Principal Li’s Eyes Shone with Light

“Boss, we…”
“No need to say more.”
Outside the Hidden Dragon District Police Bureau of Jianye City, Han Zitong, sitting in the car, was momentarily speechless. The voice on the other end of the call said, “Han Zitong, bring your people back first.”
“Yes, boss.”
After hanging up, Han Zitong looked helpless. He had thought this trip to Jianye would go smoothly, but it turned out to be a miscalculation.
Too many things had been misjudged.
He assumed Li Jie was just a foolish university student, but though the guy was indeed a bit of a brute, he was far from simple.
Li Jie’s interests in official circles were well-managed; Han Zitong admitted that at eighteen, he could never have played the game as deftly as Li Jie.
Li Jie wore many hats. Besides being a freshman at Jianye Art College, he was also the owner of “Creative Ability”; a partner of Su Yongzhi, a candidate for council member of Hidden Dragon District; the leading figure in children's work production in Jianye City since “New Yuhua Culture” collapsed…
Even without all that, the two toy factories he opened in the old warehouse district along the river contributed impressively to taxes and employment.
Fine, let’s set all that aside.
At the very least, Li Jie was still a “Model of Courageous Action.”
His identity as “Masked Brother” would let him enjoy free rein for a couple of years.
Since it was revealed that “Masked Brother” was Li Jie, the school had been eyeing that honor closely.
Why did Li Jie have such fearless courage, rushing into a burning building to save children?
Because Li Jie applied to Jianye Art College, of course.
Otherwise?
If he weren’t good-hearted, he’d have gone to Jianye University — why come to the art college?
Officially, Li Jie had no reason to worry.
In short, he wasn’t concerned about open conflict.
That was nothing.
Yet Han Zitong was puzzled. He rolled a pair of “Tiger Head” walnut handpieces in his palms, sitting in the passenger seat, and curiously asked, “Old Gao, do you think this kid’s got something wrong in his head? Doesn’t he know that if the second young master can’t win openly, he’ll try something underhanded?”
The driver was a middle-aged man, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, his hair perfectly in place, and white gloves on his hands as he gripped the steering wheel.
His entire manner was scholarly and gentle.
As they left the Hidden Dragon District Police Bureau, he adjusted his glasses and said calmly, “Here’s the question — this time, four people followed the second young master, so how did he end up with a broken leg in Luzhou?”
“…”
“Old Han, never underestimate any eccentric from the underworld. Even though your skills have declined, you were elite in the army. You’re a professional, yet he nearly crippled you with a single kick.”
“That’s true.”
“And I’m certain he held back. Maybe, as he says himself, he was born with tremendous strength.”

“This kid…”
Han Zitong touched his abdomen, which still ached faintly. Thankfully he’d been dressed thickly, with a stab-proof waist protector underneath; otherwise, if the kick had landed squarely, he dared not imagine the consequences.
The boy was truly strong.
“Let’s head back to Chang’an and see how the boss wants to handle it. As for the second young master, inform the lady boss.”
“Old Gao…”
He frowned slightly. Inform the lady boss?
Could that end well?
“Trust me, you won’t go wrong.”
“Alright then.”
Han Zitong was troubled. He had no choice but to assign people to investigate Li Jie again; many things couldn’t be found through public channels.
This misjudgment was serious, and it had cost Luzhou Police Bureau two officers — no one could smooth it over.
Jianye made more noise, with more intimidation; Luzhou couldn’t compete.
At the school’s welcome banquet, Chen Pi, who realized Li Jie had stirred up trouble, didn’t bother to confirm whether the kid had actually spent five hours round-trip to commit intentional injury.
“Did you get hurt anywhere?”
“Not a scratch.”
“Good.” Chen Pi said, “I heard from Guo Rong — this ‘Kaihuang Group’ is nothing to trifle with. Are you mentally prepared?”
“What’s there to fear? I’m an orphan.”
“…”
Fair point!
Chen Pi was stumped for a moment, then asked, “Aren’t you worried the ‘Kaihuang Group’ could use legal means to put you away?”
“Ridiculous. Then let’s just play size — whoever’s strongest is God, whatever they say goes, and the weak just give up resisting altogether.”
“…”
Knowing Chen Pi cared, Li Jie patted his arm. “Relax, Brother Chen. If one conglomerate could cover the sky with one hand, there’d be nothing left to play for. The public order is something big conglomerates must uphold when they reach a certain level. That’s an unchanging truth.”
“I haven’t read much. Don’t fool me.”
“Then read more books from now on.” Li Jie grinned and clinked glasses with Chen Pi. “This public order is their own creation. If they abandon it, then don’t blame the rise of thirty-six rebel kings and seventy-two dusty roads.”
“…”
“Relax, Brother Chen. I was born strong. At worst, I’ll be seriously injured, but dying isn’t so easy.”
“That’s true.”
Nodding, Chen Pi was suddenly enlightened.

Originally, it was just a comeback; now, it meant extra earnings.
Chen Pi was about to reward himself handsomely when he suddenly remembered something. He turned and whispered, “What if ‘Kaihuang Group’ goes for dirty tricks?”
“Tsk.”
Li Jie smirked, threw an arm around Chen Pi’s shoulders, and walked toward the buffet table, speaking excitedly, “Brother Chen, like I said, I was born strong.”
“Alright.”
Chen Pi, reassured again, still wanted to ask: what if someone shot him point-blank in the head? What if someone strapped themselves with grenades for a suicide rush? What if someone chased him for a thousand miles in a dump truck…
But such worries were endless; better not to dwell on them.
When the two finally tucked into the buffet in high spirits, Vice President Li Yisheng, in charge of arts and sports development at Jianye Art College, approached with a wine glass, smiling as he greeted Li Jie, “Good job, young man — talented in both arts and fighting.”
Vice President Li Yisheng was tall, though not as tall as Li Jie; handsome, but not as handsome as Li Jie; his smile gentle as spring sunshine, but not as bright as Li Jie’s…
In short, he was a middle-aged, low-budget version of Li Jie.
But his aura was full, thanks to the black eye patch he wore, for his left eye had been removed years ago.
Thus, Vice President Li Yisheng’s nickname was “One-Eyed Dragon” — not just among the students, but throughout the college, the whole Hidden Dragon District, and even all of Jianye City.
After all, “One-Eyed Dragon”… was still a dragon.
Principal Li’s connections far surpassed Li Jie’s.
At this moment, he felt the urge to nurture talent, and also wanted to protect his student.
“Do you need something, Principal?”
Li Jie swallowed his beef roll and wiped his mouth with a napkin, looking at Li Yisheng in confusion.
“I heard Li Lingbo from ‘Daye Film’ approached you?”
“Yes, he did. He said he could introduce me to channels in Korea and Japan.”
“Hmm.”
Li Yisheng nodded, took a sip of wine, and continued, “Since your dealings with ‘Daye Film’ were strictly business, I didn’t interfere. But now that you’ve fallen out with ‘Kaihuang Group,’ things are much easier. I do have some connections with Japan’s ‘Kukai Entertainment Agency.’ I can help you make introductions, as Vice President of Jianye Art College.”
“How’s the revenue split?”
“Fifty, thirty, twenty. Fifty percent for you, thirty for me, and the remaining twenty for the school.”
“Principal’s care for his students is admirable. I’m willing to give you an extra ten percent.”
“No need.”
Principal Li’s face was solemn. “I, Li Yisheng, am a man of principle. Thirty percent means thirty percent.”
Looking at the principal’s single remaining eye, Li Jie was moved: In that eye… there was light.