"You truly possess the characteristics of a toad, persistently emerging to provoke others?" Lin Yu furrowed his brow, genuinely vexed this time.
This lad persists in encountering misfortune, yet remains unchanging. Remarkably, he has followed here once more, exhibiting a lack of fear. However, when Lin Yu looked up and saw the crowd behind him, he couldn't help but smirk. "Your confidence is unwavering, I see. You've gathered quite an entourage."
Lin Yu chuckled heartily. Behind Prince Ming stood a sizable gathering, approximately a dozen individuals, each standing there with a menacing appearance—tattooed arms, fierce gazes, and a ruffian-like countenance, clearly a gang of street rogues.
"I'm a toad? Very well, Lin Yu, you're audacious enough. Later, I want to see who'll end up resembling a toad," Prince Ming gritted his teeth, his face expressing a sense of satisfaction as his group began to approach, swaggering.
The onlookers dining nearby were visibly frightened, all retreating, sensing an impending brawl, fearing the possibility of getting blood splattered on them.
"You're quite bold, lad, having twice confronted our comrades. Let's see what skills you possess," remarked the leader, a broad-shouldered man with a cropped haircut, from Lin Yu's perspective, someone with a sturdy frame but seemingly ready to take a beating.
Meanwhile, Liu Xiaoyan, trembling with fear and a pallid complexion, summoned her courage to step forward. "Prince Ming, please refrain from causing trouble. If you dare, I will alert the authorities."
The thug with the cropped haircut, upon seeing Liu Xiaoyan's delicate and beautiful appearance, instantly brightened, as if a thousand tiny creatures were crawling within him. "Ah, alerting the authorities? Fine, go ahead, do your best. Going to the station is nothing new for me; it's like a free meal, nothing consequential." As he spoke, he reached out playfully, attempting to touch Liu Xiaoyan's face.
Lin Yu's expression darkened, his gaze turning cold and calculating. He narrowed his eyes, intervened, and pulled Liu Xiaoyan behind him.
The reason for refraining from action was his reluctance to create a scene too ostentatious in such a public setting, realizing that flamboyance and excess were not conducive to the situation.
Thus, for the moment, this lad managed to narrowly escape trouble.
"Damn, daring to lay hands on me? You've gone too far!" The lad's temperament abruptly changed. He scowled and was about to make a grand gesture, barking, "Attack!" Just at that moment, Lin Yu had already pulled out his phone and glanced at him. "You all better leave now; otherwise, you'll regret it."
The lad was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. His group joined in, laughing raucously, sounding like a flock of crows, an indescribably grating sound. Prince Ming was especially delighted, but he also noticed one quality in Lin Yu—the lad possessed immense courage, daring to jest at such a moment?!
"Alright, I'd love to see how you'll make me regret this," laughed the leader, the man with the cropped haircut, clutching his shoulders, laughing heartily.
"I'm not joking. If you don't depart now, you'll genuinely regret it," Lin Yu had already dialed several numbers, speaking into his phone.
"Tch, trying to summon reinforcements for a brawl? Fine, I'll wait for you. Let's see what kind of rabble you, an inexperienced novice, can muster. I don't believe there's anyone I, Leopard, don't know in this part of Xicheng District," sneered the cropped haircut man, disdainfully, deliberately flexing his muscles.
Meanwhile, Lin Yu's call had already been answered, greeted by an impatient voice, "Who's this?"
"Old Zhao, is your steel pipe still in good shape?" Lin Yu languidly leaned against the chair, placing a call, simultaneously signaling Liu Xiaoyan not to move discreetly beneath the table.
Liu Xiaoyan cast a fearful glance at him but obediently put away her phone, deciding against calling the authorities.
"Boss, is that you? I... the steel pipe is in perfect condition..." The one answering the phone was Zhao Guang, immediately recognizing Lin Yu's voice, his tone wavering with fear.
Yesterday morning, Lin Yu had genuinely frightened him.
"Um, let's cut to the chase. I've encountered a minor inconvenience and need you to sort it out for me. Do you have time?" Lin Yu was straightforward, cutting to the point.
"I do, I have plenty of time, boss. Where are you? I'll bring people over immediately." Zhao Guang's spirits lifted upon hearing Lin Yu's call. In his heart, Lin Yu had already ascended to a higher status; doing something for Lin Yu was his honor, something he couldn't have begged for.
"I'm at the Delicious Tripe Hotpot on Taoxian Road. If you have time, Old Zhao, come over, maybe in ten minutes? Would that work for you?" Lin Yu politely requested.
"No need, I'm nearby. I'll be there within three minutes." Shortly after, from Zhao Guang's side, the sound of a car starting was heard.
"Alright, thank you, Old Zhao." Lin Yu smiled and hung up the phone.
The reason for making this call was twofold: firstly, he was disinclined to personally discipline these small-time hooligans; it lacked challenge. Secondly, he was disinclined to involve the authorities, which would entail the hassle of giving statements, and more importantly, reporting these rascals was futile. Reporting them indirectly indicated one's incompetence, signaling fear, and post-reporting, they would still seek revenge.
Therefore, the best way to permanently resolve such a matter was to get someone like Zhao Guang involved. Dealing with villains required villains. It made things much more manageable.
"Done with your call? Tsk, putting on airs as if you really know some influential people. Fine, I'll wait here today and see what kind of characters you can bring. I truly can't believe there's anyone in this area of the West City that I, Leopard, don't recognize." The man with the cropped haircut, arms folded, said sarcastically. However, internally, he felt somewhat unsure about Lin Yu's background and hesitated to act recklessly.
"Who is this lad?" Leopard signaled Prince Ming with a finger, whispering in his ear.
"He's just a useless spendthrift, squandered the family fortune years ago, ran off, lived like a beggar, and now he's back. Apart from a bit of martial skill, he's useless, just putting on airs," Prince Ming stared fixedly at Lin Yu,
still leisurely chewing on a piece of wax sausage, his voice full of resentment.
"Why didn't you mention that earlier? I thought we stumbled upon something," Leopard berated him, ordering his men to rough up Lin Yu, intending to end things quickly and resume drinking.
Just then, a swift succession of footsteps came from behind, followed by someone calling him, "Leopard..."