The pool?
Hearing Evan Lin's words, Ryan Chen and the others instinctively glanced toward the pool.
The pool was still five or six meters away from where they were sitting. The group of adults nearby were gathered around a long table, chatting and laughing, so hardly anyone was paying attention to what was happening on this side.
"Are you out of your mind?" Ivy Zhang heard Evan Lin's words, glanced at the pool, and felt that what Evan was saying was just pure nonsense.
That far away, and he thinks just clenching his fist could make Ryan Chen fall in?
"You must be nuts." Yolanda Wang couldn't help but chime in, looking at Evan Lin with pure disdain in her eyes.
Lynn Chen and Yolanda Fang were both completely baffled.
Meanwhile, Ryan Chen was staring at Evan Lin's hand—there was nothing in Evan's palm.
"Like I'd ever believe you. Are you screwing with me?" Ryan Chen shot to his feet. The moment he stood up, he saw Evan Lin sitting there, slowly clenching his fist.
Ryan Chen instinctively tensed up, but after a second, nothing happened. There wasn't the slightest change, let alone anything as ridiculous as falling into the pool. As he glanced back at Evan Lin, frowning and about to step forward to grab Evan and haul him up, his foot suddenly slipped.
Right in front of Ryan Chen, an almost invisible layer of water had somehow gathered beneath his feet, as if it had been quietly waiting there all along.
Ryan Chen stepped onto it, and his expression instantly changed as his center of gravity lurched uncontrollably to the left.
He instinctively stretched out his right foot, trying to steady himself, but as soon as it landed, that foot slipped too. Ryan Chen found his entire body completely out of control.
"Ryan!"
Ivy Zhang and Yolanda Wang watched Ryan Chen stagger step by step toward the pool, their faces changing instantly.
"Oh my god, Evan Lin, when did you learn fortune-telling? Did you pick that up from the old immortal at Fenghua Mountain?" Yolanda Fang widened her eyes, clicking her tongue in amazement.
In everyone's eyes, Ryan Chen moved step by step closer to the pool's edge, then with a crisp splash, fell straight in, sending up a spray of water.
Ivy Zhang and Yolanda Wang rushed to the poolside, while Lynn Chen's mouth hung open in disbelief.
"He was just plain unlucky. Had nothing to do with me." Evan Lin leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head, and yawned.
After falling in, Ryan Chen crawled out of the water looking totally disheveled.
"You little punk! Are you looking for trouble?" As soon as Ryan Chen climbed out of the pool, he shoved Ivy Zhang and Yolanda Wang aside, his face full of anger. He strode straight toward Evan Lin, shouting at him.
"What are you trying to do?" Lynn Chen saw Ryan Chen's hostile look and aggressive posture, her pretty face changing as she stood up from her seat.
"Hey, you fell into the pool all by yourself. Are you seriously going to start a fight over it?" Yolanda Fang stood up too.
Ryan Chen was taller than Evan Lin, and his face was twisted with rage, looking downright scary.
"Yeah, I'm going to do it! So what?" Ryan Chen didn't even glance at Lynn Chen or Yolanda Fang. He had no idea what was really going on, and deep down he knew his own carelessness had caused the fall, but his pride just couldn't take it.
Ryan Chen's face flushed red as he strode forward, reaching out to grab Evan Lin by the collar.
Evan Lin narrowed his eyes. Just as Ryan Chen's hand was about to grab his collar, Evan stood up with crisp precision and drove his knee straight into Ryan's stomach. Ryan's eyes went wide as a surge of pain exploded in his gut; his face turned red, he staggered back two steps, lost his balance, and plopped down on the ground.
He glared at Evan Lin, his eyes full of rage, but couldn't get a word out—his mind was just a mess of pain.
"Moron." Evan Lin glanced at him, shook his head slightly, and said it with pure disdain.
"Ryan, are you okay?" Ivy Zhang rushed over, squatted down, and reached out to help.
"Why did you hit him!" Yolanda Wang glared hard at Evan Lin.
"It was Ryan Chen who made the first move, okay? Evan Lin just resisted a little, and you guys are being totally unreasonable." Yolanda Fang grabbed Lynn Chen and stood beside Evan Lin, her brows raised.
The commotion on this side finally caught the attention of the adults nearby.
"Ryan, what happened?" Sharon Chen saw Ryan Chen sitting on the ground clutching his stomach, her face changing as she hurried over.
Sharon Xiao, Stella Cui, and the others rushed over too, looking concerned. "What happened? Did you eat something bad?"
"Mom! It was that country bumpkin who hit him!" Ivy Zhang shouted to Sharon Xiao, then pointed at Evan Lin.
"I can testify!" Yolanda Wang quickly chimed in.
Sharon Chen lifted her head, stared hard at Evan Lin. "Why couldn't you just talk it out? Did you really have to hit someone? Is this what your mother taught you?"
"You're way out of line! And to think I was planning to offer your mom a high-paying job!" Sharon Chen glared at Evan Lin, eyes blazing.
"Joy, your kid can't go on like this. You really need to keep him in check. He just met Ryan Chen and already started a fight? If he acts like this in society, who knows how many people he'll offend." Stella Cui looked at Joy Zheng, her gaze full of meaning.
Lucy Lu and Joy Zheng stood to the side, watching the scene with furrowed brows.
"I believe Evan wouldn't hit someone for no reason." Joy Zheng said firmly.
"Yeah, I know Evan too. Instead of blaming him, maybe you should ask what actually happened. Otherwise, just dumping everything on the kid without even figuring it out is pretty brainless." Lucy Lu squinted at Stella Cui.
"Enough, enough. Kids roughhousing isn't a big deal. It's just an accident, right, Ryan?" Neil Kong looked at Ryan Chen and asked.
Ryan Chen gritted his teeth and nodded, but his eyes were still full of anger as he looked at Evan Lin.
No matter who was at fault, just being knocked down by Evan Lin was enough to make Ryan Chen feel humiliated.
Right now, all Ryan Chen could think about was finding a chance to get even, not running to his parents.
Evan Lin stayed calm and indifferent, glanced at Ryan Chen, then at Sharon Chen, and said, "It really was just an accident. But if you don't keep an eye on your son, more 'accidents' might happen."
"You!"
Hearing Evan Lin's words, Sharon Chen and the rest all changed expression. There was no mistaking the threat in his tone.
Being threatened by a teenager?
Everyone felt it was absurd, but the way Evan Lin spoke, so calm and certain, made them grudgingly respect him.
Neil Kong's face darkened, but just then he glanced toward the villa and spotted several important guests arriving. His expression changed instantly, and he quickly pulled Sharon Chen aside, whispered in her ear, and after she shot Evan Lin a hateful look, the two hurried off to greet the newcomers.