Inside the private room, Evan Lin glanced at Shawn Young, who was lying there like a dead dog.
If Lily Zhong hadn't stopped him, Evan wouldn't have minded leaving Shawn with a few more souvenirs.
Old Man Zhong on the side was now completely silent, his eyes toward Evan Lin filled with fear.
"One million. I want it within a week. If you can't get it, deal with the consequences yourself." Evan Lin reached out and lightly patted Shawn Young's face.
Shawn Young's whole body was battered and bruised, while the KTV speakers kept playing music in the background.
Shawn Young looked at Evan Lin, his eyes filled with fear—and deep down, with hidden malice and resentment.
"I don't care if you hate me, or if you come looking for trouble. Just make sure you think it through next time you want to stand in front of me."
"Think carefully about what you are, and what right you have to stand before me." Evan Lin picked up a slice of watermelon from the fruit plate on the table, took a bite, then looked at Lily Zhong. "Let's go."
Lily Zhong nodded, her eyes complicated. The Evan Lin in front of her now felt like a complete stranger.
Strange—and overwhelmingly strong.
The sudden change made Lily Zhong feel out of place.
"Don't ask too many questions. Once we walk out that door, just pretend nothing ever happened." Evan Lin keenly sensed the shift in Lily Zhong's eyes and sighed inwardly.
For now, Evan still wanted to keep his peaceful student life, but clearly things weren't going as he'd hoped.
"You... You beat up Brother Shawn, and the Xiao family definitely won't let you off!" Old Man Zhong trembled in the corner, shouting at Evan Lin with wide eyes and a face full of wrinkles.
That sly face looked especially unpleasant right now.
"Can you just shut up for once?" Lily Zhong turned and yelled at her dad, voice full of grievance, eyes welling up and red with tears.
If it weren't for her dad, Evan Lin would never have gotten dragged into this mess—and now he might have to face the full wrath of the Xiao family.
Just thinking about that made Lily Zhong's heart heavy and uneasy.
To Lily Zhong, the Xiao family was a giant she could never hope to reach. Kids from ordinary families couldn't even imagine how dark and filthy those people hiding in the shadows really were.
"Are you leaving or not? If not, then stay here with them." Evan Lin glanced at Old Man Zhong, his eyes showing no emotion at all.
Old Man Zhong shuddered, glanced fearfully at Shawn Young lying on the floor, then bowed with hands pressed together toward Shawn: "Brother Shawn, this really has nothing to do with me, it was this kid who beat you. I... I'll be leaving now."
"Don't blame me, don't blame me—if you're looking for trouble, go after him, not me."
With that, Old Man Zhong hunched over and darted out of the private room.
As the door swung open, Charlie Liang immediately stepped up outside.
"Hello, our Brother Yu would like to have a word with you—do you have a moment?" Charlie Liang greeted Evan Lin with a polite smile and a slight bow, acting very friendly.
Lily Zhong, walking beside Evan Lin, squeezed his arm nervously.
"Evan, maybe you shouldn't go... What if they're just looking to cause you trouble?" Lily Zhong blurted out, instinctively worried about Evan's safety.
After causing a scene in their club, being called out now definitely couldn't be a good sign.
"Shuiyu, honey, don't bother with him. He's gotten us all in trouble—why do you care?" Old Man Zhong rushed over and yanked Lily's hand off Evan Lin.
Old Man Zhong shot Evan Lin a vicious glare: "Listen, just because you can fight doesn't mean you're tough. You brought this mess on yourself, so don't drag me and my daughter into it!"
"Go, go, go! Honey, let's get out of here. Forget about that kid—let him fend for himself."
As he spoke, Old Man Zhong tried to drag Lily Zhong away.
"How can you say that!" Lily Zhong's face was ugly, but Old Man Zhong just shrugged: "What do you expect me to say? He beat up someone from the Xiao family and broke their leg. You think the Xiao family will let him off that easy?"
"And this is Imperial Grand! He made a scene here—do you think they'll just let it slide? That kid's a trouble magnet. We need to leave, now!"
Old Man Zhong pulled even harder, desperate to get away.
"It's all because you lost money!" Lily Zhong couldn't help but complain.
"Me, lose money? Why do I gamble? To win money—for your dowry! You're my only daughter, all my gambling is for you!" Old Man Zhong blurted out, getting flustered.
"So you lost over a million for me?"
"That was just bad luck! Next time I'll win, for sure! Stop arguing and come with me!"
Old Man Zhong gripped Lily Zhong's arm tightly. Lily looked at Evan Lin.
On one side was Evan Lin; on the other, her own father.
Lily Zhong was torn. She couldn't just stand by and watch her father lose his hand.
But it was also too unfair to Evan Lin.
"You go ahead. I've got something to take care of, I'll be fine."
Evan Lin understood what Lily Zhong was thinking—it was only natural.
Her dad might be a total scumbag, but blood is still thicker than water.
Back on the Immortal Martial Continent, Evan "Nine Mysteries" Lin once drew the ghost sword 'Ten Thousand Demons' and wiped out thirty-six islands and millions of lives with a single slash—all for a beauty, and his heart didn't even ripple.
Everyone has their own reasons to live—and someone they need to protect.
"No way. I can't just leave you behind."
Lily Zhong shook her head, refusing to go.
Old Man Zhong stomped his feet anxiously on the spot. "What's he afraid of? He's got skills, doesn't he! Shuiyu, come on!"
"It's fine, Miss Zhong. See you at school tomorrow." Evan Lin gave Lily Zhong a reassuring smile.
But Lily Zhong still refused to leave, her resolve unwavering.
Finally, seeing this, Old Man Zhong stomped his foot, cursed under his breath, glanced nervously toward the private room, and flung his hand. "If you won't leave, I will!"
He dashed off, afraid to stay even a second longer—but after a few steps, he hurried back and stuck out his hand to Lily Zhong. "Honey, got any cash? I'm a little short right now."
Lily Zhong pulled out her wallet and handed over all the few hundred yuan inside without a word, her face dark.
Old Man Zhong grabbed the money and quickly vanished.
Charlie Liang, who'd been watching the whole scene in silence, finally spoke up: "Brother Yu is upstairs. Miss, let me arrange a private room and some tea for you?"
Charlie Liang looked at Evan Lin, who nodded slightly. Only then did Charlie have someone settle Lily Zhong into a private room.
"Wait here for me. I'll be back soon."
Evan Lin said goodbye to Lily Zhong, then followed Charlie Liang upstairs, his expression gradually returning to calm.