Luo Tianlin, that old geezer, pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and shook his head. "Out of the five thesis defense judges, four gave a failing grade. That's a fail, which is why."

Liu Zhizhong's spirit was crushed in an instant, feeling the iron fist of power smashing into his face. It hurt so badly, fueling such intense anger.

But there was nothing he could do about it.

When the Provincial Party Organization Minister said it personally, it represented not just him, but also the Party.

The Party is in charge of the Party's affairs, and if the big boss of the Party says so, how could a mere director-level staffer like him withstand it?

If the thesis defense was unsatisfactory, then what good was an excellent theory grade?

After Luo Tianlin finished speaking, he didn't even give Liu Zhizhong a chance to react, as if he was in a hurry, he got up and left.

Behind him, the other judges also departed one by one, without excessive language. Everything was based on his lead!

Liu Zhizhong stood alone in the empty defense room, discomfort filling his body and boundless anger with nowhere to vent.

When he finally came out, the spring dusk felt so gloomy, making one feel powerless.

He silently passed through the Party School campus, headed toward the dormitory, even his breathing felt so suppressed.

To hell with privilege, to hell with the big shots!

Was all this Zhang Hongyang's doing? Damn his grandmother, that bastard is not human!

What could he do now?

All he could do was go back to the dorm to pack up, take the final score tomorrow, and dejectedly slink back to Yangzhou.

He could only hope that an excellent theoretical test score, worth 60% of the grade, combined with the 40% from the paper, could somehow be enough to pass. That would warrant gratitude to the heavens.

When he arrived at the dormitory, Zhang Hongyang was sitting there smoking, smiling gleefully at him.

Liu Zhizhong really wanted to rush over and land a punch, but he controlled himself.

Today, he had felt the power of family politics, something that a man with neither shadow nor pedigree could not bear.

Zhang Hongyang chuckled, "Heh, brother-in-law, you don't look so good. Did your thesis fail to make the grade, earning only 58 points?"

Liu Zhizhong's face was icy as he looked at him coldly and replied indifferently, "Did you arrange this?"

"Me arrange? Arrange what? Make yourself clear!" said Zhang Hongyang with a face so innocent, he might as well have been the epitome of ignorance and confusion.

"Stop pretending. My thesis defense failure must have something to do with you."

"Haha…" Zhang Hongyang laughed heartily, slapping Liu Zhizhong's shoulder. "Bro, if that's what you think, then fine, I'll take the blame! Alas, you can't beat me, no matter how outstanding you are. Even if you were a lump of gold, Liu Zhizhong, I could figure out a way to bury you, you know?"

"You... it really was you!" Liu Zhizhong clenched his fist in an instant, then released it just as quickly, nodding, "Fine, you win, I'll remember you, is that okay?"

"Mm, that's fine, no problem. You remember, so remember, it's no use. When you get back to Yangzhou, heh, I might be promoted to district chief, and you… heh… just be good and stop fluttering in front of me, you're an eyesore. Of course…"

Zhang Hongyang's expression turned somewhat mysterious, "If you still want a chance, do as I say, and I can guarantee your thesis defense will pass."

Looking at his demeanor, Liu Zhizhong knew he was up to no good and said, "Sorry, I've already failed and don't want to think about anything else. Whatever you want me to do, I won't do it."

Having said that, he pushed open the dormitory door and walked in.

Zhang Hongyang, from behind, coldly said, "Liu Zhizhong, what the hell are you being so arrogant about? Without my advice, you'll never be able to hold your head high, never make anything of yourself!"

Liu Zhizhong looked back from inside the door, saying deeply, "It doesn't matter if I don't make anything of myself. I can manage to bring something into the world inside your sister's belly, calling you 'Uncle,' that kind of person."

"You... you motherf—"

"Bang!!!"

Liu Zhizhong slammed the door shut forcefully, the resultant gust hitting Zhang Hongyang in the face and cutting off his words.

"Uh…" Outside the door, Zhang Hongyang's face turned livid with rage, and with a fierce kick, he kicked the door open again…