Humans Shrunk 100 Times

Chapter 175: Flagpole

After Tang Bin and the others left the hall, Shi Yuanjun gestured for Song Yu to come closer and spoke gently, "I know you don't like Tang Bin, but if Qingbei wants to progress in a higher direction, it should embrace a broad-minded attitude. As a leader, you should downplay personal preferences."

"Principal, I don't have such thoughts..."

"My condition is evident. Sooner or later, one of you three will lead Qingbei."

"Why can't we lead together?"

"Do you remember what I told you? Everyone has the right, which means no one has the right. This principle holds true even in times of peace, let alone the current situation. In matters concerning the organization, everyone can propose ideas, negotiate, but in the end, there can only be one person to decide, even if it's Tang Bin."

"Aren't you afraid of internal strife, benefiting a rival like Yizhong?" Song Yu felt a bit disheartened, not sure what he was reminded of.

"Yizhong is merely a stumbling block on the path of progress. You shouldn't treat them as opponents. Moreover, resolving internal conflicts is an essential lesson for a leader. If you can't even handle such conflicts, there's no point in thinking about the future."

Song Yu wanted to say something, but in the end, he just nodded in acknowledgment.

Shi Yuanjun had spoken too much at once and found his breath somewhat obstructed. After taking a few breaths, he asked, "So, what's the deal with this Chen Mu?"

"I told the truth."

"Are you sure we can't recruit him?"

"I was doubtful at first, but he has gathered a group of people behind him. It has been confirmed that it's the No. 9 gathering spot. Judging from their ability to resist Yizhong head-on, I estimate their numbers to be no less than 15."

"I know a little about this Chen Mu," Shi Yuanjun sighed suddenly.

"Oh?"

"The director of the welfare home he lived in when he was a child was my classmate. He greeted me once, asking me to take care of him and Liu Yi, you know, it's not easy for a sprout like him to come out of a welfare home. But that little guy was too low-key, and I never thought about him again. Was he in Class 5...?"

"Class 4," Song Yu interjected, not continuing further.

Shi Yuanjun looked somewhat embarrassed. "Was he in Dong Junwei's class?"

"Yes."

"I suspect Chen Mu is associated with Dong Junwei's group," Song Yu could talk about this topic endlessly.

Shi Yuanjun smiled faintly, glanced at Song Yu, who seemed a bit embarrassed under his gaze, and then said, "Dong Junwei might indeed be outstanding, and it's understandable why you can't forget her. But the person Class 4 should be most concerned about is not her."

"Who is it then?"

"Have you ever met Tang Jing before?" Shi Yuanjun asked.

"Principal, although I haven't focused much on studying, I do know that Tang Jing is the top student in our grade, even though we never spoke," Song Yu replied.

"If this girl were alive now, she would probably be Qingbei's most formidable competitor."

"Is she really that extraordinary?" Song Yu was taken aback.

"You've seen the strength of the survivors at the No. 9 gathering spot. I find it hard to believe that Tang Jing has no credit in it," Shi Yuanjun said, "Due to Dong Junwei's family background, Class 4 was recruited according to elite class standards, but it wasn't explicitly stated."

"Dong Junwei's family background...?" Song Yu's ears perked up.

"Old Dong is well-connected." Shi Yuanjun sighed, "But now, talking about these things is meaningless."

Song Yu actually wanted to continue discussing Dong Junwei, but he felt hesitant to bring it up directly, so he tried to approach the topic indirectly, "What about Tang Jing..."

Shi Yuanjun took a deep breath before saying, "If Tang Jing is indeed leading the survivors at No. 9, then I recommend approaching them with cooperation."

"But what if they refuse?"

"Then it's best to resolve the issue with force as soon as possible. Otherwise, once they grow stronger, none of you will be a match for Tang Jing." Shi Yuanjun's speech gradually slowed down, and he seemed to struggle to speak.

"What makes her so special?" Song Yu didn't notice the change in the principal and furrowed his brows, pondering the question.

"I can't explain it clearly, but she..."

Before Shi Yuanjun could finish, he suddenly coughed out a mouthful of blood.

...

After a hectic rescue, Shi Yuanjun fell into a deep sleep in his room.

Song Yu closed the door for him and then descended to the lower floor through the spiral staircase.

This was the 15th floor of the circular building, the second floor from the top.

The top floor, the 16th floor, was occupied solely by the principal.

The 15th floor housed three people—Song Yu, Tang Bin, and an additional girl.

Of course, they each had their own separate rooms.

As they went lower, the living conditions worsened.

The bottom floor was the hall, and above the hall were six rooms, with eight people living in each room.

...

Song Yu returned to his room. The room was still relatively simple, but at least it had a set of table and chairs, as well as a bed. Remember, below the sixth floor, they slept directly on the floor.

Qingbei could guarantee the safety and food of all its members, but compared to the past, it still fell far short. Of course, no one would measure their current life by past standards. Even the lowest members, sharing a room with eight people on the floor, were better off than being outside, exposed to the elements.

Song Yu walked to the window. The steel wall had a piece of transparent plastic embedded in it, serving as the window. Of course, it couldn't be opened. On one hand, it was for safety, and on the other hand, the technology wasn't there yet.

Through the window, Song Yu looked outside at the vast playground, seemingly boundless. He imagined himself transforming into a little bird, passing through the window, and flying freely outside.

As he soared in the air and turned back to look, he saw a massive metal pole standing in front of the playground—the flagpole.

Yu Yuan hardly slept the entire night. His excitement was overwhelming. They had talked all night, and when they finally felt sleepy, they realized that it was already morning. They only dozed off for a short while before hearing people in the adjacent rooms getting up and leaving.

As newcomers, they couldn't afford to stay in bed at this time, so the three of them reluctantly got up with dark circles under their eyes. Besides feeling tired, Yu Yuan also noticed a slight change in his body – he was hungry. He hadn't experienced this feeling for a long time, which made him feel both refreshed and anxious.

In the past, when it was just the three of them, Yu Yuan could feel a gradual decrease in the feeling of being full, but it was slow enough for him to estimate how long he could endure. However, after spending just one night here, he woke up feeling famished. This worried him, fearing that his superpower might suddenly disappear.

Losing his superpower wouldn't be a problem, but he was concerned that others might look down on him for it. As he pondered his dilemma, he heard someone nearby shouting, "Time for breakfast!"

"Breakfast?" Yu Yuan suddenly forgot his worries and rushed to the canteen.

Everyone sat neatly, and Feng Xiaoyu and Qian Fei distributed the food. Breakfast was simple, made of crushed rice made into pancakes, with each person receiving a carrot and a tomato.

For Yu Yuan and the other two, this was already a very lavish meal. However, when everyone else had received their food, Yu Yuan realized that he was left out. Even Li Bo and Zhou Xuliang had their portions. Did they already know that his superpower had disappeared?

Despair filled Yu Yuan's heart. But in the next moment, he heard a girl's voice saying, "Yu Yuan, your breakfast is not here."

He recognized the senior sister; her name was Tang Jing. Everyone at Qiming Academy respected her, so Yu Yuan dared not take her lightly.

"Tang senior sister, then what should I eat?"

"Over there," Tang Jing pointed behind him.

As Yu Yuan turned around, he was blocked by Wei Dalei's tall figure. Old Wei was holding a huge wooden crate that crashed to the ground with a loud bang. The crate was filled with tomatoes.

"Come on, try a crate first."

Tang Jing showed a hospitable and warm smile.

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