As he grew older, and with the incident of the ring setting the precedent, Zhao Youting began to yearn more for the outside world.
After all, he was no longer a simple child who could be easily disciplined, so his parents gradually loosened their control over him.
However, going out was still fraught with difficulties.
"Youting—Hey! Hey!"
Li Shanen skipped the tutoring session arranged for the afternoon. Being chased around, somehow he ended up under Zhao Youting's window.
"Hey... this is the second floor..."
Sticking his head out of the window and looking at Li Shanen lying on top of the tree, Zhao Youting was quite speechless.
"Hey, give me a hand."
Although he was helpless, Zhao Youting still reached out his hand and pulled Li Shanen into the room from the window.
"You skipped class again."
"What's the fun in class? Hey, do you want to go out and play tonight?"
"Tonight..."
Zhao Youting frowned. "It's okay tonight, but my mother has been really strict lately..."
"It won't be a problem. Anyway, it's not the first time."
Li Shanen looked completely nonchalant.
Zhao Youting nodded. Anyway, with Li Shanen around, even if they got caught, he wouldn't be the only one punished.
"Okay, then let's go tonight."
The whole afternoon, Li Shanen's tutor couldn't find him. Seeing them come and ask several times, Zhao Youting just kept silent.
When he told Li Shanen, the latter just brushed it off and said not to worry.
Li Shanen thought that since his family didn't really care about him anyway, this search was just for show.
As night fell, after saying goodnight to his mother, Zhao Youting started to sneak out along the usual route with Li Shanen.
Since they had some experience, they easily reached the door.
"Ah~ Finally out again!" Li Shanen let out a breath and then got excited. "Hehe, finally I can go find those beautiful sisters we met last time again."
Zhao Youting didn't really care. As long as he could get out, anywhere was more interesting than home.
However, since this is a story, this night must be different from the previous ones. As the two were hooking up and walking towards the entertainment places they had been to before, someone in the dark had been waiting for a while.
"Two young masters, I heard that the bills you incurred here a few days ago haven't been settled yet?"
Blocking them at the door was the lobby manager who had been so kind and amiable a few days ago. He had even waived their bills, saying that the two were "destined" to him.
"As the young masters of the Zhao and Li families, it's not okay not to learn how to do business from a young age."
Not only did this boss know their real identities even though they had never mentioned them, but now that he knew they were not the "ordinary petty - bourgeoisie" they had claimed to be,
he began to show his greedy claws.
Since the big fish was right in front of him, he couldn't let it go.
"Boss, what are you talking about? We're just two ordinary kids. Where did you hear about the Zhao and Li families..." Li Shanen reacted quickly. Grabbing the point, he quickly said with an obsequious smile.
At the same time, he was backing away, ready to run.
"Oh? Really? Then may I ask if we can contact your parents? You really defaulted on your bills last time. You need to give us an explanation anyway, right?"
As he said that, the people behind him surrounded them.
"Last time you clearly said..." Zhao Youting couldn't hold back and spoke up.
"What did I say?"
"What you said, didn't everyone present hear it?"
The lobby manager smiled smugly.
"Everyone present?"
Only then did the two notice that the people behind him were exactly those who had been present at that time.
Their hearts sank. It was true. Everyone present at that time had been on his side, so no one knew what had really happened.
"This..."
"So, two young masters, should you settle the bill from last time now?"
Both of them were speechless. Zhao Youting, who was still inexperienced in the world, could only lower his head and clench his fists silently.
Li Shanen tried to stall for time with the man in front of him, thinking that there might still be some hope.
But the truth was, without the so - called "cage" that protected them, they were just sitting ducks.
"How much?"
Zhao Youting recognized the reality first. Although reluctant, he still spoke up.
The manager knew that the two had sneaked out and there would be no one to back them up, so he was extremely arrogant when he said, "Young Master Zhao is straightforward. It's not much, just one million will do."
"One million?! We just had two drinks..."
"One million should be easy for the two young masters to handle, right?"
The villain smiled wickedly. "Or do you two want us to go directly to your parents to ask for it?"
"You!"
Such words were undoubtedly a threat to the two runaway teenagers. Li Shanen, who had never suffered such humiliation, couldn't help getting excited and took a step forward.
Several big guys on both sides immediately stepped forward to stop him.
"Okay, we can pay. It's one million in total, right?" Zhao Youting suddenly seemed extremely calm.
"No no no, of course it's one million each."
"... Okay."
Zhao Youting looked up at the lobby manager with more chill in his eyes. "But it will have to be next time. We can't pay now."
"Of course it's okay. Just remember, two young masters. Otherwise, if it gets to your parents, it won't be that simple..."
"Got it. Can we leave now?"
"Of course... just write this IOU, sign it, take a photo for evidence, and you can go."
Zhao Youting clicked his tongue.
The triumphant manager noticed it and was secretly happy. These kids who had been over - protected in their cages were still trying to fight him. They must be thinking of going back and not admitting it. It was just a joke.
Seeing that Zhao Youting had given in, although Li Shanen thought it was a bit unbelievable, he had no choice but to follow and sign.
The two didn't say much on the way back. It was only when they finally returned to the courtyard that Li Shanen couldn't help asking, "Are you really going to give him one million? I know you have the money, but this is clearly extortion!"
"I'll give it, but not me."
"Then who... don't tell me you're eyeing me?!"
Li Shanen looked distressed. "Hey, although it was my idea, weren't you happy too..."
"Not you."
Zhao Youting's expression didn't change at all.
"Ah? Then who?"
"Himself."
Although Li Shanen didn't understand at that time, he found out the answer the next day.