Chapter Thirty-Five: For the Sake of the Family’s Honor

Lei Zhanyu's words left Zhang Wenhao slightly stunned. In the past, he had never cared much about the concept of reputation. When the police took him away in front of all the teachers and students, he didn't feel he had lost face. Yet now, hearing Lei Zhanyu speak, Zhang Wenhao suddenly understood. Reputation wasn't just about himself; it was about his parents, too.

All the teachers and students watched as he was escorted by the police. Once word spread, it would not only ruin his own name but, more importantly, make it impossible for his parents to hold their heads high. Everyone would know their son had been arrested for breaking the law, but who would care if there was more to the story? The restless masses thrive on the misfortune of others—they never bother investigating the truth. All their energy is spent magnifying surface events.

Zhang Wenhao could well imagine what his parents had endured these past days. Every time they left the apartment, their neighbors and colleagues probably pointed fingers and whispered behind their backs, watching coldly and uttering words filled with schadenfreude and contempt. In this society, the successful need failures to highlight their triumphs, while the failed need even worse failures to feel better about themselves. Because he had been imprisoned, he was seen as the greatest failure of all. This was about his parents’ dignity, their pride. No matter what, he had to help them stand tall, never allowing idle gossipers to break their spirit because of him.

At this moment, Song Huafang spoke softly, her expression awkward. "Wenhao’s school announced the disciplinary results yesterday. They’ve expelled him."

"How dare they!" Lei Zhanyu exploded in anger, slapping the table. "Those school leaders are the most disgusting sycophants on earth! To curry favor with that scoundrel Chen Ru, they toss out a student on a whim?"

Turning to Song Huafang, Lei Zhanyu said, "Sister-in-law, don’t worry about this. I guarantee—by next Monday, not only will Wenhao be back in class, he’ll return in triumph. I want everyone at that school to know Wenhao did nothing wrong. The fault lies with Chen Ru and the school leadership!"

As soon as he finished, Lei Zhanyu looked sternly at Zhang Wenhao. "Wenhao, stand up!"

Unsure what Lei Zhanyu wanted, Zhang Wenhao hurried to his feet, uncertainty in his eyes.

Lei Zhanyu spoke with utmost seriousness: "Go home and prepare a speech. Next Monday, during the flag-raising ceremony, I want you to address the entire school. Let those school leaders lose all face—don’t give them a shred of dignity! None of them will dare utter a word!"

Zhang Wenhao’s heart surged with passion. He replied solemnly, "Uncle Lei, I won’t let my parents or you down!"

"Remember!" Lei Zhanyu spoke each word clearly. "For the reputation of your family, and for your own courage and dignity!"

Meanwhile, in the detention center, Chen Feng was already beside himself with rage.

He had been sent by Qingwu specifically to protect and assess Zhang Wenhao in the detention center. But barely two or three days after arriving, Zhang Wenhao was taken out—far ahead of his and Qingwu’s expectations. Qingwu’s original plan gave Chen Feng five to seven days to get a thorough understanding of Zhang Wenhao’s temperament, character, and conduct. Then Qingwu would arrange for Wenhao’s release, handling both the police and the school. But suddenly, everything was thrown into chaos.

Zhang Wenhao was gone, and Chen Feng was desperate to leave as well. The tragedy was that the detention center director, Wang Liqing, had been so intimidated by Lei Zhanyu he nearly wet himself. As soon as Lei Zhanyu left with Zhang Wenhao, Wang Liqing said his farewells to Chen Ru and Xing Jiaqiang, then rushed to a friend’s restaurant to drink away his nerves. Chen Feng couldn’t find Wang Liqing, and no matter what he said, the police refused to call him for Wang Liqing. As a result, Chen Feng couldn’t relay news of Wenhao’s release to Qingwu.

Helpless, Chen Feng had no choice but to spend another night in the spartan detention center, waiting for Wang Liqing to return the next day and let him out.

Su Ruoran had also been worried about Zhang Wenhao these days. Her mother had promised to help, so Su Ruoran was mostly concerned about Wenhao suffering in the detention center. In her view, her mother only needed to make one phone call to solve all Wenhao’s problems.

But two or three days had passed without any news of Zhang Wenhao’s release, and Su Ruoran was becoming restless. That night, tossing and turning in bed, she could bear it no longer. She grabbed her phone from the bedside and called her mother.

"Mom, didn’t you promise to help? Why is there still no news of Wenhao being released? The school has already announced their decision—they’ve expelled him!"

Her tone was full of accusation and complaint. To her, her mother was deliberately delaying. Otherwise, Wenhao should have been safely released the first night she asked for help.

Far away in Yanjing, the elegant woman smiled gently on the other end of the line. Calmly, she said, "Why are you so anxious, dear? Since I promised you, I’ll certainly get him out—but not yet. Wait a few more days."

Su Ruoran pleaded anxiously, "But he’s still suffering in the detention center! Why wait any longer?"

The woman’s brows furrowed slightly. From Su Ruoran’s urgent tone, she seemed to sense something. She spoke, "Ruoran, anything I promise you, I’ll do. Wait a few more days—I guarantee he’ll come out safe and sound."

"But—" Su Ruoran started to protest, but the woman interrupted, "Enough with your ‘buts.’ I promise you, he’s in no danger."

Su Ruoran was helpless, but she knew her mother’s nature. If she said she would rescue Wenhao, she would. As for waiting a few days, there was nothing Su Ruoran could do—she could only be patient. But since her mother promised to ensure Wenhao’s safety, she could finally relax.

Because Chen Feng couldn’t get news out in time, even Qingwu didn’t know Zhang Wenhao had been rescued from the detention center. Su Ruoran’s mother in distant Yanjing knew even less.

That night, Zhang Wenhao finally returned home. Zhang Xingping and Lei Zhanyu were both thoroughly drunk, but their spirits were unusually high. The driver dropped the Zhang family off downstairs. Zhang Xingping wanted to invite Lei Zhanyu up for a while, but seeing it was late, Lei Zhanyu said, "Brother Zhang, I won’t go up tonight. It’s too late—go home and rest. I’ll visit another day."

Zhang Xingping nodded, "All right, just be careful on your way back. Tell the driver not to speed."

Suddenly, Lei Zhanyu remembered something. "Brother Zhang, I’ll contact the education committee about Wenhao’s school tomorrow. On Monday, Wenhao will be back in class. As for Chen Ru, even if he had a hundred times the courage, he wouldn’t dare trouble Wenhao again."

He added, "Normally, I have no right to interfere with local administration. If I tried to get Chen Ru removed from office, my old man would be the first to punish me. So for now, this matter ends here."

Zhang Xingping nodded, "All I want is for Wenhao to return safely. Everything else doesn’t matter."

Lei Zhanyu smiled, nodded, and said, "Then I’ll head off, Brother Zhang. If anything comes up, be sure to contact me right away."

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