The Rise of a Special Forces Soldier Abandoned by a Wealthy Family

This unexpected incident was like a boulder thrown into an already turbulent lake, making the atmosphere in the private room even more somber.

The students looked at each other and began to whisper among themselves.

Zeng Long slowly sat down, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of his wine glass. The slight displeasure he felt from being interrupted in his exchange with Yan Rugo and his worry for Zeng Lingyu was gradually replaced by a deeper doubt.

However, before everyone could recover from the sudden incident, the door to the private room was once again pushed open rudely.

The three young men who entered this time were dressed in fashionable clothes and had arrogant expressions.

The leader, with slanted eyes, thin lips, and an undisguised contemptuous sneer on his face, walked straight toward the seat where Hao Shuai was sitting.

He walked up behind Hao Shuai and, without any politeness, slapped the back of Hao Shuai's head repeatedly with his palm. The action was extremely insulting, and his voice was mocking.

"Hey! Young Master Hao, not bad! You come to a nice place like Yue Ting Yuan for dinner today, but you didn't even invite your brothers to have some fun? Did you start looking down on us old brothers just because you've climbed up the social ladder?"

Hao Shuai's body stiffened instantly, his face turned from red to white, then from white to green, and his fists clenched tightly under the table, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

But he refrained from immediately erupting, took a deep breath, turned his head, and tried to keep his tone calm:

"Wu Qian, what are you doing here? I'm having a reunion with my classmates. You're not welcome here. Please leave."

This young man named Wu Qian was a powerful collateral descendant of the Wu family in the capital.

His father happened to be Hao Shuai's father's superior, and had been suppressing the Hao family for many years.

Recently, Hao Shuai's father is in a critical period of evaluation for promotion, and he dares not offend the Wu family in the slightest.

"Oh ho? You're getting emotional now?" Wu Qian sneered, and his two henchmen also laughed disdainfully.

Wu Qian walked around the chair, stood in front of Hao Shuai, looked down at him, and suddenly raised his voice, which was full of malice:

"We're all 'brothers' in the same circle, so the three of us will stay here and have a few drinks with you tonight! Your lowly, worthless classmates are nowhere near as fun as us drinking with you!"

He emphasized the word "garbage" so heavily that it exploded in the private room like a thunderclap!

In an instant, the entire private room fell silent! A surge of intense anger and humiliation rose on the faces of all the students!

They may come from ordinary families, but they all have the pride and arrogance of young people. They have never been insulted to their faces like this before.

And in that very instant—

Zeng Long, who had been lounging lazily against the back of his chair, slowly sat up straight.

He didn't immediately erupt in anger, nor did he even glance at Wu Qian; he merely lowered his eyes slightly. But a chilling aura, almost tangible, emanated from him, subtly spreading outwards, causing the temperature in the private room to drop several degrees—

The calm and collected demeanor around him transformed into a dangerous pressure, like the undercurrents of the deep sea.

Sitting not far from Zeng Long, Shi Tiezhu silently put down the braised pork trotter he was half-eaten.

He slowly and deliberately wiped his greasy fingers with a tissue, his movements seemingly clumsy, but his usually honest eyes were now narrowed to slits, revealing a fierce glint like a beast eyeing its prey—

His massive, mountain-like body leaned slightly forward, as if he might suddenly launch an attack at any moment.

Ye Feng, who was sitting in the corner, had somehow straightened his back completely.

He remained expressionless, but his entire demeanor had transformed from its previous coldness to the sharpness of a drawn sword.

His gaze, sharp as an icicle, was fixed on Wu Qian and the other two. His right hand unconsciously tapped lightly on the table, a habitual gesture he made before launching an attack to adjust his breathing and rhythm.

Even the usually mischievous Lin Xiaoya put away her playful expression.

She rested her chin on her hands, tilted her head, and looked Wu Qian and the other two up and down with a seemingly innocent but actually scrutinizing and calculating gaze. A barely perceptible sneer curled at the corner of her mouth, as if she were assessing where it would be most interesting to start.

It could be said that with just a glance from Zeng Long, or even a barely perceptible signal—

These three arrogant and uninvited guests will be struck by lightning in an instant. Even if they don't die, they will suffer a fate worse than death. The consequences are unimaginable!

Hao Shuai felt the chilling killing intent behind him, which was almost solidified, and he was so frightened that his soul almost left his body!

He had witnessed Zeng Long's terrifying skills! He absolutely could not let Zeng Long's thank-you banquet turn into a bloody conflict because of his own affairs, and he certainly couldn't let his classmates be implicated!

He jumped to his feet, looked at Zeng Long with almost pleading eyes, and said urgently, "Brother Long! Brother Long! Please! I beg you, let me handle this myself! Okay?"

Zeng Long raised his eyelids, his deep gaze meeting Hao Shuai's panicked and pleading eyes for a second.

The coldness in his gaze lessened slightly, but didn't disappear; it transformed into a silent pressure that enveloped the entire area. He nodded very slightly, tacitly agreeing.

Hao Shuai felt somewhat relieved after receiving Zeng Long's tacit approval, but the pressure on Wu Qian remained undiminished.

He turned to Wu Qian, forcing a smile, his tone almost ingratiating:

"Young Master Wu, Brother Qian! Please give me some face. Today is a thank-you banquet hosted by my classmate and good brother, Brother Long, and I'm one of the key guests. It wouldn't be appropriate to leave now. After this is over, I'll come over to you immediately and have a private dinner to apologize, okay?"

"Giving you face?" one of Wu Qian's henchmen interjected sarcastically.

"Hao Shuai, don't push your luck! Some people are just acquaintances, why are you taking them so seriously? You're going to offend Brother Qian for such a nobody? Have you thought about the consequences?"

Another henchman went even further, striking at Hao Shuai's sore spot. His voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for those nearby to hear clearly:

"That's right! Hao Shuai, we've heard about it. Your dad's nomination this time has fallen through! Not only has it fallen through, but he's also been reported by name, and the disciplinary committee is conducting a preliminary investigation! Sigh, this matter has spread throughout our circle. Now, we're just waiting for the decision."

These words struck Hao Shuai like a bolt from the blue, leaving him pale and swaying as if he could barely stand!

Wu Qian wore a playful, cat-and-mouse smile, took a step forward, almost touching Hao Shuai's face, and said in a low voice, but loud enough for the people around them to hear:

"Hao Shuai, let's be frank. What do you think is the best way to handle your dad's situation? Should we try to minimize the problem, or... um?"

Hao Shuai stood there, trembling violently.

On one side is Zeng Long, who treated him sincerely and like a brother, and the dignity of the entire class. If he leaves with Wu Qian now, it would be tantamount to trampling Zeng Long's face underfoot, and tonight's banquet would become Zeng Long's eternal shame.

On the other hand, there was the precarious future of his father, who had raised him, and even the fate of the entire family! The Wu family certainly had the power to influence the course of this matter.

His fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his nails digging deep into his palms, drawing blood, but he didn't even notice.

Veins bulged on his forehead, and cold sweat poured down his face.

For the first time, he felt that the scales of fate were weighing on his shoulders so cruelly that no matter which way they tipped, he would pay an unbearable price.

The private room was deathly silent. Everyone held their breath, watching Hao Shuai struggle in agony on his face. A suffocating tension hung in the air, like a taut string about to snap.

Zeng Long remained calmly seated in the main seat, but a cold, sharp glint, like the scales of a dragon in the dark night, flashed and disappeared in the depths of his deep, abyss-like eyes.

He stopped looking at Hao Shuai and instead turned his gaze indifferently to Wu Qian, who had a smug sneer on his face.

That gaze, calm, seemed to contain the power of judgment.

He felt that Yuetingyuan tonight was not just a place for him to thank his classmates, but more like the center of a huge vortex.

But no matter what Hao Shuai chooses, he won't blame him, because he truly considers Hao Shuai a brother, so he's waiting for Hao Shuai's final decision...