Land War Academy, Dean’s Office—
Song Zheng sat on the office chair with his long legs propped on the desk, smoking a cigarette. He grinned at the group of downtrodden people in front of him, their faces bruised and swollen. "Not bad! Our teachers just had a brawl not too long ago, and you guys organized an unprecedented mass fight. Impressive!"
The students in the office hung their heads even lower.
"You guys really make me proud," Song Zheng gave a thumbs up, "Awesome, I’m impressed—almost envious. Daring to organize a brawl in the Military Academy, what’s next? Military coups when you join the armed forces?"
This comment scared everyone, making their legs buckle, like frostbitten eggplants.
Lin Fu stood among the crowd. Seeing the dean’s temper rising and knowing the result would only worsen, she felt compelled to step forward.
It was also a stroke of bad luck. She had endured being surrounded and accused and didn’t want to escalate the situation. Just when Celia’s team member, Charlie, tried to calm the freshmen and started to explain, high-ranking seniors surged forward to beat up the freshmen under the pretext of avenging her.
That was the last straw; freshmen were not to be trifled with.
They called their friends, and it turned into a huge brawl so intense that clothes and shoes were flying everywhere, nearly everybody from the Land War Academy participated.
Lin Fu watched in bewilderment; she didn’t join the fight, not knowing whom to support or what was more appropriate.
But she was indeed the center of the storm. Being scolded in the dean’s office was inevitable for her.
"Dean, you can’t scare people . It could be deadly. We are all Imperial Soldiers, committed to adhere to military discipline."
The others nodded frantically.
"Bah!" Song Zheng cursed unhappily: "You committed to military discipline? Who would believe that? Lin Fu, do you adhere to military discipline?"
"I do! I very much adhere to it," Lin Fu replied earnestly.
"Get out, get out, get out!" Song Zheng nearly laughed out of anger at Lin Fu’s thick skin, pointing at Lin Fu, he said, "I’ll let them off this time, but you, Lin Fu, are going to carry the blame for this."
The crestfallen crowd suddenly looked up, their eyes fiercely fixed on Song Zheng.
"What are you looking at?" Song Zheng angrily banged the table, "What’s wrong? Holding grudges? Or do you want to play the hero and volunteer to take the blame? Let me tell you, even if you want to take the blame, do you think you’re qualified? Can you handle it?"
"Dean ..." Ivan tried to speak but was abruptly interrupted by Song Zheng.
"Shut your mouth, go back and write a self-critique, and think about where you went wrong," Song Zheng scolded, pointing at Ivan’s nose, "Mervin isn’t here and among so many freshmen in the Land War Academy, there isn’t a single one who can hold the fort."
Actually, Dean Song felt both resentment and disappointment.
Had Mervin been there, the freshmen wouldn’t have dared to criticize Lin Fu, nor would the seniors have dared to fight them.
Ivan’s performance hadn’t met Song Zheng’s expectations.
"Yes!" Ivan bowed his head, clearly very despondent.
He knew Dean Song’s rebuke all too well, and he felt terrible inside.
Dean Song hoped he would be another pillar of strength for the freshmen, but at the crucial moment, he didn’t fulfill those expectations.
Lin Fu felt terrible seeing Ivan getting scolded.
"All right, you all can leave! Don’t be an eyesore here. Lin Fu, you stay."