Chapter 130: I've Made a Mess!

"Chen Fan, take a good look at this. If you have any objections, you can raise them. If everything is in order, just sign your name."

The counselor pushed up his reading glasses and slid the notice of disciplinary warning toward Chen Fan. He clasped his hands together and said solemnly, "Fortunately, the injuries weren't serious. This is just a department-level warning, and it will only be posted outside the office for a week. It won't go into your permanent record, so don't worry."

Chen Fan took a closer look. Indeed, as the counselor had said, it would only be posted for a week, and likely fewer than fifty people would ever see it. Thinking that there was no reason for the man to lie to him, Chen Fan readily signed his name.

"I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused," Chen Fan said, putting down the pen and carefully sliding the paper back with both hands.

"I'm so sorry. When we get home, we will definitely discipline this child properly," Chen Fan's father chimed in, pressing Chen Fan's head down a bit as he spoke. "You child, how could you get into a fight with someone?"

"You're in university now. You need to be self-disciplined and stop looking for trouble everywhere," Chen Fan's mother said, gently patting his back.

"Chen Fan is a good student. He got into our school with such high scores; don't let this ruin your future. Alright, let's turn the page on this matter. You may take your child home now." The counselor spoke slowly, his energy waning with age; he had to pinch the bridge of his nose to stay alert after only a few sentences.

"Thank you, sorry to bother you," the family exchanged polite pleasantries, though Chen Fan felt as if he were being dragged out by force.

Of the two people he had hit, Fang Chang was fine; a single punch had only swollen half his face—making him look like a pig—but the swelling would naturally subside in a few days. The one wearing the jersey, however, had been unconscious for the entire afternoon and had to be put on three bags of IV fluids; he was truly delicate.

The parents of the other party had come to make a scene, which was a headache, but the school eventually stepped in to smooth things over. In the end, it had to be settled with money. Each of the three teeth knocked out cost a thousand yuan, plus the hospital fees—Chen Fan’s single punch had effectively cost him the price of three luxury club packages.

Chen Fan felt incredibly stifled. He hadn't started the fight, and the punch hadn't been his own doing, but who would believe that? He had no choice but to swallow the bitter pill.

"Paying the money is a small matter, but in the future, if you run into something like this, it's better to stay far away. This time you won, but what if you get caught by someone else next time and get beaten to a pulp? Your mother and I don't care about the money; we only want you to be safe," his father said once they were out of the office, his tone softening slightly.

His mother added, "You're an adult now, don't always think about fighting and brawling. At your age, it would be much better to find a girlfriend. Your father and I saw so many girls when we walked into the school; is there anyone you like? Why not try to pursue someone? It would be better to spend your energy on that. We are open-minded people; we don't have any harsh requirements."

"Huh? Why does the topic always turn to this? Didn't you say I was 'puppy loving' back in high school?" Chen Fan was confused. Ever since he started university, being single seemed to have become an unpardonable crime.

His mother revealed the truth, "Oh, these girls nowadays—if you really wait until you're out in society, they'll be hard to find. A house and a car are standard requirements. You don't even want to consider the housing prices here in Yuanyuan; the places where we could afford a down payment are two hours away from the city center."

"If there's an opportunity in university, you naturally have to seize it. They are all 'original stocks'—you never know when they might appreciate in value," his father nodded.

The old couple sang in harmony, leaving Chen Fan bewildered. However, seeing that they weren't blaming him for the fight, he agreed, "I'll definitely find someone before I graduate."

"No," they said in unison. "What will be left by your senior year? Have you secured a job? Where will you settle down? What’s your monthly salary? You have so much time in your freshman and sophomore years; stop playing video games all day."

Chen Fan looked back and forth, wondering why they were more anxious than he was. "Fate is a fickle thing... sometimes it just happens, but other times..."

His father laid down the law, "Fate is something you talk about after the fact. Boys need to be proactive; don't be shy. If you keep harboring secret crushes, you'll never have a chance. If you don't find a girlfriend by your sophomore year, you'll have to figure out your own living expenses for your junior year."

"What? That's not very democratic!"

Just as Chen Fan wanted to argue, his mother interjected, "We also signed you up for driving school on the way here. You know how it is in Yuanyuan—there are so many people that you have to wait half a month just to take the test. So you need to work hard and try to get your license within a year."

"Huh? Why do I suddenly have to learn to drive? The roads in Yuanyuan are so congested, having a car is useless. Won't I still have to take the bus or subway to work later?" Chen Fan was instinctively resistant, especially after having sat in his mother's car once; he felt like he had stared death in the face.

"Oh, we've already paid the fees. You're not a girl; if a boy nowadays doesn't even have a driver's license, he won't have any advantage in the marriage market. I don't care—even if you don't drive, you have to get that license for me first." His father didn't give him any choice, acting first and informing him later.

His mother encouraged him from the side, "That's right, learning to drive is easy for boys. Look at me, I'm so clumsy and I passed on the first try. The driving school is near the school anyway. You can go practice when you don't have classes or on weekends, get familiar with it, and then book your test. What is there to worry about?"

Chen Fan listened silently, unable to get a word in. The two of them were perfectly in sync, one sentence after another, completely disrupting his train of thought.

"Fine, I hope I can pass on the first try too," Chen Fan finally compromised.

"Hey, I'm still puzzled. That guy was taller and stronger than you; how did you manage to knock him down?" his father suddenly began to wonder.

"Why are you still talking about that? It's all in the past anyway," his mother said, looking displeased. She turned to lecture Chen Fan, "In everything, taking a step back brings a vast horizon. It’s not worth it to bicker over trifles with people. Never try to be a hero."

His father added, "Knocking out teeth is fine, but if you had kicked him in a certain place, our family would be destitute overnight."

"Don't worry, it won't happen again," Chen Fan pretended to be a docile lamb, but the knight's heart within him was still restless. This "loser card" was exceptionally fierce when it came to causing trouble, but whenever it was time to solve problems, the knight state would hide itself away completely, showing nothing at all.

"Oh dear, where are we going to find the money to cover that three thousand five hundred yuan?" His father rubbed his hands together, muttering to himself.

Chen Fan was familiar with this scene. Whenever his father fell into deep thought, he would always find a "suitable" solution. However...

"In the end, the wool still has to come from the sheep. Fan, starting next month, your monthly food allowance will be reduced by two hundred yuan until the end of your sophomore year," his father said with sudden clarity, smiling at Chen Fan.

"If you manage to find a girlfriend, we'll give you an extra three hundred yuan a month as a dating allowance. So, if you can't afford to eat, go find a girlfriend," his mother added.

Chen Fan: "..."