LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 39:
Chapter 39: Coward:
Mustache was taken aback but quickly recovered, nodding with determination. “I see. That pretty boy must have stolen your woman. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”
Lin You had no patience for this fool’s nonsense. He glanced at Lin Shengnan in the distance, along with the thugs still keeping an eye on her, and remarked, “Your subordinate doesn’t seem too smart. If you keep leading people like that, they’ll eventually get you killed.”
Mustache nodded in agreement. “I think so too. After tonight, I’ll drown him in a roadside ditch.”
Lin You smiled faintly. “No need for that.”
“People like him have their uses. For example, in situations like today. You even dared to beat up the police—I don’t know how strong your backing is, but if it’s not strong enough, you’ll need someone to take the fall.”
Mustache’s eyes lit up with realization. Bowing deeply, he said, “Thank you for your advice, sir. How about this—come to Ding City and work with me? I’ll make you my deputy with an annual salary starting at one million. Think about it.”
Lin You shook his head, patted Mustache’s shoulder, and said nothing more. He then pulled Li Ruochen along and left with Fatty.
Mustache watched them disappear into the darkness, his gaze eventually shifting toward the wonton shop in the distance. Yet, he saw no one.
Within a minute, a young man, about 1.8 meters tall, came running from afar. His face was filled with anxiety and concern as he shouted, “Second sister! Fourth sister! I’m here to save you!”
It was exactly as Lin You had predicted.
To Mustache, Lin You’s foresight elevated him to a godlike status.
Lin Tianyang’s arrival brought visible relief to Lin Shiyan. At a critical moment, Tianyang proves to be dependable, she thought. Unlike that ungrateful Lin You who abandoned us here. When we get home, we’ll make sure our parents teach him a lesson.
Lin Shengnan, however, frowned. She instantly understood what was happening. As expected, this guy is just an opportunist, trying to take the credit now that the danger has passed. Do you think you’re a hero, rushing in like this?
Mustache noticed that Lin Tianyang was accompanied by a young girl, extravagantly dressed and decked out in jewelry, though she appeared no older than a high school student.
Without a word, Mustache stepped forward and landed a punch on Lin Tianyang, sending him sprawling to the ground. “So you think you’re a hero, saving people under my watch? Who do you think you are—Captain America?”
Mustache couldn’t touch Lin You, but all his pent-up frustration exploded onto Lin Tianyang. Blood and spit sprayed across the ground as one of Lin Tianyang’s teeth flew out.
That punch was just the beginning. Mustache pressed his foot against Lin Tianyang’s neck, causing him to gasp for air, reminiscent of the phrase I can’t breathe.
Lin Tianyang was overwhelmed with frustration and confusion, ‘I waited until Lin You handled everything before coming out to claim the glory. Why are they still beating me? Where’s the honor in this? Aren’t they supposed to surrender so I can play the hero?’
Mustache didn’t care about such thoughts. He kicked Lin Tianyang into the circle of thugs and barked, “Beat him!”
The thugs, who had been idling, eagerly followed the order. Armed with sticks, they descended on Lin Tianyang.
The girl accompanying Lin Tianyang, who had hoped to impress her future in-laws, froze in shock. The man she admired was being beaten like a dog in front of her, completely destroying the image she had of him.
Lin Tianyang’s screams echoed like a pig being slaughtered.
Lin Shiyan, hearing his wails, felt heartbroken and began to cry. She thought to herself, ‘Tianyang, my dear brother, you’ve saved me once before, and now you’re doing it again. You’re truly my protector.’
But as she watched her “protector” lose control of his bowels, soaking his pants in urine and spreading a foul stench, Lin Shengnan’s expression remained indifferent.
This? she thought. This is nothing compared to what Lin You endured. He didn’t even flinch. A coward is a coward.
Lin Shiyan, sobbing uncontrollably, turned to Lin Shengnan and pleaded, “Shengnan, please save Tianyang! He’s so kind, so thin, so frail—they’ll beat him to death!”
Lin Shengnan spat on the ground. “Save him? With what? He came here without even thinking, and now you want me to risk myself for him? Do you remember what happened when Lin You was being beaten? Did you ask me to save him then?”
“Is Tianyang stronger than Lin You? Bigger than Lin You?” she continued, her tone sharp. “Why didn’t you feel this way about Lin You?”
Lin Shiyan stared at her in disbelief. “Fourth sister, how can you say that? Tianyang is our brother! He risked his life to save us, and instead of being grateful, you’re mocking him?”
Ignoring her, Lin Shengnan sat down and began tidying her torn clothes. She had no intention of intervening.
Meanwhile, Mustache checked his watch. Lin You had been beaten for roughly eighteen minutes earlier, so he decided to let the thugs beat Lin Tianyang for twenty minutes—two extra minutes as a bonus.
When the thugs finally stopped, Lin Tianyang lay on the ground like a pile of mud. His once-fair face was swollen and bruised, his eyes reduced to slits, and his lips looked like sausages. He had lost a tooth, his expensive clothes were ruined, and one of his toes appeared broken. His shoes were missing, and his freshly styled hair was now patchy with bald spots. The stench from his pants made everyone step back.
Traumatized, Lin Tianyang curled up, sobbing. “Don’t hit me anymore! I’ll pay you! My family has plenty of money. If that’s not enough, take my sister—you can do whatever you want!”
Lin Shiyan, too far away to hear his humiliating words, continued crying over her brother’s plight. Lin Shengnan, however, caught every word. She glanced at Lin Tianyang with disdain and muttered, “Coward.”
Mustache, surprised by how fragile Lin Tianyang was, sneered. “With this kind of attitude, he dared to challenge Lin You? Who gave him the courage? Liang Jingru?”
The comparison was stark.
When Lin You was beaten, he endured it like tempered steel—the harder the blows, the stronger he seemed. Lin Tianyang, on the other hand, was like a fragile bubble, bursting at the slightest touch.
Following Lin Shengnan’s lead, Mustache spat on the ground and cursed, “Coward!”
Hearing this, Lin Shengnan lifted her gaze and said coldly, “You’re suspected of murder, inciting violence, and assaulting the police. I should arrest you right now.”
Mustache, sensing her connection to Lin You, immediately played along. Grabbing one of his subordinates, he said with mock sternness, “Zhang Jun, you’re suspected of murder, inciting violence, and assaulting the police. Plead guilty at once!”