Are You a Victim Too

Lin Yu and Tang Manman arrived at Peng Jie's company by taxi.

As soon as they stepped out of the car, Lin Yu was greeted by a scene of commotion.

A group of fierce-looking thugs brandished blunt instruments, gesturing threateningly with one hand while shoving a few angry young people with the other, their mouths spewing profanities:

"Get the hell out!"

"Scram, now!"

Behind this group stood a portly, balding middle-aged man, watching the scene with a dark expression.

Among those being shoved was a woman wearing wire-rimmed glasses. Her eyebrows carried a hint of valiant spirit as she shouted at the balding man:

"Boss Wang!"

"We've already called the police!"

"You have to give us an explanation today!"

"You were the one who contacted Zhong Ning to set up this project!"

"Now that he's run off, you have to take responsibility!"

Boss Wang's face remained dark, his expression unchanging. He turned a deaf ear to the woman's words, instead cursing at the armed men:

"Motherf*****!"

"What are you all dawdling for?"

"Get them out of here, now!"

Seeing the boss lose his temper, the men intensified their efforts.

Most of the people being threatened and shoved were students who had not yet stepped into society. They could only cower as they were pushed and cursed at by these street ruffians.

The only older man among them looked even more timid, likely an old academic who had spent his entire life in the shelter of a university, the kind who had never had a confrontation with anyone in his life.

Among the group, only the woman with glasses showed some backbone.

"Don't push me!"

When a thug shoved her shoulder again, she slapped his hand away in anger.

This small act of resistance seemed to provoke the thug. His eyes bulged, his face contorted into a vicious scowl, and he raised the expandable baton in his hand to smash it down onto the woman's shoulder.

In the woman's shrinking pupils, the silver baton rapidly grew larger.

Instinctive reaction to the physical threat made her reflexively scrunch up her face. She tried to close her eyes and tense her soft body to brace for the inevitable, painful blow.

The next second.

In the woman's half-squinted eyes, which hadn't yet fully closed, a large hand appeared abruptly, firmly catching the baton as it swung down.

By the time the woman with glasses regained her senses, the slender silver baton had already changed ownership, and the thug in front of her had been kicked flying a considerable distance.

She, meanwhile, had fallen into a soft embrace.

"Are you alright, Senior Sister?"

Senior Sister Li panted heavily, still in shock. She turned her head and saw Tang Manman's exquisite face written with anxiety. Her heart suddenly felt empty, and a surge of emotion welled up, feeling like regret.

Turning her head to look forward again, she watched the tall, lean figure walking away with dashing, long strides. Her heart thumped wildly.

Even she couldn't distinguish whether her heart was beating so fast because of fear, or because of something else...

Standing behind the crowd, Boss Wang was not angry but delighted when he saw someone resort to violence.

Those college students had been pestering him for ages without making any substantial moves, and they had even called the police, making it difficult for him to act.

This was perfect.

A rash fool had arrived!

Since the guy struck first, Boss Wang no longer needed to have any scruples!

Boss Wang stood his ground, maintaining the gloom and anger on his face, not revealing a shred of the secret joy in his heart.

But gradually, the emotions in his heart and the expression on his face began to align.

As he watched that guy who had suddenly popped up knock out his last enforcer and walk towards him, his facial muscles twitched. Knowing he couldn't run, he forced his mouth into an ingratiating smile and said softly and apologetically:

"L-Little brother, let's talk this out properly..."

Lin Yu was not an unreasonable person; naturally, he would talk properly if there was something to discuss.

But Lin Yu had nothing to say to him right now.

He raised his hand and punched him.

With one punch, Boss Wang hit the ground, covering his nose and wailing in pain.

Lin Yu bent down and grabbed the collar of his suit—a garment made of fine material and carrying a hefty price tag, yet looking like a cheap street-stall knock-off when worn by him.

Seeing the hands covering the man's face, Lin Yu found them a bit obstructive, so he lifted his foot and stomped hard on the man's large belly.

"Cough..."

Boss Wang coughed, expelling a breath of air. His mouth puckered like a fish, and his hands subconsciously moved toward his newly injured abdomen.

Seeing his face exposed, Lin Yu seized the opportunity to smash two hard punches into his face before stopping.

Releasing Boss Wang's suit collar, the man slammed back onto the factory's brick floor with a dull thud, completely limp.

Lin Yu crouched down, wiped his blood-stained hand on the man's open suit jacket, and smiled.

"Now we can have a proper talk."

"Speak."

"Where is the money?"

Lying on the ground, the fat on Boss Wang's face spread out, making his head look almost perfectly round. He squinted his eyes, his gaze lifeless, and didn't answer Lin Yu, looking as if he were on the verge of death.

Lin Yu found it somewhat amusing.

You're still not being honest, are you?

Lin Yu knew his own strength. He had pulled his punches; there was no way he had beaten the man into this state.

Seeing him start to act, Lin Yu stood up and, without a word, raised his foot to stomp down on that round, drum-like belly again.

"Hey!"

"Hey!"

Boss Wang struggled to raise a hand, using all his strength to cry out twice, trying to stop Lin Yu.

The people who had rushed over were dumbfounded.

He's cured just like that?

What a miraculous cure, Doc!

Lin Yu lowered his foot, looked down at Boss Wang from above, and asked:

"Speak. Where is the money?"

"And where is that person?"

Boss Wang, with a bitter expression on a face streaming with noseblood, cried out aggrievedly:

"I don't know either!"

"That bastard ran off with my money too!"

"I don't even know who to look for now!"

"You're lying!"

Senior Sister Li, having finally rushed over, pointed at Boss Wang and said angrily:

"Back then, it was you and that man together, talking in front of our teacher about how much money your project made, setting a trap for the teacher."

"You tricked the teacher into investing in your project!"

"You are definitely his shill!"

"I am really not!"

Boss Wang beat his chest and stomped his feet in grievance, shouting in his defense:

"I was scammed by him too! I invested in his project and was cheated out of over a million. Now I can barely pay the workers' wages for next month!"

Boss Wang's performance was heartfelt and earnest; as he spoke, tears even began to fall. The crowd looked at each other in dismay, unsure of what to do next.

Boss Wang's story bluffed the crowd for a moment, but Lin Yu didn't believe him.

If what he said was true, then he was a victim himself, and there would be no reason for him not to communicate with these people who were fellow victims.

Quite the opposite, he kept trying to chase them away.

There was definitely more to this story. Even if he wasn't partners with that scammer, he certainly wasn't as innocent as he claimed.

Moreover, judging from his earlier behavior, this guy was very slippery. Lin Yu wouldn't believe his mouth full of nonsense.

Just as Lin Yu was thinking about how to pry his mouth open, the sound of police sirens rang out in the distance.

Lin Yu turned his head to look; the police had arrived.

Senior Sister Li also saw the police cars in the distance. She turned back, glared at Boss Wang, and said fiercely,

"Go tell it to the police!"

"See if they believe you!"