The manager couldn't hold him back.
Tiger strode forward, heading straight for the royal suite he'd reserved.
Inside, Kael was still pinning Jake to the floor.
Mason, red-faced, stood beside Jake, shouting loudly:
"Who the hell do you think you are, calling my man a fake?! What if that photo on Baidu is fake?!"
Kael stared at them coldly, his voice sharp.
"Even if he's real, if he ever touches Aurora again, he'll be on his knees apologizing!"
Aurora didn't beg for mercy. She stood right beside Kael, watching him handle this.
Smart girl. Not like those naive ones who feel sorry for the villain and end up hurting their own.
Mason was furious.
If Jake knelt down, it would make him look weak.
"Kael! Are you drunk? So what if he just grabbed Aurora's hand? She didn't even get hurt! We're all from Havenshire, don't make this ugly!"
Kael's gaze was relentless.
"Shut up, or I'll deal with you too."
Mason flinched back.
Scared, but unwilling to back down—he still needed to impress Lina.
He opened his mouth to argue.
BANG.
The door slammed open.
Tiger stepped in, followed by Liam Wang and the huge bodyguard. The manager, who'd tried to stop him, trailed behind, sweating.
The room was a mess—peelings, empty bottles, drunk students.
Tiger's eyes narrowed.
"Damn it, did some dogs take my room?!"
The manager apologized nervously.
"Sorry, Tiger! This is my kid brother, ignorant. I'll kick them out right away."
Everyone froze.
Lina stared at Mason, wide-eyed. You said you booked this place?
Tiger didn't care about the manager. He grabbed his collar.
"Did I or did I NOT book this room ALL DAY? Do you know who I'm meeting here? The music director of The Voice! I'm gonna make my girl a star! And you let some strangers take it? You're embarrassing me!"
The manager knew he was in the wrong.
He offered to pay for everything, hating Mason for getting him into this mess.
Tiger slapped him to the ground.
"I don't want your money! If my guest is treated badly, I'll shut this place down!"
He turned, gesturing for Liam Wang to enter.
When Liam walked in, everyone stared.
It was the real music director—the one from the phone!
Jake, who'd been lying through his teeth, panicked.
He tried to sneak toward the door.
But the 1.9-meter bodyguard blocked his way.
"The show's not over. No one leaves."
It finally sank in.
The royal suite, the music director—it was all a scam by Mason and Jake.
Mason's face turned scarlet.
But Tiger, after scanning the room and locking eyes with Lina and Aurora, licked his lips.
He dragged the beaten manager back to his feet.
"Here's your chance. Let the girls stay. I'll forget about the trouble you caused."
The manager hurried to Mason.
"Tell your friends to stay. I'll pay them the highest rate."
Mason's conscience pricked him.
"Brother-in-law! They're students!"
The manager snapped.
"Students? So what? I've got plenty of students here! Either they stay, or I tell your sister everything you've done!"
Mason wilted.
He turned to his roommates, forcing a laugh.
"Heh-hey! Everyone, this is Tiger! He wants to hang out, let's all have some fun!"
Before anyone could react, Tiger roared.
"Cut the crap! I said the GIRLS stay! The boys, GET OUT!"
The girls paled.
These guys were dangerous. Staying with them meant nothing good.
"We don't want to stay!" Lina said bravely, fighting her fear.
Aisha stood up at once.
"Hell no! Our girls aren't staying here!"
The manager, fearing Tiger's wrath, tried to smooth things over.
"I'll talk to them. Just sit tight."
He got one step forward.
KICK.
Tiger kicked him out of the room.
Tiger吸着牙缝, his voice cold.
"I'm not an unreasonable man." He scanned the room. "This room is mine. You're here. That's not right, is it?"
Lina tried to reason.
"W-we'll pay you! We'll compensate you!"
The students, scared and annoyed, agreed.
It was better than staying. They all hated Mason for this.
Tiger smiled lazily, sitting back on the couch.
"Sure. Compensate me. One hundred thousand."
"ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND?!"
Everyone was shocked.
"Aren't you charging 2,888? Why 100,000 now?!" Aisha shouted angrily.
Tiger grinned.
"The room costs 2,888. I charge 100,000. Pay up, or stay."
The students were terrified.
They didn't have 100,000. Not even 2,888.
Mason stepped forward, trembling.
"Tiger, my dad is Jin Zaiming from West Market."
"Never heard of him."
Tiger shot him down without a second thought.
Mason, embarrassed, tried again.
"My dad has a brother, Liu Shilong."
"Ah! Dragon Boy's little brother? You're Dragon Boy's nephew?"
"Y-yeah! We're family! Can we let this slide, for my dad's sake?"
Before he could finish.
SLAP.
The 1.9-meter bodyguard stepped forward, slapping Mason hard.
His left cheek swelled instantly.
Blood filled his mouth.
Mason was knocked senseless.
The brute glared at him menacingly.
"Who the hell do you think you are? Calling Tiger family? Dragon Boy bows to Tiger! You're nothing!"
In that moment, everyone watched in shock.
Mason did the unthinkable.
He cried.
Tears streamed down his face.
His parents had never hit him this hard before.