The sound of the door opening echoed.
Everyone turned to look outside.
Standing at the door were two people: Hank Chu and Ken Feng.
Just now, when Ken Feng went to the door to meet Hank Chu and Evan Lin, Evan got a call and told them to go in first.
Originally, Ken and Hank planned to wait for Evan at the door and go in together.
But unexpectedly, while they were outside, they heard Shuai Zhang's voice coming from inside the room.
“Say that to my face one more time if you dare!”
Hank Chu’s face turned cold as he strode forward, grabbed Shuai Zhang by the collar, and glared at him with wide, angry eyes: “Who do you think you are? You think you’re qualified to talk about Aunt Zheng?”
“You really think everyone’s as twisted as you? Running your mouth behind people’s backs—what kind of man is that? Say it again right now if you’ve got the guts!”
Hank’s expression was icy as he stared Shuai Zhang down.
Shuai Zhang was barely one-seventy, rocking a baggy hip-hop shirt. But the second Hank Chu snatched him by the collar, his face went ghost-white.
Everyone was stunned by Hank’s sudden rage. Even Amelia Jiao, sitting nearby, was totally thrown—she’d never seen Hank blow up like this before. Usually, he was honest to a fault and even a bit shy around her.
“Did I say anything wrong? It’s true! Evan’s mom snatched students from Ivy’s mom. That’s just how it is—what, I’m not allowed to say it?”
Even with everyone staring, Shuai Zhang was scared stiff, but he had to save face, so he stuck his neck out and shot back, “Then tell me—what exactly did I say that’s wrong?”
“Everything you said is crap. You don’t even know—the kids went to tutoring for math, not Chinese. Seriously, who pays for extra elementary Chinese classes? And Evan’s mom even helps out poor kids, pays for their school fees.” Ken Feng clapped Hank’s shoulder, glanced at the pale-faced crowd, and as soon as he finished, everyone froze.
Even Ivy Deng’s face turned complicated.
Charity in a place like Whitewood County? Usually just means everyone chips in a few yuan when someone’s sick. Flora Huang made bank from tutoring, but all she ever talked about was vacations or new gadgets—never once mentioned helping poor kids with school.
Compared to that, Ivy’s cheeks burned. She couldn’t help but genuinely admire Joy Zheng now.
“You serious?” Shuai Zhang was totally dumbfounded.
“No reason to lie. My dad even sponsored an elementary school kid because of it,” Ken Feng shrugged, then leaned in and whispered something to Hank.
Hearing Ken’s words, Hank Chu finally took a deep breath and let go of Shuai Zhang’s collar.
It was Ivy Deng’s birthday, and Hank didn’t want to wreck the party. He shot Shuai Zhang a cold glare, “You better shut your mouth. Say one more word and I’ll knock your teeth out.”
“You threatening me?”
Shuai Zhang’s face turned green then white.
Besides Ivy and Amelia, there were a bunch of other pretty girls there too.
Getting his pride trashed by Hank, Shuai Zhang jumped up, eyes blazing, jabbing a finger at Hank’s face: “So what if I said something wrong? Who the hell are you to threaten me?”
“Damn, if your family hadn’t just lucked out with the new house, you’d still be living in the slums, you broke loser! What are you acting tough for? You think yelling makes you a big shot? Even Brother Ma never talks to me like that!”
Shuai Zhang’s face went beet red as he yelled, “Your parents barely make anything each month—what can they even do with that? You’re just some worker’s kid! Screw you!”
Heard your mom’s cleaning houses now, right? And your dad’s still driving a bus? Watch—maybe one day he’ll get wrecked in a car accident!
Poor.
The moment that word came out.
Hank’s fist clenched tight, but he still held back.
But when Shuai Zhang kept talking, Hank’s eyes went red, rage pouring out.
As soon as Shuai Zhang said that, the whole room went dead silent.
Ken Feng had been holding Hank back, but after hearing Shuai’s words, he quietly let go.
“You really think you can hit me? If you’re not going to do it, get out of my way!” Shuai Zhang saw Hank holding back and felt a little relieved.
He knew Hank’s family wasn’t well off, so he figured Hank would hesitate before throwing a punch. That made Shuai feel smug.
“Screw you!”
Hank cursed, couldn’t hold back anymore, and swung his fist—smashing it into Shuai Zhang’s face and breaking his nose.
Shuai Zhang screamed in pain as blood gushed from his nose. Before he could react, Hank kicked him hard in the stomach, knocking him to his knees.
Hank stomped Shuai Zhang over and over, making him scream in agony. No one dared say a word.
Once Hank finished beating him, Ken Feng finally pulled Hank to a seat.
“I’ll cover the medical bills.”
Hank had just sat down when everyone heard a calm voice from outside the door.
Everyone looked over and finally saw Evan Lin standing there, no one knew when he arrived.
Evan looked calm—he’d just finished a call with Old Man Liu, who’d asked about his studies in Jinnan.
Evan respected scholars like Old Man Liu, so he chatted a bit longer. Just as he reached the door, he saw Hank beating up Shuai Zhang. Evan didn’t bother asking why.
He knew Hank’s character and trusted him completely.
“Evan Lin?”
Ivy Deng saw Evan standing outside, her eyes wide with disbelief.
The boy in front of her looked even more handsome than before—taller, with a sharper, more magnetic aura.
“Just you wait!”
Shuai Zhang was utterly humiliated. Seeing Evan, his face twisted; he scrambled up, glared hatefully at Hank and the others, then bolted out the door.
“He was just asking for it.” Ken Feng cursed, then hurried to seat Evan. He grinned at Ivy Deng, joking, “I didn’t get you any other present today—Evan Lin is your gift. Pretty heavy, huh?”