Chapter 36

Chapter 36

As Chen Hansheng had expected, Zhou Xiao resigned two days later and triggered a domino effect. Following his resignation, a series of his past wrongdoings surfaced.

He had used his position to invite girls to dinner and he might have been suspected of pocketing money when soliciting sponsors. He also ignored the chain of commands and acted as if Zuo Xiaoli, not Qi Wei, was his superior.

Since he wasn’t particularly well-liked by others, he basically allowed everyone to take advantage of his fall and prey on his weaknesses.

Not even Zuo Xiaoli could save him.

The higher officers of the department’s students’ union gathered for a meeting and Hu Xiuping, the other vice president said, “Xiaoli, since Zhou Xiao has left the external relations committee, we have to get a replacement. Otherwise, it would be too much for Qi Wei to take on his duties as well.”

Zuo Xiaoli was troubled by Zhou Xiao’s matter. “The external relations committee still has Yao Qingguo. Qi Wei is also very capable. I don’t think finding a replacement is that urgent.”

However, the only female vice president, Mu Wenling, agreed with Hu Xiuping.

“The preparations for the department’s freshman party have already begun, which means that the external relations committee has to get enough sponsors as soon as possible. At times like this, we should act accordingly and promote capable newcomers as soon as possible.”

Zuo Xiaoli had recently been particularly sensitive to the words ‘newcomer’ and ‘freshman’. Seeing how the other two vice presidents were agreeing with each other, Zuo Xiaoli suddenly asked, “Who are you going to select as the deputy officer?”

Hu Xiuping and Mu Wenling looked at each other and the former gave a dry cough before saying, “Well, we would like to be fair and make sure that we also take the freshmen’s opinions into consideration.”

“Stop beating around the bush. Just tell me who you have in mind,” said Zuo Xiaoli.

“Chen Hansheng from Public Administration Class 2,” said Mu Wenling calmly.

Zuo Xiaoli was not surprised by this answer. He simply said, “Since the two of you have already decided, why do you need to ask for my opinion? It’s a vote of two-to-one anyway. The majority wins, right?”

Hu Xiuping and Mu Wenling remained silent. There was only one position for the students’ union president. If Chen Hansheng joined the committee, they’d have reduced their competition to become the students’ union president.

“Well, we still have to follow our SOPs and interview the newcomer. Would you like to join?” asked Hu Xiuping.

“Of course,” said Zuo Xiaoli with hatred.

…

Chen Hansheng was about to attend his second interview to join his department’s students’ union less than a week after the first round.

Chen Hansheng pushed the door open to the room at the student activity center and entered to find two men and one woman sitting inside.

One of them was Zuo Xiaoli, staring at Chen Hansheng gloomily.

The other two vice presidents introduced themselves and then proceeded to talk a bit more about the students’ union. Chen Hansheng listened to them casually and just as they were about to get into it, Zuo Xiaoli suddenly said, “Chen Hansheng, do you think you can be a students’ union officer? I advise you to think about it carefully!”

All Chen Hansheng wanted initially was for Zhou Xiao to step down. But now Zuo Xiaoli seemed to be provoking him into wanting more.

It seemed that Zuo Xiaoli was bound to be enemies with him. But Hansheng would also make more friends soon.

“There’s no need for me to do that. I trust you and I hope you trust me too. I will definitely not let you down,” said Chen Hansheng without any hesitation.

With the support of the two vice presidents, Chen Hansheng’s appointment as the external relations committee’s deputy officer was confirmed.

Before Zuo Xiaoli left, he angrily said, “Hu Xiuping, Mu Wenling, I witnessed what happened at Yiwu Business Center with my own eyes. This person is a hooligan down to his bones. You will definitely regret this!”

Zuo Xiaoli’s words embarrassed Hu Xiuping and Mu Wenling so much that they didn’t know how to congratulate Chen Hansheng. In the end, Chen Hansheng simply stood up to leave and asked, “Is there anything else, Vice Presidents?”

“No, nothing,” said Mu Wenling after a moment.

“Okay, then I’ll see you when I see you.”

With that. Chen Hansheng left.

Hu Xiuping and Mu Wenling looked at each other. After a long while, Hu Xiuping said, “I thought he would thank us.”

If Chen Hansheng was able to get Feng Jihua’s money back, he might have already seen through them and knew that they were all just using each other.

“I really don’t know what Qi Wei was thinking. Do you think we would be able to control him?”

While other students struggled to adjust to the pace of university life, Chen Hansheng was already a class president and deputy officer of his department’s students’ union external relations committee.

…

On the morning of October 1, Chen Hansheng, Xiao Rongyu, Wang Zibo, and Gao Jialiang were standing at the east gate of the bus station with their luggage.

“Your dad doesn’t have to pick us up. We could have just taken the night bus,” said Chen Hansheng while wiping sweat. The October weather in Jianye was still quite hot.

“If you don’t want a lift, you can take the bus now,” said Xiao Rongyu with a pout.

Chen Hansheng didn’t want to go back for the National Day holiday, but he couldn’t stand Liang Meijuan’s nags over the phone. In the end, he had to oblige her.

Coincidentally, Xiao Rongyu’s father was planning to pick up his daughter and drive back with her to Port City. Since he knew the people in the group, he offered to let them hop on too.

“Look, I think that seven-seater car with the Port City license plate is Mr. Xiao. Hansheng, you have to be more mature. Don’t forget to be a gentleman. We are university students now.”

Gao Jialiang did not let go of any opportunity to put himself out there, especially when it meant looking down on Chen Hansheng.

“Ugh, what a sycophant.” Chen Hansheng complained softly and spat.

Xiao Rongyu’s father also saw them and slowly drove over.

Gao Jialiang, who had just talked about being a gentleman was already ready to get in. Chen Hansheng knew what he was up to.

The most comfortable seats in a seven-seater car were the two single seats in the middle row. Xiao Rongyu would definitely occupy one of them, so the remaining one would put the person in a very advantageous position.

Once the car had stopped, Gao Jialang was ready to pounce. But Chen Hansheng immediately stopped him and said, “Let me get in first. I want to sit in the back.”

Gao Jialiang paused for a moment. Although he didn’t know why Chen Hansheng wanted to sit in the last row, it was true that last row seats should be the first to be occupied.

But in the time he was wondering about this, Chen Hansheng had already gotten into the car and sat in the very seat Gao Jialang had been aiming for.

Gao Jialang was dumbstruck. “Hansheng, I thought you wanted to sit in the last row.”

“Oh, I’ve had a change of mind,” said Chen Hansheng nonchalantly.

Based on the current seating arrangements, Wang Zibo immediately pulled open the front passenger seat door and sat in. Thus, the only seat left for Gao Jialang was the one in the last row.

“You’re in the way. Xiao Rongyu is still basking in the sun behind you, you know.”

Chen Hansheng ‘kindly’ gestured for Gao Jialiang to quickly get in the car.

In the end, Gao Jialiang had no choice but to grit his teeth as he complained. “Chen Hansheng, I’ll be damned if I believe you again in the future!”