HBWMA -Chapter 375 A Show of Authority

“What are you shouting for? Barking like dogs all day long.”

Out in the open, the Shen family stood as one. Before Shen Guiling could respond, Shen Qingyu spoke first.

“A whole group of you can’t even handle one idiot, and you still have the nerve to show your faces? If I were you, I’d wear a mask every time I went out—just to avoid embarrassing my ancestors!”

Guan He rolled his eyes and shot Shen Qingyu a sideways glance. “What’s it to you?”

They hadn’t even started yet—how did things already become so tense?

Lan Dai, afraid the two might start fighting at the slightest disagreement, knew she held little influence and could only look to Gu Yuzhu for help.

Gu Yuzhu shook her head, signaling she couldn’t do anything. Lan Dai then turned to Su Yun, who hesitated for a moment before choosing silence.

“Huh? Why is everyone here? Weren’t we going skiing?”

At that moment, a cheerful female voice rang out from outside the crowd.

Yu Sheng, carrying a black snowboard on her back, walked in with a bright smile. She seemed completely unaware of the tension in the air and greeted Shen Guiling playfully, “Hello, Officer.”

She was also a student at the Military-Political Academy, and her greeting sounded far more sincere than Guan He’s.

Ever since the Fu family fell from power, the Yu family had seized the opportunity to rise as a new elite in Jinggang. With Yu Siwen successfully re-elected, Yu Sheng—now the president’s daughter—had rapidly gained status among high society, and most of the girls close to her were daughters of high-ranking officials.

Yu Sheng held considerable influence in elite circles; the daughters of officials largely followed her lead. Seeing that she openly showed closeness to Shen Guiling, they also began speaking up in support.

“Didn’t we say we’d have a match just now? Now that everyone’s here, let’s head over quickly.”

“Brother Guan He, you promised to carry us—no backing out now.”

What was meant as a way to ease tensions was met with indifference. Guan He let out a cold laugh. “If you want to play, go ahead. I’m not in the mood after seeing someone so unlucky.”

That single remark embarrassed everyone present, and the girls’ expressions turned sour.

Over the past two years, the Guan family had risen rapidly, with two members entering the National Assembly. Guan He’s father, Guan Lou, had even been appointed Deputy Speaker. Guan Lou and Shen Qian held opposing political stances, maintaining only a superficial peace.

With the Speaker election coming up in two years, Guan Lou would be a formidable opponent.

Guan He’s blatant disrespect toward Shen Guiling stemmed from this backing. After all, he was the legitimate heir of the Guan family, while Shen Guiling—an illegitimate son who appeared midway—was looked down upon by these officially recognized young masters.

The smile on Yu Sheng’s face faded slightly as she was about to speak, but someone beat her to it with a voice full of hostility.

“If you think it’s unlucky, then go die somewhere else. Why stand here and ruin the view?”

The moment those words fell, the entire place fell silent. All eyes turned toward the girl in the green long dress.

Guan He froze for a moment. When he saw who had spoken, his expression immediately became complicated.

Jiang Huashan crossed her arms, lifting her chin as she sized him up. “Yeah, I’m talking about you. What, got a problem? Ever since we met, you’ve been yapping nonstop—doing all your ‘output’ with just your mouth. What, planning to get a military diploma just to livestream and sell goods? And that bunch of clowns behind you—are they your hype crew?”

The “clowns” behind him: “……”

Just as Guan He opened his mouth, Jiang Huashan turned to look at Zhou Yanheng in the center of the crowd. “What kind of trash investments are these? No taste at all.”

Guan He’s expression stiffened as he turned back toward Zhou Yanheng. Zhou Yanheng simply smiled. “Why so angry?”

Jiang Huashan sneered. How could she not be angry? She’d practically burst a blood vessel from cursing just now.

Shen Guiling lifted his gaze to look at her. Jiang Huashan met his eyes lazily.

What are you staring at? Got scolded and don’t even know how to talk back—coward.

Shen Guiling smiled faintly, then turned to Zhou Yanheng.

“All of you on that side—drop down and give me one thousand push-ups on the spot.”

“……”

The smile on Zhou Yanheng’s face vanished instantly, his sharp gaze locking onto Shen Guiling.

At the Military-Political Academy, a superior’s orders outweigh everything. Due to failing their final assessment, Zhou Yanheng’s entire team had their leave canceled and were still in their execution period.

During this period, they were required to obey orders unconditionally. Any unjustified defiance could result in immediate expulsion.

Guan He shot Zhou Yanheng a look. “Fuck you—”

“A-He.”

Zhou Yanheng pulled him back. He glanced at Jiang Huashan, then lowered his head, tucking the hem of his black shirt into his waistband. After a brief silence, he finally swallowed his pride and crouched down, supporting himself on the ground.

“A-Heng…”

Guan He was grinding his teeth in anger, but since Zhou Yanheng had already bowed his head, there was nothing he could do but swallow his frustration. The other Military-Political Academy students had already prepared themselves the moment they sensed things turning bad.

For a moment, the scene became eerily strange.

Under the covered bridge, bodies moved up and down in succession.

Shen Lanxi’s expression remained calm as he looked at the stunned manager. “Where’s the room?”

The manager finally snapped out of it, smiling even more humbly. “This way, please.”

“Huh?” Gu Yuzhu still wanted to ask about the competition, but the sight of the rising and falling figures instantly killed her curiosity.

What competition was left? If Shen Guiling gave another order, they could be forced to turn around and end the match right there.

Once the Shen family had left, the rest of the crowd didn’t dare linger and quickly fled the scene.

Shen Guiling dared to make Zhou Yanheng do a thousand push-ups in public—but no one dared stay and watch the show.

“Let’s go, let’s go! Brother A-Heng isn’t someone to mess with—don’t let him hold a grudge against us!”

Gu Yuzhu tugged Lan Dai toward the ski field, while Lan Dai looked back repeatedly with worry written all over her face.

What were they supposed to do now? These young masters and ladies had originally been invited to build relationships, but after this incident, how were they supposed to arrange the next few days?

The Lan family was weak—they couldn’t withstand the wrath of the Zhou family.

“It really comes down to Jiang Huashan. If she hadn’t stirred things up, Brother A-Ling wouldn’t have been this ruthless.” Gu Yuzhu clicked her tongue and tugged at Lan Dai’s arm. “What did I tell you? She’s not someone you can mess with.”

Su Yun’s expression turned slightly serious. Was it just her imagination? Why did it feel like Shen Lanxi cared a lot about Jiang Huashan?

When he looked at her, his gaze was unusually focused. And whenever Jiang Huashan spoke to someone else, the corners of his eyes would subtly drop, his entire demeanor turning colder.

Lan Dai sighed softly. “I wonder what Young Master Zhou will think of this.”

Gu Yuzhu shrugged. “What else could he think? He’ll blame Jiang Huashan, of course. But with Old Master Shen backing her, Brother A-Heng can’t do anything to her.”

Lan Dai gave a bitter smile. With someone supporting you, could you really destroy half a year of someone else’s efforts with just a single sentence? This so-called elite circle of Jinggang was truly not easy to enter.

Meanwhile, on the other side—

A group of high-ranking officials’ daughters surrounded Yu Sheng, chattering non-stop.

“Oh my god! I always thought Shen Guiling was just a pretty boy—who knew he’d be this manly!”

“I heard he was a freshman instructor at the university last year. Out of ten companies, more than half the girls confessed to him—but he rejected every single one. People even said he liked men.”

“That won’t do! A face that handsome shouldn’t go to waste on men!”

Yu Sheng laughed helplessly. “Alright, alright~ stop talking nonsense.”

The girls teased her, “Our Shengsheng really has good taste. We heard you and Shen Guiling grew up together as childhood sweethearts?”

Yu Sheng smiled faintly. “Childhood sweethearts might be a stretch—but we’ve at least been through hardships together.”