Lucy Bai.
Hearing that name, Evan Lin didn’t pay much attention.
Tanya Zhan accompanied Evan Lin all the way to the airport, watching as he took his boarding pass and entered the waiting hall before finally turning to leave.
"Grandmaster Victor Zhou of Hong Kong, I hope you won’t let me down."
Evan Lin gazed calmly at the blue sky outside the airplane window.
Tanya Zhan had bought Evan Lin a first-class ticket.
Seated, Evan Lin closed his eyes to rest.
Across the aisle sat a person wearing sunglasses and holding a baseball bat, with a black mask covering most of her face.
She kept her head down, reading a film magazine in her hands, while next to her sat a sharp, capable man in a suit.
The man glanced around, his eyes sweeping over the faces of the other men in first class, full of vigilance—like a leopard waiting for its prey.
"No need to be so tense. This is first class—people here shouldn’t be as rude as those outside."
The woman, masked, glanced at the man guarding her through her sunglasses.
"Yara, you don’t get it. Men are all pretty much the same—money doesn’t really change their nature."
The man listened to her and smiled. "Don’t worry. This time, I’m taking you to Hong Kong for the film festival, so your safety is guaranteed."
"Besides, we might meet some of the Hong Kong Li family while we’re there."
As he spoke, the man’s voice noticeably lowered.
The Hong Kong Li family.
That name carried real weight.
The woman paused, hesitating a bit. "Can we not go?"
"Back when that Li family guy came to Oceanport to sell Youth-Preserving Beauty Pills, he tried more than once to get me to drink with him. I thought he was some big shot, but in the end he left in total embarrassment, didn’t he?"
"I heard it was because of Master Lin from Seacrest—he was the one who forced that Li family guy out of Oceanport. Do you really think the Hong Kong Li family is as powerful as the rumors say?"
As she spoke, the woman closed her magazine, glancing at the man beside her.
"Master Lin from Seacrest is definitely impressive, but don’t think the Li family left Oceanport because they were scared of him."
The man paused, then continued, "You know the Hong Kong Li family’s real base is in Hong Kong. Oceanport was never their home turf."
"Plus, the Hong Kong Li family has always been backed by Grandmaster Victor Zhou—one of Hong Kong’s three great grandmasters. His mystic arts are legendary, and years ago he single-handedly secured the Li family’s place in Hong Kong."
"Master Lin from Seacrest might be famous for his youth, but Grandmaster Zhou has been renowned for ages—he’s the real deal."
"There’s really no comparison between the two."
The man shook his head. "If you ask me, Grandmaster Zhou just couldn’t be bothered to leave Hong Kong or deal with Oceanport. Honestly, Master Lin from Seacrest isn’t worth the trip."
"Also, let me tell you—besides you, Serena Tong will be at the film festival too."
"Serena hasn’t filmed anything lately, but her popularity is still sky-high. If she steals the spotlight, it won’t be good for us."
"But as long as we get in good with the Li family, winning film festival awards and landing new movie deals will be a breeze."
As the man spoke, the woman nodded in agreement.
Just as she was about to speak, someone suddenly spoke up.
"Serena Tong is going to Hong Kong too?"
The woman was momentarily startled by the voice.
She turned toward the sound and saw the young man sitting across the aisle.
The young man was leaning back in his seat, eyes closed, as if he hadn’t even glanced her way.
"Yeah, this year’s festival is in Hong Kong. It’s important for us—Serena Tong included."
The woman spoke instinctively, her voice a bit louder this time.
She had barely finished speaking.