"I told you—if you ever come to Jinnan, look me up. You actually showed up? Not bad! How’d you manage to find me?"
Selina Shi strode off the stage, heading straight for Evan Lin. She walked right through the crowd that had just been brawling, her eyes curious as she looked at Evan calmly seated in his chair.
As soon as she spoke, Luke Lu and the others—who’d just been sneering at Evan Lin—scrambled up from the floor. Hearing Selina’s words, they all froze in shock.
Up on stage, Ryan Chen and Hugh Hu—just done with their backup dance—stared blankly over at Evan’s side. The moment they recognized Evan’s face, a flicker of disbelief flashed through their eyes.
Lynn Chen stood in the corner of the stage, a little dazed. In her pink gown and waterfall of black hair, Selina Shi looked far softer and more feminine than her usual ponytail-and-sportswear style, making her even more striking tonight.
Just now, when Lynn saw Selina take the stage, she only felt a vague sense of familiarity. Now it hit her—this was the same girl they’d run into in Whitewood County last time, when Evan Lin was escorting her and Yolanda Fang back to the hotel: the carefree girl riding a bike, singing with earbuds in, totally at ease with herself.
"Just came along to watch the show with someone—not here specifically for you."
Evan glanced at Selina, who’d plopped down right next to him without a care, and gave a slight nod.
That answer left the crowd even more baffled. These days, there’s a whole army of guys dreaming of getting close to Selina Shi, and this kid was totally unfazed by her making the first move?
"Selina, you two actually know each other?"
Luke Lu edged forward nervously and asked the question.
Selina shot him a look, eyes narrowing mischievously. "Little Qiu, what’s up? You trying to manage my business now?"
Little Qiu?
Hearing Selina call him that, Luke—who’d just been acting all high and mighty in front of Evan—didn’t get mad at all. In fact, he looked flattered, waving his hands frantically. "No way, no way, how could I ever meddle in your business, Selina?"
Clutching his bruised crotch, Ryan Ren finally limped offstage. When he saw what was happening, his face turned pale. He spun around and shouted at Ryan Chen and Hugh Hu, "Ryan! Hugh! That guy’s bad news—he’s just some nobody transfer from a backwater school! He tried to chase Lynn Chen, and now he’s making a move on Selina too!"
"Hurry up and take him down!"
Ryan Ren didn’t care about anything else—his big confession had just crashed and burned, and now Evan Lin actually knew Selina Shi? Selina was supposed to be off limits, the exclusive territory of Hugh Hu and Ryan Chen.
Grinding his teeth, he was clearly trying to borrow someone else’s knife to do his dirty work.
"You’re the one who’s out of your mind, Ryan!"
Seeing Selina suddenly sit down with Evan Lin, laughing and chatting in front of everyone, Lynn Chen felt a wave of discomfort in her chest.
Hearing Ryan Ren’s rant, Lynn Chen couldn’t take it anymore. She stormed over and gave him another hard kick, making him howl in pain.
That kick made even more people turn their heads to stare at Lynn Chen up on stage.
Feeling all those eyes on her, Lynn glanced over—and met Evan Lin’s calm gaze, along with Selina’s equally serene look. The double dose of indifference made her heart clench painfully.
She shot Evan a fierce glare, didn’t even spare another look for Ryan Ren sprawled onstage, and stomped off in a huff.
"That’s the girl we ran into in Whitewood County last time, right? She looks pretty mad. Aren’t you going to chase after her and smooth things over?" Selina asked with a hint of amusement, watching Lynn storm out of the hall.
Evan shook his head. "No need."
"She’s obviously really upset. Did you do something truly unforgivable to her or what?" Selina gave Evan a sidelong glance, her eyes twinkling with interest even as she sounded a bit disdainful.
"I didn’t do anything monstrous, but in her mind, I’m probably already public enemy number one. Comforting her isn’t my job." Evan watched Lynn dash out of the hall and yawned.
Next to him, Jason Liu was black and blue from the beating, while up on stage, Ryan Chen and Hugh Hu kept eyeing Evan warily, clearly unsure what to do.
"Hugh, get him!"
Ryan Ren howled in agony, clearly pushed past his limit.
Now, all eyes in the hall shifted to Hugh Hu.
Luke Lu was watching Hugh with eager anticipation.
"Selina’s supposed to be Hugh’s girl. Now this random kid shows up to stir things up—how could Hugh not be pissed?"
"Trying to steal Hugh’s girl? You must have a death wish! Doesn’t he know who Hugh Hu is?"
"Look at Hugh’s face—this kid’s done for tonight. No way he’s walking out of here in one piece!"
The whole crowd buzzed with gossip and speculation.
Hugh Hu strode forward, glaring at Evan Lin. He barked coldly, "Last time I let you off easy, but now you dare show up in front of me and act tough? There’s nobody here to back you up tonight!"
He still remembered that scene at White Dragon Mountain Resort, when Old Man Su from Jinnan and Sawyer Summer from Brightsea both stepped in for Evan Lin. Hugh Hu hadn’t forgotten it for a second.
"Not sure who let who off, honestly. How’s that dog you brought with you doing?" Evan sneered.
Zack Guang, Hugh Hu’s top pseudo-Vajra lackey, had his arm wrecked by Evan Lin last time and was still recovering at home. So when Evan brought him up, Hugh had to hesitate—he knew none of his school cronies could really put Evan down. And seeing Jason Liu standing there, beaten bloody but not making a sound, even Hugh was a little shaken, thinking Jason must be Evan’s hardcore little brother.
Selina rolled her eyes at Hugh. "Enough, Hugh. Keep running your mouth and I’ll really turn on you." She glanced at the crowd still blocking Jason Liu, then said lightly, "And the rest of you—what are you standing around for? If you want to watch the gala, stay. If not, get out now."
Selina’s voice wasn’t loud, but the second she spoke, all the students who’d been crowding around Jason Liu hurriedly backed off.
"And you, Hugh—didn’t you plan a whole lineup of performances for tonight? Get on stage and start the show. Hosts, get up there and announce the acts. Don’t waste my time!"
Selina leaned back in her seat and stretched lazily.
Hugh’s face twisted between anger and frustration. He’d worked with the student council to set up all these acts Selina liked, hoping to watch with her after his backup dance—but Evan Lin had swooped in and stolen the spotlight.
Luke Lu and Sharon Shen looked like they’d just eaten something foul, staring at Evan Lin in a daze.
For a moment, every eye in the hall turned to Hugh Hu on stage, waiting for his next move.