Years ago, a television commercial posed a question to the nation: What would the world be like without human imagination?

The answer is obvious: if humanity lost its power of association, the world would stagnate. Conversely, we can infer that human associative ability is profoundly rich, enabling the creation of one miracle after another, propelling societal progress.

Yet, sometimes an overly rich imagination is not a good thing. Take, for instance, the moment these young men realized that the strange boy standing next to their campus belle was the legendary Wang Zhuo—their minds immediately spun into an overly elaborate fantasy, twisting their expressions into something bizarre.

The person concerned, Wang Zhuo, hadn't even begun to contemplate what these "child soldiers" were concocting in their heads. Because the moment Rong Xuehan announced his name, Yang Ruifeng and Fan Song, who only a second before had been swaggering and showing off, instantly turned into a pair of terrified chickens!

Why wouldn't they be scared? Fan Song’s father was indeed formidable, a high-ranking official overseeing public health. Though he couldn't directly manage the affairs of the Medical University, he possessed influence beyond ordinary comprehension. If medical students hoped to secure hospital jobs in Jiangzhou after graduation, they were utterly dependent on his domain. Moreover, this man might ascend to even higher positions in the future—how could anyone afford to slight him?

But so what? No matter how powerful Fan Chunliang was, could he surpass Qin Xue? No matter how high his future achievements, could they compare to those red families Wang Zhuo had already brought low?

As for Yang Ruifeng, there was even less to say. This was Yang Ruifeng, not Yang Feng, and even Yang Feng had been reduced to an "imbecile" by Wang Zhuo. Yang Ruifeng merely had an older brother-in-law who was the Political Commissar of a District Public Security Bureau. Such a figure could certainly cloud the sky when dealing with ordinary citizens, but compared to Hui Hai—whom Wang Zhuo brought down right at the start of his ascendancy—he wasn't even worth a broken cat toy!

Cold sweat instantly coated both of them. Fan Song felt his legs trembling subtly, while Yang Ruifeng experienced rhythmic contractions deep within his core; his gluteal muscles tensed uncontrollably.

While Wang Zhuo’s notorious reputation might not stop infants from crying at night, it was all too easy to intimidate young punks like them. Which of these swaggering boys hadn't memorized the school's "Roster of Heroes" upon entering? Who didn't know that Wang Zhuo was the number one person they absolutely could not afford to provoke? They had genuinely never expected Wang Zhuo to return to school after that scandal involving explicit photos, so they had chosen to conveniently ignore that formidable figure. Now, however, they were tasting the bitter fruit of that oversight—just minutes ago, they had been boasting about beating Wang Zhuo into a pulp!

They folded. Yang Ruifeng and Fan Song were completely broken. They exchanged glances, seeing unmistakable fear in each other's eyes. At the Medical University, there were a few people they couldn't provoke, but there was only one person they truly dared not offend: Wang Zhuo. And they had just run straight into his line of fire!

"Why the silence? Weren't you so aggressive just now?" Wang Zhuo smiled faintly, standing with his feet slightly apart, hands tucked into his pockets with an air of ease. "What did you say? That I was finished? That you’d beat me into a hog’s head? And that no one could touch you?"

Cold sweat trickled down Yang Ruifeng’s temples. Fan Song’s lips had gone pale; this was the first time since middle school that he had faced such a terrifying individual, and the pressure he exerted was even more intense than that of the thug who once wielded a knife near him.

"Why the sudden fear? Not showing off anymore?" Wang Zhuo strolled forward two steps, closing the distance to just over a foot between them. "Where did that earlier bravado go?"

Bravado? What bravado was left! Fan Song felt like crying. Trouble always followed sticking one's neck out. He had only been trying to support his buddy in wooing the campus belle. How could he have known they would run into such a towering figure? Besides, Wang Zhuo occasionally playing low-key was understandable, but why the act of the pig eating the tiger? If you had just announced your name when we entered your private room, and lowered your face to simply tell us to scram, we would have left immediately, without a single additional word! Wasn't this just setting a trap?!

And Yang Ruifeng had even less reason to be bold. The thought that he had dared to scheme against a woman Wang Zhuo fancied made his gallbladder turn to mush. The Yang Feng from his own clan was a cautionary tale. That man was a fierce dragon descending from Beijing, backed by an impossibly powerful red family—but so what? Didn't Wang Zhuo beat him bloody on campus for getting involved with the former campus belle, He Ye? He had to drop out of school because he couldn't even study anymore! What was Yang Ruifeng in comparison? He might as well be Yang Feng's lackey. Messing with Wang Zhuo's women was courting death!

The group stood at the end of the corridor on the second floor of the Zhuangyuan Building, loosely gathered in a circle. Some students who had finished their meals emerged from private rooms and peered curiously, hoping for a spectacle.

However, the corridor at Zhuangyuan Tower wasn't particularly wide, so the physical conditions prevented a full-blown crowd. Furthermore, there was neither a heated argument nor any physical violence, so the onlookers cast curious glances before dispersing.

"Wang Zhuo, let it go." Rong Xuehan guessed that Wang Zhuo had vented enough of his anger and stepped forward opportunely to mediate. "It was just a spat of youthful rivalry. They've yielded, so don't hold it against them, okay?"

"Mm," Wang Zhuo responded, smiling faintly. "I thought I ran into some truly formidable figures, but it turns out they are nothing special."

Rong Xuehan shot him a look that clearly meant, I know how impressive you are. She then turned to the group and urged, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and go!"

The dozen or so boys hesitated before remaining frozen. Wang Zhuo hadn't given the final word, so caution was the better part of valor.

"You lot," Wang Zhuo wiggled his fingers, pointing at each of their faces in turn, adopting the air of a triad boss chastising underlings. "In the future, keep your heads down, tails tucked in, and focus more on your studies. Learn less from others about forming gangs, fighting, and chasing girls—understood?"

The boys nodded at varying speeds, murmuring their understanding. Wang Zhuo lightly tapped Yang Ruifeng's and Fan Song's faces a few times, saying, "This is to teach you a lesson. Don't let it happen again. Got it?"

Yang Ruifeng and Fan Song immediately felt as if they had been granted amnesty, nodding rapidly like chickens pecking at grain. They had expected to suffer at least some physical pain, perhaps even humiliation that would make them unable to show their faces in public. They never imagined that the King would show mercy today and let them off the hook so easily!

Their sudden shift from arrogance to humility pleased Wang Zhuo somewhat. He grunted through his nose and casually waved his hand. "Didn't you order quite an expensive meal? You can go eat it now."

Fan Song was so ashamed he wished he could burrow into the earth. His financial means compared to Wang Zhuo’s was like the difference between a mouse and a tiger. Laughing at Wang Zhuo for being stingy when taking a girl out? That act of showing off one's meager skills would make every pig in the world laugh!

Including Yang Ruifeng and Fan Song, the boys bowed and scraped, repeatedly apologizing, "Brother Wang, we are sorry." They slunk back to their private rooms, docile as the best-behaved children, and once the door was shut, there was absolute silence.

"Let's get going too!" Wang Zhuo lifted the corner of his mouth, adjusted the brim of his cap, and slipped on his pair of tea-tinted glasses.

Exiting the Zhuangyuan Building, Rong Xuehan smiled. "I thought you were going to beat them up, but you're surprisingly easygoing."

Wang Zhuo shook his head. "They're young. A little light warning is enough to teach them restraint in the future; there's no need for violence."

Rong Xuehan smiled sweetly. "I thought you were the type who'd resort to blows before words."

"That's just your prejudice," Wang Zhuo shrugged nonchalantly, asking, "I need to leave now. Are you heading back to school?"

"Going back isn't very interesting," Rong Xuehan looked at him and asked, "Where are you going? Can't you stay a little longer?"

"Why?" Wang Zhuo was slightly surprised, teasing, "Don't tell me you've taken an interest in me? I have a terrible reputation."

"I've already been dragged down with you," Rong Xuehan said with a half-smile. "Didn't you notice their expressions just now? Seeing me dining alone with the famous Director Wang—what do you think they'll imagine?"

Wang Zhuo froze for a moment, recalling the faces of those underclassmen, and couldn't help but laugh. "Their imagination is indeed too rich. There were three of us eating together, and counting every time we've met, it’s less than five times!"

"It's seven times," Rong Xuehan shook her head to correct him. "And they don't know that number. Whether it was two or three of us eating together isn't the main point."

"Right," Wang Zhuo had to concede. "So, you have indeed suffered misfortune by associating with me. I bet the school forum tonight will be explosive. I should probably find someone to hack it for a few days."

Rong Xuehan let out a soft laugh. "You really are interesting."

"Don't," Wang Zhuo immediately waved his hands, chuckling. "Don't you dare take an interest in me. Go back to your studies properly. You can’t afford to provoke someone like me."

She rolled her eyes at him and took out her phone. "Can you give me your number? Or a newly changed QQ number is fine too."

Which one to give her? Wang Zhuo hesitated. The girl’s cheerfulness and openness left a deep, favorable impression; she had a very good personality. Giving her a cell number would imply closer contact. A QQ number would allow for measured distance. The choice depended on how he planned to interact with her in the future.

He suspected rumors about him and her would soon flood the campus. It would be a sin to burden such a sincere, bright, and beautiful girl with that kind of reputation...

With that thought, Wang Zhuo smiled, pulled out his own phone, and asked, "What's your cell number? I'll call you."

Under the brilliant noon sun, the plane tree leaves cast mottled shadows. Sister Rong stood on the street like a blooming lily, diligently saving Wang Zhuo’s number into her phone.

The warm, gentle breeze lifted her hair, and in doing so, stirred a chord in Wang Zhuo's heart. Appreciating the smooth curve of her shoulders and the gentle line of her collarbone visible above the wide neckline of her blouse, and the lace bra faintly discernible through the gauze shirt that danced in the breeze, revealing her graceful figure—Wang Zhuo found himself lost in thought.