Chapter 8: Do You Dare to Bet a Hand?

"Lao Wang, come in." Hua Yuan sat in the office and shouted in a deep voice.

Wang Zhong sighed, walked into the office, and gently closed the door.

"Lao Wang," Hua Yuan lit a cigarette, his tone softening a bit, "what's really going on with Lin Yu?"

"I..."

"Don't say you don't know," Hua Yuan cut him off, "in the entire Police Bureau, he's the one who listens to you the most. This kid must have taken the wrong medicine today; you need to go and advise him."

Wang Zhong forced a wry smile and shook his head: "Chief Inspector Hua, this..."

"Lao Wang," Hua Yuan said seriously, "you've been through this yourself; in these chaotic times, securing an iron rice bowl in Shen City isn't easy. Lin Yu is a young, promising talent, and I've always had high hopes for him."

He took a drag and continued, "But this time, he made a huge mess. Not only did he offend Liao Zong, he also beat someone from the Health Union Association. And now this..."

"If this keeps escalating, Lin Yu definitely won't be able to stay in the Police Bureau."

Wang Zhong lowered his head and remained silent.

"Go talk to him," Hua Yuan said earnestly, "young people can be hot‑blooded and impulsive; that's understandable. But they need to be flexible in their actions..."

"Chief Inspector Hua," Wang Zhong finally spoke, "I..." He forced a wry smile, "I have no solution either. I don't even know what's wrong with this kid today."

"You..." Hua Yuan sprang to his feet, "you useless piece of trash! All you ever do is protect him! And now, he won't even listen to you, right?"

"Chief Inspector Hua..."

"Get out!" Hua Yuan shouted angrily, "If you can't control him, stay far away from me! Don't cause more trouble here!"

Wang Zhong turned silently and left the office. He glanced at Lin Yu, who was still guarding the keys, and felt a mix of emotions.

【7】 This child has been stubborn since he was young; once he decides on something, even nine oxen can't pull him back. Today, with this attitude, I fear no one can persuade him.

This child has been stubborn since they were little; even nine oxen can't pull back what they are set on. Today, like this, I'm afraid no one's persuasion will work.

But what he didn't know was that Lin Yu heard the conversation in the office, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Iron rice bowl? You still think you can make me soft? Not a chance!

Moreover, I'm about to be appointed to the Fourth Operations Bureau, so these people's threats are nothing but a joke to me!

Hua Yuan returned to the office, picked up the phone, and dialed Liao Zong's number.

"Hello, Liao Zong..."

"What's the matter? Has Yamamoto Ichiro been released?" Liao Zong's thick Shen City accent came through the line.

"This..." Hua Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Liao Zong, there's a situation..."

He recounted the whole chain of events.

"What?!" Liao Zong's voice rose sharply, "Did we hear that clearly? A tiny police officer actually dares to rebel like this?"

"Yes, Liao Zong, this kid is acting like he's gone mad today..."

"Alright, alright, alright!" Liao Zong repeated "good" three times, clearly furious, "We'll be back immediately! We'll see how we properly deal with this disrespectful brat today!"

After hanging up, Hua Yuan let out a long sigh. Chen Xun had been eavesdropping nearby, and upon hearing this, he broke into a delighted grin.

He stepped out of the office, approached Lin Yu, covering his still‑aching face, and said sarcastically, "Lin Yu, just wait—Liao Zong will be back any moment."

"Heh," he sneered, "I'll be interested to see, when Liao Zong comes back, whether you can still be this arrogant!"

Bang!

Lin Yu suddenly stood up and slapped back with a swift, fierce hand. The blow was so fast and hard that it spun Chen Xun around half a turn, and his nose began spurting blood instantly.

"Some people," Lin Yu sneered, looking at the wailing Chen Xun covering his face, "only remember being beaten, never the beating."

"You... you..." Chen Xun covered his face, unable to finish his sentence.

"Get out!" Lin Yu's gaze hardened.

This time Chen Xun was truly terrified and staggered back to the office.

The entire police precinct fell into a death‑like silence again.

Liao Weifeng sat in the sedan, his face ominously sullen.

"We really misjudged this kid!" he pounded the seat hard, "Two hours ago he dared to defy us, and now he still has the nerve!"

Recalling the scene from two hours ago, Liao Zong was seething. Back then he was angry but thought it was just youthful hot‑bloodedness. But now...

"This is an insult to us!"

The driver drove cautiously, not daring to speak.

"Step on it!" Liao Zong urged, "We'll see how long this insolent kid can keep being arrogant!"

The sedan sped through the bustling streets of the French Concession, heading toward the Yunfei Road police precinct.

Liao Zong stared out at the bustling crowd, weighing his thoughts. This Lin Yu, who usually appears quite honest, has he taken a bear's heart and a leopard's gall today? How dare he give me no respect!

"The Health Union Association is still waiting for our reply..." Liao Zong gritted his teeth, "This stinky kid wants to kill us!"

The sedan turned a corner, and the red‑brick police precinct came into view.

"Wait!" Liao Zong squinted, "Today we'll make you know what happens to those who don't know their place!"

Liao Zong entered the precinct with a grim face, and the entire hall fell silent instantly.

"Fine!" he shouted in a thick Shen City accent, pointing at Lin Yu, "Now we see clearly, you little rascal are trying to rebel!"

Lin Yu still stood beside the desk, lightly tapping his police baton against his palm.

"Defying a superior, disregarding the law!" Liao Zong continued roaring, "In all my years in the precinct, I've never seen anyone like you!"

The precinct fell deathly silent; everyone held their breath. Even Yamamoto Ichiro in the detention cell stopped shouting, watching the scene with keen interest.

"You think you're someone special? Huh?" Liao Zong stepped two paces closer, "A tiny police officer dares to..."

Lin Yu suddenly laughed, a chilling, bone‑chilling grin.

"Liao Zong," he pointed at the keys on the desk, "how about we make a bet?"

"Bet?" Liao Zong was taken aback, "Bet on what?"

"Very simple," Lin Yu's voice was icy, "You take this key and lock someone; I'll see if I dare break your hand!"

"Ah?!"

The whole Patrol Office erupted in an instant. Everyone stared at Lin Yu, mouths agape, as if they could not believe their ears.

What is this talk? That's Chief Liao! The Deputy Chief Inspector of the largest Patrol Office in the French Concession!

Hua Yuan turned pale with fright, and Wang Zhong nearly collapsed to the ground. Even Chen Xun, who was hiding in a corner, forgot the pain in his face, his mouth gaping, unable to speak.

"... You......" Chief Liao trembled all over, "... You dare......"

"... Do I dare or not," Lin Yu sneered, cutting him off, "... Chief Liao, try it and you'll find out?"

He shook the baton in his hand: "Come on, the key is right here. If you think I, Xiao Chi Lao, don't dare to act, you may as well try."

Chief Liao's complexion shifted from red to blue, then from blue to white. In all his years at the Patrol Office, no one had ever dared speak to him like that!

"... You......" he pointed at Lin Yu's hand, trembling, "... You are trying to rebel!"

"... Rebel?" Lin Yu sneered, "... I am upholding the Patrol Office's rules! Chief Liao, if you think the rules can be trampled at will, then you are welcome to take the key."

He paused, his voice even colder: "... However, I keep my word. Whoever dares move this key, I will break that person's hand!"

The entire Patrol Office fell deathly silent. Everyone was stunned by Lin Yu's reckless act. This was no longer a simple defiance of a superior; it was an outright challenge to the authority of the whole Patrol Office!

Chief Liao was so angry he could not speak; he stared fixedly at Lin Yu, only to see the young man's gaze steadfast, showing no sign of retreat.

In that moment, he suddenly realized that the young man had truly thrown everything aside!