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

As soon as Zeng Long got into his car after leaving the solemn and oppressive environment of the General Staff Headquarters, he received an unexpected phone call!

It turned out to be Professor Liu Jianguo, his lecturer of "Advanced Macroeconomics" at Beijing University of Technology.

Professor Liu is renowned throughout Peking University for his strict requirements, meticulous academic attitude, unsmiling demeanor in class, and astonishingly high failure rate. He is privately known by students as the "Cold-Faced Yama".

From the other end of the phone came Professor Liu's signature voice, serious yet seemingly tinged with a subtle hint of teasing:

"Zeng Long, it's getting harder and harder to find a student like you."

The school must be more like a temporary hotel for you, right? Showing your face once a week is already considered giving them a lot of face.

What? Do you think that because you've already succeeded in your studies, you look down on Jingqing University and us old folks who are almost out of touch with the times?

Zeng Long subconsciously touched the tip of his nose, a look of embarrassment appearing on his face.

This professor's way of speaking is simply too much to handle.

"Professor Liu, you flatter me. I'm really sorry, I've been dealing with some very important matters lately, so I've had to take more time off. I hope you can understand."

"Heh!" Professor Liu chuckled softly on the other end of the phone, his tone unreadable, neither pleased nor angry.

Forgiveness? I dare not have any opinion about you, the most outstanding and "famous" student since the school was founded, let alone talk about forgiveness.

You're a big star now! Even we old guys have heard the news. You've become the "Prince Charming" in the hearts of almost every girl in the school, haven't you?

Even students from other schools are asking about you.

So, when will our incredibly popular "internet celebrity" college student have some free time to condescend to visit our school, or perhaps "pay a visit" to us old folks?

Zeng Long's forehead almost creased with annoyance; this professor's ability to make sarcastic remarks was truly formidable.

He had no choice but to lower his stance, his voice carrying a rare hint of ingratiation:

"Alright! Professor Liu, you give the word, and I'll be there right away! Just tell me, what do you need me for?"

Professor Liu, seeing that things were going well, stopped joking and his tone became more formal:

"I mentioned it to you last time. The US, along with several top Western universities, organized an academic debate competition on socioeconomics, and they wanted to hold the first stop at our Peking University. Do you remember that?"

Zeng Long recalled briefly: "Yes, I remember. But Professor Liu, I'm really very busy right now, and I'm afraid I won't have time to participate in such a large-scale debate competition."

"Sigh..." Professor Liu sighed on the other end of the phone, as if he had expected this:

I knew you'd say that.

Therefore, in order to accommodate you, the school has specially devised a flexible plan.

If you are too busy to participate in the entire debate, then you can join this debate group first. You will not be responsible for participating in the debate, but only for reviewing and approving all the academic materials, data and arguments of the entire group, and regularly exchanging your views and ideas with the group members.

This way, it won't take up too much of your time, and it will also ensure the quality of our preparation.

The requirements aren't high; you just need to come to school for two or three hours each day, day or night, whichever is more convenient for you. With this arrangement, you can't possibly refuse anymore, right?

Zeng Long thought for a moment. This plan was indeed very flexible and did not conflict with his urgent matter.

"Okay, Professor Liu, I accept this arrangement," Zeng Long agreed.

"That's more like it!" Professor Liu's tone softened a bit. "The debate team's temporary meeting room is in Room 306, Building B, Administration Building. There's a meeting and preliminary discussion for all team members at 2 PM this afternoon. You need to be there to familiarize yourself with the situation and the members. That's it, be there on time!" Professor Liu finished speaking without room for argument and then hung up the phone decisively.

Zeng Long glanced at the time and shook his head helplessly. It seemed he was in for a busy day.

2 PM, Conference Room 306, Building B, Administration Building, Beijing Qing University.

The small conference room was now filled with more than twenty student elites from different departments who had been selected to join the debate team. There were men and women, and it should have been a place where elites gathered and ideas clashed, but at the moment it seemed a bit chaotic.

The noisy arguments, impatient chatter, and heated debates about the direction of the argument were mixed together, creating a restless and disorganized atmosphere.

"Enough! Anyone who makes another sound, I'll throw them out!"

A cold, menacing roar suddenly drowned out all the noise, like cold water poured into a hot oil pan, instantly silencing the conference room.

The speaker was a boy sitting in the main seat, with a sinister look in his eyes, exuding undisguised arrogance and impatience.

He is Chen Yifeng, the student union president of Jingqing University and the grandson of the wealthy Chen family in Beijing.

His vindictive nature and privileged family background made him someone few dared to provoke at school.

Chen Yifeng abruptly stood up, took a few steps to the boy who had been arguing the loudest—a boy with black-rimmed glasses, a refined yet stubborn demeanor—and looked down at him, speaking in a cold tone:

"Qin Fan, listen to me clearly. I, Chen Yifeng, am the rightful leader of this debate panel! Therefore, all academic information, debate materials, and the final direction must be controlled and decided by me! Do you understand?"

The boy named Qin Fan adjusted his glasses; although there was a hint of nervousness on his face, his eyes were filled with defiance and determination.

"Chen Yifeng, if we continue down the path you just proposed and with the existing shoddy materials, we are bound to lose! Since I'm the deputy group leader appointed by the school, and I don't even have the right to express my opinions or improve the plan, what's the point of me participating? Can I withdraw now?"

At this moment, Yan Ruge, who was sitting on the other side and had a cold and elegant demeanor, also stood up.

As a talented woman in the sociology department and the granddaughter of Yan Fushan, she naturally had no fear of Chen Yifeng.

"Chen Yifeng, this debate concerns the reputation and honor of our Jingqing University and even the nation! If you're going to run your own show here and suppress dissenting opinions, what's the point of having so many of us students here? Why don't you just go and participate by yourself?"

After she finished speaking, she turned her gaze to Qin Fan and several other classmates who were also clearly dissatisfied with Chen Yifeng. "Qin Fan, let's go! We're not needed here, and we can't play any role!"

As Yan Ruge spoke, she prepared to walk towards the door.

However, Chen Yifeng let out a cold sneer, the sound not loud, but clearly carried throughout the entire conference room:

Yan Ruge, don't be naive.

Do you know how many leaders are paying attention to this debate?

Don't forget, your aunt, Vice Principal Yan, is one of the main organizers of this event!

He deliberately emphasized the words "chief organizer," his tone carrying an undisguised threat:

Since I was "recommended" as the group leader by the school leaders, everything has to be done according to my instructions!

You have a problem? Want to leave? Sure, the door's open.

At worst, we'll just participate casually this time, go through the motions, and lose badly.

However, Vice Principal Yan will likely bear the majority of the consequences and responsibility for the "inadequate preparation and ultimate defeat caused by your departure."

If he faces criticism or even wider repercussions, I'll feel bad, but there's nothing I can do. Don't you agree?

"You...!" Yan Ruge turned around abruptly, her face pale with anger, her outstretched index finger trembling slightly as she pointed at Chen Yifeng!

"Chen Yifeng! Don't try to scare me with such a low-level threat! I, Yan Rugo, will simply apply to the school administration right now to withdraw from the group! Your underhanded schemes might work on others, but they won't work on me!"

Chen Yifeng, still sneering, leisurely surveyed the other students in the conference room who were now trembling with fear, and slowly said:

"You can apply to withdraw, and given your background, the school probably won't make things difficult for you. But... what about them?"

His gaze, like a cold blade, swept over Qin Fan and the other hesitant students. "Do they dare? Do they even intend to graduate smoothly from Jingqing University? Do they even want to make a living in Beijing?"

These words, like invisible shackles, instantly gripped the throats of most people. Even Qin Fan, who had just been so assertive, moved his lips but ultimately only lowered his head in dejection, no longer daring to meet Chen Yifeng's gaze.

The clash between academic ideals and the pressures of reality left these high-achieving students feeling utterly powerless. A suffocating, despairing silence instantly filled the conference room.

However, within this oppressive silence—

With a soft creak, the heavy wooden door to the conference room was gently pushed open from the outside.

A tall, straight figure appeared at the doorway, backlit by the corridor light.

In an instant, all eyes in the conference room, whether desperate, angry, or cold, focused on this uninvited guest.

As soon as Zeng Long entered the room, he sensed the extremely abnormal, heavy, almost frozen atmosphere, as well as the complex gazes cast upon him by everyone.

He paused slightly, his gaze quickly sweeping across the room before finally settling on Yan Rugo, who was closest to the door and whose face still held a hint of anger.

He hesitated for a moment, then calmly broke the silence:

"What are you doing here? Is this... the debate group meeting room arranged by the school?"

When Yan Ruge saw Zeng Long, a flash of great surprise crossed her eyes, and she subconsciously replied:

"Yes, everyone here is part of the debate team. You... how did you get here?"

Zeng Long recalled Professor Liu's phone call and gave a helpless twitch of his lips:

"Me? I guess you could say I was 'conscripted' here."

His gaze passed over Yan Ruge and landed on Chen Yifeng, whose face instantly turned extremely ugly and whose eyes were so sinister they seemed to drip with water.

Zeng Long's lips curled into a half-smile, his tone carrying a hint of casual teasing:

"Hey! Isn't this our young master Chen? What are you doing here? Tsk, why does your face still look so gloomy, like someone owes you millions?"

After saying that, he seemed completely oblivious to the strange and tense atmosphere in the conference room, and unconcerned about Chen Yifeng's almost murderous gaze. He walked to an empty chair near the door and sat down calmly.

His arrival was like a boulder thrown into a pool of already turbulent water, instantly stirring up unpredictable waves.

Chen Yifeng's face grew even uglier, while Yan Ruge, who had been furious, regained her bright eyes.