Taking a cab to the barbecue place mentioned by Li Yuan, Lin Yu's first sight upon arrival was of Li Yuan grilling semi-cooked skewers in front of a small stove. This was the unique method of the establishment where each table was supplied with a personal grill and partially cooked meat, leaving customers to finish the last bit of cooking to their taste, adding seasoning as well.
Li Yuan relished this do-it-yourself approach, often choosing this spot for his barbecues just as the original owner, Huang Mao, used to venture all the way here for the same experience.
Sitting down opposite Li Yuan, Lin Yu greeted him with a cheerful, "Uncle, what did you need to see me for?" without delay, he pulled out his newly purchased Hammer phone and began eating the skewers nonchalantly.
Li Yuan, whose mood was already gloomy, looked visibly darker upon seeing Lin Yu's Hammer phone, asking with a displeased tone, "You bought a phone?"
Lin Yu confirmed with a nod as he took a bite of a well-grilled squid, "Yeah, I did."
Hearing the confirmation, Li Yuan's face turned even grimmer; he snorted his disapproval, "You're too young to be buying such impractical things. Even I don't have a phone as good as yours!"
"Can you even compare to me?" Lin Yu flattered him in a teasing manner but without much success, as Li Yuan's expression hardly improved. Lin Yu then directed his attention to devouring skewers, swiftly polishing off those on the table.
As Lin Yu was ready to order more skewers, Li Yuan abruptly spoke up, "I'm cutting your monthly allowance by five hundred." He complained about Lin Yu's irresponsible spending habits, clearly concerned about the substantial sum he had disbursed the night before and finding ways to recoup the loss.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
Lin Yu had anticipated Li Yuan's sudden turnabout, knowing the man's character; it was his usual tactic to retract money somehow. What Lin Yu hadn't expected was the audacity to deduce from his monthly allowance—an amount barely enough post-rent, which was vital for university saving plans.
At first, Lin Yu played along but as the conversation escalated, he made it clear his patience had limits. When Li Yuan stood up to leave in anger after an intense exchange, a sudden commotion at the entrance of the barbecue spot drew everyone's attention.
A group of men erupted from three parked vans, led by someone bandaged from head to toe, pointing at Li Yuan and hollering for an attack. As the menacing crowd advanced, weapons in hand, Lin Yu watched curiously, recognizing the likely gang dispute linked to Li Yuan's criminal background.
Encouraged secretly by the chaos - a chance to see his uncle dealt with - Lin Yu's mood lifted. When one of the men suddenly pointed at him, confusingly labeling Lin Yu as Li Yuan's nephew, Lin Yuan realized he was inadvertently caught in the fray.
Reacting swiftly, Lin Yu tipped over the table to delay the oncoming assault and chased after Li Yuan, who despite being a gang leader, had maintained good physical fitness and was sprinting away.
Lin Yu finally caught up, and amidst their frenzied escape, a misdirected brick flew towards them. Seizing the moment, Lin Yu cried out a warning and, with a forceful push, redirected Li Yuan directly into the brick's path, feigning an accident.
"Uncle, get up!" Lin Yu urged earnestly as Li Yuan suspected nothing and scrambled back to his feet, cursing his misfortune. Continuing their getaway, Lin Yu hoisted Li Yuan onto his shoulders, proclaiming his undying loyalty and vowing to face their fate together.
Inside, Lin Yu's true intentions were quite different, and as they ran from their pursuers, he deliberately put on a show of camaraderie to conceal his betrayal, awaiting the moment when Li Yuan would realize the truth.