Zhou Xing's expression was cold.
He stared at Zhang Xu.
Gong Yilun and Yang Zhenlong had both failed to anticipate that Zhou Xing would suddenly lash out.
For a long time, not a word was spoken.
The dormitory was deathly silent.
Zhang Xu clutched his face, feeling a searing, burning pain radiating from his cheek.
He clenched his fists tightly and glared at Zhou Xing.
In his past life, Zhang Xu's family conditions were supposedly the best among them; this was evident from what he had shared and what he usually let slip.
His family likely possessed assets worth hundreds of millions.
Even Gong Yilun, who loved to flaunt his wealth high-profile, was no match for Zhang Xu.
As an only son,
he was the apple of his family's eye, pampered and protected to the extreme.
Out in the world, others were also wary of his family background and flattered him in every possible way.
When had Zhang Xu ever suffered such a grievance?
Being slapped in public was a humiliation that filled him with uncontrollable rage.
But as he looked at Zhou Xing... he hesitated to make a move.
If the one who had struck him were Gong Yilun or Yang Zhenlong, he wouldn't have hesitated for a second.
In front of Zhou Xing, however, he lost his nerve.
His so-called family background wasn't even worth mentioning in the other man's eyes.
Driving a luxury car worth tens of millions, wearing a watch worth millions... this kind of person was a true chosen one!
Once offended, the retaliation would be devastating.
Even the family background behind him would suffer together; Zhang Xu could not afford such revenge.
So, Zhang Xu backed down.
"I'm sorry, I was out of line. I just saw the watch you were wearing and I really liked it... I couldn't help myself for a moment."
Zhang Xu said in a muffled voice, still holding his face.
"Yeah, Zhou Xing, look at Old Zhang. He was just eager, he didn't mean to touch your things."
Seeing this, Gong Yilun also stepped forward with a smile to smooth things over: "We're all Roommates. Zhang Xu was a bit reckless, but it's no big deal. We still have to get along for four years. Since he's already apologized, let's just let bygones be bygones."
"As the saying goes, no discord, no concord. Let's go out for a drink together, we're still good friends."
"In the future at school, the four of us still need to stick together so we don't get bullied by others."
Yang Zhenlong stood by, too scared to speak.
These were all big shots he couldn't afford to offend; it wasn't his place to butt in, so he could only choose to nod.
Zhou Xing shook his hand out.
His eyes showed a hint of disappointment.
He had hoped these people would be a bit more courageous and choose to fight him to the end.
If that were the case, university life wouldn't be so boring.
Although Zhou Xing never intended to live in the dormitory from the start... coming back occasionally to toy with these Roommates was also a good way to kill time.
But these three Roommates...
Were nothing more than people who bullied the weak and feared the strong, showing none of their former arrogance.
Zhou Xing walked over to his bed.
He casually tossed down his black shoulder bag.
"I don't like the smell of smoke in the dormitory."
Zhou Xing said indifferently.
"Understood, don't worry... You weren't here before, but now that you are, we of course have to respect our Roommate's wishes. After all, the dorm is a public space. We'll be more careful when we smoke in the future."
Gong Yilun said hastily.
Yang Zhenlong also hurried to chime in.
Zhang Xu hesitated for a moment but chose to comply: "I'll go to the balcony to smoke."
"I hope you remember those words."
Zhou Xing glanced at them: "Don't make the dorm a mess."
"Leave the cleanliness to me."
Yang Zhenlong thumped his chest: "I'm usually the most hygiene-conscious person. I basically do all the cleaning at home too. From now on, I'll take over the dorm cleaning myself. I guarantee it'll be spotless!"
Seeing the three of them acting so subservient, Zhou Xing immediately lost interest in continuing to find trouble with them.
He had vented his anger.
He finally understood why the rich could always maintain a calm state of mind.
Because they settled their grudges on the spot, without any reservations whatsoever.
With their minds cleared,
they were naturally kind to others in daily life.
Zhou Xing didn't believe for a second that those who became rich were all good-natured people.
The primitive accumulation of capital was always bloody.
Without exception.
Zhou Xing lost interest in them, shook his head, and prepared to head out.
Seeing this, Yang Zhenlong asked: "Zhou Xing, where are you going? I'll go with you. I've been in the dorm for too long and I'm feeling a bit stuffy... It'll be good to get some exercise."
He didn't think there was anything wrong with what Zhou Xing had just done; on the contrary, it was incredibly impressive.
With one slap,
Zhang Xu, who had been so arrogant in front of him and Gong Yilun, didn't even dare to fart in front of Zhou Xing.
Zhou Xing was the real boss of this dormitory.
If he could get on his good side, his own status would rise accordingly.
Clinging to Zhou Xing's coattails was his only thought.
Nothing else mattered at all.
"Then I'll head out too."
Gong Yilun also said with a smile, then pulled at Zhang Xu.
Zhang Xu could only squeeze out a trace of a smile to look at Zhou Xing, though with his cheeks still red and swollen, he looked somewhat comical.
"Zhou Xing, I was wrong just now. It's almost noon, let me treat you all to a meal. Consider it my apology, what do you say? Don't take it to heart."
Recalling what happened, it seemed he really had been quite reckless.
A wealthy person like that—what kind of status and position did they have?
How could an ordinary person just touch them whenever they wanted?
If he were Zhou Xing, his reaction would probably have been even bigger than Zhou Xing's.
After thinking this way, Zhang Xu felt much better.
Zhou Xing said indifferently: "I'm going for a walk alone, I have some things to do."
Being rejected, Zhang Xu rubbed his nose awkwardly: "Alright then, go ahead with your business. We'll get together whenever you have time."
Just as Zhou Xing stepped out of the dormitory,
Zhang Xu's voice rang out: "Yang Zhenlong, what's the meaning of this? You weren't this enthusiastic toward the two of us just now. How come as soon as you meet Zhou Xing, you can't wait to stick to his side?"
"What... thinking of clinging to Zhou Xing's coattails so you can ride over our heads?"
Yang Zhenlong quickly explained: "It's not like that..."
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Gong Yilun: "I recall the two of us didn't provoke you, did we? We're all Shanghai locals. We originally talked about sticking together, but as soon as you met Zhou Xing, you were ready to team up with him to persecute us?"
"Why don't you take a look at yourself in the mirror? Zhou Xing hitting me was what I deserved for offending him."
Zhang Xu's voice was thick with anger: "You want to find trouble with us too? Are you even qualified?"
"It's really not like that..."
Yang Zhenlong's voice dropped. Between the two of them, he clearly had no say and could only explain himself submissively.
Zhou Xing's footsteps paused slightly.
Then he let out a cold sneer.
These two truly were incapable of changing their nature.
It was just that the target of their bullying had changed this time.
They couldn't afford to offend Zhou Xing.
So they could only vent their anger on Yang Zhenlong.
It was predictable.
Yang Zhenlong's life in the dormitory wouldn't be easy from now on.
But what did that have to do with Zhou Xing? Yang Zhenlong was getting what he deserved.
Dog eat dog—it was quite fine.