Lucky Golden Dragon in the 80s: My Dad? I Switched Him for a Better One novel Chapter 183

Chapter 183: Chapter 183: School-wide Deification

It wasn’t often the school had a star student on the cusp of winning international awards.

Who would dare ruin the school’s reputation at a time like this?

The school board held an emergency overnight meeting and decided to take drastic measures to stop the public outcry from escalating.

A list of disciplinary actions was posted on the bulletin board at the school gate, naming several students.

Three were given demerits, and two were put on probation.

A general assembly was held in the academic lecture hall, recorded in its entirety, and uploaded to the campus intranet.

As soon as the assembly ended, she became a legend throughout the school.

The people who had attacked her online began receiving invitations for private "chats."

The meetings weren’t held at the school, but in an inconspicuous office building downtown.

After that, things around Shanshan suddenly grew quiet.

With the exception of influential people like Guo Wei.

Everyone else would turn and walk away the moment they saw her, looking more nervous than if they’d run into the dean.

She didn’t know what was happening behind the scenes, but she could feel the bizarre shift in the atmosphere.

It wasn’t until she deliberately stopped a boy who was taking a detour to avoid her and asked him what was going on that she finally learned the truth.

The boy hemmed and hawed, reluctant to say anything, but when she pressed him, he finally whispered the truth.

After hearing the whole story, her eyes welled up. As soon as she got home, she immediately picked out an expensive gift for her father.

"Dad’s birthday is coming up. What should I get him?"

She looked up toward the other end of the living room, where Ling Zhiwei was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through his phone.

He looked up at the sound of her voice and glanced over.

"Don’t get him anything. It’s easier that way."

Ling Zhiwei threw up his hands, his face completely deadpan.

"What? But he’s my dad!"

"Hey, I’m telling you, sis, have you not noticed? Every year on Uncle’s birthday, he looks more and more miserable."

Shanshan tilted her head, thinking.

"I don’t think so. Every time I give him a gift, he always seems so happy."

Ling Zhiwei looked exasperated.

"That’s because it’s you! You’re his precious daughter, the apple of his eye. Even if he’s furious inside, he’d never take it out on you. But me? I’m not so lucky. It’s a tragedy."

"Take his thirty-eighth birthday last year. You weren’t there, so you have no idea. The second you handed him your gift, he was all smiles accepting it. But when it was my turn, his face just fell. It got as dark as the bottom of a pot. Scared the hell out of me."

As he spoke, he hunched his shoulders and hugged himself, giving a little shiver.

"You’re exaggerating. Such a drama queen!"

"I’m not exaggerating!"

Ling Zhiwei said, exasperated.

"I’m telling you, I think Uncle is getting close to forty and his moods are getting really weird. He can be bright and sunny in the morning and a thundercloud by noon. He flies off the handle at the smallest thing, like he’s going through menopause or something."

"Fourth Brother!"

Shanshan tried to look stern, but her eyes were smiling.

"If you keep talking about Dad like that, I’m going to tell him you’ve been badmouthing him!"

"No, no, no! Have mercy, Your Highness!"

Ling Zhiwei immediately threw his hands up in surrender.

"I was wrong, okay? My lady, you are generous and forgiving. Please spare me this once!"

Bickering playfully, the two of them wandered through several stores.

When they entered the third menswear shop, a sales associate enthusiastically recommended a handmade, dark gray cashmere overcoat.

Ling Zhiwei felt the material and thought it was nice.

Just as he was about to say something, Shanshan shook her head. "Dad has never liked this color."

"That’s nothing. Just a few hundred bucks. Pocket change."

Hu Wenkang laughed magnanimously, his voice breezy as his fingers caressed the face of his watch.

His other hand, however, was restlessly rubbing her waist, the pads of his fingers sliding over the fabric.

His eyes, however, remained fixed on Shanshan, a playful glint in them, as if he were waiting for a reaction.

"Well, well, Ling Xueshan. Aren’t you the darling of the Ling family? How come you’ve been wandering around for so long and your hands are still empty? Don’t tell me you don’t have the money and can’t afford to buy what you like. How about I ask Brother Kang to do you a little favor and cover your bill?"

The moment she finished speaking, she turned to Hu Wenkang, her eyes full of sweet coquetry.

"Brother Kang, just do it for my sake, okay? How much could anything she likes possibly cost? A few dozen bucks, tops. You spend more than that on breakfast."

"Done. I’m in a good mood today. Just say the word, and I’ll buy you whatever you want. It’s all on me!"

Hu Wenkang puffed out his chest, his voice booming with smug satisfaction.

The two went back and forth like a well-rehearsed double act.

Ling Xueshan and her fourth brother exchanged a look, almost bursting out laughing.

"Ling Xueshan, you hear that? Hurry up and thank Brother Kang! An opportunity like this is rare. You’ll regret it if you miss it!"

"Got a little bit of dirty money and suddenly you’re acting all high and mighty? You really think you’re somebody?"

Ling Zhiwei scoffed, stuffing his hands into his pockets and taking half a step forward to stand in front of Ling Xueshan.

His voice wasn’t loud, but every word was crystal clear. "The things my sister sets her sights on? I’m afraid your card would be declined. You’d have to get on your knees and beg your daddy for a wire transfer. How humiliating would that be?"

His words were merciless, hitting them right where it hurt.

Cao Jiajia was so furious her lips trembled. She pointed a shaking finger at Ling Zhiwei, a retort stuck in her throat.

The color drained from her face, only to be replaced by a furious blush. Her chest heaved.

Utterly humiliated, Hu Wenkang raised his hand and slapped Cao Jiajia across the face.

He moved to strike her again, but Ling Xueshan reacted in a flash, yanking Cao Jiajia back half a step so she dodged the second blow.

Cao Jiajia wrenched her arm free from Shanshan’s grasp, her eyes filled with nothing but resentment.