"Young Master Su, take a look. Which type do you like? He can keep you company while you sing this afternoon."
Xu Ke looked at Su Cimu with a broad smile, his manner full of flattery.
Su Cimu gave a quiet acknowledgment, then began looking over the male hosts.
Almost all of them were over six feet tall and had pretty good bodies, but no matter how handsome they were, Young Master Su found none of them presentable.
Suddenly, he spotted a young boy standing in a corner, looking especially petite and sweet among the male hosts.
"Number eighteen, come here-"
Su Cimu crooked a finger at male host number eighteen, motioning for him to come over.
Seeing Su Cimu choose someone petite and cute, the others could not help looking a little disappointed.
They had never expected Young Master Su to like this type. What a surprise. They had thought he preferred muscular men, like Second Master Shen.
Number eighteen carefully walked over and sat beside Su Cimu, then lifted his head to glance at him. Seeing how handsome Su Cimu was, he could not help blushing.
"Hello, Young Master Su."
"You look like you've only just come of age. How did you end up working as a host in a place like this?" Su Cimu raised an eyebrow and asked casually.
Once those rich young heirs saw that Su Cimu had chosen a boy to sit beside him and had begun chatting, they paid no more attention to him and went to pick female and male hosts they liked to keep them company.
"I... my dad sold me here. He owed the KTV owner a lot of money, so he made me work here to pay off his debt."
"What's your name? How old are you?"
"Su Xiaoke. Eighteen."
Su Cimu clicked his tongue. They even shared a surname. He could hardly leave him to his fate.
"Are you still in school?" Su Cimu raised an eyebrow again.
"No... my family can't afford to send me to school. My grades are very good, and I got into University A's law program, but because of my family situation, I might not be able to enroll in the second half of the year."
At this point, Su Xiaoke could not help his eyes reddening.
Young Master Su could never bear such a pitiful sight. He pulled a tissue from the coffee table and handed it to him.
Overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness, Su Xiaoke accepted the tissue and thanked him.
Today was his first day entertaining a customer, and he had already met a young master who was as kind as he was beautiful. He really was lucky.
Su Xiaoke made up his mind. Even if the young master gave him no tip, he would still be willing to keep him company while he sang.
"How much?"
"Hm? How much what?" Su Xiaoke looked at Su Cimu in confusion.
"How much is the debt altogether?"
"Two hundred thousand..." Su Xiaoke answered quietly, lowering his head and not daring to meet Su Cimu's eyes.
"I'll pay it. Starting tomorrow, stop working here. Keep going to school, too. I'll sponsor you," Su Cimu said coolly.
At those words, Su Xiaoke's eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
"Young Master Su, you... why would you help me? I won't sell my body!"
Thinking Su Cimu wanted to keep him as a lover, Su Xiaoke hurriedly refused.
Su Cimu rolled his eyes. "What are you thinking? You're pretty cute, but we're both bottoms, understand? There are conditions to me paying off your debt, too. Don't think there's such a thing as a free lunch."
Realizing he had misunderstood, Su Xiaoke could not help blushing.
"I'm sorry, I misunderstood. Then what are your conditions, Young Master Su?"
"You said you got into University A's law program, right?"
"Yes."
Not only had he gotten into University A, he had also been the province's top scorer.
"My family runs a company, and it has its own legal department. After you graduate, you have to work at my family's company for ten years. After that, you're free. How about it? Of course, you'll still get paid while you work. I'll consider this an advance investment," Su Cimu told Su Xiaoke calmly.
He had no reason to hand over money for nothing. On the one hand, he could not bear to see someone so young waste away in an environment like this. On the other, he also wanted to find talent for his family's company.
University A's flagship programs were law and finance. The fact that Su Xiaoke had gotten in already proved his potential.
Hearing Su Cimu's words, Su Xiaoke was happier than words could describe. He excitedly clasped Su Cimu's hand.
"I'm willing, Young Master Su! Forget ten years, I'd be willing to work for you for twenty!"
Hearing this, Su Cimu nodded, then stood and told the others,
"Carry on. I'm taking him with me."
Then, under the astonished gazes of Xu Ke and the others, he took Su Xiaoke by the hand and left the noisy private room.
Su Cimu went straight to the KTV owner and explained the situation. The owner was delighted.
When Su Xiaoke's father had sold Su Xiaoke to work here, the owner had been reluctant, too. But Su Xiaoke's father really could not come up with the money, so the owner had had no choice but to take Su Xiaoke in.
Now that he could get his money back, why would the owner object?
When they emerged from the KTV, Su Xiaoke felt light and free of debt, and his gaze toward Su Cimu grew even more admiring.
"Young Master Su, thank you so much. I'll always be grateful, and I'll repay you," Su Xiaoke said with utter seriousness.
Su Cimu took the phone out of Su Xiaoke's pocket and added himself on WeChat.
"I've added you on WeChat. Go back now and explain things to your family. Cut ties with them, then go to this address. Someone will arrange everything for you."
Su Cimu also sent him the Su Family's address, telling Su Xiaoke to come find him once he had settled his affairs.
Su Xiaoke had already resolved to make a clean break with his past, so he had no objection to Su Cimu's suggestion that he cut ties with his family.
"All right. Give me three days. I'll settle everything within three days."
"Mm. Go on."
Su Xiaoke waved goodbye to Su Cimu, then went home.
Watching Su Xiaoke's retreating figure, Su Cimu could not help his lips curling upward.
Su Xiaoke was very much like his former self. Not in their backgrounds, but in a certain feeling. That feeling was very similar, which was why he had been moved to compassion.
Meanwhile, after finally managing to track down Su Cimu's whereabouts, Shen Yannian arrived at the KTV in the mall, only for Xu Ke to tell him that Su Cimu had left with a male host.
Shen Yannian's face was livid, as though he were on the verge of flying into a rage at any moment.
Xu Ke trembled, knowing things had gone terribly wrong.
"Second Master Shen, the male and female hosts here are all respectable people. Young Master Su and that person wouldn't do anything to betray you. Please don't misunderstand..."
As soon as Xu Ke said this, Shen Yannian shot him a glare. Xu Ke lost his nerve and dared not say another word.
After rescuing the boy from the flesh trade, Su Cimu returned to Huaishan Manor, closed his eyes, and went straight to sleep.
When the butler told Shen Yannian that Su Cimu had returned, he immediately rushed back, an icy aura radiating from him.
Su Cimu was kissed awake by Shen Yannian. His kisses were fierce and urgent, leaving Su Cimu completely unable to withstand them.
"Shen Yannian, are you crazy?! Why are you in heat in broad daylight?!"