Chapter 25: 25.
Chapter 25: 25.
The question asked by Teacher Dai was a simple one but to Lin Shen - it was mind-crushing.
Usually, the seniors do things like that for the teachers after getting their permission. During the handover process, some evidence would be 'surprisingly' changed. Lin Shen depended on that but his amateur villain-like brain didn't trigger the 'backup plan thought process' after he gave the bribe to Teacher Dai.
Like other teachers who accepted the little help from these Young Masters, Lin Shen placed his chips on that.
Two plots he trusted in were diminished.
From the question, he knew Teacher Dai didn't accept the bank card and read the note in that envelope.
"Yes, I know you will, sir," he answered stiffly. He gave a quick glance to the other two, hoping they would keep up the act. His heart was thumping loudly and taking over every sound in the room.
What to do? How can he stall things? If he backtracks now, it will be another loss against Chen Kai. He wanted to see that poor wretch suffer. How can a low-class bastard like him be better than he - a young master of an affluent family? People like him need to know their position in life.
Lin Shen looked at Chen Kai. He sneered at the luxury clothes the bastard wore to look good, even if it was just a few minutes. Pathetic.
"Student Lin! Please pay attention. Do you wish to compare evidence as I question Student Chen?" Teacher Dai was already upset by the scheme these three tried to facilitate. This kind of thing was an embarrassment to their university. The country saw their graduates as honest, well-educated young people who could help the work industry flourish. Not scheming fraudsters.
This sort of behavior can't go unpunished.
The teachers and the vice president gathered for this hearing decided to go along with their ploy to see how far they would go.
"... Yes. Yes, sir."
He was made to hand over the evidence he gathered and state the source of each one. A male teacher took them in his possession and read through each piece.
Lin Shen returned to his seat and placed his focus on the teacher's next words.
Chen Kai didn't want to miss a milli-second of the expected outcome and kept his attention on the trio. Lin Shen was pretending to be calm, Zhang Rui was five minutes away from blowing her top and Li Feng already gave up the act.
" Before we proceed, do you have anything to say at this point of the hearing?"
This time it was Vice President Ji who asked this question. His eyes were sharp as he placed his hawk-eye gaze on the trio.
Li Feng kept his head low and Zhang Rui looked at Lin Shen to lead her at this part.
Chen Kai thought he would give up at this moment if he read the teachers' body language throughout the accusation, and after the comparison they made with the evidence, he would know it was all useless.
This hearing was wasting everyone's time but this dimwit was so bent on his mission.
"No, sir. I do not," Lin Shen answered.
'Idiot!' Chen Kai on the other hand rolled his eyes and muttered how stupid and clueless Lin Shen was. 'Is his family thinking of putting him in their family business?' he wondered. 'How tragic!'
Vice President Ji motioned for Teacher Dai to continue.
"Student Chen, I will state the days they suspect you stole their devices, planted the virus, and returned them. It will be wise to answer truthfully. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
The days mentioned were the previous three to four days since he came to this star. Unhurriedly and in a concise version, Chen Kai took them through the places he visited within the campus, who he talked to, and what he did.
He, too, wanted this to be over. Lin Shen underestimated everything. Their ploy was weak.
When the female teacher questioned him on the harassment of Zhang Rui, he didn't hide anything and got rid of the plot holes in her previous statement.
"Ma'am. We've only engaged in kissing and controlled petting initiated and ended by myself. Ma'am. I'm still a virgin."
An awkward silence took over the room. The teachers were forced to move their gazes from the proud look on Chen Kai's face, afraid that they would fail to keep in their laughter.
Zhang Rui's face was red with anger. It wasn't a lie. No matter how hard she tried to move things faster with Chen Kai, he blocked her advances. She never thought she had to work hard to sleep with her own boyfriend. He guarded himself against her.
Lin Shen on the other hand sneered disdainfully at him. "Aren't you embarrassed to say such things aloud? A twenty-plus-old virgin. You are truly pathetic."
"I don't share what is mine. You were already playing with it in the latter half of our relationship." Chen Kai gave both Lin Shen and Zhang Rui a lazy glance before ignoring them.
"CHEN KAI!!" Again, Zhang Rui yelled at him with pure indignation. She was humiliated over and over by him. She was in a better position than him now, yet he was going against her. "You should know your place, you pathetic lame pauper! All you can do is buy fake goods to show off. What good that will do?!"
Lin Shen joined in on the insults given to Chen Kai; Li Feng was blankly staring at the wall and the teachers were trying to get the two to stop.
The only calm ones were the victim, Chen Kai, and Vice President Ji. The former was bored but the latter was furious.
The older man slowly rose from his seat and positioned himself between the teachers and students.
"The disciplinary Department was established to give the students who are victimized a platform to be heard. It is also a place where injustice is caught and the perpetrators punished. This should be a safe and impartial place, NOT A PLAYGROUND FOR YOUR GAMES!"
The anger-filled shout silenced everyone.
Vice President Ji turned to Chen Kai. "Student Chen, thank you for attending and answering our questions truthfully. You may leave. Rest assured no credits will be deducted nor will there be a record of this farce on your transcript."
Rising to his feet, Chen Kai gave a solemn nod and then spoke. "Thank you, Vice President Ji. I would like to request the hearing transcripts and copies of the evidence. My lawyer will have great use for them."
"You're going to sue us?!" Lin Shen asked. His face was pale with fright. If his father was to know of this, he will be surely punished.
"Student Chen, let's leave things as it is. Student Lin's family...." Vice President Ji tried to placate the stern looking senior. From the firmness of the young man's mouth and unwavering eyes, he knew Chen Kai was serious. This was the favored student the faculty always praised. He won't let go of those who wronged him.
"I respect my elder's opinion on the way society works but please allow me to act upon my beliefs." Chen Kai's words were both polite and adamant. The adults heard the underlying message but the three opposing students found his statement lofty.
Vice President Ji wanted to try once more but gave in after his student's words of assurance.
"I won't be involving the school. This is on my own accord."
"Very well."
Chen Kai bowed respectfully to his elders and bid them goodbye upon their confirmation of sending the documents to him.
When he turned his back to leave the conference room, Lin Shen reclaimed his arrogance.
"Let's see what that lawyer's letter can do to me. Do you know who my father is? You insignificant bastard. Even the family who raised you threw you out, you have nothing. Let's see how big your courage is to sue me, Lin Shen, the second young master of the Lin family." His voice was loud and reached into the hall when Chen Kai opened the door.
Pausing at the threshold, Chen Kai looked over his shoulder with a hint of mockery in them as he looked at the clown jumping around. From day one, he understood why this idiot was always against the original soul. He lived for many years and learned about human behavior quite extensively. He paid to do so otherwise his life would of ended at early times.
Lin Shen was a maggot in his eyes and probably a disappointment in his father's. The last child within an arranged marriage and the only one to be on the wife's side, so he was spoiled by the mother. No training. No awareness. Full arrogance and lofty lessons. He was taught to be better or good as someone within the family. Since he's the second, its the first he should be as good as.
Now that he left his province to step into his own, he carried his arrogance and loftiness to the university that was chosen for him. He probably had the dream to be the big man on campus because of his wealth but he hit a wall on that path. There were rich young masters and young misses in abundance.
His next path was to be the most desirable. Again he was stumped. This time by his poor dorm mate. His inferior complex grew and his torment of Chen Kai began.
What he didn't expect was that his target wasn't following the script.
His contempt for Chen Kai has grown to this day.
This was all seen by the 'present' Chen Kai after observation.
"From the looks of things, I'm banking on the 80% of power within your family. You should be grateful that's all I'm suing for," he said calmly. The calmer he spoke, the more chills the three friends got.
Zhang Rui stepped closer to Lin Shen upon hearing Chen Kai's last sentence. They both knew what they attempted. It was an amateur move but what university student haven't died due to overworking themselves. They were thankful that it was a secret between themselves. If he wanted to go to the police about it, he had no proof.
That last thought calmed them and their arrogant nature returned.
"Do as you please. We'll see who comes out on top."
A wide smile was on Chen Kai's face but didn't reach his eyes. He shrugged his shoulders in return and left the conference room entirely.
~~~~~~
Leaving the faculty building, he sent a quick message in the group chat and then turned to the direction where the girls were at the moment.
On the other side of the campus, where the Administrative building and Presisident's office were located, a middle-aged man was walking along the established walkway to greet his esteemed guests. Although there was an amicable smile on his face, he was panicking internally. The news he had to deliver to these people can go two ways.
They kick up a fuss and make a scandal over it or let it flow quietly.
He was hoping for the latter.
Walking further to the entrance, a team of six bodyguards was approaching him with two exquisitely dressed gentlemen within their protective circle.
The older of the two stepped forward and stretched his hand outward in greeting. "President Nian, how are you?"
The man in question cursed inwardly by the man's natural charisma and his effort to place the meeting on his side with a few words.
"Welcome, Chairman Lin. Hello, First young master Lin."