FT DR Chapter 47: President’s Acting Skills Shine

Chapter 47: President’s Acting Skills Shine

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

The relationship between Wu Chenghe and Marlow had always been characterized by a “respectful demeanor in front of others, but eye-rolling behind their backs” dynamic. In other words, they hardly communicated privately. Occasionally, Wu Chenghe would call Marlow to inquire about his well-being, only to receive a disdainful look in return. Similarly, when Marlow reached out to Wu Chenghe, he would respond with a flat “Oh…”

It was miraculous that their episodes of concern for each other always seemed to occur at different times, so neither of them grasped the correct way to express brotherly affection.

So, when Wu Chenghe heard that Marlow had gone as far as involving the legal department of Aston University to seek justice for him, he felt thoroughly surprised. Adolescence, with its tendencies toward drama, truly was a mysterious phenomenon!

Before Wu Chenghe could even call Marlow to ask what he intended to do, Marlow took the initiative to visit him in the dormitory. After enduring rigorous military training and exercises, the younger brother had grown a bit taller and had become more robust. Wearing the uniform of the Strategy Academy, he appeared broad-shouldered and commanding.

Well, I’ve grown half a centimeter too… Wu Chenghe could only console himself inwardly. I’m going for a refined route; no need to compare ourselves with these rough types.

“Are you alright?” Marlow cut to the chase as soon as he entered the dormitory.

“…I’m fine,” Wu Chenghe felt miserable at the thought of Marlow taking legal action on his behalf. Dealing with the dean of the medical school was no small matter. He had even caused trouble with two cadavers and over twenty lifelike skin molds. The nursing department had nearly exploded; if it weren’t for Marlow’s intervention, the substitute teacher would have surely given him a thrashing.

But Marlow’s intentions were good, after all, so Wu Chenghe couldn’t bring himself to rebuke him. He gestured for him to sit at the desk and said, “It was just a harmless prank in the lab. The school has already handled it, so there’s no need to involve the legal department. It would only embarrass my dean.”

“You’re such a goody-two-shoes!” Marlow scoffed. “You were locked in the morgue for three days, and yet you’re worried about the dean’s reputation.”

Wu Chenghe sighed. Some things were difficult to explain to these troublemakers. He patiently replied, “It was just in the lab, not the morgue. I’m not that fragile. If medical students are afraid of corpses, how can they practice? You’re making a big deal out of nothing. Please, withdraw the complaint letter later. Thank you for your concern; I’m truly touched.”

“Who said I did it for you?” Marlow retorted. “Don’t flatter yourself. I did it to teach the Balon brothers a lesson! The Defense Secretary has always held a grudge against the old man. Their bullying of you isn’t personal; it’s aimed at the entire Voyager Army. They’re challenging Dad’s authority as the Commander of the Voyager Army. Do you understand?”

“Uh…” Wu Chenghe hadn’t thought about it that deeply. Marlow’s serious tone caught him off guard. After a moment of contemplation, he replied, “Maybe you have a point, but we’re here to study after all. Minor conflicts with classmates are normal, and I believe we can resolve them ourselves without involving our parents. Besides, the Balon brothers have genuinely repented. They’re as meek as quails when they see me now. I think that’s enough. After all, if this escalates to court, they might lose their medical licenses.”

“People as heartless as them deserve to lose their medical licenses! During the semester, they dared to lock a classmate in the morgue. If they become doctors, who knows how many people they’ll harm?” Marlow sneered. “Have you ever thought about how others might perceive you letting them off so easily? They might think the Voyager Army is afraid of the Federal Legion.”

“Stop!” Wu Chenghe was befuddled by Marlow’s convoluted logic. “I see this as just a minor conflict among students. There’s no need to elevate it to a conflict between the Voyager Army and the Federal Legion. Besides, the school has already disciplined the Balon brothers. They’ve been publicly criticized, had their credits halved, and all of this will be on their records. I think that’s a reasonable punishment. Don’t exaggerate the impact of this incident, and don’t cause trouble for Dad. Okay?”

“That’s considered ‘handling’ the situation? Thankfully, you’re thick-skinned. If it were someone else, they’d probably have had a mental breakdown by now. It’s ridiculous that such a big deal was brushed aside with just a general notice to the whole school. The dean is obviously trying to smooth things over. If it were you who had locked the Balon brothers and the bodies for three days, would he have let it go so easily? The Defense Secretary would never agree! Not to mention his troublesome wife.” 

At the mention of Lady Balon, Wu Chenghe immediately thought of the guide school, his heart sinking. “The dean is not that kind of person. Marlow, I don’t want to pursue this matter. After all, I still have to stay here for eight years. Please, could you withdraw the complaint later?”

“No!” Marlow vetoed firmly, looking him in the eye with a serious expression. “We’re at Aston University, representing not just ourselves but also the old man. Sometimes we can’t be too soft in handling things; we must make our stance clear. Charlie, you haven’t adapted to your identity yet. You were sent to the medical school by the Voyager Army as a sponsored student. To put it bluntly, you’re a hostage that the old man has left in the capital. So, whatever you do, always remember, you’re first Hannibal’s son and then yourself. Understand?”

Looking at his resolute face, Wu Chenghe suddenly felt like he was facing Hannibal himself. Yes, Marlow was Hannibal’s son; Hannibal’s blood flowed in his veins. He inherited Hannibal’s assertiveness and decisiveness, which might not be apparent on the surface but became evident in critical moments.

This realization made Wu Chenghe slightly uncomfortable. Marlow had always seemed straightforward and honest, a bit aloof, a bit adolescent, but certainly not cunning. Now he realized that as the son of the Commander of the Voyager Army, Marlow was far more complex than he had imagined. But Marlow was right about one thing – since he carried the title of the Commander’s son, he had to fulfill the corresponding responsibilities. He would have to remember this in his future actions.

“Are you really not going to withdraw the complaint?” Wu Chenghe made a final attempt to persuade him.

Marlow shook his head. “No way. I must ensure that the Balon brothers receive the punishment they deserve.”

“I disagree with your approach, but I know I can’t convince you.” Wu Chenghe realized Marlow’s stubbornness. Trying to persuade him might require using covert influence, but that would be unethical unless absolutely necessary. “If you insist on doing this, I hope you can tone down your attitude a bit. The dean has been good to me, and I don’t want to embarrass him.”

“I know my limits.”

The next morning, the legal department accepted Marlow’s complaint and sent someone to investigate the medical school. When Mu met with the two investigators, he showed no expression, but the entire atmosphere of the medical school seemed to be subdued by his invisible hostility. Throughout the morning, the students felt uneasy and short of breath.

When Wu Chenghe was called for questioning, he dared not look at Mu’s face, keeping his head down and answering the investigators’ questions. He felt Mu’s icy gaze piercing through him, almost tangible. Strangely, even his pet caterpillar seemed to sense Mu’s powerful aura, trembling like a sieve throughout the process, making his ears itch so much that he unconsciously scratched them several times.

What he didn’t notice was that every time he scratched his ears, Mu’s eyes narrowed, revealing a hint of nervousness.

Jin Xuan, having returned a couple of days later than the rest due to sorting out the data collected during the exercises to evaluate the students’ abilities, immediately rushed over upon hearing about Wu Chenghe’s situation.

“Are you okay?” In Wu Chenghe’s dorm room, Jin Xuan looked him up and down several times, almost stripping him to check his body. 

Wu Chenghe felt creeped out by his scrutiny. “I’ve told you I’m fine. Isn’t everything alright? Please, don’t be so nervous. I’m not a little girl!”

“Why does something like this happen as soon as I leave?” Jin Xuan regretted deeply, nervously saying, “No, next time during the exercises, I’ll get Jin Zhe’s guards to transfer to you. If something like this happens again, I might have a heart attack. How can I live if something happens to you…”

“Stop it!” Wu Chenghe felt overwhelmed. Dealing with one adolescent was already challenging enough; now, with another one planning something sinister, it was unbearable.

Jin Xuan was still extremely concerned. He looked Wu Chenghe up and down, firm in his conviction. “You’ve lost weight. I finally managed to fatten you up a bit, and now it’s all gone. Your jaw is even sharper than before… Damn the Balon brothers! I have unfinished business with them. No, it’s not just them; I have unfinished business with their entire family!”

One more dramatic than the other! Wu Chenghe sighed. “There’s really nothing wrong. They’re already in a sorry state. They avoid me whenever they see me now. You really don’t need to bother them anymore. Having Marlow around is enough for me.”

“Exactly, why does Marlow have to stir up trouble?!” Jin Xuan slammed the table. “Why make such a big fuss about it? There are countless ways to deal with it privately. Now that it has attracted official attention, it’s not easy to handle. And insulting Dean Mu, is too risky. He’s too unpredictable. You have to spend eight years under him… I might as well try to get him replaced with someone softer…”

“Stop!” Wu Chenghe knew the extent of Jin Xuan’s imagination and his robustness in execution. He immediately shut down his absurd plan in its infancy. “The dean might be a bit sarcastic, but he’s fair and professional. Don’t try to scheme against him.”

“Okay.” Jin Xuan fell silent, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, his eyes emitting a fierce light. 

Wu Chenghe could tell he was brewing up something mischievous, skeptical, “What are you thinking now?”

“Do you want to know?” Jin Xuan smirked. “Let me mark you, and you’ll find out.”

Wu Chenghe sighed. He had grown accustomed to this teasing by now.

“By the way, did you try on the formal attire?” Jin Xuan suddenly changed the topic. 

Wu Chenghe replied, “Yes, I tried it on and brought it back. But I feel like I’ve gained weight recently; it’s a bit tight around the chest.”

“Well, that’s my fault,” Jin Xuan said proudly. “Tomorrow after class, wait for me in the dorm, and I’ll come to pick you up.”

“Okay.” Wu Chenghe felt a bit nervous at the thought of attending the banquet at the presidential residence tomorrow night. He had never been to the presidential residence in his two lifetimes. Fortunately, it was just a family banquet, without any outsiders; otherwise, he would have felt even more awkward.

However, he soon realized that he had to feel a bit awkward after all. The next evening, Jin Xuan drove him to the presidential residence located in the military and political center. As soon as he got out of the car, he was dumbfounded – a family banquet? This crowd of people is considered a family banquet?

The presidential residence was brightly lit, and elegant music could be heard from the living room. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he could see more than a dozen guests sitting or standing inside, all of them clearly distinguished individuals in terms of attire and demeanor.

Wu Chenghe had mentally prepared himself based on the concept of a family banquet for three people. He even bought a fruit basket specifically for the occasion. But now, seeing the grandeur of the event, he was at a loss for words. “I thought it was just a family banquet. Why are there so many people? Did I get the time wrong?”

“No, it was a last-minute change,” Jin Xuan said, hugging his waist from behind to prevent him from turning around and running away. “Yesterday, I talked to Jin Zhe about your situation, and he said he wanted to make some adjustments to the dinner.”

“Oh.” Wu Chenghe handed the fruit basket to him. “I’m sorry. I thought it was just a family gathering, so the gift may seem a bit… odd.”

“It’s my fault. I expanded the scope of the ‘family gathering’ at the last minute. I should be the one apologizing to you,” Jin Zhe said, dressed in a sleek dark blue suit that accentuated his muscular physique and handsome face. He took the fruit basket from his secretary and took Wu Chenghe from Jin Xuan. “Come on, let me introduce you to today’s guests. They’re all my good friends, good brothers. You already know Hobart; this is the commander of NTU, my former boss, and this is…”

Jin Zhe introduced Wu Chenghe to the guests one by one, all of whom were either high-ranking military officials or political figures, each with a dazzling title. Wu Chenghe was there, maintaining his standard polite smile and exchanging pleasantries with everyone while trying hard to remember who was who.

“Oh, you must meet this one.” Finally, Jin Zhe brought him to a tall black man. “This is Mr. Balon, my Defense Secretary, one of my best friends, and we even fought together on the battlefield when we were young, bonded by life and death.”

In an instant, Wu Chenghe felt like he understood something. His eyes glanced over to Jin Xuan, who was smiling at him knowingly.

“Hello, Mr. Balon,” Wu Chenghe shook his hand confidently. The Defense Secretary was a bit darker than his two sons, a typical African, looking somewhat like a taller version of Obama, and quite handsome.

“Hello,” Balon replied with a smile, his expression seemingly warm, but Wu Chenghe could still sense a hint of disdain in his eyes.

“He and your father were old rivals,” Jin Zhe chuckled. “Your father once took three legions from my hands. Balon almost had a falling out with me over it.”

Balon’s smile remained unchanged, but the twinkle in his eyes dimmed slightly. Jin Zhe’s words were a clear message to him – your father is the Field Marshal; you have no reason to be jealous of Hannibal!

Wu Chenghe didn’t understand their subtle exchange but continued to smile politely, showing his eight teeth.

“Oh, your twins are also studying at Aston Medical School, right?” Jin Zhe suddenly remembered. “What a coincidence! Mr. Wu happens to be studying medicine too. What’s your major?”

“Eight-year clinical medicine,” Wu Chenghe vaguely felt that the president was setting him up, so he went along with it. 

Sure enough, Balon’s face turned ugly. “Yes, my sons happen to be in the same class as Mr. Wu.”

“Really?” Jin Zhe looked pleasantly surprised. “That’s even better. I was worried that Mr. Wu wouldn’t have anyone to look after him at medical school. Balon, you don’t know, this kid is too obedient, introverted, and shy. I’ve been worried that he might be bullied. With your two sons taking care of him, I feel much more relieved.”

Wu Chenghe felt sorry for Balon. Mr. President, are you trying to stir up trouble?

Balon awkwardly coughed and said, “Um… I’ll make sure to talk to them when I get back.”

Jin Zhe had a sincere expression on his face as he held Balon’s hand. “You don’t know, Balon, I’m immensely grateful to Mr. Wu. I have no other concerns in my life except for Jin Xuan here. Last time at Gabriel Military Harbor, if it weren’t for Mr. Wu, Jin Xuan would have lost his life. You know me; I believe in repaying kindness with even greater kindness. Now that this child has finally managed to get into Aston, I must take care of him well. If anything happens to him, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.”

Wu Chenghe gained a whole new understanding of political acting. Even his ear hairs were trembling from the president’s excessive flattery. It was like watching a play.

Balon’s face was a masterpiece, changing from white to red and back again. But Jin Zhe wasn’t going to let him off the hook. He patted Balon’s shoulder and said, “We’ve had a friendship of over a decade. My brother, you agree, right?”

Balon’s mouth twitched, but Jin Zhe didn’t give him a chance to object. “From now on, I’m entrusting this child to you. You must make sure your two sons take good care of him and prevent anyone from bullying him! Anyone who dares to lay a finger on him is messing with Jin Xuan, and messing with Jin Xuan is messing with me. Mr. Wu is too obedient and shy. Even when he’s wronged, he doesn’t say a word. Just make sure your sons tell me if anything happens, and I’ll seek revenge for him!”

Balon was sweating bullets. He never imagined that the president’s last-minute change of plans, forcing him to attend this banquet, had such a purpose. He wished he could rush home right now and give his two idiotic sons a good beating. With a dry laugh, he said, “Um, there might be some misunderstanding between my sons and Mr. Wu.”

“What misunderstanding?” Jin Zhe looked puzzled and asked Wu Chenghe, “What’s going on between you and Balon’s twins?”

Balon finally understood his role for the night. He wouldn’t dare to offend the president, especially when the president was protecting someone. Putting on a guilty expression, he said to Wu Chenghe, “Whatever happened was entirely the fault of those two brats. Although the school’s investigation results aren’t out yet, I still want to apologize to you on their behalf, Mr. Wu. I’m truly sorry for any inconvenience you’ve experienced.”

Knowing when to stop was a virtue, so Wu Chenghe said, “You’re too kind.”

“This incident was definitely not their intention,” Balon earnestly explained. “My two children, although mischievous, have good hearts. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have aspired to become doctors. It’s just that they’re young and easily influenced. Regarding the incident last time, I’ve scolded them severely, and they’ve realized their mistake. They’ll get along well with you in the future.”

“Oh? What exactly happened?” Jin Zhe inquired.

“There’s a bad kid in their class who always picks on Mr. Wu because he seems shy. My two sons, as you know, are single-minded. Incited by that kid, they played a prank and locked Mr. Wu in the lab for a weekend,” Balon explained. “I’ve already disciplined them and forbade them from associating with that bad kid again. You can rest assured, President, with my two sons taking care of him, no one will dare to bully Mr. Wu again.”

“Oh, it’s just a small misunderstanding between kids. It’s not a big deal,” the president said nonchalantly, patting Balon on the shoulder. “Just be more careful in the future.”

“Yes, yes,” Balon wiped his sweat and whispered to Wu Chenghe, “About the investigation, I hope you…”

“I’ll explain to the investigators,” Wu Chenghe interrupted.

“Thank you so much for that.” Balon shook his hand again. “When you have time off, let’s have a meal together. My children’s mother and I will definitely want to thank you properly.”

Wu Chenghe really didn’t want to meet the mother of his children. “No need to be so polite. You’re busy with official matters, so I won’t disturb you.”

“It’s only right, it’s only right.”

The secretary came over to ask when the banquet would begin. Jin Xuan looked at the time and invited everyone to take their seats. Wu Chenghe’s seat was arranged next to him, with Jin Xuan on his side.

Wu Chenghe whispered, “Was this all your idea?”

“It was Jin Zhe’s,” Jin Xuan whispered back. “I don’t want anyone else to dare to mess with you. It’s more appropriate for him to handle it.”

Wu Chenghe sighed inwardly. Hannibal’s influence wasn’t enough to cover the capital. With Jin Zhe’s support, no one would dare to trouble him in the future. He never expected to encounter this kind of Tom Sue in his life.

“I would actually prefer to protect you myself,” Jin Xuan said with a sigh. “But it will have to wait until the day you’re willing.”

Wu Chenghe’s hand paused, “Just eat your steak.”

 

 

 

 

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