"This has nothing to do with him. Let him go." Tanya Zhan pleaded urgently.
Hearing Maran Ma's words, Tanya's face changed. "Besides, he's just a student!"
"A student?"
Maran Ma shook his head. "If he really were just an ordinary student, that would be fine."
"This isn't your concern. Today, with all these people coming to witness my wedding, it's the perfect chance to show everyone just how miserable the fate is for anyone who dares offend the Ancient-Martial Markham Family."
"Even if the head of the Wang family among the Five Jiang-Zhe Families offends the Markhams, the result is the same!"
"And don't worry, Tanya. I'll execute that kid in your Zhan family's name, right in front of everyone. That way, your Zhan clan's reputation will spread far and wide."
Maran Ma spoke coldly.
Tanya Zhan's face turned pale at his words.
He was obviously forcing the Zhan family onto the opposite side of Master Lin from Seacrest.
That Eric Wang—Tanya had met him before, and she knew he was Master Lin from Seacrest's roommate.
"You've already gotten what you wanted—why create more trouble?"
Tanya Zhan bit her lip. "I can promise you—I will definitely listen to you and marry you."
"Can't you just let him go?"
Tanya's voice was low.
In front of the Ancient-Martial Markham Family, the Zhans were terrifyingly weak.
"Let him go?" Maran Ma echoed, mocking.
Maran Ma strode forward, grabbed Tanya Zhan by the hair, leaned close, and smiled. "Alright, I'll give you a choice."
"If you want to save that Wang kid's life, fine—then pick either your grandfather or your brother Zane Zhan, and use their life to trade for his."
"Two choices: will you choose to save the Wang kid, or your own Zhan family member?"
As Maran Ma spoke, Tanya Zhan sat in silence, her face full of grief.
"Just focus on getting ready. Most of the guests have arrived."
Seeing her silent, Maran Ma let go and walked out, but not before glancing back at Tanya: "See, you're not as noble as you think."
"People are selfish. Tanya Zhan, you won't trade your family's lives for that Wang kid, so stop wasting my time."
With that, Maran Ma left with his entourage.
Tanya Zhan was left sitting there, tears streaming down her face.
A grand event for the Zhan family.
All the guests were prominent figures from the Harborview region of Jiang-Zhe.
The Zhan family guided the arriving luxury cars to park in an orderly fashion.
Though it was still early, the place was already packed with people.
High-speed rail station.
The train from Oceanport arrived and stopped at the station.
Evan Lin stood up from his seat and got off the train.
After leaving the station, he was about to hail a taxi.
"Hey!"
Someone called out from behind him.
Evan Lin turned around at the sound, and when he saw who it was, he was slightly stunned.
"We meet again! You..."
Behind him stood a girl.
She wore a long white dress and had a very pretty face.
The girl's expression was gentle, and it looked like she had just walked out of the station herself.
When she saw Evan Lin turn around, she froze, her face full of embarrassment.
"Sorry, I think I mistook you for someone else."
The girl spoke nervously.
Evan Lin looked at the girl in front of him.
Back when Evan Lin went to Oceanport, she boldly greeted him and asked for his contact info, only to be bluntly rejected.
At that time, Evan Lin was cloaked in the Fire-Spirit Mortal Body, looking like a man of living fire.
Now, Evan Lin had black hair and black eyes, calm and composed.
Two completely different states—his features and aura had changed a bit.
Only his back was strikingly similar.
That's why Bella Bai mistook him for someone else.
"It's fine."
Evan Lin shook his head, not planning to get entangled with this girl any further.
"Bella! Let's go! We need to hurry, or the roads will be jammed and it'll be a pain to get there!"
Not far away, someone shouted at Bella Bai.
A group of six, both guys and girls.
Evan Lin glanced over and quickly recognized them—they were the same people he'd seen on the street before.
Their clothes and style screamed rich kid, and that stretched Lincoln limo nearby? Definitely not something ordinary people could afford.
"Bella, what are you doing? Our car's ready."
A muscle-bound guy ran up and stood next to Bella.
"Ah, no, I just mistook him for someone else."
Bella shook her head at that.
Hearing this, the muscle-head looked up and glanced at Evan Lin.
At first glance, he was startled and instinctively showed a wary look. But after a second look, noticing the hair and features were different from the fiery guy before, he relaxed a bit.
"Huh, this guy does look a lot like that annoying dude," the muscle-head muttered.
The muscle-head curled his lip and looked at Evan Lin. "Hey, bro, what are you doing here?"
Evan Lin didn't answer, just walked to the curb and tried to hail a cab.
Evan Lin couldn't be bothered to waste time on these guys—he didn't even want to spare them a second glance.
Feeling ignored, the muscle-head's face instantly turned sour.
"Where are you headed?"
Seeing Evan Lin trying to hail a cab, Bella Bai impulsively walked over and said, "It's hard to get a taxi here. If you're headed the same way, you can ride with us."
"Or you can hop in, and I'll have them drop you off downtown so you can catch a cab from there."
Bella Bai offered.
Evan Lin glanced at her, and truthfully, Bella Bai was a bit conflicted inside.
She didn't really know why she wanted to help this guy, or maybe it was because he looked so much like that fiery boy she'd met in Oceanport?
That fiery boy had an inexplicable pull on Bella Bai.
So much so that Bella Bai, who'd never spoken to a boy before, broke tradition and actually tried to chat him up—only to get flatly rejected.
Now, as Evan Lin looked at her, Bella Bai felt a sudden, inexplicable panic.
"Thank you."
Evan Lin glanced at the road—there really weren't many taxis at this hour, and he was pressed for time to get to the Zhan family.
"The car's over there."
Seeing Evan Lin agree, Bella Bai hurried ahead to lead the way.
"Tch, it's just because Bella's so kind-hearted. You got lucky, kid."
The muscle-head shot Evan Lin a warning look as Bella brought him over: "And let me tell you, don't even think about making a move on Bella."
"If I find out you're up to anything shady with her, you'll answer to me!"
He talked tough, flexing his fists and making a show of swinging them at Evan Lin.
"So, hitching a ride, huh?"
When they reached the Lincoln, a shorter guy sized Evan Lin up and down, his eyes full of disdain.
"Get in, don't waste time. We still have to get to the Zhan family, and if we're late, there won't be any parking left."
The muscle-head urged them on.