Chapter 86: Director Wu, the Innocent One

The next day, when Chen Meng woke up, it was already seven o’clock.

He hastily gathered his things, ready to head to school, but then he remembered he was already on extended leave. At once, he dropped back onto the bed with a thump.

Yesterday’s fight had ruined his backpack. Several books still lay scattered across the desk, and it seemed he would have to buy a new bag today.

Otherwise, he would not even have a place to put his gun.

His father and mother both knew that Chen Meng had taken leave. As for the choice he had now made, they could no longer interfere. Ever since Chen Meng had advanced into a divine-body lifeform, they had stopped treating him as an ordinary person.

“Chen Meng, hurry up and wash your face. Time to eat.”

His mother called out. Chen Meng thought about it and decided that, whatever happened, food still had to be eaten. After all, people were forged of iron and sustained by grain—unless one had reached the fourth rank of divine-body lifeform, in which case even steel could be eaten.

He washed his face, brushed his teeth, and when he came out, he saw his mother carrying a plate of egg pancakes out of the kitchen.

“I like these.”

As he spoke, he grabbed one and stuffed it straight into his mouth, finishing it in a few bites.

His mother smiled. “Look at you. It’s not as if anyone’s going to steal it from you.”

His father, sitting nearby, felt rather speechless. If he had dared take a pancake like that, he would certainly have been scolded thoroughly.

After sitting down, his mother seemed to remember something. “Son, there won’t be any problem with your getting into River Capital University, will there? I already told your cousin about it. She’ll be a junior there very soon, and she said that once you get into River Capital University, she’ll make sure to take very good care of you.”

“Take care of me?”

Chen Meng muttered. At the thought of his cousin Zhang Yi, he realized that after she entered university, he had hardly seen her at all. But back in high school, she had bullied him more than a little.

Who could blame her? His grades had been poor, while his cousin was the sort of person who was very “helpful” and “generous.”

“Yes. Your cousin even said she’ll finally have a worthy successor at River Capital University.” His mother chuckled. His father, however, had already stiffened his face. A worthy successor? That was plainly a misuse of words. But when his mother spoke, no matter how unpleasant it sounded to him, he could only bear it in silence.

Chen Meng was speechless. Why did it sound as though his cousin had some vast inheritance at River Capital University waiting for him to claim?

Still, looking at his mother, he replied, “No problem. River Capital University is a sure thing. Actually, not just that—I’ve already decided. I’m going to fight for the top score in Yangzhou Province. At the very least, I’ll take first place in River City.”

At those words, both his mother and father were dumbstruck.

Before, talking loudly about getting into River Capital University was one thing. But now he was aiming for provincial champion and city champion? How had the leap become even bigger?

“Son, how about we register you for a psychiatry appointment?” His mother thought for a moment. “I know your grades have improved a lot, but let’s forget this business of being provincial champion or city champion. Every year there are nearly ten million candidates in Yangzhou Province, and over a million in River City alone. To come first among all of them is less likely than winning the lottery. Let’s be realistic. Getting into River Capital University is enough. Forget about being provincial champion or city champion.”

“Mm. Don’t aim higher than you can reach,” his father agreed with a nod.

Well then. Clearly, not a single person believed in him.

But he had truly made up his mind. This time, he would definitely make a run at first place.

The title of champion sounded so good—so imposing. More importantly, it came with money.

...

After breakfast, Chen Meng thought it over and decided to call Han Hao after all. He still did not know what had come of yesterday’s events. But one thing was certain: the more cult members Han Hao arrested this time, the greater his own merit would be.

Best of all would be if the entire Huang family could be wiped out in one net. He was certain now that every member of the Huang family hated him to death.

The phone rang several times, then was cut off outright, leaving Chen Meng rather speechless. Why was he not answering?

Inside the Bureau of Law Enforcement—

“Someone’s calling for you,” Wu Tengkong said with a smile.

“It’s Chen Meng. That brat is definitely calling to ask me for his share of the credit. I know that little scheme of his without even answering,” Han Hao said helplessly.

At the mention of Chen Meng’s name, Wu Tengkong immediately grew interested. “Tell me, Han Hao—where did you pick up this nephew of yours? Ever since you met him, you’ve been racking up one merit after another, especially this time. You directly brought down more than forty members of the Huang family. That’s the kind of achievement that can be boasted of nationwide. A lot of people were dissatisfied when you took the post of acting district chief of East District, but after this, let’s see who still dares object. Oh, and that application of yours for the fourth-rank divine-body advancement serum—I’ve approved it on my own authority. This time, you’ll get it.”

Hearing this, Han Hao was overjoyed.

At last, could he really advance into a divine-body lifeform?

Originally, he had thought it would take another year or two. Even after becoming acting district chief of East District, he had figured it would still take at least half a year. Who would have thought that in less than a week, this opportunity for advancement would already come?

Thinking it over carefully, Chen Meng really did seem to be his lucky star.

Chen Meng, of course, knew nothing of this. After some thought, he dialed again.

“Answer it,” Wu Tengkong said with a smile. “Put it on speaker. Let me hear what this kid has to say.”

“All right, then.” Han Hao had no choice but to press the answer button.

At once, Chen Meng’s roar came through from the other end:

“Captain Han, Han Hao, Ratty, what are you doing? You won’t even answer my call now? Are you trying to swallow all my credit for yourself? I’m telling you, if you dare pull that, I’ll go complain to Wu Tengkong himself. You know Wu Tengkong, right? Even though his character isn’t all that great, and he’s a shameless exhibitionist, and a world-class bootlicker—”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Han Hao nearly jumped out of his skin and hurriedly broke into a fit of coughing. Then he secretly glanced at Wu Tengkong, only to find him wearing a completely bewildered expression.

The moment Chen Meng heard that cough, he gave a violent start.

Surely Wu Tengkong was right there beside Han Hao?

Cold sweat instantly broke out across his back, but he turned his tone around in one breath:

“Although, to be fair, I’m that kind of person too, and that’s exactly why we get along so well. Of course, all that is just on the surface. Director Wu and I may both seem careless and not especially serious, but in truth we both possess the heart of a pure child—a heart utterly loyal to the nation and the people. So if you wrong someone like me, a pillar of the nation and hope for the future, then you are wronging our honored Director Wu as well.”

Han Hao was already completely at a loss for words. Even this he could smooth over?

Chen Meng went on:

“Director Wu works wholeheartedly for the people and bears every burden without complaint. Captain Han, you should really learn from Director Wu. Director Wu is not only my role model, he ought to be yours as well. In the future, we should all strive to become leaders and public servants of the state like Director Wu—men of lofty integrity, selfless and devoted to the public good.”

When he had finished speaking, Chen Meng drew in a sharp breath. That should count as patching it up, shouldn’t it?

He was certain now that Wu Tengkong was standing right there. Otherwise, if he had said all this, Han Hao would have hung up long ago.

“Chief... what do you think?” Han Hao looked at Wu Tengkong, at this point having no idea how to respond to Chen Meng. Could a human being really utter such shameless words?

But to his surprise, Wu Tengkong gave a restrained nod. “Mm. Fairly objective.”

Han Hao was dumbfounded. Those words had been so insincere, so blatantly false that they could not have sounded faker if they tried—and this, he could actually believe?

Chief... are you truly this innocent?