Nina Pei returned to her seat. Claire Sheng and Evan Lin were chatting, while Lynn Chen beside them looked a little cold, clearly unhappy.
But Nina Pei couldn't be bothered with Lynn Chen's attitude. Her goal was to matchmake Evan Lin and Claire Sheng. As a close friend and bestie, not stealing someone else's crush was her principle and bottom line.
"Here, your drinks—and some popcorn too."
Nina Pei handed over what she was holding.
"Thanks."
Lynn Chen replied.
Evan Lin took the water and had a sip.
The reason Evan Lin was sitting here was honestly because he hadn't watched a movie in ages.
Back in the day, watching movies was always a class activity organized by the school. This was his first time coming in with a few girls like this—it felt pretty fresh and novel.
Soon, the movie started.
All the lights around went out, leaving only the glow from the big screen up front.
Faye Zheng and the others fumbled their way in through the dark, each finding their seat.
When Leo Li entered, he didn't forget to scan the audience, hoping to spot that long-legged girl from before. But the theater was too dark—he couldn't see clearly, so he had to give up.
This horror movie was about a vengeful female ghost.
The early part of the film was fine, but once the ghost actually appeared, the theater erupted in waves of terrified screams.
Most of the shouts came from the women.
Leo Li sat there, glancing expectantly at Faye Zheng beside him. But Faye just munched on fries, watching the ghost without the slightest sign of being scared into his arms.
Up in the seats, Lynn Chen was sneaking glances at Evan Lin's profile.
Evan Lin's expression was calm, not a ripple of emotion in his heart.
Her gaze shifted to Claire Sheng, who was sitting on Evan Lin's other side.
Claire Sheng's little face was a bit pale—she kept getting startled and covering her mouth, shrieking over and over, but she never quite threw herself into Evan Lin's arms.
Lynn Chen, you gotta go for it.
Lynn Chen cheered herself on inside. No way was she going to lose—especially not for some random reason.
Because of the Haiyang Sheng family's appearance today, things between her and Evan Lin felt a little weird. She remembered Lu Shu's advice, and just then saw a girl in the front row, startled by a scary scene, shriek and dive straight into the guy next to her.
Seeing that, Lynn Chen got an idea. She took a deep breath, braced herself, and just as another ghost popped up on screen, she let out a scream, pretended to be a frightened little bunny, squeezed her eyes shut, and flung herself toward Evan Lin's side.
Her heart was racing—she could practically feel the warm embrace coming.
But unexpectedly, Evan Lin's phone buzzed and he happened to stand up right then.
Lynn Chen lunged—and landed right in the empty seat. The armrest jabbed her already-small chest, making her eyes water from the pain.
Sis Lynn, are you okay?
Claire Sheng jumped in shock, turning to look at the slumped Lynn Chen, face full of worry.
Nina Pei saw what happened and felt a little sympathy.
"I'm... I'm fine..."
Lynn Chen managed a weak smile, and in the dim light of the theater, shot Evan Lin a fierce glare.
"As long as you're okay. I need to step out and make a call."
Evan Lin said softly, then walked out with his phone.
"That was a dramatic dive—just a bit too slow."
Nina Pei commented, and as soon as she spoke, Lynn Chen's face turned bright red and she gritted her teeth.
Who could've guessed Evan Lin would stand up at that exact moment?
The surprise was so sudden, Lynn Chen was mortified—she wished she could just disappear.
Evan Lin stepped out of the theater with his phone and called the number back.
"Master Lin, I just got word—Butcher Tu from Oceanport has come to Jinnan again these past few days. This time he seems genuinely furious; he’s been working hard, searching everywhere for you…"
On the other end of the line, Sam 'Second Brother' Su sounded nervous.
Evan Lin could understand why.
Earlier, he’d crippled one of Butcher Tu’s disciples at the Wu family, then killed another in the hallway of a Jinnan apartment block.
Unless Butcher Tu was an idiot, he’d definitely connect the dots. No wonder he was so angry now.
"Got it."
Evan Lin replied coolly.
"Should I just tell him who you really are?"
Sam asked carefully.
Word had gotten out in Jinnan about Master Lin from Seacrest defeating Morgan Yang.
Lately, Master Lin’s reputation was at its peak. Sam was hoping to use this to test Tu Hubao, maybe scare him off with Lin Yi’s identity.
"If you say I am, you think he’ll believe it?"
Lin Yi let out a mocking laugh.
Sam gave an awkward chuckle at that.
Even he wasn’t sure if Lin Yi was really the one who defeated Morgan Yang.
The rumors said that the Master Lin who buried Morgan on Thousand-Saints Mountain was a young man with flaming red hair and eyes that looked like molten lava.
All those stories didn’t match the Lin Yi Sam knew at all.
He couldn’t imagine Lin Yi dyeing his hair red—just wasn’t his style.
If Sam went straight to Tu Hubao and told him all this, there was almost no chance he’d believe it. More likely, he’d drag the whole Su family into trouble—totally not worth it.
With Tu Hubao being a first-grade Vajra, no one in the Su family could take him on. Even in all of Jinnan, except for a few truly hidden big families, there probably weren’t many people who could balance him out.
"Let him keep looking—no rush. Sooner or later, I’ll meet him anyway," Lin Yi said calmly.
Sam wanted to ask about the connection between Lin Yi and the man from Thousand-Saints Mountain, but he swallowed the words.
Lin Yi hung up.
Footsteps sounded behind him.
"Lin Yi? What are you doing here!"
Zheng Fuyi had left the movie halfway to use the bathroom, and ran into Lin Yi just as he finished his call. Her face darkened: "I called you so many times, and you kept saying you were busy—is this what you were busy with?"
"Your mom told you to accompany me in Minghai! But as soon as I arrived, you disappeared!"
"And those guys driving that day—who were they? Were they acting on your orders?"
Zheng Fuyi pressed him, her expression hostile.
That day, they’d nearly frozen to death.
For a girl like Zheng Fuyi to be stuck walking through ice and snow with a bunch of guys in shorts—if word got out, it’d be a huge blow to her reputation.
"Even going to the bathroom is more important than you," Lin Yi said flatly, looking at Zheng Fuyi. "Don’t think you’re that special."
"And watch your attitude when you talk to me."