Xia Tian kicked Li San directly in the stomach, then picked up a stool and struck his back. The motion mirrored Li San's attack on Xue Chuan a moment earlier, but this time the stool shattered under the force.
"Third brother!" the three younger men rushed forward to help Li San.
Xia Tian's blow had not been light. Li San felt a burning pain across his back. Had the strike landed any higher, he would have fainted.
"What did you say just now? Say it again." Xia Tian picked up another stool and sat on it.
"You little bastard, how dare you hit me." Li San struggled to stand. He felt as if his body were coming apart.
Bang!
Xia Tian rose and another bench struck Li San's back.
A scream tore from Li San's throat.
"Third brother!" several gang members formed a protective ring around him.
"Say it again," Xia Tian said with a faint smile.
"Take me away." Li San could no longer hold on. Though the bench was a small spare wooden seat from the restaurant, the impact still hurt.
The three thugs carried Li San out. The restaurant manager stood frozen. Li San was a local bully who often harassed staff and teased the waitresses. People were angry but afraid to act. Yet today he had been soundly beaten by a thin-looking student.
Huo Wen and Tang Yan regarded Xia Tian with astonished eyes. The aggressive Li San had been dealt with so easily.
Ye Qingxue and Bingxin showed no surprise.
Yun Miao's face remained unreadable and cold. Ling'er, however, watched with keen interest.
"Are you all right?" Tang Yan asked Xue Chuan.
"I'm fine." Xue Chuan shook his head. He had not expected such a swift response and had been disadvantaged.
"Can we have dinner now? I'm starving." Xia Tian asked the supervisor.
"Um, yes, of course, I'll be right there." The supervisor finally recovered and rushed off.
Huo Wen picked up the phone that had fallen to the floor and dialed a number.
"Find me a gangster named Li San. I don't want to see him again." She hung up. Though brief, everyone understood the implication.
Huo Wen was truly angry. Li San's good days were over; he had offended the wrong people.
"That was just a small incident. I hope it hasn't affected your mood." Huo Wen said lightly.
"It doesn't matter. Just serve the food quickly." Xia Tian had gone without food all day and was genuinely hungry.
"How dare you say that? If you are so capable, why didn't you attack directly?" Huo Wen scolded. If Xia Tian had acted sooner, Xue Chuan would not have suffered that blow, and she would not be so upset.
"I thought you were very powerful." Xia Tian replied earnestly.
"All right, Sister Wen, it's over now." Ye Qingxue stepped forward to smooth things over.
"My idol brother, you are incredible." Ling'er looked at Xia Tian with admiration.
The dishes arrived quickly. The restaurant's popularity came from its distinctive flavors, generous portions, and consistent quality. People often came specifically to eat there.
"I hope what happened earlier has not affected anyone's mood. This first glass of wine is for Minister Ye. I was wrong about what happened before." Xue Chuan spoke graciously. He acknowledged his earlier threat about his father's identity, which had been unbecoming. Even if Ye Qingxue had disagreed later, he would not have interfered with the Art Department.
"It's fine, it's over." Ye Qingxue smiled faintly and drank the wine.
"Let this second glass be for Sister Huo. I apologize for troubling you." Xue Chuan continued.
"Yes." Huo Wen nodded without hesitation and drank.
"Let the third glass be for Mr. Xia Tian. I, Xue Chuan, have never admired anyone, and you are one of the exceptions." Xue Chuan spoke with pride. He was proud, especially about basketball. Few players, even CBA stars, earned his admiration. Only those who defeated him convincingly did.
"I don't want to drink. It's too bitter." Xia Tian refused.
"Xia Tian, are you simply refusing to give face?" Huo Wen grew more displeased.
"I'll drink it for him." Bingxin, who had sat silently beside Xia Tian, picked up the wine in front of him and drank it.
Her action surprised everyone. Who was she to Xia Tian, and why was she taking his glass?
Bang!
The private room door was kicked open.
"Brother Liang, it's them. They are the ones who injured Third Brother." The newcomer was the green-haired man who had fled earlier.
"You dare hit my Zhu Liang's brother? You have no sense of life left." The bald leader glared at the group. He had been taken aback by the presence of the beauties in the room but quickly recovered.
"I'm from the Huo family. Get out if you know what's good for you." Huo Wen was furious.
"I don't care whether you are from the Huo family or the Shui family. I, Zhu Liang, have never feared anyone in my years in the business. I have seen all kinds of people while helping developers settle disputes, but none of them knew how to be sensible." Zhu Liang touched his head with his left hand; his left little finger was missing because he had cut it off himself.
"Why do we keep running into so many ruffians today?" Huo Wen looked at the intruders in disbelief. The Huo family wielded great influence in Jianghai City, and no one usually dared to provoke them, yet these small-time thugs obviously did not know who the Huo family were.
Seeing Huo Wen take out her phone, the green-haired man lunged forward to grab it. "Want to call the police? Not on my watch."
"You fools. I never call the police." Huo Wen shouted.
The commotion drew many onlookers, but no one dared to call the authorities. Zhu Liang was notorious for his brutality. He and his men had been hired to enforce the developer's interests. They were known for violence. Once, they beat someone in this very restaurant; when a waiter secretly called the police, the men were arrested but released the next day. The waiter who called the police later had his legs broken by them.
Since then, no neighboring restaurant dared challenge them. Zhu Liang and Li San's gang had built their reputation through intimidation.
They were still small-time street thugs, however. Otherwise they would not be ignorant of the Huo family's reach.
"Ergou, who injured the mistress?" Zhu Liang did not want to quarrel with a woman. He had come to make an example, to show that his brothers were not to be trifled with.
"He, he was the one who beat Third Brother like that." The green-haired man pointed at Xia Tian.
"All of you, surround him and break his legs." Zhu Liang signaled to the men behind him.