Chapter 24: The Beggar and the Genius (Seeking Bookmarks)

  At eighteen, spirited and vigorous!

  Looking at Jiang Changlong, Zhao Heng also blurted out a useless sentence: "You're twenty-six this year."

  When Jiang Changlong revealed a hint of a smile, Zhao Heng enlarged the picture on the computer and pointed to that sharp photo, saying lightly: "You were quite handsome when you were young, but how many identities do you have? Sometimes a beggar, sometimes a university student, and sometimes an eight-year-old who can't graduate, Brother Jiang is really mysterious..."

  This is Zhao Heng's first suspicion of Jiang Changlong.

  "Haha, it's actually very simple."

  Jiang Changlong, holding several yellowed economics books, leaned lazily against the wall and chuckled in a low voice: "A useless piece of trash who can't even graduate after eight years, naturally can't get a job, and with so much pressure from studying for so many years, has fallen to becoming a beggar on the streets."

  "You can call me Old Jiang, or you can also call me Shixiong!"

  Jiang Changlong's harmless smile, he leaned over and added: "I can also be a good person." Then he patted the book in his arms and said: "I won't chat with you anymore, I played hooky for half a day today to read books here. I have a grand wish, that is, next year I will finish all my credits and graduate."

  "So, I'm now a senior beggar with a degree."

  He also played a humble advisory role to Zhao Heng: "You can make more money, young brother, you must work hard, I don't want you to break my record. Although I am lonely and defeated, I don't want it to be you who refreshes my shame. Study well, work well, and when you have money, marry a beautiful wife."

  "My affairs I have my own measure."

  Although Jiang Changlong is also considered a fellow alumnus, Zhao Heng did not relax his vigilance against him. After all, the former was too strange, with beggar and genius intertwined, making it impossible to discern which one was his true identity. Faced with such an inscrutable master, Zhao Heng had his own way of dealing with him, that is, to maintain a vigilant heart.

  Only in this way can we avoid being stabbed by others.

  Jiang Changlong saw what he was thinking, and with a smile, said: "Younger brother, I really didn't mean any harm. If you have time, just take a walk around the campus. The best thing about Hua Hai University is its human touch. In the dozen or so days before new students start school, there are free activities and free exchanges without classes, allowing new students to quickly integrate into the school and get along with their classmates."

  "So you still have one more week to slack off."

  Zhao Heng looked at him with a relaxed expression, and could imagine Jiang Changlong's spirited and proud demeanor back in the day. He smiled faintly: "Your suggestion is quite good, but I'm not a person who likes to be idle or comfortable. On the contrary, I like challenges, I like to stir up trouble, especially when it comes to my opponents - that gives me a sense of accomplishment."

  There's a story behind the words, but Jiang Changlong just smiled slightly: "You're like I was back then, young and arrogant, but I believe you won't end up like me. After all, you're smarter and more alert than I am, and your skills are better too. However, Professor Hua Hai's course still requires careful attention; otherwise, the final exam will be quite difficult."

  Before Zhao Heng could respond, Jiang Changlong threw out a few more sentences: "Moreover, this winter you'll also be participating in military training, which will be quite miserable. The military training at Huahai University is famous nationwide, all the instructors are retired from special forces units, and after a month, you'll definitely be transformed. I almost wanted to jump off a building when I was there."

  The fat will become thin, and the thin will be all skin and bones.

  He gazed at Zhao Heng, who was not very robust, and advised him extremely kindly: "So, little brother should enjoy this week well, walk around the university more, flirt with or be tempted by young girls or sisters, have a romantic affair, because in these times, campus love is probably the only clean one left."

  Zhao Heng saw his familiar attitude, plus the clean love in Jiang Changlong's mouth was not taken seriously. Girls these days are more precocious, and they understand fame, wealth and power earlier on. Without a solid family background or personal ability, love is always an empty castle in the air, at most it can only be like Lu Meng, pretending to be romantic.

  "So did you have a lover back then?"

  Zhao Heng's unintentional question made Jiang Changlong's smile freeze for a moment. Zhao Heng seemed to see that he had struck a chord, so he patted him on the shoulder apologetically and quickly left the library, leaving Old Jiang staring blankly at the computer, as if recalling something.

  "Lover?"

  Jiang Changlong was as if he had been cast a spell, standing still and muttering to himself. Then he shifted his gaze to the computer, his fingers flying quickly before stopping on a page. Looking at that delicate and elegant face, Jiang Changlong's frivolous expression receded like the tide, and a gentle smile played on his lips: "Yaqi, are you okay?"

  It wasn't until he put away the gentle gaze on his face and looked at the distant back that he realized he had forgotten to tell Zhao Heng about Qing Bang's revenge. He wanted to chase after him, but ultimately gave up the idea. Thinking that making friends requires more sincerity, he would find more information himself, perhaps this way could make Zhao Heng disperse his guard.

  The sun shines everywhere, and the ground is full of patches.

  Zhao Heng maintained a certain level of vigilance towards Jiang Changlong, although the latter exuded an air of righteousness and spoke sincerely. However, Zhao Heng did not want to get too familiar with this guy who had undergone identity changes and was quite skilled in combat, and planned to avoid interacting with him as much as possible in the future. Who knew what kind of tricks Jiang Changlong was up to?

  As he walked out of the library, an unassuming sedan happened to pass by him, and the girl in the car caught a glimpse of him. She was startled and quickly turned her head, but saw that Zhao Heng had already disappeared around the corner. The girl let out a long sigh, and her eyes sparkled with joy: "Zhao Heng, I've seen you again."

  Du Ziyuan's eyes sparkled, filled with a very pure and sincere emotion. Zhao Heng seemed to sense something and subconsciously looked back, but didn't see anything unusual. He then continued on his way to the dormitory, carrying several books, and also packed four boxed lunches for Qiao Baozi and the others in the cafeteria.

  In the following days, Zhao Heng either stayed in his dormitory to rest or went to the library to browse various knowledge, fully enriching himself. Qiao Yuncai and Song Qingguan also thoroughly regarded him as their mainstay, listening to Zhao Heng's opinions on everything, and the relationship between the three people thoroughly warmed up, like close brothers advancing and retreating together.

  However, emotions are one thing, and every morning Zhao Heng would send the two to the training ground for a morning run, exercising their physical strength. The effect of running for seven days was quite remarkable. At least Qiao Yuncai could grit his teeth and run 1,000 meters without collapsing to the ground like he did in the first two days. The clean and elegant young official also gained a bit more vigor.

  At eight o'clock in the evening, Zhao Heng returned from the library and closed the dormitory door. He then taught them a simplified set of long fist moves, letting the two practice back and forth in the dorm room. Although it was still just a routine, the moves they demonstrated were quite impressive, and their physical reactions improved significantly.

  Zhao Heng believed that when Song Qingguan met the one-eyed big man, he would not be as disheveled as last time and could at least run a few more streets to gain some chance of survival. In these peaceful days, Song Qingguan also became more relaxed and no longer suspected that Xiaoma would send someone to take his life.

  Qiao Baozi also started liking running up and down stairs, although every time it's like an earthquake.

  On the tenth day of entering school, Qiao Baozi and Song Qingguan walked around the dormitory corridor, found nothing unusual, and then took Zhao Heng to the cafeteria to eat small stir-fries. The coarse tea and light meals for a week had already made them hungry, but unfortunately, Song Qingguan was afraid that his stepmother would find him, so he didn't dare to wander around and almost stayed in the dormitory all the time.

  Who would have thought that for nearly ten days nothing had happened, and then his mother was really confused by the Song Corporation's affairs, which made him feel relieved and let out a sigh of relief. Therefore, he prepared to invite Zhao Heng and Pangzi to dinner at the cafeteria. A dead camel is bigger than a horse, although Song Qingguan has fallen into poverty, there is still money in his bank card after all.

  He withdrew some money from the school bank and voluntarily treated everyone to a feast.

  "Slippery intestines, exploding stir-fried waist flowers, oily meat, and cumin lamb."

  Qiao Pangzi was clomping down the stairs, gritting his teeth as he recited the names of dishes, as if they were his class enemies that he wanted to crush. Zhao Heng kicked him and pointed at the creaking staircase: "Still eating? If you eat any more, this building won't be able to withstand you, and all my training will have been for nothing."

  "We'll order what you've read out."

  Zhao Heng patted Qiao Baozi's belly: "But I and Qing Guan eat, you just eat salted vegetable soup."

  Qiao Pangzi stumbled and almost fell to the ground, until he saw Zhao Heng's joking expression and felt relieved. Just eating green vegetables was almost going to kill him. The three of them then walked into the cafeteria. As soon as they entered, a passing girl suddenly stopped, glanced at Zhao Heng's back, and let out a cold hum.

  "Son of a turtle, today I'll give you a warning."