At the banquet table.
"Their family lives in the Whitewood County shantytown. Who knows how he even got in here."
Victor Deng and Ivy Deng both glanced at him, while Lisa Liu's eyes flashed with resentment, her expression darkening.
Warren Wu was about to pick up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, but his hand paused midair.
Evan Lin walked over to Feng Kangnan, reached out and grabbed his wrist, speaking calmly: "Uncle Feng, drinking is bad for your health. Besides, drinking this won't make any difference."
"But as for our guest from Hong Kong, since he's a guest, shouldn't he be the one drinking?"
As soon as Evan spoke, Feng Kangnan felt the eyes of everyone around turn toward him. He especially noticed Magistrate Ma's dissatisfied look, which made his heart skip a beat. He looked at Evan awkwardly and pleaded, "Evan, I know you're worried about my health, but it's fine. I can handle it."
On the other side, Victor Lee saw the liquor in Victor Feng's hand being stopped and immediately frowned. "Hey, you over there—do you still want the contract or not? Magistrate Ma, who is this guy from your side? We're here to do business, so it's one thing if he eats with us, but if he keeps causing trouble, that's not acceptable."
Victor Lee's words were clearly aimed at Evan Lin.
Magistrate Ma looked thoughtful. He glanced at Selina Shi, remembering that this kid had come in with her group.
Before Magistrate Ma could ask, Lisa Liu—unable to hold back any longer—immediately spoke up: "I know! Magistrate, this kid's mother is just a teacher at Whitewood Elementary. He grew up without a father, totally lacking discipline."
"Their family lives in the county shantytown. Who knows how he even got in here."
After Lisa Liu finished speaking, she looked at Evan Lin with a gloating expression.
Right after she spoke, Victor Deng nodded as well: "I can confirm it. I know his mother."
Victor Deng was just piling on. Normally, as director of the Whitewood County Education Bureau, he'd never bother with Evan Lin. But last time in front of Director Chen, Evan had embarrassed his wife Flora Huang.
Just seeing Evan Lin here today had already surprised Victor Deng, and he never expected this guy to keep pulling such outrageous stunts.
Liu Hai watched Evan Lin force-feed Victor Lee baijiu, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
Nearby, the security guards saw the chaos and rushed in.
Thomas Liu glanced at Selina Shi, pondered for a moment, and said nothing.
Magistrate Ma finally spoke up, looking annoyed: "Young man, are you sure you're in the right place? If not, you should probably head home now."
"Magistrate Ma, if he doesn't leave, I think it'll be tough to keep negotiating our project." Victor Lee added coldly.
Magistrate Ma waved his hand, and several security guards from the guesthouse quickly walked over.
"Evan, let go." Seeing the security guards approaching, Victor Feng got anxious, worried Evan Lin might get hurt.
But Evan Lin just shook his head. With a light flick of his hand, Victor Feng was stunned to see the liquor bottle mysteriously appear in Evan's hand.
"Drinking this is pointless." Evan Lin held the bottle and walked straight toward Victor Lee.
"What are you trying to do!" Victor Lee saw Evan Lin heading his way, frowned, and barked sharply.
Thomas Liu glanced at Selina Shi and smiled, "Looks like your last-minute boyfriend has quite a personality."
He wasn't in a hurry to intervene. Honestly, Thomas Liu found Victor Lee pretty off-putting—something just felt wrong about him.
"Yeah, obviously." Selina Shi nodded. None of the three planned to step in.
"Stop right there! What do you think you're doing? Do you even see all these people here?" Magistrate Ma slammed the table.
Evan Lin strode right up to Victor Lee, completely ignoring Magistrate Ma, grabbed Victor Lee by the collar, lifted him out of his seat, and—without a word—jammed the mouth of the liquor bottle into his face.
"You're the guest from afar. If you like alcohol, then drink up."
"Evan, let go." Seeing the security guards approaching, Feng Kangnan got anxious, worried Evan Lin might get hurt.
Victor Lee, forced to drink, made muffled noises and struggled desperately, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remove the bottle from his mouth. The strong baijiu burned his throat, turning his face beet red.
"This is outrageous!" Victor Deng roared, furious.
"Call the police!" Lisa Liu egged them on from the side.
Liu Hai watched Evan Lin force-feed Victor Lee baijiu, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
Nearby, the security guards saw the chaos and rushed in.
"Arrest him! He's lost his mind!" Magistrate Ma shouted.
A squad of guards charged at Evan Lin, but right as the lead guard was about to reach him, he suddenly slipped. The ones behind couldn't stop in time and crashed right into him.
Before they could reach Evan Lin, the guards were already tangled up in a heap on the floor.
"Are you all useless?" Magistrate Ma snapped, frustrated, thinking the guards had just slipped by accident.
Thomas Liu spoke up: "Shilan, maybe your boyfriend should let go? He's made enough trouble for one night."
Before they could reach Evan Lin, the guards were already tangled up in a heap on the floor.
Thomas Liu couldn't help but laugh.
Victor Lee was force-fed so much alcohol that his eyes glazed over. As soon as Evan Lin let go, he collapsed drunkenly to the floor.
"Mr. Lee?" Magistrate Ma called, but got no response.
Magistrate Ma's face darkened. "Call the police!"
Lisa Liu hurriedly took out her phone to call the police. Thomas Liu didn't stop her, just watched Evan Lin with curiosity. "Do you even know what you're doing?" he asked.
"Of course." Evan Lin crouched down and pulled a phone from Victor Lee's pocket, glanced at it, then tossed it to Thomas Liu.
Clunk!
The phone landed squarely on the table in front of Thomas Liu.
"Have someone check the contacts in this phone. Whitewood County has been poor for years, and it's not without reason." Evan Lin sneered.
He was basically saying these people were incompetent.
He was basically saying these people were incompetent.
"You! You think you can just leave?" Magistrate Ma shouted angrily as Evan Lin tried to walk out.
"Hmph."
As Evan Lin passed Magistrate Ma, he casually patted his shoulder and said coolly, "Since you're not corrupt, just too clueless to get anything done, I'll let you off this time."
Bang!
Magistrate Ma's face twisted in shock as a tremendous force from Evan Lin's hand slammed him into his chair. He tried to get up, but found himself completely stuck.
By the time he came to his senses, all he saw was Evan Lin's back disappearing out the door.
"The contacts in this phone?" Thomas Liu squinted at Victor Lee's phone in his hand.