y future will surpass mine; my son’s strength means no one dares to look down on him!"Su Chen was stunned. This speech filled his heart with excitement. His father wasn’t as dull as he appeared; nor w...Chapter 37 Apology

After class, Su Can was intimidated by the group gathered at the door. When he heard that they were going to directly confront Zhao Chengyan, he was stunned. Just charging over like this was indeed quite reckless.

Of course, if it escalated into a major conflict, it could be troublesome. It wouldn't be worth putting himself in harm's way just to deal with Zhao Chengyan.

Zhang Xian wasn't pleased when he saw Su Can hesitate and said, "What are you afraid of Go ahead and hit him; I don't believe he would dare retaliate. We'll back you up; whoever comes over we will take down!"

Su Can's face darkened even more. He thought to himself that these guys wouldn't be satisfied with just causing trouble outside the school, they had to make it a big deal. Now he was in a predicament where Wang Weiwei, who took this matter seriously, would insist on making a fuss over it, Zhang Xian and Zhu Zhiyu were involved, as well as Zhang Feifei. They had gathered more than ten people, clearly intending to cause chaos today, hoping to trample Zhao Chengyan's trio until they fled in disarray and beat them into submission.

Seeing everyone cracking their knuckles loudly, Su Can wanted to curse them for having no brains. But thinking about it, this group of spoiled brats was already taking a risky path with their combined social status opposing the school's authority.

Even if they could make Zhao Chengyan avoid him in the future, if the school decided to deal with them seriously, the consequences would be significant. The fates of these people might change dramatically; this wasn't Xiahai No. 1 High School but Province-wide Notable No. 27 High School, and its principal wouldn't hesitate to take drastic action against these spoiled brats.

After thinking it over, Su Can said to the group, "If you want to confront Zhao Chengyan, you must follow my instructions and not act on impulse."

The others were clearly taken aback. Zhang Feifei said, "Alright, I have no objections," her expression clearly displeased.

Zhu Zhiyu felt that they had all gathered for Su Can's sake, to vent their anger on his behalf, but now he was acting as if he could lead them

Zhu Zhiyu glanced at Zhang Xian. As the leader of this group, Zhang Xian organized it first and said, "Okay," though unhappy inside, thinking about Wang Weiwei's face.

Su Can knew that his importance to this group stemmed partly from Wang Weiwei's influence behind the scenes and partly because they were already frustrated with Zhao Chengyan. They just needed a reason to confront him, using Su Can as an excuse. He was merely their justification, but true integration wasn't guaranteed.

However, if he let them act on their impulses, after today's incident, many would be disciplined or expelled from school. Even with family connections intervening, Su Can had no such leverage.

This trouble might even involve him; he wanted to quietly finish high school with Tang Wu and didn't have ambitions of global dominance. He just needed to grasp the pulse of his era for a thriving career in the future.

He didn't want to rush around after money, wasting this precious time that could only be lived once.

Su Can knew their displeasure was inevitable since they were suppressing anger toward Zhao Chengyan and needed an outlet. If he didn't let them vent, they might turn it on him or fail to hurt Zhao Chengyan adequately, which made Su Can headache-inducing.

But soon he found a solution.

When Su Can walked through the crowd with everyone else, people knew that peaceful No. 27 High School was about to see turbulence again.

Zhao Chengyan, upon seeing the current situation, had his first reaction be that the other party must have been well-prepared for a long time. He felt that they were very likely to face criticism today. With determination in his heart, he thought, "So be it! Even if I’m going down, I’ll take some of them with me." He wanted others watching around him to see his toughness.

Qian Long appeared somewhat panicked while Liang Xiao clung tightly to Zhao Chengyan's side. She felt that only Zhao Chengyan could face these people, but if she knew what was going on in Zhao Chengyan’s mind at this moment, her feelings would likely be even more bleak and desperate.

Similarly agitated like the others around them, Sun Man felt quite emotional while Tang Wu looked bewildered.

Zhang Xian and his group who walked over seized the basketball in their hands. The people around them didn’t dare to make a sound.

"What’s this supposed to mean" Zhao Chengyan slipped his hand into one of the pockets of his sport shorts, facing those coming forward with a firm determination not to be weak in spirit.

The others vaguely sensed that Zhao Chengyan knew he couldn’t escape and was ready to fight.

Those from Class Seven and Thirteen who were bullied or harbored grievances against Zhao Chengyan’s group felt excited but also somewhat empty inside, as if something was missing.

Su Can stepped aside, pulling Chen Zhichao out in the process.

The crowd let out a murmur of surprise. "It's Chen Zhichao," they exclaimed.

Chen Zhichao was the school team’s forward and someone akin to Ryota Miyagi who everyone loved. The fact that he stepped up when Zhao Chengyan's three were clearly at an advantage had been widely known, causing him injuries. His teammates from the school team dared only be angry but not speak out, while many of his female admirers felt heartbroken, secretly cursing Zhao Chengyan and using their connections in Senior Three to try and do something about Zhao Chengyan. But even senior three students who heard it was Zhao Chengyan would dare not intervene.

It was said that Zhao Chengyan had support from outside the school and a formidable family background, such that anyone who moved against him would jump into a pit of fire.

Hence, Zhao Chengyan could act as he pleased all along. It took Zhang Xian and Zhu Zhiyu combining multiple forces and using Su Can as an excuse to dare to confront him openly today.

While many were too afraid to speak out against this matter, there were many who criticized Su Can instead.

They thought that this transfer student was really quite annoying, stirring up Zhao Chengyan and even involving Chen Zhichao in it. He had a terrible impression of Sun Man for her lack of support at the time.

Hence when Su Can pushed Chen Zhichao forward, many who had been holding back were surprised.

Chen Zhichao was still instinctively afraid when facing Zhao Chengyan and his two friends.

Su Can patted Chen Zhichao on the shoulder, imbuing him with courage from their support. He then said to Zhao Chengyan’s three, "Back then you three attacked one person. That is wrong; I hope you can recognize your mistake and say sorry."

Zhao Chengyan's eyes suddenly widened.

The crowd from the two classes watching burst into laughter, finding Su Can's words both righteous and amusing. However, they couldn't help but be alarmed by it.

Did they hear him right Did Zhao Chengyan have to personally say 'sorry'

In their appearance were Zhang Xian, Zhuo Zhiyu, Zhang Feifei along with a dozen others. Zhao Chengyan's three people had lost against countless hands with six punches. This was already a known fact; secretly setting traps for them, this could not be avoided either. They hadn't seized the opportunity to have favorable timing, geographical advantage, and public support. Being ambushed by so many like Su Can seemed indeed unavoidable.

But for Zhao Chengyan to 'acknowledge his mistake' and apologize in front of all these people was a humiliation.

In the past, when Zhao Chengyan fought in school and was summoned by teachers into the office, the vice-principal personally led him to apologize to the students who were beaten. He turned around and left then; the principal got furious but wanted to deal with him only for校外學生校外人員搗亂小校長這才忍了這口氣。劉成還權柄詣天，勾結包庇黑社會性質團夥，弄得人心惶惶的年代。現在劉成垮台了，讓趙承言當眾道歉，冇準學校校長可以，可蘇燦和麪前張賢這群人，委實不夠格。就連孫蔓都忍不住莞爾，對唐嫵吃吃一笑，指了指蘇燦，“你這個老同學，還真有幽默細胞。”眼看趙承言和身旁的錢隆梁笑都有笑意，張賢適時開口，指向兩人，“你不說也可以，不過你的這兩個朋友當初打了陳誌超，現在打回來也是很正常的一件事。”張賢話音一落，莊誌羽手中抱著的籃殊就著錢隆那張流了汗帶著汙清的臉上砸了過去，啪！的一下命中，深穆色的籃球到飛而起，跳向了有樺樹和影影綽綽銀杏做背景的人群後方，人群裂開，一片驚嚇。錢隆後退兩步。然後蹲地上了，地麵一滴一滴的鮮血砸落，捂著血和鼻涕橫流的鼻子，巨大的酸楚讓他眼淚同時湧了出來，一時間喪失戰鬥力，但是他也不敢動手，因為他反擊的後果，他們眼前的三人，免不了被踩踏。人是一種很奇怪的生物，特彆是錢隆，趙承言這類人，越是飛揚跋扈欺負彆人。越是愛惜自身的羽毛，外表雖然很講頭氣。事實上內心自私成性，剛纔作出對抗的姿態，隻是知道他們避無可避，始終會被暴扁，所以產生出了破釜沉舟的心理。然而現在卻有一線生機，隻要趙承言道歉，錢隆和梁笑就會免去在這麼多人麵前被踩踏**的丟臉下場。種微妙的製衡，卻讓趙承言這幫人的自私暴露無遺，趙承言不願受辱，而錢隆和梁笑，自然不願意當著這麼多人，特彆是女生的麵，被踩得人模鬼樣。在這種巨大的氣氛張力之下，蘇燦又對梁笑一笑。笑得很平和，卻給了他一種十分詭異的慈祥感。粱笑朝著趙承言看了一眼，一向狐假虎圍棋六段的傢夥這一刻表現出來的並非緊張，而是讓趙承言深深印入眼裡的驚恐。就在梁笑的麵前，陳誌超已經攥緊了種駝大小的拳頭，當初他被打經怒火填膺。看到了錢隆的下場，梁笑的表情更是僵硬。

Translation corrections and adjustments to ensure proper English:

The crowd from the two classes watching burst into laughter, finding Su Can's words both righteous and amusing. However, they couldn't help but be alarmed by it.

Did they hear him right Did Zhao Chengyan have to personally say "sorry"

You see, Zhang Xian, Zhuo Zhiyu, Zhang Feifei, along with a dozen others appeared. Zhao Chengyan's three people were defeated by countless hands with just six punches; this was already an established fact. Secretly setting traps for them to ambush is something they couldn't avoid either. They hadn’t seized the opportunity of having favorable timing, geographical advantage, and public support. Being ambushed by so many like Su Can seemed indeed unavoidable.

But for Zhao Chengyan to 'acknowledge his mistake' and apologize in front of all these people was a humiliation.

In the past, when Zhao Chengyan fought in school and was summoned by teachers into the office, the vice-principal personally led him to apologize to the students who were beaten. He turned around and left then; the principal got furious but wanted to deal with him only for days of unrest among校外學生,校外人員搗亂。那時劉成還權柄詣天，勾結包庇黑社會性質團夥，弄得人心惶惶的年代。現在劉成垮台了，讓趙承言當眾道歉，也許學校校長可以做到，但蘇燦和麪前張賢這群人，確實不夠資格。

Even Sun Man couldn’t help but smile and whispered to Tang Wu, pointing at Su Can: "This old classmate of yours actually has a sense of humor."

Zhao Chengyan and Qian Long were both smiling. Zhang Xian then spoke up, pointing at the two men, saying: “You don’t have to say anything. However, it’s perfectly normal for your friends to retaliate after they beat Chen Zhichao.”

As soon as Zhang Xian finished speaking, Zhuo Zhiyu threw a basketball he was holding towards Qian Long's sweaty, dirt-streaked face. Bang! It hit him squarely and the dark-colored ball flew up into the air against a backdrop of birch trees and silver maples, scattering the crowd in shock.

Qian Long stepped back two steps and then crouched down on the ground. Blood dripped onto the ground as he held his nose, which was bleeding profusely alongside mucus. The pain made him cry, temporarily incapacitating him from fighting back because if he did, they would inevitably be trampled by those three people in front of them.

Humans are strange creatures, especially Zhao Chengyan and Qian Long-type individuals. They are very arrogant and bully others but also cherish themselves deeply; although their appearance is intimidating, inside they are selfish to the core. Their aggressive stance was merely because they knew they couldn't avoid being beaten up anyway.

However, now there’s a glimmer of hope: as long as Zhao Chengyan apologizes, Qian Long and Liang Xiao can avoid the embarrassment of being trampled in front of so many people.

This delicate balance has exposed their selfishness. Zhao Chengyan doesn’t want to be humiliated while Qian Long and Liang Xiao don't wish to be stomped on in front of everyone, especially the girls.

Under this intense atmosphere, Su Can smiled at Liang Xiao again, smiling peacefully but giving him a somewhat eerie sense of benevolence.

Liang Xiao glanced at Zhao Chengyan; usually playing possum behind his bully, he now showed fear in Zhao Chengyan's eyes.

Right before Liang Xiao stood Chen Zhichao with his fist clenched tightly as the anger from being beaten earlier welled up inside him again.

Su Can saw Qian Long’s fate and Liang Xiao's expression stiffened even more.

The surrounding crowd, holding their breaths in an oppressive atmosphere, were all staring at Zhao Chengyan.

Che, it was all between a mere lowering and not lowering of his head.

The basketball was returned by someone, Zhuang Zhiyu bent down again to pick it up and held it in his hands with an innocent smile directed towards Liang Xiao, much like a medieval torturer holding a saw before the victim.

A feeling of being coerced made Liang Xiao subconsciously put his hand in front of his nose. His actions were quite lecherous, completely unlike his usual calm and cool demeanor, having been greatly frightened and looking to Zhao Chengyan for help. This elicited a round of laughter from the girls nearby.

Zhao Chengyan wanted to apologize with a playful grin but knew that in front of Su Can, whose gaze was peaceful yet piercing through one's heart, it would only be self-deception.

"I'm sorry!"

For the first time ever, he wished he could grind his teeth while uttering these three words for the sake of his brother who looked at him with a pleading gaze.

When Zhao Chengyan said this to Su Can, he felt that his expression must have been quite fierce and helpless.

In those days when his grandfather died, before teaching him how to hit him on the head with a cane, he had called the old man "Old不死的!" (Note: This is an expletive in Chinese). But facing his grandfather's corpse the next day, no matter how much he wanted to say it, he couldn't bring himself to utter these three characters.

But he didn't anticipate the weight that these three words carried; afterwards, his heart felt as if being twisted violently by an invisible force.

The entire venue fell silent. Perhaps not because of Zhao Chengyan's statement, but because after saying those three words, his face distorted and tears streamed down his cheeks!

The sunlight overhead was rather dim; this scene froze in the hearts of everyone present, causing a stir.

Then when people reacted, they didn't expect Zhao Chengyan to be forced into tears. Cheers erupted as if it were the greatest victory.

Only at this moment did Su Can heave a sigh of relief; he felt that Zhao Chengyan seemed to have shed his spoiled brat exterior and appeared more like an ordinary high school student.

Calling for votes! Only a few days left, brothers, don't hold back. Cast your votes for Grilled Fish, updates won’t decrease. Su Cen, feeling nostalgic about reckless youth doesn't necessarily mean he is growing old. Instead, he is beginning to build his own version of 'reckless youth,' a period not worth remembering but on...