A bloodstained wooden stick

When Chen Fengyun arrived, Zhang Qingyan arranged for him to sit beside her, with An Jingru on his other side, placing him between two beautiful girls.

“You, give up your seat. Come sit here,” Wang Junguang swept his gaze around the table and suddenly pointed coldly at Chen Fengyun.

Chen Fengyun was sipping tea. Hearing Wang Junguang’s words and seeing his gesture, he slowly lifted his head to look at him. The others, who had been chatting idly, now turned their attention to Chen Fengyun.

“Wang, this side is closer to the air conditioner, it’s cooler here,” Zhang Qingyan frowned slightly, then smiled as she spoke to Wang Junguang.

“No, I’ve caught a cold these days and can’t sit in the draft. Kid, switch seats with me,” Wang Junguang shook his head, fixing Chen Fengyun with a half-smile.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you? Why should he give up his seat for you? He’s this year’s top scorer in the provincial college entrance exam, already admitted early to Capital University—what makes you think you can demand that?” Before Chen Fengyun could respond, An Jingru, unable to stand it any longer, stood up and retorted.

“So what if he’s a top scorer? Does that put food on the table? Even Capital University graduates end up selling vegetables for a living. I may only attend a third-rate college, but my father is a department manager at the Southwest Branch of Imperial Group. Once I graduate, I’ll have a recommendation to work at the Imperial headquarters. Based on that alone, I can ask him to give up his seat, can’t I?” Wang Junguang sneered.

An Jingru’s eyes narrowed. Her father’s company was decent, but compared to Imperial Group, one of the nation’s top twenty enterprises, the gap was considerable. She glanced at Chen Fengyun, unsure how he would respond.

“What did you just say?” Chen Fengyun set down his teacup, looking intently at Wang Junguang.

“I said I’ll be able to work at Imperial Group headquarters after I graduate,” Wang Junguang replied loudly. Zhang Qingyan’s classmates glanced at him with envy.

“Not that. What did you say before?” Chen Fengyun shook his head, pressing further.

“I said my dad is a department manager at Imperial Group’s Southwest Branch,” Wang Junguang said proudly.

“Not that either. What did you say even earlier?” Chen Fengyun continued to shake his head.

“I said being a top scorer doesn’t feed you. Even Capital University graduates sell vegetables,” Wang Junguang sneered.

Suddenly, with a loud smack, Chen Fengyun slapped the table and stood up. “You’re not entirely wrong. Selling vegetables is honest work, earned by one’s own labor, no less respectable than any other profession. If you like this seat so much, I’ll let you have it.”

With those words, he picked up his teacup and vacated the seat. Wang Junguang strode over with a triumphant smile, as if it were his right. The others looked at Chen Fengyun differently—suddenly, the top scorer didn’t seem so remarkable after all, intimidated by Wang Junguang’s Imperial Group background.

Zhang Qingyan cast an apologetic glance at Chen Fengyun, and An Jingru sighed as she sat down. Amidst the complicated gazes, Chen Fengyun calmly took the seat Wang Junguang had rejected.

“Since we’re all Qingyan’s classmates, we’re friends now. When I start working at Imperial Group, I’ll be sure to recommend you all if the opportunity arises,” Wang Junguang said, standing before the seat Chen Fengyun had vacated, sweeping his gaze across the table, lingering on An Jingru and Zhang Qingyan.

“Oh, Wang, you’re so generous!”

“Brother Wang, we’ll count on you in the future!”

“Brother Wang is definitely an elite—once he joins Imperial, he’ll become someone great!”

Three of Zhang Qingyan’s male classmates immediately echoed, some calling him Young Wang, others Brother Wang, showering him with praise. Their girlfriends looked at him with admiration. Only An Jingru was disdainful, while Zhang Qingyan glanced at Chen Fengyun.

Wang Junguang chatted and joked with the others, occasionally glancing at Chen Fengyun, only to find he was indifferent, paying him no mind. An Jingru and Zhang Qingyan likewise ignored him.

“Qingyan, your father is now deputy director at a factory under the branch. My dad says he’s quite capable. I’ll mention it to my dad—soon, promoting Uncle Zhang to factory director shouldn’t be a problem.” He shifted his gaze to Zhang Qingyan.

“Thank you, Young Wang. Please have a seat,” Zhang Qingyan saw Chen Fengyun unmoved and heard Wang Junguang’s offer, sighed inwardly, and forced a smile.

“Very well.” Wang Junguang sat down, full of self-satisfaction.

Just then, as he settled, the wooden chair beneath him suddenly collapsed with a thunderous crash. A sharp splinter pierced through his trousers, causing such intense pain that he shrieked like a slaughtered pig.

The entire hall was instantly alarmed. Zhang Qingyan’s parents and Wang Junguang’s father rushed over. They helped him up, only to find a thin wooden stick impaled in his backside, blood oozing around it.

“Ah…”

“Ouch…”

“Don’t move—I’m dying!”

Wang Junguang’s father tried to remove the stick, but the pain drove him to scream even louder. They had to call an ambulance, laying him face-down for transport to the hospital. His wails and cries echoed without pause.

This incident cast a pall over the celebration, and their table grew distinctly tense. Everyone glanced at Chen Fengyun from time to time, feeling there was something uncanny about it.

After all, Chen Fengyun had sat in that chair for so long without mishap, yet it broke as soon as Wang Junguang took it. The reason eluded everyone, but they suspected Chen Fengyun might be involved.

“Top Scorer, how could Wang Junguang be so unlucky? You were fine, but as soon as he sat there, trouble struck?” Only An Jingru quietly asked Chen Fengyun.

“Do you think just anyone can claim the top scorer’s seat? He wanted me to give up my place, but he lacked the qualifications, so he suffered the consequences.” Chen Fengyun sneered, then waved his hand and left.

“Qingyan, your brother Fengyun seems to be rather extraordinary,” An Jingru said, draping an arm around Zhang Qingyan’s shoulders after Chen Fengyun departed.

“Brother Fengyun is a top scorer, but his family is ordinary. His parents are just regular people. He’ll have to rely on his own hard work to live a better life than most, but that shouldn’t be a problem,” Zhang Qingyan nodded, though her heart was in turmoil.