Hearing Victor Liu's threat, Leon Long instantly exploded: "Screw you! Who do you think you are!"
As he cursed, Leon was about to charge forward, but Ian Song pulled him back.
Then Ian stepped forward, looked at Victor, and said, "Senior Victor, why don't we both take a step back? There's no need to make things so tense."
Victor curled his lips in disdain. "So what if it's tense? Bottom line, this guy has to apologize or it's not happening."
"Oh?" Ian smiled. "Do you really think my apology is so cheap? You say it doesn't count, so it doesn't count?"
At first, Leon was indeed in the wrong, so when he got KO'd by Jihyun Choi and kicked back by Victor, Ian didn't plan to help. In fact, he even apologized to everyone on Leon's behalf. But Victor's relentless attitude started to annoy him—did Victor really think Ian's apology was so cheap that anyone could just accept it?
Besides, Ian wasn't so rigid that he'd side with reason over his own friends.
"This has nothing to do with you. Kid, you'd better stay out of it!" Victor said arrogantly, his tone even carrying a hint of threat.
Ian replied in a low voice, "Leon is my roommate—what do you think, should I get involved or not?"
Victor glanced at Ian with amusement. "Alright, since you want to get involved, I'll give you a chance. Let's fight. If you win, we'll let it go. If you lose, you have to slap yourself twice in front of everyone!"
"Ian, don't agree to that!" Leon shouted anxiously, quickly stepping up to Victor. "Let me fight you!"
"Leon, step back. He's challenging me!" Ian reached out and pulled Leon behind him.
"But Ian...!"
Ian waved his hand confidently. "Relax. I can handle someone who only knows a few cat-scratch moves."
In the crowd, seeing this scene, Kelly Wu whispered, "Ian is pretty responsible, but he really doesn't know his limits. Victor isn't quite as strong as Jihyun Choi, but he's not far off. Fighting him will only get you wrecked."
"Second Sis, you mean Ian might lose?" Kelsey Zhang asked worriedly.
"Not might—definitely!" Kelly said with total certainty.
"No way, I have to stop him!" As she spoke, Kelsey Zhang hurried over. "Ian, you can't beat Senior Victor. Don't fight him!"
"What, you really don't believe in me at all?" Ian flashed Kelsey a reassuring smile, trying to lighten the mood.
"It's not about believing in you, it's about actual strength." Watching Ian stubbornly ignore her warning, Kelsey felt a wave of helplessness and frustration, left at a loss for words.
Victor Liu spoke up at just the right moment: "Kid, if you back off now, I might let you off this once for Kelsey's sake."
"No need."
Ian shook his head lightly, stepped forward, and beckoned Victor with a finger: "Come on, show me what this so-called Taekwondo master can do."
"You want a beating, kid? I'll be happy to oblige!"
Victor's expression turned icy. He lunged forward, launching a fast, precise side kick straight at Ian's waist.
But Ian just stood there, unmoving—he didn't dodge, didn't flinch, didn't even raise a hand to defend.
Seeing this, Victor's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. He'd expected this kid to have some skill, but clearly he was useless. Victor could already picture Ian getting sent flying by his kick.
But reality is always cruel.
Just as Victor's foot was about to land, Ian suddenly raised his right fist and punched out.
The punch wasn't especially fast, but it landed on the inside of Victor's thigh just before his kick could connect with Ian's waist.