Lu Chen didn't hear a word he said.
His mind was filled with a vicious cycle: No money means part-time jobs, part-time jobs mean no time to study, no studying means bad grades, bad grades mean no scholarship, no scholarship means more part-time jobs. He had to fight for it! Even if he had to beg!
"No... you can't reject it..."
Lu Chen extended both hands and pressed heavily onto the desk, leaning forward, trying to move the other party with his sincere eyes.
"President, give it to me... I really... really need it..."
Because he was too agitated, he couldn't control his strength.
Sizzle——
There was no earth-shattering bang, no splintering of wood.
Under Gu She's horrified gaze, the expensive huanghuali solid wood desk was forcibly pressed into two deep indentations.
The hard wood fibers seemed to melt instantly as if subjected to high heat, caving in softly, exhibiting a "dough-like" quality that defied physics.
This silent destruction was more terrifying than a loud crash. It meant his control over power had reached a horrifying level.
The office fell into a deathly silence.
Lu Chen froze. He looked down at his palms, which were embedded in the desk as if kneading dough, then looked up at Gu She's face—expressionless, but with glasses clearly slipped halfway down his nose.
It's over.
Lu Chen wailed internally.
Forget the scholarship, now I have to pay for the desk... How many steamed buns will this cost?!
But in Gu She's eyes, this was no accident. This was a naked display of force!
It was a message: If you don't approve the application, the next thing to melt won't be the desk, but your skull.
Gu She took a deep breath, pushed up his glasses with trembling fingertips. As a staunch materialist and defender of the rule of law, his worldview had just taken a slight hit.
He looked at the twisted, clay-like corner of the desk, then at the monster opposite him, whose face was full of "gloom," seemingly waiting for his final answer.
Gu She remained silent for three seconds. Then, he slowly released the panic button under the desk and picked up the application form again.
Not only did he pick it up, but he also very cooperatively and quickly unscrewed the cap of his fountain pen.
"Well..."
Gu She's voice was even calmer than before, tinged with a hint of undetectable... cowardice.
"I might have been mistaken just now."
He quickly signed his name on the form, stamped it with the official seal, and then, holding the two corners of the paper with both hands, respectfully handed it to Lu Chen.
"Student Lu Chen, the organization has fully understood your difficulties. Barring any accidents, the application will pass review within three days."
"Also," Gu She glanced at the ruined desk, his eyelid twitching, and added, "The desk quality was poor, old and in disrepair. You don't need to pay for it."
Lu Chen held the regained application form, a bit dazed by the sudden arrival of happiness.
This guy... although he looks cold, he's actually a great person! Not only did he approve the application, but he also waived the compensation for the desk!
Lu Chen was so moved that his eyes grew moist.
"Thank you, President! You are truly a good person!"
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Lu Chen instinctively extended his right hand—the same massive hand that had just "melted" solid wood—to shake Gu She's hand in thanks.
Gu She's pupils shrank. His body instinctively leaned back, pressing hard against the chair, as if facing the grim reaper's summon.
Lu Chen didn't notice the other's fear. Seeing that Gu She had no intention of shaking hands, he simply withdrew his hand sincerely, scratched his head, and gave a simple, honest smile, revealing two rows of eerie white teeth.
"President, you're a saint! If you have any heavy lifting in the future, just call me. I'll do it for you even if I have to skip a meal!"
With that, he grabbed the form and turned to leave—afraid Gu She might change his mind.
Bang. The door closed.
Gu She was left alone in the office.
The President, an inviolable figure of authority in the students' eyes, slowly slumped into his leather chair. He took off his glasses and tremblingly pulled out the white handkerchief to wipe the fine, cold sweat from his forehead.
Looking at the shocking, sunken palm prints on the desk, Gu She muttered to himself:
"A good person?"
"This Lu Chen... is absolutely an extremely dangerous element."
Just then, the red landline on the desk rang suddenly.
The shrill ring echoed in the dead silence. Gu She frowned, his mood at rock bottom, and snatched up the phone.
"Hello."
On the other end came the anxious voice of the counselor, Old Wang.
"Oh, Gu She, are you in the office? Emergency! The Archives Office is demanding we move that batch of old sealed files from the 'Old Lab Building' basement today. My lumbar disc herniation is acting up, I can't move. I asked around, but the moment students hear it's that haunted place, no one dares to go..."
"If no one goes, leave it." Gu She was about to hang up.
Wait.
Old Lab Building... basement?
That was the most remote, gloomy place on campus. Rumors said it was haunted year-round, and several security guards had resigned inexplicably after working there.
Gu She's hand paused in mid-air. He slowly turned his head, his gaze landing on the terrifying "dough" palm print on the desk corner.
The fear in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a glint of calculation.
Since he's a dangerous element, send him to a more dangerous place.
If it's that "Humanoid T-Rex," maybe we can fight poison with poison.
"Teacher Wang." Gu She put the receiver back to his ear, his voice regaining its usual calm and composure. "No need to find anyone else. I have the perfect candidate."
"Oh? Who's brave enough?"
"Lu Chen." Gu She looked at the sunken palm print, the corner of his mouth curving into a meaningful arc. "He was just here, expressing a very... strong desire to prove himself through labor."
Five minutes later.
Just as Lu Chen walked downstairs, his phone vibrated.
[Student Lu Chen, in view of your positive attitude in applying for the scholarship, President Gu recommends you to assist in moving a batch of important files at the Old Lab Building. This is an assessment of your labor qualities and will help with your scholarship application. Please perform well. — Teacher Wang]
Lu Chen stopped, looked at the screen, and scratched his head.
"Recommended by President Gu?"
He looked back at the window on the third floor, a warm current surging in his heart.
That President Gu is really a great guy!
He even arranged such a good job for me to earn impression points! This must be what they call... a benefactor?
Lu Chen slung his backpack over his shoulder, strode out with his long legs, and headed toward the Old Lab Building in the northwest corner of the campus.
It was noon, the sun shining brightly. But for some reason, the closer he got to the red brick building covered in withered creepers, the more the surrounding temperature seemed to drop out of nowhere. Even the birdsong vanished completely, and a deathly silence shrouded the area.
Lu Chen was completely oblivious. He even happily hummed an out-of-tune song:
"Today is a good day..."
For the bonus money, I have to do a beautiful job!