sovbooks Chapter 99 What is this called? This is called 'the credibility of deterrence'.
Chapter 99 What is this called? This is called 'the credibility of deterrence'.
The tight vest accentuated his chest muscles like two iron plates, and the veins on his arms bulged out, giving him an aura of domineering confidence that "my fists are bigger and I'm right."
"Hey kid, we've run into each other today, shouldn't you offer your brother a drink?" He slammed the wine bottle onto Shen Li's table with a loud bang, making the bottom of the hot oil pot shake.
Yang Yi's face turned bright red, and his hands were trembling.
Jing Yang jumped up, his nonchalant expression fading slightly: "Dude, that's going too far. Is it really necessary to go to such lengths over a hotpot meal?"
"Who are you?" The man in the black vest squinted at Jing Yang, "You're as skinny as a bamboo pole, and you dare to challenge me?"
Jing Yang's expression changed.
Just as things were about to escalate, Shen Li stood up. Her harmless smile remained unchanged, but a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes.
"Senior brother," Shen Li began, her tone incredibly polite and respectful.
"You said Yang Yi would toast you, what's the problem? No problem! Yang Yi is a good person in every way, except he's not very good at social niceties. So, I'll toast you on his behalf."
He picked up the bottle of liquor that the man in the black vest had been leaning on the table, tilted his head back, and gulped down half of it in one go. Then he wiped his mouth, his smile still bright.
The man in the black vest paused for a moment, probably not expecting Shen Li to be so "savvy." But he quickly regained his arrogant expression: "You're on his behalf? Who do you think you are?"
"I consider myself his roommate." Shen Li's smile remained unchanged.
"Senior, we're all students at the Beijing Film Academy, we'll see each other all the time. Yang Yi was indeed being unreasonable today. But then again..."
His smile held a deeper meaning. "You're from the Physical Education department, and you're competing with the Performing Arts department for rehearsal space. If this gets back to the Academic Affairs Office, it doesn't look very good, does it?"
The man in the black vest's expression changed slightly.
Shen Li continued, her tone still unusually polite:
"I remember the school has a rule that rehearsal space in the gymnasium must be booked in advance by each department, on a first-come, first-served basis. Yang Yi booked according to the rule. You asked him to give up his spot, but he didn't; that's his right. You pushed him..."
He clicked his tongue. "If the martial arts students found out about this, saying that the physical education students were bullying the performing arts students, wouldn't they find it... kind of interesting?"
The man in the black vest's expression changed drastically. Martial arts major? Xiong Rui and his gang?
He sized Shen Li up and down, a hint of apprehension in his eyes: "Do you know anyone who specializes in martial arts?"
"More than just acquaintances." Shen Li smiled brightly. "I hang out with Xiong Rui on the playground every morning at 5:30. Senior Sister Fang Ying personally trains me in physical fitness. Oh, and Brother Wu Yue, the head of the stunt team at the film studio, even treated me to barbecue last week."
With each name he announced, the man in the black vest's face grew increasingly grim.
Xiong Rui, a top martial arts expert. Fang Ying, a female demon capable of dislocating arms. Wu Yue, the head of the stunt team at the film studio, with over a dozen men under his command.
These individuals are among the top in the Beijing Film Academy's "fighting prowess rankings."
The man in the black vest was silent for a few seconds, then forced a smile that looked more like a grimace: "It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. I was just... joking."
He picked up the bottle, raised it to Yang Yi, and said, "Buddy, don't take what happened last time to heart. I'll drink this first as a sign of respect." Then he gulped down the remaining half bottle.
Yang Yi was stunned, then quickly raised his glass and took a sip.
The man in the black vest put down the bottle, patted Shen Li on the shoulder, his grip noticeably less forceful: "Brother, you've got potential. Let's go."
After saying that, he turned around and went back to his table. He gave his companions a wink, and the sports students behaved themselves and stopped making a fuss.
The waiter gave Shen Li a grateful look and jogged off to the kitchen to urge the food to arrive.
Shen Li sat down and let out a long breath.
Jing Yang leaned closer, lowered his voice, and practically bulged his eyes out: "Holy crap, Shen Li! That 'menu recitation' you gave just now was fucking awesome! Xiong Rui! Fang Ying! Wu Yue! You brought out all the big shots in the martial arts world! That bastard's face turned green!"
Yang Yi's eyes were red, and his voice was a little choked up: "Shen Li, thank you... thank you so much. I... I really didn't know what to do just now..."
"What are you thanking me for?" Shen Li patted Yang Yi's shoulder, picked up a piece of tripe and stuffed it into her mouth. "You're my brother. If my brother is being bullied, can I just stand by and watch?"
Dai Xiao pushed up his glasses:
"From a game theory perspective, Shen Li just used a 'deterrence strategy.' By demonstrating one's social capital (associations with individuals of high combat power), one can force the other party to concede in a non-violent manner in a game of unequal power. This is the optimal solution."
Jing Yang gave a thumbs up: "Brother Xiao, with your analysis, Particle has instantly upgraded from 'loyal' to 'strategist'."
Shen Li smiled. She raised her glass, and the four of them clinked glasses. The ice-cold beer washed away the spiciness in their mouths and also eased the tension from before.
"But seriously, Particle," Jing Yang put down his glass and said earnestly, "you just brought up Xiong Rui and the others, what if that bastard doesn't believe you?"
"Don't believe me?" Shen Li's lips curled into a smile. "Then he'll have to think twice. I've been practicing martial arts every morning for over half a month, and everyone on the playground knows me. If he really goes to inquire, he'll only believe it more. What's this called? This is called 'credibility of deterrence,' something Brother Xiao taught me."
Dai Xiao's lips curled into a rare slight smile: "Applying what you've learned. Not bad."
Yang Yi raised his glass: "Shen Li, I'd like to toast you. From now on... from now on you'll be my brother!"
"Come on, Yi-ge, you're two months older than me." Shen Li laughed and scolded, but still clinked glasses with him and drank it all in one gulp.
Jingyang clamored for more food, ordering another serving of tripe and another of goose intestines. The hot pot continued to boil, and the steam made the faces of the four young people glow red.
Shen Li leaned back in her chair, watching the red oil bubbling in the pot. The heroic spirit of "standing up for my brother" hadn't dissipated, but her mind had already begun to calmly review the situation.
Just now, he used "connections as leverage" to defuse a potential escalation of the conflict. He learned this tactic from Wu Yue.
Wu Yue's reputation in the film and television city stems from his status as "the most united group in the martial arts circle."
Anyone who bullies his men is considered to be going against the entire martial arts community. Shen Li simply applied this logic to the Beijing Film Academy.
"Connections are a talisman," Shen Li thought to herself. "My relationship with Xiong Rui, Fang Ying, and Wu Yue seems like just eating together and doing some physical training. But when it really matters, their 'names' can smooth things over for me."
Of course, a reputation can only fool people for a short time. If you encounter a stubborn person who won't buy it, you still need to have real skills.
Frog jumps still need more practice. Core strength still needs more work. And that female demon Fang Ying still needs to be appeased.
The next morning, at 5:30.
Fang Ying was already waiting on the playground. Today she was wearing a fluorescent pink sports bra, the color so bright it was like a traffic sign, impossible to miss.