The basketball gang burst into an uproar, they hadn't expected the seemingly weak Lin Li to resist; the best thing to do in this situation was to silently throw the ball back to them, then tuck his tail and leave. And he wanted them to apologize? And even said he would make them pay a heavy price? This was simply nonsense, a death wish, provoking them?
"Idiotic Chinaman, can't you see the situation clearly?"
"This guy is an idiot, let me hit him on the head a few times, he'll be fine."
"How about this, each of us hits him once, let's see how long he can last?"
"What a joke, this weak guy can't even take one punch."
Some sneered, some ridiculed, some were rubbing their fists, ready to teach Lin Li a lesson, ready to let him experience their strength.
Even two black men stepped forward, stretching their spines and necks, cracking their knuckles as they walked towards Lin Li. They wanted to give Lin Li a deep understanding that the weak should be bullied.
"Stop, what are you trying to do, get back here."
Jetts shouted, stopping them. He had originally thought Lin Li wouldn't have any strong reaction, which was why he had been so brazen with his verbal insults. He hadn't expected Lin Li's reaction to be so firm, practically wanting to go head-to-head with them. There were ten of them, and each of their arms was twice as big as his, okay? Couldn't he just throw the ball back, tuck his tail and run away? Being so stubborn now, damn it, are all Chinamen not afraid of death?
He didn't want to end up in jail for a while, at least a few years, for bullying international travelers, insulting Chinese people, discriminating against Chinamen, and then adding assault to that.
Jetts clearly had a lot of authority in this group. The two black men merely heard him speak, spat a mouthful of saliva on the ground in front of Lin Li, looked at him with disdain, gave Lin Li a 'you're lucky' look, and then returned.
Jetts said nonchalantly, "I apologize to you, it was just a slip of the tongue, I didn't actually intend to insult you. I was just trying to be clever for a moment, to feel good, there was no other meaning. Please forgive me, throw the ball back, and you can go."
Lin Li hadn't expected Jetts to stop the two black men, and he had even thought there would be a fight. Moreover, he apologized so readily, though how much sincerity was in that apology was hard to say.
How could Lin Li accept such an apology, such a superficial apology? Insulting him was one thing, but he felt his country was being insulted, and that he could not accept.
"I don't accept this kind of apology, this superficial apology. If you want to apologize, bow ninety degrees in front of me and sincerely apologize to me and my country."
Lin Li said firmly. This was a very normal thing; there was no such thing as casually insulting others and then forgiving them with a simple 'sorry.' People must be made to feel the consequences of casual insults. To insult others, one must lower their head and bow to apologize.
Lin Li's words completely enraged them.
"What, you midget Chinaman, you short monkey, you're asking for death!"
"The boss has already apologized to you, and you're still pushing your luck. Don't be ungrateful."
"Damn, you stupid Chinaman."
A group of strong black and white men bombarded Lin Li with a string of vulgarities. They were truly furious. If Jetts hadn't stopped them, they would have wanted to beat Lin Li into a cripple. Even their rival gangs wouldn't dare to speak like that. Now, a mere Chinaman wanted them to bow ninety degrees to apologize? Apologize for what? What the hell? He was asking for death.
Lin Li was like a delicate young girl, repeatedly verbally assaulted.
Jetts waved his hand, cutting off the profanity of the crowd. With an unpleasant look on his face, he said, "I have already apologized for what I did, and the matter ends here. Don't push your luck."
Jetts was in a very bad mood. If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't cause trouble in the past few days, fearing being targeted by the police, how could he possibly apologize? Even if he apologized, saying a few words and getting by would be enough. He actually demanded a bow? What the hell? What right did he have to demand a bow from him?
"You call that an apology? If I were an ordinary person, would the humiliation and anger I've endured today be erased by an apology with that kind of attitude? Don't joke around. It's a good thing I'm not an ordinary person. Today, with the mindset of an ordinary person, I demand your respect for me, respect for my country, respect for me, and apologize with a ninety-degree bow in front of me."
Lin Li spoke with solemn words. An ordinary person would never say such things, being afraid of trouble, very afraid of trouble. An ordinary person would be in a hurry to find an escape route, but would their heart truly forgive so easily? Impossible. So, ordinary people carry a lot of frustration throughout their lives: frustration under power, frustration under money. Ordinary people without any self-respect, like what Jetts was doing—casually insulting you, and you have no recourse. Because ordinary people are truly powerless. He hasn't actually hit you or harmed you, and reporting him to the police wouldn't do anything. When ordinary people encounter such things, they avoid them if they can, suppressing their inner feelings.
It just so happened that Lin Li ran into him, and Lin Li was not an incompetent person. He didn't rely on power or money; he relied on his own strength.
If Jetts decided to make a move, then he would also make a move, without mercy.
Just a verbal confrontation, and Jetts would easily escape a calamity.
Because if you haven't caused harm, you yourself won't suffer harm from Lin Li.
However, since you have verbally insulted, you also need an apology with the correct attitude, not a perfunctory one.
An adult must bear any consequences they cause.
An apology is the responsibility Jetts needs to bear.
Jetts said with a grim face, "What right do you have to make me apologize? You don't have the ability to make me apologize."
Behind him, nine people stood like iron towers, their arms crossed, looking down at Lin Li.
To outsiders, the weak Lin Li, let alone ten people, even if just one big guy came out, Lin Li would be instantly crushed.
Some people who were exercising or strolling gradually gathered, watching this bullying battle. A few young men even pulled out their phones, ready to take photos and videos to post on Facebook and gain some hot topic attention.
No one called the police; it was a Chinese person being bullied, which was not a big deal. Discrimination was everywhere, even in America, which claimed to be equal.
White people discriminate against black people, white people and black people discriminate against yellow people. Yellow people have always proven themselves with their abilities. Discrimination is just your narrow-mindedness, unable to tolerate excellent people.
They simply don't understand what respect means; they only respect power and money, not people.
Is it still about proving oneself through violence? He had originally thought that an ordinary person's stern words would work, but he still underestimated humanity's inherent flaws.
Lin Li's heart grew cold.
He held the basketball to his chest and pressed it with both hands.
"Bang!"
The basketball immediately burst, creating an explosive sound that pushed away the leaves around him, with a direct gust of wind.
"I need to teach you what respect means!"
He stared coldly at Jetts, then casually flicked the tattered basketball into a trash can a hundred meters away.