Chapter Forty-Nine: Another Unfortunate Director

Lewd expressions and brazen stares—no matter how sweet-tongued his words, the beauties present couldn’t help but assign Lin Yang just such a description. It wasn’t really Lin Yang’s fault; the real issue was the women before him. Each one was dressed in shockingly revealing attire, almost all in miniskirts of the same hue, their low-cut tops barely containing their ample curves, adorned and made up to dazzle, every gesture exuding allure. For any normal man, it would be nearly impossible not to steal a few more glances, so it was little wonder that the two fellows before had so enthusiastically sung their praises.

With one foot planted firmly on the chest of Fang Tianqi, who lay struggling on the floor, Lin Yang flashed a genial smile at the assembled beauties, quickly averting his gaze. He truly feared that if he let himself get too carried away, he might lose control and make a mistake. So he focused his attention on the man at his feet, his face transforming in an instant from charming to ferocious, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

“You’re really stupid.” He pressed down harder with his foot, his tone icy and contemptuous.

Stupid? Your whole family’s stupid, Fang Tianqi seethed inwardly at this blatant insult. He wasn’t as dumb as Lin Yang claimed—if he dared talk back now, he’d only invite further torment.

“These men were hired by you, weren’t they?” Seeing that Fang made no move to resist, Lin Yang quickly lost interest in toying with him further and cut straight to the chase, his sharp gaze fixed on Fang Tianqi, silently threatening that any lie would be met with even greater force.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Fang feigned confusion, pretending ignorance so well that his blank, bewildered expression almost made it believable that none of it concerned him.

What Lin Yang despised most were people who pretended not to understand when they clearly did. Without warning, he lashed out with a savage kick, eliciting a blood-curdling scream from Fang Tianqi, who spat out a mouthful of blood, his face a sickly, bruised pallor.

Fang Tianqi glared up at Lin Yang, who was approaching, and rasped, “You… what proof do you have? Without evidence, you’re breaking the law, you know that? I’ll sue you! I’ll—”

His protest was cut short by another brutal kick, accompanied by the crisp sound of cracking bone. Judging by Fang’s contorted face and the way he clutched at his chest, it was likely his rib had just snapped.

“Still won’t admit it?” Lin Yang’s voice was cold as ice. He raised his foot, pausing in midair, ready to strike again—an unmistakable threat.

“Damn it, kill me if you dare, you bastard!” Beaten to the point of fury, Fang Tianqi could do little more than struggle and mutter curses, venting his frustration as best he could.

Just as Lin Yang, enraged, was about to land another blow, Tang Yixue rushed forward to stop him, afraid things would escalate.

Pulled back, Lin Yang, still fuming, snapped without turning around, “What do you want?” But when he saw it was Tang Yixue, his tone softened considerably. “Yixue, what’s wrong? Why are you stopping me?”

Tang Yixue rolled her eyes at Lin Yang in exasperation, then pointed to the battered and bloodied Fang Tianqi lying on the floor. “If you kick him again, you’ll send him straight to the afterlife. Do you want to make a bigger mess of this?”

The others, too, were stunned by Lin Yang’s bloody methods, momentarily forgetting to intervene. They all knew that this was only meant as a lesson for Fang Tianqi—if things went too far and someone died, it would be a disaster, especially given the Fang family’s considerable influence.

Tang Yixue’s reminder helped Lin Yang regain his composure. Seeing that Fang Tianqi was already half dead, he was about to leave with his people when the distant sound of police sirens reached their ears.

It had to be said—the police were ridiculously slow. The fight had gone on for nearly half an hour before they finally arrived.

Because the security staff had called the police, the officers encountered no resistance and drove right up to the villa—five squad cars with blaring sirens screeched to a halt beneath the loft.

Hearing the sirens below, Fang Tianqi, who had just been lying limp like a dead dog, suddenly sprang to life, shouting hoarsely, “Let’s see how arrogant you are now, boy!” His swollen, battered face twisted into a grotesque, almost comical sneer.

The tense atmosphere took on an odd air, and several of the beauties had to stifle their laughter. They were well aware that the people gathered here were not to be trifled with, and any misstep could have disastrous consequences.

“What’s going on here? So many people stirring up trouble—are you planning a rebellion?” A booming voice shattered the strange mood in the hall.

Everyone turned reflexively toward the source.

A man, well over six feet tall, towered over the crowd, his burly frame and striking features—piercing black eyes, a prominent nose, and a distinctive mustache—making him impossible to ignore. He walked with such heft it seemed the floor might tremble beneath him.

Clad in a police uniform, even the blind could see that these newcomers were law enforcement.

“What’s going on here?” His gaze swept the hall, fixing coldly on Lin Yang, the clear perpetrator, and the battered Fang Tianqi, his sharp eyes brooking no lies.

“Uncle Hong, you’re finally here! Arrest this guy—he’s out of control! He broke into my house and beat me up. Just look at what he’s done to me! You have to stand up for me!” Upon seeing that the officer was Pan Hong, his father’s friend, Fang Tianqi grabbed at the opportunity, tears streaming, his words laced with venom for Lin Yang.

“Is what he’s saying true?” Pan Hong turned to Lin Yang, who remained calm and unflinching, his tone full of warning.

“Yes, it’s true. I’m here to smash things up,” Lin Yang replied without a trace of fear, looking at Pan Hong with undisguised contempt.

Pan Hong, not blind to Lin Yang’s blatant disdain, felt his anger flare. As chief of the Haicheng District Bureau, he was used to being treated with deference—when had he ever been so openly slighted? Especially now, in his middle age, his temper had only worsened.

To be humiliated so publicly by Lin Yang—this was a slap in the face. Glowering down at Lin Yang, Pan Hong snorted, “You’re far too arrogant, boy.”

Threats meant nothing to Lin Yang; his gaze did not waver.

Pan Hong, still hoping to cow Lin Yang, realized he was facing someone completely unmoved by intimidation. Without looking back, he barked to his subordinates, “Take him! And don’t let any of these troublemakers escape!”

Meanwhile, Su Xiaodong, squeezed near the door by the crowd of officers, was quietly amused. He recognized Pan Hong; unlike Wang Ergou, who was a typical sycophant, Pan Hong was a stubborn, abrasive sort, much disliked in official circles. If not for his brother being the chief of the Jinhai Public Security Bureau, he’d have been ousted long ago—perhaps worse.

Because of old grudges between their families, Su Xiaodong harbored no fondness for Pan Hong and was eager to see how he would extricate himself from the situation. After all, present were the mayor’s daughter, the deputy mayor’s daughter, Bai Jing and Tang Yixue—both with formidable backgrounds—and Tiger, who held sway in both legal and criminal circles. Su Xiaodong could barely contain his excitement; who could resist a good show these days?

At Pan Hong’s order, the officers dutifully moved to apprehend Lin Yang, the supposed ringleader.

If anyone deserved the label “lawless,” it was Lin Yang. The first officer to lay hands on him was sent flying with a single kick. The next, reaching for Lin Yang’s shoulder, was instantly subdued by a joint lock, immobilized and howling in pain.

Pan Hong hadn’t expected such audacity—not only did Lin Yang talk back, he beat up police officers right in front of him. Worse, Lin Yang was clearly highly skilled, his speed and power remarkable. Pan Hong realized that even if he went all out, he might not win. Furious, he drew his pistol in a flash, aiming it at Lin Yang and shouting, “Move again and I’ll blow your head off!”

Sensing the worsening situation, several onlookers who had been hoping for a good show stepped forward, positioning themselves between the two sides. With tensions mounting, the invited beauties had already retreated to a safe distance, unwilling to risk becoming collateral damage. As a result, the center of the hall now resembled a ring, with adversaries squaring off.

“Miss Yun, Miss Xiao, Brother Tiger—you’re here too?” When Pang Hong saw Zhu Yunyun, Guo Xiaoxiao, and others emerge from the crowd, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. This was a headache; he wasn’t blind—these people were standing with the very man he was threatening at gunpoint.

The group had deliberately hidden in the crowd to see how Pan Hong would handle things, but his response left them gravely disappointed. If they didn’t step in now, things would only get worse.

“What nerve, what arrogance! You didn’t even bother to get the facts before pulling a gun and threatening to arrest people. Director Pan, you certainly are bold!” Guo Xiaoxiao’s words were sharp and mocking, her tongue as cutting as ever. Besides Lin Yang and her own father, she cared little for anyone’s face, her barbed words meant to wound.