncle,” Zhao Yanzi said.
Hao Ren was speechless.
“It’s good that you came to find me. But sorry, it’s too late already. My parents already know I lost the stuff. Wait to bear the anger of my father.”
Hao Ren was a bit angry with this arrogant little girl. However, he held back.
“Wait for it. My parents will come find you themselves tomorrow.” After Zhao Yanzi finished speaking, she grabbed her pink backpack and ran away. She didn�
�t even wait for Hao Ren’s reaction.
Hao Ren stood there speechlessly. “Sure.” Ren thought, “Tell your parents to come. See who is more afraid of who!” He gritted his teeth as he went back to the university and went straight to his dorm to sleep; he wasn’t even in the mood to have dinner.
“Ren seems emotional, like a lovesick teenager.”
“Is this because of the pretty little girl?”
“No way, Ren likes that pretty little girl?”
“Or maybe this is because of Xie Yujia?”
“Ren really likes the Class President?”
“It is so obvious alright?”
“Should we help him?”
Hao Ren’s dormmates started chatting when they saw Hao Ren sleeping in his bed when they came back.
The next day, Hao Ren tried to act cheerful when he went to class. The tattoo disappeared entirely, but his entire arm was very swollen. The veins were popping as if the arm was filled with power but had nowhere to release it. It was extremely unnatural.
Hao Ren’s three dormmates saw his miserable look and thought he was upset because of the girls. Therefore, they spent half a day with him trying to cheer him up.
On the other hand, Hao Ren was in a bad mood every time he thought of Zhao Yanzi’s parents. Perhaps they might even bring the matters to the university’s administrative office.
During class, Zhao Jiayi went over to Zhou Liren and Cao Ronghua. “After all, Ren is really heart-broken. He was never this cold before.”
“Yeah, seems like his soul is out of his body today. Maybe we should take him to lunch and try to cheer him up,” Cao Ronghua said as the class-end bell started ringing.
Cao Ronghua and Zhou Liren dragged Hao Ren up and said, “Let’s go! Ren! We will buy you lunch!”
“I really don’t feel like eating…” Hao Ren said while he was dragged out of the classroom. As he was wondering when the administrative office was going to call him, a black object entered his eyesight.
All he saw was a black Mercedes Benz S-Class Sedan that was parked at the school’s main entrance and two middle-aged men with black suits and white gloves standing next to the car.
Many students gathered at the gate of the school, wanting to find out which rich kid these two were waiting for. It was important to know that the East Ocean University was mainly for normal citizens, even though there were some rich kids who attend this university. Nevertheless, East Ocean University was definitely not a school for the nobles.
Cao Ronghua and the others dragged Hao Ren over to see what was happening. Unexpectedly, the two men rushed towards Hao Ren and said, “You are finally done with classes. Our master has been waiting.”
With this sudden change, Cao Ronghua and Zhou Liren were shocked. They let go of Hao Ren as they realized that Hao Ren was the person these two men in black suits were looking for.
The students around were all discussing with each other. If what happened at the cafeteria on Saturday was big “news” already, two men with a S-Class Mercedes Benz coming here to find Hao Ren would be a “breaking news”.
“So Hao Ren’s family is rich…”
“Maybe they aren’t Hao Ren’s family. Look at his reaction, he was obviously shocked.”
Those who knew Hao Ren but weren’t extremely close to him discussed the matter the most.
“You are…” Hao Ren looked at the two men confusedly.
“Our master, who is also Ms. Zi’s father, sent us to come pick you up. We will only take up an afternoon. Please get in the car.” the two men bowed gently to Hao Ren and said politely as they opened the car door.
7 Emergency Meeting
Hao Ren never expected things would be like this. He had thought Zhao Yanzi and her parents would go directly to the administrative office. To his astonishment, a sedan was sent to pick him up.
“Maybe, is it an invitation to my own funeral, or a disguised kidnap?”
“Whatever it is, I don’t think they will harm me.” After a moment of consideration, Hao Ren stepped into the car.
Bang! Bang!
The car doors closed.
His three dormmates stared at the luxury sedan in astonishment. From what they knew about him, Hao Ren came from an ordinary background. They wondered what he had done to be taken away like this.
The black sedan drove out of campus without incidents.
On the way, Hao Ren restrained himself from asking the men sitting on either side of him any questions, He believed that he would get answers when he got to the destination.
While the sedan drove forward smoothly, a sense of heroic tragedy rose in him as if he would never come back.
After about half an hour of traveling through half of East Ocean City, the car came to the busy downtown.
A skyscraper with seventy floors came into Hao Ren’s view. On top of the building, there was a huge sign with two large words in it–Mingri Group.
Listed on NASDAQ in the United States, Mingri Group was one of the biggest business groups in China and undoubtedly a business empire in East Ocean City.
“Sir, please get off the car.” When the sedan stopped at the gate of the skyscraper, the two men got off and opened the door for Hao Ren.
Glancing up at the skyscraper, Hao Ren was a bit dizzy. After he got off the car, he was ushered into the building by one of the men.
The receptionist, as beautiful as a movie star, glanced at the men and smiled. She didn’t ask them to register and opened the security pathway for them.
Hao Ren was suddenly struck with a wave of nervousness.
The man led Hao Ren into an elevator before pressing on number 75, the top floor of the building.
The elevator rode up speedily while Hao Ren stared at the serious man silently.
“Who on earth is these men’s ‘master’? Who can work in a place like this?”
Ding!
The elevator reached the top floor.
The gates of the elevator slid open, and Hao Ren was greeted with bright red rugs, a golden lobby, and magnificent chandeliers…
The lobby was as luxurious as a five-star hotel.
The man was still silent when he led Hao Ren out of the elevator and ushered him forward.
He stopped outside of an office room with a sign that read “President’s Office”.
Knocking on the door, he raised his voice, “Master, here he is.”
“Bring him in.” a dignified but fatigued voice came from the room.
The man opened the door and ushered Hao Ren into the room.
A big magnificent office room with an area of at least 200 square meters came into Hao Ren’s view
A man with a crew cut and a square face locked his intense eyes on Hao Ren.
Also, he was flanked by four serious-looking men who were all in black suits.
“Is it on him?” He asked the man who had ushered in Hao Ren.
“It is. I can feel it,” the man answered carefully.
“Zi told me everything. I won’t cause trouble for you if you hand it over now,” the man who seemed to be the president gazed at Hao Ren and said.
“I don’t have it,” grinding his teeth, Hao Ren said.
Without further ado, the square-faced man spat out two words, “Search him.”
Four men jumped out and quickly grabbed Hao Ren’s arms and shoulders while the man who brought Hao Ren here began to search him in a very professional manner.
Hao Ren knew he had fallen into the “tiger’s den”, but he was sure they could do nothing to him when they found nothing on him.
As he predicted, the man found nothing when he finished the first round of searching. When he began the second round, his smooth movements became stiff.
He raised his head with alarm, “Master…”
“I’ve told you many times not to call me Master. Call me Boss!” The square-faced man was incensed.
“Yes. Boss.” The man pointed at Hao Ren, “The thing…from Ms. Zi is in his stomach.”
T
he square-faced man froze while the others’ faces also changed expressions.
“Summon the elders.” After some considerations, the square-faced man ordered.
“Yes!” Eight of the nine men in the room walked out, and only one was left standing beside the square-faced man.
“Pick up Zi from the school.” The Square-faced man told the man beside him.
“Yes!” The man took the order and was out of the room immediately.
Now only Hao Ren and the square-faced man were left in the room.
“My name is Zhao Guang. What is your name?” The square-faced man gazed at Hao Ren and asked.
“Hao Ren,” Hao Ren answered.
“Ah, Hao Ren, Good Person. This matter got tricky, and you have to stay here a little longer,” he continued, still looking at Hao Ren
“Ok.” Hao Ren’s face didn’t show the confusion he felt. He couldn’t remain calm while there was some object in his stomach, especially when the object seemed to be related to the tattoo.
“Take a seat.” Zhao Guang pointed at the seats beside him.
Hao Ren walked over and sat on a leather sofa. Through the glass of the room, he had a complete view of East Ocean City and even a glimpse of the sea in the distance.
They kept silent while time clicked away.
About half hour later, people began to hurry in. They all looked confused and anxious.
A little later, accompanied by a man, Zhao Yanzi walked in.
When she saw Hao Ren, she snorted with contempt. Of course, Hao Ren responded likewise.
“Zi, don’t make that expression. It was all your fault,” Zhao Guang scolded Zhao Yanzi.
Zhao Yanzi pursed her lips, looking defiant.
Shortly, more than a dozen people came into the big office room.
“Since everyone is here, let’s go in for the meeting. Zi, come in too,” after looking around, Zhao Guang said with a serious expression.
A hidden door opened automatically, and a small meeting room that was connected to the office room was revealed.
While people began to walk into the meeting room, Zhao Guang turned to Hao Ren and said, “Please sit here for a while and wait for the results of the meeting.”
Hao Ren had no choice but to nod his head in agreement. After all, it was not a good feeling when you had an unnamed object in your stomach.