Seeing Ray Lei once again steer the conversation back to Evan Lin, the young masters present grew curious.
Originally, they hadn't planned to pay any more attention to Evan Lin.
After Shen Yuanbao exposed Evan Lin, he was already seen as a useless nobody in their eyes—just a random bystander, with no value to exploit. They figured after tonight, they'd never bother with him again.
The line stretched far. Gloria sped up, walking ahead of Evan Lin, determined to leave him hanging for a bit so he wouldn’t say anything stupid.
Shen Yuanbao glanced thoughtfully at Evan Lin, then shifted his gaze between Ray Lei and Gloria Rong, quickly forming a rough guess in his mind.
Is this a jealousy thing?
"Honestly, looking at you, you're not exactly handsome, and your family doesn’t seem to have any special background, but at least you seemed honest. Now even that’s gone. You’ve got no shot at chasing Gloria anymore, Evan Lin."
Thinking this through, Shen Yuanbao got the picture, laughed out loud, and fixed his gaze on Evan Lin. Then he asked, "Yeah, this Evan Lin—since you're Gloria's friend, you must have some kind of background, right? Or do you not even know what Pointing-to-Mystery is, or what real strength means?"
Gloria opened her mouth, intending to explain, but then thought maybe this would make Evan Lin feel more pressure—so she stayed silent.
She glanced at Evan Lin, hoping to see some reaction on his face—but all she saw was calm indifference, which only made her even more furious inside.
"That's right, Gloria. You haven't properly introduced this friend you brought yet," another person nodded. "All we know is he said his name is Evan Lin, but that's about it."
"Why not, since we haven't gone in yet, you tell us—who do you think is stronger, the Teenage King of the Ring or Master Lin of Seacrest?"
Gloria frowned, gave a noncommittal reply, and didn’t say much more. But when Shen Yuanbao mentioned Young Master Ju the Third, she was a bit annoyed—she didn’t really want Evan Lin to know how much power Allen Ju actually had.
Gloria Rong knew exactly what they were thinking, but she had no intention of stopping them or explaining anything.
Thinking this, Gloria glanced at Evan Lin, who showed almost no reaction—he didn’t even seem to notice the hint of caution and respect in Shen Yuanbao’s tone when he said Young Master Ju the Third.
In this circle, it's all about tangled interests. Gloria made it clear—she didn't really believe Evan Lin could offer Allen Ju enough leverage, so their friendship was relatively pure.
When Gloria and the others finally got on the elevator, and Evan Lin was just about to step in, suddenly the alarm sounded inside the elevator.
As soon as he finished speaking—
Evan Lin shook his head.
Seeing how stubborn he was, Gloria was grinding her teeth in frustration. But remembering her main goal tonight was to secure a connection with Master Lin of Seacrest, she just snorted coldly: "Just don’t say stuff like that in front of Master Lin."
Ray Lei was instantly annoyed, his face darkening.
Shen Yuanbao squinted, slapped Ray Lei’s arm, and sneered, "Come on, Gloria, looks like the guy you brought might be a little brain-damaged."
"What’s up with this? He basically said nothing at all. If the Teenage King of the Ring is stronger than Master Lin of Seacrest, then that means Master Lin is a fake?"
The others shook their heads, scoffing at Lin Yi. A few girls had already lost interest in him completely.
"Even if you want Gloria to notice you, you can't say such brainless stuff."
A girl sighed, shooting Lin Yi a sideways look: "Hey, let me tell you—Gloria hates guys who talk slick, and even more, she hates self-important idiots."
"Honestly, looking at you, you're not exactly handsome, and your family doesn’t seem to have any special background, but at least you seemed honest. Now even that’s gone. You’ve got no shot at chasing Gloria anymore."
She said all this casually, not forgetting to glance at Gloria Rong.
Gloria opened her mouth, intending to explain, but then thought maybe this would make Lin Yi feel more pressure—so she stayed silent.
She glanced at Lin Yi, hoping to see some reaction on his face—but all she saw was calm indifference, which only made her even more furious inside.
Classic case of not knowing how to appreciate kindness!
Are you really planning to use Allen Ju as your backing and mouth off here?
As the group shuffled forward, when no one was paying attention, Gloria couldn't help herself—she leaned in and whispered, glaring at Lin Yi: "Do you realize, in this crowd, Shen Yuanbao might look like he's always smiling, but if he figures out he can win Ray Lei's favor by humiliating you—and use that to get closer to Master Lin of Seacrest—he'll do whatever it takes!"
"This circle isn't like your pure friendship with Allen Ju!"
Gloria's voice was a bit harsh.
In this circle, it's all about tangled interests. Gloria made it clear—she didn't really believe Lin Yi could offer Allen Ju enough leverage, so their friendship was relatively pure.
But that kind of pure friendship, while it looks solid, is actually the least reliable.
"This doesn’t really have anything to do with you."
Lin Yi shook his head.
Seeing how stubborn he was, Gloria was grinding her teeth in frustration. But remembering her main goal tonight was to secure a connection with Master Lin of Seacrest, she just snorted coldly: "Just don’t say stuff like that in front of Master Lin."
"I really don’t want to lose my chance to negotiate with Master Lin of Seacrest because of you."
As Gloria was speaking, Shen Yuanbao and the others had already reached the elevator lobby on the first floor.
There, a long line had already formed—most of them had come just to catch a glimpse of Master Lin of Seacrest.
The line stretched far. Gloria sped up, walking ahead of Lin Yi, determined to leave him hanging for a bit so he wouldn’t say anything stupid.
"By the way, Gloria, your friend still hasn’t shown up?"
Shen Yuanbao turned back to look at Gloria and asked.
"I just texted him, but he hasn’t replied yet. Maybe he’s already inside."
Gloria shook her head. Hearing this, Shen Yuanbao nodded and grinned. "Gloria, if your friend shows up, you’ve gotta introduce us."
"By the way, does he hang out with Young Master Ju the Third too?"
Allen Ju’s family was on a whole different level for everyone present.
This circle was all about nested layers of status.
If it weren’t for Master Lin of Seacrest showing up tonight, Shen Yuanbao’s group would probably be waiting respectfully at Scholar’s Court for Gloria’s friend to arrive.
Gloria frowned, gave a noncommittal reply, and didn’t say much more. But when Shen Yuanbao mentioned Young Master Ju the Third, she was a bit annoyed—she didn’t really want Lin Yi to know how much power Allen Ju actually had.
If this kid really found out about Allen Ju’s influence, wouldn’t he get even more arrogant?
Thinking this, Gloria glanced at Lin Yi, who showed almost no reaction—he didn’t even seem to notice the hint of caution and respect in Shen Yuanbao’s tone when he said Young Master Ju the Third.
Up ahead, the crowd kept moving forward, and the elevator carried groups down to the underground boxing arena.
When Gloria and the others finally got on the elevator, and Lin Yi was just about to step in, suddenly the alarm sounded inside the elevator.