Henry suddenly shivered, and goosebumps covered his body. He quickly turned and walked away, seizing the opportunity to let go of Emily's hand.
As they left one after the other, Andrew immediately took out his phone and made several calls in a row, hoping to find someone to mediate and settle the matter, whether through apologies or compensation. He didn't want Henry to cause any more trouble.
But everyone, upon hearing that he had offended Erick, didn't even bother to ask why and instead blamed Andrew, wondering how he could have provoked Erick.
"Andrew, how did you get involved with him?" a friend asked. "It would be fine with anyone else, but he's someone even the underworld respects. He won't do me any favors. Besides, I don't really know him well enough to talk to him."
Another friend chimed in, "Andrew, you can't possibly not know who Erick is, right? In Harbor Springs, he's a force to be reckoned with. If it's a small matter, you can go and apologize, hoping he'll forgive you. But if it's a big deal, I suggest you go to the police. Don't even think about settling it privately. You're just a college teacher, no match for him."
Yet another friend added, "Andrew, I can't help you with this, and I advise you not to seek help from anyone else. None of us in this circle have any connection with him. The only thing you can do is go to the police or let him have his way. There's another option, though: leave Harbor Springs and never come back in your lifetime."
Although each of his friends refused to lend a hand, Andrew didn't hold it against them. After all, Erick's reputation in Harbor Springs was too formidable, and no one dared to speak up for themselves.
Andrew threw his phone aside and slumped back in his seat, sighing in despair. Suddenly, he jolted upright and quickly dialed the number of the vice principal, Jason.
Jason was a local in Harbor Springs, with not only a prominent family background but also many connections in society. Andrew had no choice but to seek his help.
Little did he know that when Jason heard it was about approaching Erick, without asking for any reasons, he simply exclaimed, "Approach him? Impossible!"
Even Jason didn't dare to intervene, leaving Andrew utterly hopeless.
"Andrew," Jason finally asked, "what exactly happened?"
Andrew quickly recounted the recent events.
Jason furrowed his brow. "Your brother, the one who was just released from prison?"
"Yes," Andrew almost felt like crying. "I never intended for him to stay in Harbor Springs, but the school authorities intervened and asked me to..."
Jason interrupted him. "I understand. I'll try to find someone, but I can't guarantee anything."
Andrew felt like he had caught a lifeline. "Jason, thank you. If this matter is resolved, I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life."
Jason chuckled. "Andrew, don't make empty promises. You still owe me a meal for your promotion evaluation!"
Jason's influence was not so small that he needed to ask for a meal.
In fact, based on Andrew's abilities, he should have been promoted to associate professor long ago, but he had been stuck because of Jason.
Jason had his eyes on Emily for a long time.
After three consecutive years of not being promoted, Andrew approached Jason, hoping that he would help him, considering that Emily and his wife, Avery, were best friends.
Little did Andrew know that the reason he couldn't get promoted was because of Jason!
Jason assured him that he would help with this favor no matter what, but then he smirked and said, "I heard from Avery that your family's cooking is excellent. When can I come over to taste it?"
Andrew wasn't a fool. He could tell from Jason's lecherous expression what he was up to.
But after not getting promoted for several years, Andrew felt like he couldn't hold his head up in front of his colleagues.
Besides, he knew Emily's integrity.
Even if Jason had such thoughts, Emily would never agree!
So, he pretended to be clueless, as if he didn't see through Jason's true intentions, and agreed to invite Jason to his house for dinner as soon as possible.
Jason bringing up this matter again seemed like he couldn't wait.
Andrew immediately said, "Don't worry, we'll make up for it when the time comes!"
After Jason hung up the phone, he immediately dialed Erick's number.
"Hey, bro, do you have plans for tonight?"
Jason lied to Andrew; his relationship with Erick was very good.
"I'm asking you, did you get beaten up by Andrew's brother from our school today?"
Erick was taken aback for a moment, then he exploded, "Oh, that guy with glasses is a teacher from your school? Damn, I've never been so humiliated in my life! Bro, I can let go of other things, but I won't easily let that kid off!"
"What about my face?"
"It's not that," Erick explained, "I owe everything to you, bro. I've always relied on you. Even if I don't give face to the city leaders, I can't not give you face! It's just that I've lost a lot of face today, and it can't be solved with just a meal or a gift."
Jason nodded and said, "That's about right. Remember, no matter who comes to you for this matter, you don't have to worry. Handle it however you see fit, but leave me some room. When I haven't contacted you, as long as you don't kill him, that's all you need to do. But once I call you, you must give me face without hesitation. Understand?"
"I understand, big bro!" Erick turned and asked, "By the way, can you tell me where Andrew lives?"
Jason said, "Pine Hills, Building 3, Unit 101."
"Alright, thanks, bro."
After hanging up the phone, Erick thought to himself, "Does Jason have a grudge against Andrew? That woman just now should be Andrew's wife. Could it be that Jason has his eyes on her?"
Erick knew Jason quite well.
After Jason hung up the phone, he opened his phone's photo album and found the pictures of Emily hidden inside. He scrolled through them one by one, continuously touching the face and chest in the photos.
First, it was about Andrew's promotion evaluation, and now Henry had provoked Erick. Jason felt like an opportunity had arisen, and perhaps his dream would soon come true.