As soon as Sylvia Xia finished speaking, Gordon Guo burst out laughing.
He didn’t dare say anything, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t laugh out loud.
The rest of his group all turned their gaze straight toward Evan Lin.
They wouldn’t dare provoke Bi Fangzheng and the others into anger all at once—after all, everyone here is from Beijing, and small friction is fine, but going too far isn’t.
But now that Evan Lin has stepped out on his own, they don’t mind taking a shot across the mountain—after all, looking around, he’s the softest target here.
Bi Fangzheng, Calvin Zheng, and Sun Wanwan all frowned, worry showing in their eyes.
“Being this proud of your own ignorance is also a kind of talent.”
Evan Lin replied calmly, neither angry nor upset.
His response left Sylvia, Gordon, and the others—who’d been waiting to see him lose his cool or be shamed—completely stunned.
“Are you saying I’m ignorant?”
Sylvia Xia’s eyes widened, her gaze already sharp with anger. “I’ve been to more places than you’ve even heard of!”
“You’ve been to a lot of places, sure—that’s what you said. Not knowing about Brightsea, that’s also what you said. If everything’s whatever you say, then as long as you’re happy, right?”
Selina Wu chimed in with a laid-back smile, her tone almost lazy.
Sylvia froze again, caught off guard by the comeback.
Her mind blanked for a second—something felt off, but she just couldn’t argue back.
Something really wasn’t right here.
Wasn’t her original goal to trash Brightsea for being some no-name backwater—and then to shade that kid’s background?
How did just two lines of chat get so off-track—and not only off-track, but twisted around until she’d tied herself up in knots?
Sylvia was still sorting through the mess in her head, staring down, deep in thought, unable to say a word.
Grace Liu’s eyes sparkled with delight—she almost wanted to clap right then and there.
They’d finally found a weak spot in Evan Lin, and there was no way they were letting go.
“You think you can just run your mouth like that?”
Sun Wanwan’s expression soured. “Sorry, but I had no idea about this ‘circle stuff’ until you brought it up. Guess I just learned something new today.”
“So is it because I’m not part of your circle, or do you guys have a whole separate clique to spread this gossip?”
He stared at the guy, whose smile froze instantly.
“Yeah, when Allen shows up, I’ll ask him if he knows about this—or maybe let him ask you guys himself.”
“Let’s see if Allen knows he’s been made into the official ‘bootlicker’ of the circle—years of real feelings turned into a running joke, a total laughingstock.”
Calvin Zheng nodded, giving Evan Lin a friendly slap on the shoulder. “You’re Selina’s friend, which makes you our friend. Whatever happens, I’ll bring you along in business, and I’ll give you an extra half percent of profit.”
“Seriously, not to brag, but you’re way better than that loudmouth just now. That guy’s gonna end up tossed in the sea to feed the fish sooner or later.”
Calvin had thought it over for a long time before finally deciding to stand up for Evan Lin.
He, Frank, and Sun Wanwan had definitely felt a flicker of annoyance when Evan’s background gave Gordon’s crew a chance to score face—but that was a separate issue.
Still, since Selina brought Evan, they had to cover him, no matter what.
At the very least, he was half one of their own.
Not to mention, Evan’s comeback to Sylvia had been so satisfying.
Hearing Calvin’s words, the guy’s smile collapsed, his face twitched, and his eyes practically shook with panic.
“Come on, Brother Cai…”
He looked bitter. “I… I didn’t say anything, really. Just forget it, okay?”
If those words had been said in front of Allen Ju, he’d be in serious trouble.
Allen doesn’t get angry often, but when he does, it’s real.
He hadn’t thought before speaking, and now, caught red-handed, he was scared out of his wits.
“Now you know how to call me ‘bro’? Now you know how to admit you messed up? Where were you earlier?”
Calvin snorted and turned to Evan, grinning. “See, this type of guy shines when things are easy, but the second trouble comes, he folds like a puppy.”
Honestly, even if he begged me in tears to do business together, I wouldn’t bother. You’re way better!
Calvin slapped Evan’s shoulder again, clearly in a great mood.
With Gordon’s crew keeping their mouths shut, sitting on pins and needles, no one dared say another word.
Outside, the sound of engines revving echoed in.
Judging by the sound, the cars were still far off, but their engines were so loud it was deafening.
Gordon’s face lit up as soon as he heard it, jumping to his feet.
His confidence returned, and he grinned. “Tyson’s here.”
“Looks like Allen should be arriving, too.”
“Come on, let’s go greet them! No one took me up on my bet about which car Mia will get out of, but it doesn’t hurt to welcome her, right?”
He looked over at Sun Wanwan and the others.
Frank, Calvin, and the rest stood up at once, nodding.
Selina Wu followed Evan Lin, hanging back a bit as they walked outside with the crowd.
Evan was genuinely curious—what kind of girl could make Allen Ju chase after her so devotedly for years?
He glanced at Selina walking beside him and noticed her brows were furrowed, a hint of worry in her expression.
Judging by the sound, the cars were still far off, but their engines were so loud it was deafening.
Gordon’s face lit up as soon as he heard it, jumping to his feet.
His confidence returned, and he grinned. “Tyson’s here.”
“Looks like Allen should be arriving, too.”
“Come on, let’s go greet them! No one took me up on my bet about which car Mia will get out of, but it doesn’t hurt to welcome her, right?”
He looked over at Sun Wanwan and the others.
Frank, Calvin, and the rest stood up at once, nodding.
Selina Wu followed Evan Lin, hanging back a bit as they walked outside with the crowd.
Evan was genuinely curious—what kind of girl could make Allen Ju chase after her so devotedly for years?
He glanced at Selina walking beside him and noticed her brows were furrowed, a hint of worry in her expression.