Conflict (Four Updates)

Tang San left resolutely, without a trace of attachment.

Though he was hungry, though the coarse flatbread was hard to chew, since he had taken the Grandmaster as his teacher, he already regarded him as a father. He would never allow anyone to insult him.

"Forget it, Brother Sheng. Ignore that kid. He's got a strange temper. Let's eat first," someone urged.

Ao Tian took Xiao Wu's hand and headed for the stairs.

Xiao Wu cried out in surprise, her little face swiftly flushing crimson as her heart thumped wildly. It was the first time a boy had held her hand like this.

She tugged hard, but could not pull free.

"Where are you taking me?" she could not help asking.

"To eat on the second floor," Ao Tian replied without looking back.

"Ah—aren't we staying here to eat with them?"

Ao Tian stopped and turned to look at Wang Sheng and the others. "I'm treating. Anyone who wants to eat can come."

With that, he pulled Xiao Wu up the stairs.

The remaining nine looked at one another, all swallowing hard. They were deeply tempted, and finally all looked toward Wang Sheng.

"Brother Sheng, are we going?" someone asked.

Wang Sheng hesitated for a moment. Looking at the lofty, unattainable second floor, he gritted his teeth and said, "Since Ao Tian is treating, let's go up and broaden our horizons."

If we don't go up this time, who knows when we'll get another chance to set foot on the second floor and taste all those delicacies?

The moment he decided to go upstairs, Wang Sheng had already prepared himself to owe Ao Tian a favor.

Several youths hurried up the stairs.

"From now on, Ao Tian is our friend. Got it?" Wang Sheng instructed quietly.

"Got it. From now on, Ao Tian's business is our business."

"..."

Ao Tian did not turn around, but the corners of his lips curled upward. With just a little money, he had won their loyalty.

With a few lackeys at Nuoding Academy, he would not have to handle everything personally in the future, saving himself a great deal of trouble.

For example, the Work-Study Students' daily campus-cleaning duties could be entirely handed over to Wang Sheng and the others.

If he did not feel like attending class, he could also have Wang Sheng answer roll call for him...

The canteen's second floor was unlike the first, which had only one large hall. It was divided into separate private rooms.

"Ao Tian... let go of me," Xiao Wu said shyly.

Though she felt Ao Tian's hand was warm and comfortable, she still had to maintain a girl's modesty.

Ao Tian released Xiao Wu's tender and smooth little hand and led the way into one of the private rooms.

"Big Bad Guy!" Xiao Wu muttered with a red face before following him inside.

"Look at the Boss. On the very first day, she's already gotten together with Ao Tian," someone behind them teased.

Wang Sheng glanced at the few fellows behind him and said, "When you get back, take a piss and look at yourselves. Don't get any ideas about the Boss again."

The group did not immediately enter the private room. Instead, they stood at the door, curiously examining the second-floor surroundings.

The second floor was not as crowded and noisy as the first. It was elegant and quiet, yet Wang Sheng and the others could not help feeling uneasy after arriving here.

It was their first time in such a high-class place.

Xiao Wu suddenly poked her head out from the room and asked, "Why aren't you coming in? What are you standing around there for?"

Wang Sheng and the others hurried into the room.

Inside, Ao Tian had nearly finished selecting the dishes. He had basically ordered every signature dish available.

Though he was the one treating them, he could not let the others order.

Wang Sheng and the others had probably never eaten like this before. There was no way he could count on them to order.

He selected more than a dozen dishes in one go, then pushed the menu to Xiao Wu beside him. "Order whatever you want to eat."

Xiao Wu shook her head. "I don't understand it. Help me see if they have carrots."

Ao Tian was somewhat speechless. A rabbit really did like carrots.

He searched through the menu and found that they actually had them, so he added another dish.

After ordering, he tossed the menu to Wang Sheng across from him. "Take another look. Order whatever you want. You don't need to save me money."

Wang Sheng and the others gathered together, curiously looking over the menu. A price was listed after each of the varied dish names.

The instant they saw those prices clearly, Wang Sheng and the others nearly gasped again. A single dish here could cover several days' worth of their meals.

"Th-That's enough," Wang Sheng said, his voice trembling slightly.

Though he was not the one paying, his first experience with something like this inevitably made him nervous.

Just then, a waitress who looked to be in her twenties pushed open the door and entered. In a sweet voice, she said, "Hello, have you finished ordering..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she saw the children inside. Nearly all of them were plainly dressed, and several even had patches on their clothes.

She frowned slightly and reminded them, "Are you sure you want to eat here?"

Ao Tian was shrewd enough to see through what the girl was thinking.

Too lazy to say more, he took out a Gold Soul Coin and tossed it in the air. "The dishes have already been ordered. Hurry up and have them made."

The girl stared at the Gold Soul Coin in Ao Tian's hand, then at the cute and handsome Ao Tian. It took her more than ten seconds to react.

"Oh, all right. Please wait a moment."

The girl picked up the menu and left the room. Since this group of children could afford it, there was no need for her to worry.

That child really is handsome...

Before long, dishes began arriving one after another.

At first, Wang Sheng and the others still held themselves back. But after tasting the delicious food, they could no longer resist the temptation.

Young people had astonishing appetites. The more than dozen dishes Ao Tian had ordered were ultimately wiped clean, without even any soup left.

Wang Sheng and the others' bellies were round and swollen, and their burps rose and fell one after another, making Ao Tian smile.

Their gazes still lingered on the empty plates. Ao Tian felt that if he were not here, these fellows would probably start licking the plates.

There was also a box beside Wang Sheng. After obtaining Ao Tian's permission, he had packed some food for Tang San.

Thinking back now, he felt that what he had done earlier—badmouthing Tang San's teacher in front of Tang San—had been excessive, so he wanted to apologize to Tang San.

Xiao Wu wiped her mouth and said, "Ao Tian, thank you for bringing me to eat something so delicious. I've lived for... six years, and I've never eaten anything this good."

She patted her chest and let out a breath. I almost let it slip.

Wang Sheng stood up and pulled the others to their feet as well. "Ao Tian, from now on, leave your Work-Study Student duties to us. Sister Xiao Wu's too—we'll handle them all."

Ao Tian smiled. "Sure. Then if you want to come eat here again in the future, you can call me anytime."

Wang Sheng repeatedly said there was no need. Being able to eat such an expensive meal once had already satisfied him.

Just then, the room door was violently pushed open, and a group of youths with toothpicks in their mouths walked in.

"Yo, so it really is you, Wang Sheng. I heard your voice from outside. Since when are Work-Study Students qualified to eat here? Doesn't that lower our standards?"

Boss Xiao held his nose high as his gaze swept over Ao Tian and the others, finally settling on Xiao Wu.

"Boss, looks like we need to teach them a lesson. Otherwise, if they come here again in the future, how are we supposed to have an appetite?" one of Boss Xiao's lackeys said.

"That makes sense." Boss Xiao laughed loudly. "Hand over all your money. Without money, you won't come to the second floor to eat anymore."

Wang Sheng slammed the table and snarled, "Xiao Chenyu, don't push people too far."

"Oh? So you're rebelling now." Boss Xiao raised his hand and repeatedly patted Wang Sheng's face. "I am pushing people too far. What can you do about it?"

Wang Sheng clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his forehead bulging.

"Pah, coward." Boss Xiao said, "I'll give you three choices. First, hand over all your money. Second, let that little loli keep me company for two days. Third, meet at the little hill behind the academy. If you lose, hand over both the money and the little loli."