Chapter 121: Arrogance

It must be said that after years of serving as an official, Jia Quan had long since cultivated an aura of natural authority. As his face suddenly drained of color in his fury, the entire hall fell silent; no one dared to utter a single word of discussion. Even the waiters and waitresses, who had been carrying trays to serve the meal, were so frightened that they stopped in their tracks, standing frozen as they watched the situation unfold, unable to move forward or retreat.

Seemingly satisfied with the room's reaction, Jia Quan waited until the silence was absolute, then covered his mouth to cough before turning his gaze toward Lin Yu, who stood quietly on the dais. Because he was not wearing his glasses, he could not clearly see the expression in the young man's eyes, but overall, Lin Yu struck him as remarkably brash.

He possessed a fearless demeanor—appearing both calm and perhaps overly confident. This sensation made Jia Quan uncomfortable, and the fire in his heart grew beyond his control. He could not help but speak: "Young man, do you know who it is you struck?"

Though Jia Quan’s words sounded mild, those nearby could distinctly hear the coldness laced within his tone. Upon seeing the leader lose his temper, some of the lower-ranking officials in the room did not even dare to breathe, terrified that a single lapse in composure might ruin their future political careers. Even Lin Tiancheng did not dare to interrupt; he felt that although he was Lin Yu’s father, he lacked the standing to engage in a direct dialogue with Jia Quan.

Lin Yu, however, merely offered a faint smile at Jia Quan’s question. "The people I strike," he replied, "are only those who wish to strike me."

In that moment, there was a sense of detachment about Lin Yu, as if he were indifferent to gain or loss. His understated answer and his nonchalant air gave him the carefree appearance of someone watching flowers bloom and fade in a courtyard.

Hearing this, Jia Quan let out a cold laugh and raised his voice. "Young man, I am not here to debate philosophy with you. I want you to know that Jia Qing is not someone you can hit. This hall is no longer a place for you; leave at once."

Although Jia Quan, restrained by his status, did not pursue the matter further, he had issued an order of expulsion. Wang Kezhou, the Mayor of Bincheng, knew Jia Quan better than anyone and understood exactly what this meant. It meant that Jia Quan viewed Lin Yu’s offense as unforgivable, denying him even the chance to apologize. After today, Lin Yu would undoubtedly face a fierce crackdown, and even his father, Lin Tiancheng, would find it hard to escape the fallout.

Before Lin Yu could react, Wang Kezhou plastered an exaggerated smile on his face and spoke up to defend him. "Secretary Jia, look, he is just a child, acting on impulse. Why don’t you give him a chance to apologize?"

"A chance? Chances are reserved for those who deserve them." Jia Quan gave a stern smile that sent a chill down the spines of many.

The wrath of a ruler can leave a million corpses in its wake. Given his current position, Jia Quan was essentially the ruler of Bincheng. While his anger might not literally leave a million corpses, it would certainly make all of Bincheng tremble.

"Old Jia, look, why hold a grudge against a child?" Mayor Wang Kezhou said, his face still full of smiles as he rose to his feet.

Yet, Jia Quan did not grant him the slightest bit of face, saying coldly, "This has nothing to do with you."

He then gestured again toward Lin Yu, who had not budged, and barked with a menacing tone, "I will give you one minute to get out of here, or my guards will be here immediately."

In the hierarchy of officialdom, those in higher positions hold absolute sway. Seeing himself ignored, Mayor Wang Kezhou could only sigh to himself, realizing he could no longer protect the Lin family. After all, Jia Quan was notoriously protective of his own, and in Bincheng, his word was truly law.

Seeing the Mayor rebuffed, the others became increasingly restless, terrified that today's events would impact their own prospects. Several who were usually on good terms with Lin Tiancheng even began to secretly wipe sweat from their brows.

"I don't think you have the authority to make him leave!"

Just as everyone was contemplating their next move, a voice—not overly loud, yet laced with sharp, icy intensity—rang out. The only person in the hall who stood up against Jia Quan’s pressure to defend Lin Yu was not his parents, but the elegant and refined Yang Zhilin.

As she abruptly intervened, Deputy Mayor Yang Xiong couldn't help but shudder, thinking to himself that he was now dragged into this mess and would never be able to clear his name.

"Whose daughter are you? Do you have the authority to speak here?" Seeing a young girl dare to stand up for Lin Yu, Jia Quan’s rage flared even higher, his once calm face turning a deep, angry red.

"Whose daughter I am is not the point. The point is, you do not have the authority to make him leave." Yang Zhilin walked step by step toward the City Committee Secretary, not showing a hint of fear.

At this point, Yang Xiong could no longer sit still and rose to stop her, fearing the situation would escalate further. He knew his daughter best; she was the type of person who, once set on doing something, could not be stopped by anyone.

Meanwhile, her mother, Xia Ling, sat motionless in her chair, her expression frozen and devoid of emotion as she quietly watched the drama unfold.

"I don't have the authority to make him leave? Then who gave you the authority to speak to me like that? Let me tell you, even your father wouldn't dare to defy me like this! What gives you the right?" Having been defied repeatedly in front of so many people, Jia Quan was nearing the point of uncontrollable rage and slammed his hand against the table to express his fury.

"The right comes from the fact that this Brilliant Hotel is owned by my mother, and the fact that you haven't paid a cent for this meal—it was provided by us for free! So, I think the one who should leave is not Lin Yu, but you, the unreasonable City Committee Secretary!"

Pushing her father aside, Yang Zhilin stood there, her face as cold as frost, looking exactly like her mother, Xia Ling. That icy demeanor was enough to make one’s heart palpitate.

When she said this, the silent hall erupted in an uproar. It turned out that the mysterious owner of the Brilliant Hotel was none other than Yang Xiong’s wife, Xia Ling. Furthermore, if the meal was free, then where had the massive event budget gone? That was a question for another time.

Seeing Yang Zhilin defend him in such a way, Lin Yu, who had been standing quietly, walked toward her step by step. In that moment, he fully understood how much the girl cared for him. To glare at and defy the near-apoplectic City Committee Secretary required immense courage and the willingness to bear significant risk.

Upon learning that Xia Ling owned the Brilliant Hotel, he also finally understood why Liang Jing had taken such care of him. It was all because of his profound friendship with Yang Zhilin.

But just then, when Lin Yu was still three or four meters away from her, he watched in fury as Jia Quan raised his hand toward Yang Zhilin.

Before he could reach her to intervene, a crisp sound echoed through the hall. On Yang Zhilin’s clean, slightly exotic face, the imprint of five fingers appeared.