After he finished eating and cleaning up, it was time to walk the dog again.
Shao Ke returned to the second floor, and Yan Ningke went out holding the leash. The husky seemed less excited this morning.
After a lap around and a bathroom break, Yan Ningke brought it back.
The villa stood halfway up the mountain. Someone delivered groceries every day; all they had to do was give the driver a shopping list, and everything would arrive on time the next day.
Finding it a hassle to write things out by hand, Yan Ningke added the driver on WeChat and told him he would send the shopping list before six every evening.
The driver chose his words carefully. "I hope you won't send it too late. Some ingredients need to be flown in."
If it was too late, there wouldn't be enough time.
The corner of Yan Ningke's mouth twitched. "...Got it."
People really did live different lives.
After watering the flowers, it was still early, so Yan Ningke went upstairs and knocked on the study door.
"Come in."
"Mr. Shao, I might need to take an hour off."
Shao Ke raised an eyebrow.
Yan Ningke said, "I need to go home and pack some things."
He was still going commando, okay!
Shao Ke fell silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "Be back before noon. If you're late, I'll dock your pay."
Slave driver!
Yan Ningke resisted the urge to roll his eyes and replied gently, "Okaaay."
Then nothing else happened.
He widened his eyes and stared fixedly at the man behind the desk.
He hoped Shao Ke would understand what he meant.
Shao Ke looked puzzled. "Why aren't you leaving?"
Leave? How?
Did you forget your villa was halfway up a mountain, buddy?!
No buses, no subway, not even a little scooter!
Walk home on his own two legs and back again, all in an hour.
Did he think that was possible?!
Sure, he was a pampered rich boy, but did he have to be this out of touch?!
Of course Shao Ke wasn't that out of touch.
But why should he bother with him?
Because Yan Ningke kept eye-fucking him?
His cold indifference spoke for itself.
Yan Ningke lost this round!
The sun shone overhead as Ningke trudged along the roadside.
He cursed the whole way.
"Bastard! Slave driver! Fascist!"
"Even landlords didn't exploit people this much!"
The scorching sunlight left him irritable and restless.
Fortunately, there was a bus stop not far from the foot of the mountain. He paid the three-yuan fare with a pang and finally enjoyed some cool air.
This was both a suburban area and a wealthy neighborhood, so he was the only person on the bus besides the driver.
The two exchanged a lingering look, then each turned away.
The original owner had rented a small apartment downtown, and it was a complete mess inside.
Following his memories, Yan Ningke entered the passcode and opened the door, only to feel as though there was nowhere to put his feet.
It was so messy! Every inch was piled full of stuff!
Considering the time, he booked a cleaning lady online. Only through his silver tongue and a promise to work alongside her did he manage to get the price down to two hundred yuan.
After hanging up, Yan Ningke tidied the bedroom first and packed the clothes and supplies he needed to take.
Then he went to clear the trash out of the bathroom.
Once everything was done, he checked his watch. It was already 11:20.
The trip back would take at least forty minutes, meaning that even if he left now, he wouldn't make it.
Sitting in the clean, tidy apartment with the air conditioning blowing, Yan Ningke actually felt like giving up and doing nothing.
Shao Ke wouldn't be that petty, would he?
According to the book, the main villain only appeared to have been exiled. In reality, he was loaded.
He was a golden boy, not just from a good family but very sharp himself.
He had started trading stocks, investing, and setting up companies in high school.
On the surface, he seemed ordinary, but his net worth was at least ten billion.
The more Yan Ningke thought about it, the more he felt that the main villain wouldn't bother holding things against a lowly little nobody like him.
Yan Ningke gave up completely.
Just as he was getting sleepy, his phone suddenly rang.
The caller was saved as "Young Master Yuan."
Yan Ningke thought carefully for a moment and matched the name to a person.
According to the book, this man was a peripheral figure, much like the Yan family.
His favorite pastime was following wealthy young masters around and acting as their lackey.
Whenever he had nothing to do, he would summon the original owner to provide entertainment for those young masters.
The Yan parents sent this dispensable eldest son a hundred thousand yuan a month for living expenses.
And all that money went toward food, drinks, and entertainment for the wealthy young masters.
The twisted amusements of the rich.
They loved watching the original owner run out of money to pay, wag his tail and beg for their pity, pleading with them to let him off.
It seemed to boost their vanity to even greater heights.
Yan Ningke's expression turned cold as he answered.
"Well, well, Young Master Yan finally picked up."
"If you have something to say, say it."
The person on the other end froze for a moment.
"Yan Ningke, how the fuck are you talking to me? Getting full of yourself, huh? Believe me, I can get Second Young Master Ren to finish you off!"
Yan Ningke switched to speakerphone and casually tossed the phone onto the table. "I believe you. You're so fucking impressive, Young Master Yuan."
With the phone far away and the voice fading in and out, Yuan Qirui missed the sarcasm.
"That's more like it! Since your attitude's decent, don't say I never include you. Second Young Master Ren and the others are getting together tonight. Come along."
His tone made it sound like charity.
Yan Ningke snorted. "Not going. No money!"
The other man exploded. "Yan Ningke, did you fucking forget I still have dirt on you?!"
It was nothing but videos of him being toyed with, kowtowing, and making a complete fool of himself.
Yan Ningke didn't care. It wasn't him anyway; it was the original owner. What the fuck did it have to do with him?
But then he suddenly sat up.
"Yuan Qirui, when are you paying back the two hundred thousand you owe me?!"
The original owner really had been an idiot. He was practically broke himself, yet he still played the generous host and lent money to scum like this.
Were they short of money?
Of course not. They had only wanted to fleece the original owner.
Sure enough, the roar from the other end nearly shattered his eardrums.
"Yan Ningke, you really are fucking full of yourself, huh?! You actually dare ask me for money?"
Yan Ningke took it as a matter of course. "Why wouldn't I? You borrowed it! Just tell me whether you're paying it back. If not, I'll call the cops and have you arrested."
The first lesson for ordinary working people entering society: learn to call the cops!
He could hear the heavy breathing even through the phone.
For ordinary people, it would just mean losing a little face. For people with a bit of money, face mattered more than anything!
Yan Ningke seized on that very point to hit him hard!
"Yan Ningke, don't forget I have plenty of videos of you on my phone too. If I put them on the big screen in the square, do you think your dad would beat you to death?!"
Yan Ningke's body shuddered uncontrollably.
Fear. Panic!
Unfamiliar emotions swept through his entire body in an instant.
This was the original owner's deep-rooted response to terror.
Images flashed through his mind: whippings, agonized cries, grotesquely contorted faces with gaping, bloody mouths.
Within seconds, Yan Ningke was drenched.
"I can give you the money. Eight tonight, come to Muse Bar. I'll hand it to you in person!"
Beep, beep, beep.
The call ended.
Like a drowning fish that had been rescued, Yan Ningke gulped down air.
Fuck!
Holding his breath for so long had deprived his brain of oxygen. Fighting the dizziness, Yan Ningke collapsed onto the sofa.
He narrowed his eyes and stared blankly at the spinning ceiling.
There was good reason to suspect the original owner had post-traumatic stress disorder!
Before you continue