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Chapter 33 I can't let you go just like that!

If he had just been some clueless guy, it wouldn't be such a big deal. But clearly, there was more to William than met the eye.

"What do you want?" Evelyn asked, her eyebrows knit in slight annoyance. She wasn't exactly fond of William, but she didn't despise him either.

William hesitated, then smiled at her. "Let's start over. My name is William. How about we be friends?"

"Sounds good! I'm Lucy Cox, Evelyn's close friend. You can call me Lucy," chimed in the girl beside Evelyn, extending her hand towards William before Evelyn could respond.

"Hello," William replied, shaking her hand gently. Compared to Evelyn, this girl seemed quite ordinary.

A bit on the plump side, with a touch of youthful innocence and eyes that sparkled like stars. She wasn't as dazzling as Evelyn, but she had a charming cuteness about her.

Evelyn gave William a nod, "My name's Evelyn. Thanks for earlier."

"You're welcome. Have you two had lunch? How about we eat together?" William's smile was infectious; he seemed so young, yet there was a warmth to him that reminded one of a kind old man.

Evelyn was puzzled by her own feelings. Normally, if a guy asked her out for a meal, she would decline, just like she did with Edward. But with William, she felt an inexplicable sense of comfort.

Even though she knew he was at a bar with some rich older woman just the night before, she didn't know where this newfound comfort came from.

"Where shall we go for lunch?" Lucy asked eagerly, tugging at Evelyn.

"Skyline Bistro. My roommates are waiting for me there," William replied, not forgetting that his dorm buddies were expecting him.

Evelyn was inclined to decline, but Lucy seemed entirely smitten, nodding, "Let's go then. We shouldn't keep your friends waiting."

Skyline Bistro was near the university. Wyatt and the others had already arrived, but they were now noticeably nervous. Ryan and members from various sports clubs were also at the bistro.

"The guys from dorm 306?" Ryan's group eyed Wyatt and his friends with a palpable animosity.

"Didn't deal with them yesterday, and here they are again today. Ryan, should we teach them a lesson?"

Thomas, the head of the Taekwondo club, sneakily glanced at Wyatt and his group. They hadn't gotten over the beating they got from William the day before, and it had made them increasingly frustrated.

Ryan nodded, his silent agreement was clear.

If they couldn't get back at William, they would take it out on his roommates.

Thomas got the hint and moved to sit at Wyatt's table.

Wyatt, trying to defuse the situation, offered him a cigarette with a forced smile. "What a coincidence, Thomas! You're dining here too?"

Thomas crossed his legs and dismissively glanced at the cigarette Wyatt extended. "I don't smoke that kind," he sneered.

There's a difference between not smoking and not smoking 'that kind.' It was clear that Thomas was looking down on Wyatt.

Caught off-guard, Wyatt sheepishly responded, "Sorry, Thomas. I'm a bit strapped for cash, so I can only afford these."

Thomas laughed mockingly, "What was your name again?"

"Wyatt." Wyatt pulled back the cigarette, embarrassed. He didn't want trouble with someone like Thomas and was clearly conceding.

Thomas smirked coldly, "When we had a problem with William yesterday, you guys just stood by and watched. What's up with that?"

Wyatt was taken aback, struggling for a response. Could they have jumped in and attacked William alongside Thomas and his gang?

Besides, with all the members of Ryan's crew unable to handle William, would adding the three of them make any difference?

Daniel, however, was running out of patience. "If you have a problem with William, go find him. We haven't done anything to you. Think you're so superior just because you have money?"

Thomas's brow furrowed, as he snapped at Daniel, "Dare to say that again!"

Daniel, known for having the fiercest temper in the dorm and being brutally straightforward, rose from his seat, staring Thomas down, "Isn't it true? If you've got guts, go confront William! Just because you've learned Taekwondo for a few years doesn't make you an expert. I'm not scared of you. If you lay a finger on me today, I swear we'll see this through to the end!"

Daniel, already grabbing a beer bottle from the side, looked ready to fight, poised to smash the bottle at Thomas any moment.

Thomas was almost taken aback.

Daniel wasn't from a wealthy background nor was he particularly skilled, but there's a saying: the aggressive fear the stubborn, the stubborn fear the reckless – and Daniel certainly fit the "reckless" bill.

"Looking for trouble, are you?" Thomas cursed, using his superior physical strength to land the first punch, striking Daniel's face.

Wyatt immediately tried to intervene, but Daniel, ever the straightforward guy, didn't cry out in pain. Instead, he swung the beer bottle at Thomas' head.

Thomas, having trained in martial arts and anticipating the move, blocked the bottle with his arm. The bottle shattered on impact, spraying beer everywhere.

"You really dared to hit me?" Thomas, seething with anger, grabbed Daniel by the throat, shouting, "You believe I won't end you?"

As the fight escalated, members from other sports clubs and the Taekwondo club couldn't remain seated. They all rose to their feet, restraining both Wyatt and Paul. The restaurant owner recognized this gang and tried to pacify them, urging them not to cause a scene.

Ryan, exuding a privileged air, calmly reassured, "Don't worry, things won't get out of hand. If anything gets broken, I'll cover the costs."

The owner didn't dare argue or call the police. Even as Thomas pressed Daniel's head against the table, Daniel still defiantly shouted, "Thomas, if you have the guts, finish me off today, or I swear this isn't over!"

"Quite bold, aren't you?" Thomas remarked with a grin, patting Daniel's cheek. Rising to the position of Taekwondo club president wasn't solely due to his martial arts skills; he wasn't afraid to get tough. If he were to be intimidated by Daniel now, he'd lose all respect.

As the trio from the dormitory were pinned down, William strolled in, flanked by two beautiful ladies.

The sight of William only inflamed Thomas' group further.

They hadn't forgotten the previous day's humiliating defeat, but with renewed vigor and in greater numbers, they felt bold again today.

Sometimes there's courage in numbers.

"What's going on here?" William glanced at Ryan, his eyes holding an unmistakable hint of intimidation. Of course, he wasn't going all out – with his superhuman abilities, a mere look could render Ryan completely mindless.

Feeling an inexplicable unease under William's gaze, Ryan still managed to reply with faux bravado, "William, since we've run into you again today, we certainly can't let you walk away so easily."