As soon as Liam Li spoke, everyone at the table turned their eyes to Evan Lin.
Liam Li saw that Evan Lin hadn’t picked up his wine glass and sneered, “You’re not really going to disrespect me like this, are you? I’m the host here, I invited you out to have fun.”
“How come you, a guy, are more timid at the table than us girls? I’ve already had half a glass,” Cathy Li chimed in, fanning the flames.
“Lynn, where’s your friend from? He doesn’t look like he’s from Brightsea City,” Sisi Shao turned and asked Lynn Chen, who was sitting quietly nearby.
“Uh, he’s from Whitewood County,” Lynn Chen replied instinctively.
“Oh, Whitewood County—I know that place. Isn’t it up in the mountains? Used to be just a few little villages. I’ve been there before, it’s tiny and not much to look at,” Maggie Ma added.
“Hey, bro, is everyone in Whitewood County as tough as they say? No wonder you’re such a good fighter. Be honest, did you get into brawls every day back there?” Simon Li looked at Evan Lin, eyes probing.
“Let me give you some advice—don’t get too many ideas about me. I get it, you’re still bitter about getting beaten up last time. If you can’t let it go, just say so. If you want to use me to blow off steam, fine, but you’d better think twice about whether you can handle it.”
Evan Lin looked the group over with interest, a faint smile at his lips. “As for that ‘tough local customs’ talk, it’s half true. Whitewood County isn’t really tough—the only tough guy there is me.”
“Don’t waste your little schemes on me. If you keep it up, you’ll just end up embarrassed again. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Evan Lin spoke at a steady pace, his gaze deep and unhurried as he said this.
Jason Zhao, Liam Li, and Simon Li all stiffened—they were the trio who got pinned and beaten last time at Imperial Grand.
They did resent Evan Lin, but to actually go after him for revenge, like he said—if they really provoked this living Buddha, the three of them together wouldn’t stand a chance.
“You sure talk big. Do you know Jason Zhao? He just transferred here a few days ago and he’s already the school judo club’s vice captain.” Cathy Li scoffed at Evan Lin, not noticing the look on everyone else’s face.
Simon Li met Evan Lin’s eyes, opened his mouth, but didn’t dare say a word.
Jason Zhao and Liam Li both fell silent, their faces suddenly darkening.
“Yeah, right. Look at you—do you really think you could take Jason Zhao in a fight? With an attitude like that, you’re just asking for it.” Lillian Wang snorted, her eyes full of contempt for Evan Lin.
Yolanda Fang calmly picked up her chopsticks and gave Lynn Chen a piece of meat, saying nothing. She noticed Liam Li and the others looking embarrassed and felt a secret sense of satisfaction.
“Alright, enough—let’s just eat, okay? No need to keep arguing about this,” Lynn Chen spoke up, trying to break the tension at the table.
But Henry Zhang, sitting nearby, let out a cold laugh. “Friend, you’re getting a little too full of yourself.”
Henry Zhang slowly set his wine glass down on the table, staring at Evan Lin. “You know who owns this White Dragon Mountain Resort?”
“Oh? Who owns it?” Evan Lin smirked, his eyes full of disdain.
“The Summer Family! The Summer Family of River City!” Henry Zhang tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, chin raised as he looked at Evan Lin. “I don’t care what you and Liam Li’s relationship is, or how tough you were in your little county—here at White Dragon Mountain, you’d better behave.”
“Since you came with Liam Li, you should act like a guest—and he’s the host. If you keep talking like this and tearing people down, once you’re out in the real world, nobody will want to hang out with you.” Henry Zhang said coldly, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. That’s just how I am. If it weren’t for Liam Li, I wouldn’t have bothered with you. Just now, when I toasted you and you didn’t drink, you broke my taboo. By the rules, you need to be punished.”
“Punished?” Evan Lin narrowed his eyes, his smile vanishing as his whole demeanor suddenly turned razor-sharp.
He looked at Henry Zhang, growing more impatient by the second.
Henry Zhang clapped his hands, and the waiter outside immediately brought in two crates of beer.
“You drink both crates by yourself, and I’ll pretend nothing happened. It’s also to give Liam Li some face.” Henry Zhang stared at Evan Lin, his expression icy.
It was clear from his words that Henry Zhang knew Liam Li couldn’t stand Evan Lin.
If it were anyone else, Henry Zhang probably wouldn’t even bother with Evan Lin.
But Liam Li’s dad might become Brightsea’s deputy mayor any day now, so Henry Zhang was determined to lock in this connection.
Now that the chance was here, Henry Zhang had no reason to pass it up.
Besides, Evan Lin looked like a total bumpkin—at best, you could call him decent-looking. Pushing him down was no pressure at all.
“Two whole crates of beer?” Maggie Ma gasped.
“With the way he looks, I bet he’d be out cold before finishing two bottles.” Cathy Li pouted on the side.
“What if I refuse?” Evan Lin’s expression grew even calmer.
That look made Lynn Chen’s heart skip a beat.
He’d worn the same expression back at Imperial Grand.
No emotion, no feeling—anyone who stood in his way would fall.
“Here at White Dragon Mountain, nobody dares refuse a drink from me!” Henry Zhang licked his lips, saying it with pride.
“Well, there’s no other way.” Evan Lin sighed and slowly stood up.
“Just drink it already, quit making a fuss. Bumpkins are always so dramatic.” Lillian Wang shot Evan Lin a look of contempt.
“Seriously, you’re just wasting our time. You’ll have to drink it sooner or later—why not just get it over with?” Maggie Ma frowned as she spoke.
Cathy Li leaned back in her seat and rolled her eyes at Evan Lin, her voice full of disdain: “You were acting so tough just now, and now you’re chickening out. Not much of a man.”
Liam Li and his crew shuddered slightly when they saw Evan Lin stand up.
Liam Li wanted to say something to Henry Zhang, but before he could, Henry spoke up: “Don’t worry, Liam, this has nothing to do with you. The kid broke my rules—this is personal.”
Liam Li gave a bitter smile, unable to say a word.
“This is gonna be good.” Yolanda Fang tore off a piece of meat, fed it to Lynn Chen, then gnawed on the bone herself, eyes glued to Evan Lin.
“Go on, let’s see your show.”
Yolanda Fang muttered quietly to herself.
Henry Zhang saw Evan Lin stand up, his smile growing. “Smart move.”
He thought Evan Lin was about to go drink the beer.