This sentence was like a bomb, causing the expressions of Ye Tong and the others to change drastically. Jiang Xia was deliberately targeting Lin Mu.

Li Ping looked at Lin Mu smugly. "Hey, Lin, do you dare?"

Gu Can sneered, "Like hell he does. With that weak appearance, how could he be Director Jiang's opponent?"

Although Lin Mu was tall and slender, he looked rather frail, as if he couldn't even truss a chicken. How could he possibly be a match for the robust Jiang Xia?

"If you don't dare, then don't talk nonsense, or people will only look down on you," Jiang Xia said mockingly.

He was very annoyed with Lin Mu. From Ye Tong to Song Wenrou, both women seemed very close to Lin Mu. Even the two girls by his side were remarkably beautiful. Wasn't he the one who deserved that kind of attention? On what grounds did Lin Mu have it? Especially when everyone was singing his praises, Lin Mu had shaken his head with disdain, which nearly made him explode with anger.

Now, he was deliberately provoking Lin Mu, intending to teach him a lesson.

As his words fell, Li Ping and Gu Can eagerly chimed in to kick Lin Mu while he was down, their faces filled with schadenfreude. If Lin Mu dared to accept the challenge, he would be beaten to a pulp and made into a laughingstock. Then, Song Wenrou would finally know who the real man was.

"Jiang Xia, let it go. Why bother with someone like him?" Ye Tong shook her head and gestured to Song Wenrou. "He's not your opponent anyway. Going up there would only bring him shame. Wenrou, come over here. Don't stay with that guy."

In her mind, she was doing this for Song Wenrou's own good. She had been deceived by Lin Mu before, so she was naturally worried that Song Wenrou would be as well.

Song Wenrou, gentle as ever, replied, "I'm fine standing right here."

This made Ye Tong frantic. What kind of spell has Lin Mu cast on Song Wenrou? How could she still not forget him after so many years? To think, they had only been classmates for one year before Lin Mu disappeared. The rumor was that he had joined the military. But looking at him now, he didn't have the bearing of a soldier in the slightest. There were also rumors that he dropped out of school because he couldn't afford it. That seemed far more likely.

Thinking of this, a sense of anger welled up inside Ye Tong.

"Wenrou, if you don't listen, I'm telling your mom when we get back!" Ye Tong said, her voice sharp with anger.

This time, Song Wenrou was surprisingly firm. "I'm not a child. I know what I'm doing."

Ye Tong opened her mouth, then gave a bitter smile. That's right, Song Wenrou was never a child. On the contrary, she was smart and had a mind of her own. It was just that her personality and demeanor were so gentle, giving the impression of weakness. Only she, Ye Tong, knew that the famously gentle Song Wenrou was not weak at all. Gentleness is not weakness. She simply disliked competing and fighting. Her detached nature was what gave others the false impression of frailty.

"Brother Lin, are you going to get up here and fight me or not?" Jiang Xia stared at Lin Mu, a cold smile touching the corner of his lips.

Lin Mu shook his head. "Let's not."

Li Ping immediately jeered, "I knew it, he doesn't dare!"

Gu Can added mockingly, "Not a real man at all."

"You're too weak," Lin Mu's voice cut through their taunts. "I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back my punches and might accidentally hurt you."

Jiang Xia was left speechless.

So was Li Ping.

Ye Tong's voice turned icy. "Lin Mu, are you trying to infuriate me? If you can't win, just admit it. There's no need to put on a brave front. Is your pride that important to you?"

Even Guan Jiaojiao couldn't listen to this anymore. She snorted, "So it's fine for you all to care about face, but it's not important for others? Could you be any more shameless?"

"You..." Ye Tong was so angry her chest heaved.

"Leave it to me." Jiang Xia patted Ye Tong's hand. "Dealing with certain people requires more forceful methods."

With that, Jiang Xia went to the registration desk for the fighting ring.

At that moment, the match on the stage had just concluded. Jiang Xia crouched and sprang onto the platform with a powerful leap.

On the stage, the victorious competitor had thick, powerful-looking arms. According to the surrounding discussions, he had already won two consecutive matches and a good sum of money. The reason he chose to stay was to achieve a three-win streak, which would not only earn him a considerable reward but also significant fame.

"Kid, you're just a stepping stone for my third straight win!" Seeing Jiang Xia get on stage, the brawny man sneered and beckoned with his finger. "Come on, Grandpa will show you what true despair feels like!"

Jiang Xia smiled confidently. "Is that so? I hope you don't disappoint me."

As if provoked, the man roared and charged straight at Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia's confidence wasn't just for show. He clashed with the brawny man for several minutes, exchanging over a dozen moves before finding an opening. With one swift kick, he sent the man flying off the platform. The man was furious, but the winner had been decided, and he could only leave the arena, seething with unwillingness.

Jiang Xia's victory thrilled Li Ping and Gu Can, and even Ye Tong's eyes sparkled with admiration.

Amidst the crowd's cheers, Jiang Xia walked to the edge of the stage. Leaning on the railing, he looked down at Lin Mu in the crowd below.

"I wonder, Brother Lin, do you still think I'm no match for you?" A cold sneer played on Jiang Xia's lips.

This time, he was going to humiliate Lin Mu in front of everyone. He had just kicked an opponent with a two-win streak off the stage in under twenty moves, earning the crowd's applause and proving his strength. In front of so many people, he didn't believe Lin Mu would still dare to refuse.

Li Ping scoffed, "A guy like him could never be a match for our Director Jiang. If you're scared, just get lost and stop embarrassing yourself here."

Gu Can chimed in, "After seeing Director Jiang's power, how could he still dare to go up?"

With his hands clasped behind his back, Lin Mu looked at Jiang Xia and shook his head again. "Let's just forget it. I don't want to bully you."

PFFT!

Lin Mu's words made many people in the crowd burst out laughing. This kid's actual strength was unknown, but his words were certainly infuriating. Even Jiang Xia nearly coughed up blood. This Lin Mu was just too damn insulting!

Ye Tong shook her head in disappointment. "Lin Mu, you are a true disappointment. To think that after all these years, not only have you achieved nothing, but you've also lost even the most basic human decency of being honest."

"Is it really that hard for you to admit you're not good enough?"

Ye Tong's face was etched with heartache, her eyes full of disappointment. Deep down, she didn't hold any grudge against Lin Mu. If he were outstanding enough, she would even consent to him being with Wenrou. But Lin Mu... what right did he have to be with her?

Lin Mu shot Ye Tong an indifferent glance. "You think too highly of yourself. I, Lin Mu, have lived my life as I see fit. Why would I ever need to explain myself to others?"

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