"Victor, that's enough. Stop talking for a bit."
Listening to Victor ramble on endlessly.
Emily Yi couldn't take it anymore. She shot him a look and frowned.
"I'm just stating the facts. Why can't I say what I want?"
Victor snorted in contempt, glancing at Evan Lin: "So you're still not ready to give up, huh?"
"You..."
Victor hadn't even finished his sentence.
Evan turned around and kicked him right in the stomach.
A spike of pain made Victor's eyes bulge. Clutching his belly, he doubled over and started dry-heaving.
Whatever else he wanted to say got stuck in his throat.
Evan controlled his strength perfectly.
He didn't send Victor flying, nor did he make him scream in pain.
That way, he avoided any unnecessary noise.
"Are you okay?" A guy stepped forward to help Victor up.
Emily Yi and the other girls were stunned. None of them expected Evan to actually make a move.
But none of them said anything.
Everyone headed into the hotel.
Up ahead, Ethan Lu kept chatting with Mia Chen, oblivious to what just happened behind.
In the hotel lobby...
Ethan Lu grabbed a stack of room cards and handed them out one by one.
"Your rooms are upstairs. Hold onto your room cards."
Ethan Lu waved his hand, and a hotel staffer quickly came over. "They're all my friends. Please take care of them."
"If they need anything, do your best to accommodate."
After giving instructions, the staff nodded respectfully.
"Mia, I need to head over to Emperor International Hotel for some business. If you need anything, just call me—don't feel awkward."
Ethan smiled, "Also, about what I mentioned in the car—you can think it over."
He finished speaking, glanced at Evan Lin standing nearby, squinted slightly, and finally said in a colder tone, "The guy you clashed with earlier is Ryan Ren from the Ren Family."
"I can protect you once, but not a second time. So behave, stay inside the hotel, and don't step out."
"Otherwise, if something happens to you, don't blame me for not warning you ahead of time."
"Take care of yourself."
Ethan's attitude toward Evan was much colder than toward everyone else.
"This is my own business. No need for your concern," Evan replied, shaking his head, his tone flat.
Ethan was surprised—he hadn't expected this kid to talk back at a time like this. His mood soured instantly. "I'm only telling you because of Mia. If you don't appreciate it, that's your problem."
"If you don't know what's good for you, then there's nothing I can do."
"Frankly, you alone aren't worth even a bit of my attention."
His words carried a clear edge.
The others were stunned by what they heard.
Mia stepped forward to smooth things over, glancing at Evan with concern.
"I'm heading out for now. I'll come back later. If you want to go anywhere nearby, just ask the staff."
Ethan gave Mia a gentle smile, then turned and left.
His entourage followed him out.
He definitely had the air of a young master.
As Ethan left, he didn't spare Evan a single glance.
Once they'd gone...
"Evan, just stay with us. Don't leave the hotel—it's too dangerous outside," Mia said, hesitating. "Is that okay?"
"I've got my own business to handle. You don't need to worry about me. The Ren Family is nothing to me."
Evan shook his head.
Hearing this, Emily Yi and the other girls glanced at Evan again.
Their expressions were complicated.
"What's wrong with you? Ethan made it clear—the Ren Family is powerful here on Seahaven Island. If you leave the hotel, you'll be in real danger!"
One girl couldn't take it anymore and stepped forward, her face showing anger. "Mia's just worried about your safety. That's why she wants you to stay."
"We're not trying to hurt you. There's no need to reject Mia's kindness just to save face! Is your pride really more important than your life?"
She was frustrated by his stubbornness.
It felt like every word Evan said was just about saving face.
But right now, the Ren Family was clearly not to be messed with.
"You only made it back safely because Ethan was there. If he hadn't been, do you think you'd still be standing here talking?"
She was really dissatisfied.
She wasn't looking down on Evan—she just thought he was acting childish.
Way too impulsive.
"If Ethan wasn't around, the ones in trouble would be the Ren Family."
Evan shook his head.
His words made the girl's face flush with anger.
She honestly didn't know what to say anymore.
"Who is Mia Chen?"
Just then, a girl about 1.65 meters tall in sportswear stormed in from outside the hotel, clearly angry.
She was pretty, but nowhere near as eye-catching as Mia.
Behind her, several bodyguards followed respectfully.
Just one look and you could tell those bodyguards were seriously intimidating.
"That's Cindy Hong, the senior."
One girl recognized her and paused in surprise.
Mia looked over at her too.
Cindy Hong was from the External Relations Department, but Mia hadn't joined any student groups in college. She'd only heard Cindy's name before, never met her face to face.
"That's me," Mia replied instinctively, looking at Cindy.
"So it's you, huh?"
Cindy strode up, her expression unfriendly, and stopped right in front of Mia. "What exactly did you do to Ethan Lu?"
"Why is he so hung up on you?"
Cindy's voice was cold.
She was clearly here to cause trouble.
"Senior Hong... you misunderstood. Mia and Ethan barely ever interacted before," Emily Yi stepped up, trying to smooth things over.
"Barely interacted? If that's true, why would he invite Mia? Why would she come?" Cindy shot back, her tone hostile.
Cindy looked down at Mia, "I'm warning you—if you don't leave right now, before I really get angry, you'll regret it!"
Cindy pressed on, "A little sparrow like you, dreaming of clinging to Ethan Lu and becoming a phoenix?"
Mia's face went pale at her words. She bit her lip, eyes reddening. "I didn't!"
"Didn't?"
"You dare deny it to my face?"
Without another word, Cindy raised her hand to slap Mia across the face.
Her hand was just coming up...
About to come down...
But suddenly, her wrist was grabbed and held fast by someone.