Chapter 5: The Arrogant and Domineering Fake Young Master 05 Part 2

The other two roommates woke too, greeting Shen Ji and asking after him with concern.

Shen Ji set his backpack on the desk and lowered his eyes. “Something like that.”

Whatever awaited him tonight—

He wouldn’t run anymore.

Chen Ziping, oblivious to anything unusual, was just happy Shen Ji was back. He threw an arm around his shoulder. “Let’s go out and celebrate tonight. My treat.”

Shen Ji paused. “I have something tonight. Another time.”

Chen Ziping knew Shen Ji was busy, so he said cheerfully, “Sure, whenever you have time.”

Shen Ji turned and organized his things.

Then he went to class with Chen Ziping.

Though there’d been so much going on lately, often staying up all night… Shen Ji had never once been late to class.

Chen Ziping genuinely admired Shen Ji. No matter what happened, he was always so disciplined and restrained—like an emotionless robot. If it were him… he’d probably have fallen apart.

After class, Shen Ji handed his textbook to Chen Ziping to bring back.

Then he rode a shared bike alone to the Thousand Lakes Club.

It was an upscale club in the city; the cars coming and going at the entrance were all luxury vehicles. Shen Ji’s bicycle stood out starkly. He didn’t care about the strange looks, walking straight to the entrance. “I’m here to see Xu Zhaochen.”

The doorman had clearly been informed. He smiled. “Young Master Xu’s guest. Please wait a moment.”

He called over a staff member to lead Shen Ji inside.

Shen Ji followed the man in.

The courtyards here were all Chinese-style, serene and quiet, buildings laid out in elegant arrangement.

Soon they came to a standalone villa.

The guide left quickly.

Shen Ji was alone before the door. He slid one hand into his pocket, gripping the folding knife there, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

The hall was full of people, noisy and raucous.

Seeing someone suddenly enter, everyone turned to look at once, their gazes full of ill-intentioned appraisal… Shen Ji’s nerves pulled taut.

It reminded him of the first time he’d met Xu Zhaochen—in a KTV.

Very much like today.

But the difference was, that time he’d been unprepared. This time, he’d made the worst preparations.

He wouldn’t give anyone the chance to make a fool of him.

Li Ye lounged lazily on the sofa, Wang Shao seated beside him, one arm draped over the back of the sofa behind Li Ye. Because the room was a bit loud, Wang Shao leaned in to tell him a joke. “Old Zhou number two told his family last time he was going to make an investment, but actually he went to Macau to gamble. Lost tens of millions—even pawned his underwear. In the end his family had to bail him out. His old man flayed him alive, and now he’s locked up at home, not allowed out…”

The two were sitting rather close. Wang Shao glanced up unobtrusively at the young man’s beautiful profile, his gaze landing on those pretty, faintly upturned smiling lips… His throat felt dry. He was racking his brain for something else that might make Li Ye happy.

Suddenly he saw Li Ye look up toward the door.

Wang Shao followed his gaze to see who was interrupting—and was stunned to find Shen Ji had come!

A vicious, mocking look surfaced in Wang Shao’s eyes. The brat actually dared walk right into the trap—well, today they’d settle old scores and new together.

But how did Shen Ji know they were here today? A flicker of doubt passed through Wang Shao’s mind, but he didn’t dwell on it. Maybe Shen Ji had found out from somewhere.

Wang Shao smiled smugly at Li Ye. “See, I told you this kid couldn’t hold out long. Sooner or later he’d come crawling to beg you.”

Li Ye glanced sideways at Wang Shao and gave an ambiguous “Oh.”

Wang Shao assumed Shen Ji had come because he was afraid of him.

But Li Ye had no intention of correcting Wang Shao—it wasn’t important.

Shen Ji raised his eyes and looked ahead.

Wang Shao sat very close to Li Ye; his posture was almost like he was holding Li Ye. Facing Li Ye, his manner was deferential and ingratiating, yet his eyes were somehow unsettling—there was an indescribable strangeness to it.

Shen Ji didn’t understand their relationship and had no interest in probing. He was only here to see Li Ye today.

Shen Ji spoke coldly. “I’m here.”

Li Ye didn’t get up, only studied him with interest, and smiled. “So you’ve thought it through.”

He turned and beckoned to a lackey on his right. The lackey respectfully handed him a black plastic bag. Li Ye weighed it—heavy. He’d always been a dedicated actor; to better recreate the plot, he’d had someone specially withdraw cash. This was more interesting, wasn’t it?

After all, for the first time, there should be a bit of ceremony.

Li Ye raised his hand, and with a clatter, bundles of cash spilled onto the floor. The noise in the hall quieted somewhat.

Shen Ji stared at the money on the ground, his breath catching slightly.

Xu Zhaochen… actually intended to give him money?

Why?

Wang Shao also looked at Li Ye, puzzled. What was the meaning of this? Shen Ji had walked right into their hands—why not just beat him up? Even if he ended up in the hospital, they wouldn’t need to pay the medical bills upfront, would they?

Li Ye lounged lazily, the corners of his lips curved. Seeing Shen Ji hesitate, he spoke as if puzzled: “Didn’t you say you needed money? Why aren’t you coming to get it?”

Shen Ji frowned at Li Ye.

His instincts told him this wouldn’t be so simple, but having come this far, there was no turning back.

His right hand, in his pocket, tightened around the small knife. Wary of the people around him, he walked over step by step, his gaze sweeping across Li Ye’s smiling eyes. Shen Ji took a deep breath, bent slowly, and reached down to pick up the money by Li Ye’s feet.

And just then, Li Ye suddenly lifted his foot and stepped on the bundle of cash—and… on Shen Ji’s fingers.

A light but deliberate pressure ground across Shen Ji’s hand. A faint sting surfaced. Shen Ji’s head snapped up to look at Li Ye, meeting the malice in those eyes.

The beautiful young man’s lips parted and closed: “My money isn’t so easy to take.”

Shen Ji’s thin lips pressed together.

Not a trace of surprise on his face.

Wang Shao sneered. “Our Young Master Xu is kindhearted—he even prepared medical fees for you. Aren’t you going to thank him?”

The others looked at Shen Ji with schadenfreude. These past days they’d been led on a chase by Shen Ji, and some had even been beaten by him. They hated him to death. Today they could finally vent their anger—they were already rolling up their sleeves eagerly.

In the eyes of these rich kids, money meant you could do whatever you wanted.

Shen Ji lowered his eyes without expression and did a rough count. There were about a dozen bundles on the floor. To Xu Zhaochen, this money was nothing—maybe the price of a bottle of wine, a single meal… But to him, it was his mother’s life-saving money.

A not-insignificant sum.

If letting Xu Zhaochen’s people beat him up, letting him vent his anger, would get him this money… Shen Ji weighed it for only a moment before deciding.

It was a good deal.

He could take a beating, after all.

Shen Ji’s mouth twisted in self-mockery… He slowly loosened his grip on the small knife.

To him, this was a decent outcome too, wasn’t it?

Wang Shao watched Shen Ji with cold, sinister eyes. If not for Shen Ji, he wouldn’t have been scolded by Li Ye all this time. He could hold back no longer—he stepped forward, ready to strike—

Li Ye suddenly raised a hand to stop him, glancing over coldly. “Did I tell you to move?”

Wang Shao froze.

Wasn’t it always them who did the beating before? Xu Zhaochen rarely struck out himself—he found it beneath him, too easy to get his hands dirty. Did he want to do it himself today?

The others looked at Li Ye, puzzled too.

But Li Ye ignored them, rising to look down at Shen Ji. His gaze swept over Shen Ji’s right hand in his pocket… He knew what Shen Ji was thinking. He wanted to take a beating in exchange for walking away with the money.

That was what Shen Ji thought. What Wang Shao thought. What everyone thought.

But…

Li Ye suddenly reached out and touched Shen Ji’s face, feeling the jaw muscles tighten abruptly, the veins standing out on his neck from the strain—yet he still endured, restrained…

The dark eyes beneath his bangs were resolute and cold, as though one could glimpse the unyielding heart within. He didn’t fear hardship—setbacks only made him stronger, until no one could bring him down.

An opponent like this was interesting, wasn’t he?

The smile in Li Ye’s eyes deepened. His fingertips slid slowly downward, hooking Shen Ji’s chin. Gazing into those eyes, he spoke carelessly: “Kneel.”

Shen Ji’s expression turned cold in an instant.

He’d prepared himself for a beating, but this man still wanted to humiliate him. The fury in his eyes was nearly impossible to conceal.

Li Ye turned a blind eye. He said mildly, “What? Is this how you beg?”

Shen Ji’s chest heaved, his jaw clenched, staring hard at Li Ye.

Time crawled by, second by second.

Each second dragged like a century.

The stagnant air made it hard to breathe.

At last, Shen Ji averted his gaze, fists clenched so tight, and slowly—knelt.

In that moment, what little pride he had left was ground to dust by this man.

How ridiculous…

His so-called perseverance had been proven worthless in the face of money and power.

He needed this money.

Li Ye finally smiled in satisfaction. He withdrew his hand, his voice even softening a little. “Good boy.”

Shen Ji lowered his head, hatred and unwillingness buried deep in his heart, taking root and sprouting.

“From today on, you do as I say. Whatever I tell you to do, you do. Whenever I tell you to come, you come…” Li Ye’s lips curved. His voice drifted lightly. “I like obedient dogs. As long as you’re obedient enough, there’s plenty of dog food.”

“Now, get out.”

Shen Ji’s head snapped up to look at Li Ye.