Everything happened far too suddenly.
Director Victor Su's head hit the floor with a deafening crack, splitting the boards open on impact.
"Y-you-you!"
Blood streamed down his forehead as he staggered, dizzy. When he finally came to, Director Victor Su stared in terror at the calm-faced teenager before him. "You think you're above the law now, huh? How dare you hit me!"
Bang!
Before he could finish, Evan Lin slammed his head into the floor again.
This time, half of Director Victor Su's head went straight into the subfloor beneath the wood, busting a hole through the planks.
"Ah!"
Nearby diners cried out in shock.
Lynn Chen's face went pale. She bit her lip, clearly scared by the scene unfolding in front of her.
"So much blood..."
Beside her, Lana Yu was shaking all over.
Melissa Xu looked frightened too.
Irene Xu gripped Lynn Chen and Stella Huang's hands tightly. She even shifted a step closer to Lynn, shielding her from the worst of the bloody scene.
"Answer my question."
Evan Lin yanked Director Victor Su's head out from under the floorboards and stared him straight in the face.
"I'm just a fart! I'm nothing but a fart! I was wrong! Please, let me go!"
Director Victor Su locked eyes with Evan Lin, and the cold, indifferent look in the teenager's eyes scared him out of his wits.
"So now you know you're just a fart?"
Evan Lin shook his head, then turned to look at Leo Li, who'd just been slapped flying across the room.
Right now, Leo Li was clutching his phone, making a call. When he saw Evan Lin looking his way, his face twisted with fear, but he still shouted into the receiver, "Yeah! It's at Riversouth Garden Bistro!"
"Director Su's been attacked! Hurry, get people over here! Hurry!"
By the end, Leo's voice was already trembling with panic.
After hanging up, he scooted backward on his butt, yelling at Evan Lin, "If you've got guts, don't run! You'll see what real power looks like soon enough!"
"How dare you hit our Director Su and ignore Su International Group! You're in for it now!"
Leo Li was acting half-crazy, torn between fear and anger.
He'd been humiliated by this kid again and again, and that slap just now had left a clear five-finger mark on his face, making him look utterly pathetic.
Originally, Leo had planned to use Lana Yu and Melissa Xu's job prospects as leverage to force Stella Huang to be his girlfriend.
But all his schemes had collapsed the moment Evan Lin showed up.
"Director Su, I've already called Security. They'll be here any second!" Leo Li shouted.
Director Victor Su's face lit up at those words.
But Evan Lin still had him by the head, so he didn't dare show any joy.
Smack!
Evan Lin slapped Director Su across the face.
"Security, huh? Are they coming for me?"
Evan Lin looked at Director Su, a half-smile on his lips. "Looks like this Leo Li is your right-hand man. Not bad. He really knows how to get things done—called for backup right away. Impressive."
Smack.
Evan Lin slapped Director Su again, right across the face.
Director Su, who'd just taken two slaps out of nowhere, was on the verge of tears. His face was numb from the blows. "It wasn't my idea! Leo just acts on his own!"
Director Su looked utterly miserable, wanting to escape but unable to move. The supposedly frail teenager's grip was terrifying, like having a heavy iron pot clamped over his head—he couldn't even lift it.
"Damn it! Leo Li, who told you to run your mouth like that?"
Director Su whipped his head around, glaring fiercely at the trembling Leo Li sitting on the floor.
Fine, call for backup if you have to, but did you really have to announce it out loud?
That kid must really want to see me get beaten up even more.
Director Su fumed, genuinely pissed off by Leo Li's lack of tact.
"I... I..."
Leo Li couldn't even finish his sentence, too scared to speak.
Meanwhile, the fat guy who'd taken a beer bottle to the head from Evan Lin was still sprawled out on the floor, unconscious.
"Young man, please don't make trouble in my restaurant. Once Su International's people get here, you won't be able to leave. Why not go now? I'll call an ambulance, just in case anyone's really hurt."
The manager of Riversouth Garden Bistro was a skinny man in his forties. Seeing the chaos, he hurried over to try and calm things down.
For a business owner, troublemakers like this were the worst nightmare.
Not only does it hurt business, but it's also dangerous.
Looking at the blood on Director Su's forehead, the manager felt a chill. If someone really died or this blew up in the news, his restaurant's future would be in jeopardy.
"No need for an ambulance. He won't die—maybe just a concussion. Worst case, he'll be a fool for the rest of his life." Evan Lin shook his head, let go of Director Su, grabbed a napkin from a nearby table to wipe his hand, then turned to Lynn Chen and the others. "You all should leave first. I'll handle things here."
He paused for a moment. "If you haven't eaten your fill, go find somewhere else to eat. No point staying here."
Hearing Evan's words, Stella Huang and Irene Xu exchanged glances, hesitated, then nodded in agreement.
They trusted Evan's judgment and even more, his skills. Almost no one could hurt him.
Stella Huang called over Lana Yu and Melissa Xu, who both looked pale and frightened. She pulled them by the hand, leading them around Director Su and out of the restaurant.
Lynn Chen had wanted to stay, but in the end, Stella and Irene pulled her out of Riversouth Garden Bistro too.
As she left, Lynn glanced back inside. She saw Evan Lin casually pull up a chair, grab a dish from the table, and—foot planted on Director Su's back—start eating without a care in the world.
In that instant, Evan's figure reminded Lynn of countless movie heroes.
Alone, fearless, the youth's heroic bearing was just like those on the silver screen.
All around, the other diners subtly scooted their chairs farther away from Evan Lin—no one wanted trouble.
The teenager's wild, untamed air caught the eyes of a few girls in the crowd.
Moments later, two black seven-seater vans screeched to a halt outside Riversouth Garden Bistro. The men who got out looked fierce and intimidating, making the diners shrink back in fear. As they glanced at Evan Lin, worry flickered in their eyes.