"If you didn't explain exactly what you were going to do, then I wouldn't provide you with direct help, which is what you promised me when you ran away."
"........."
"You are very angry, kid. You may not have noticed that the way you look at me is filled with annoyance, and the unhappy expression on your face cannot be stopped... Therefore, I can judge that you are probably acting on impulse, looking for trouble for something or someone, rather than simply going out to fight and trade as you said."
“There is no essential difference.”
"Yes, but so what? Now I have the final say. If I don't want to give you the location of the base, I don't have to give it to you."
He spread his hands expressionlessly, mercilessly showing his "double standards".
"Like I said, if you want help, you can go find it yourself and get it yourself... Unless you tell me the real situation, I might be kind enough to provide you with some help."
"…My record player is broken."
"If it's broken, just buy a new one. We have plenty of money."
“I really like that [record player]. The songs it plays are clear and beautiful.”
"Then find an expert to fix it. I told you, we have plenty of money."
He said casually, as if he didn't understand the hint from Li's mouth.
“…A friend of mine was beaten up.”
In the end, Li sighed and gave up the awkward name he had been using.
"Oh I got it……"
He supported his face with one hand, looked at Li meaningfully, and then burst into laughter.
"Haha...it seems like you really like that record player. Okay, I'll send someone to find you then. They'll take you to the base, and you can command them as you please. Just don't make too much noise. Um...no, it's okay to make a little noise."
The corners of his mouth were slightly raised, with a hint of danger and relief.
"After all...if you break someone else's things, you have to pay for it."
"…Thanks, old man."
"Tsk, when will you stop addressing me like that? I'm still your dad after all..."
"Shut up, Lao Deng. Goodbye."
"Hey! You (Italian swear word)..."
Li hung up the call directly and waited for a while. As expected, he received a message from an unknown number on his terminal.
"…I'm going to go out for a while, Yin."
"Ok, I will wait for you."
Yin nodded and watched Li leave.
After a brief silence, he reached out to the candy box on the table, took out a candy, unwrapped it, and put it in his mouth.
Soon, Yin had an idea.
Gently tap the keyboard to connect to another communication.
"Hello, mom, um, it's me."
"No, I'm fine. Oak treats me well... No, I won't be back until some time later. Okay, thank you for your concern."
"I want to ask if my family has any influence around here... around Li, um... it's not Li that's bullying me, I have a friend... who needs help."
"Okay, thank you, Mom. Say hello to Dad for me. Bye."
"........."
After hanging up the phone, Yin was stunned for a rare moment, and then a helpless smile appeared on his face, which had hardly changed at all.
"It's really worrying... [Record Player]."
but……
Yin felt the sweetness of the candy in his mouth, and the smile on the corner of his mouth rose a little.
Not bad at all.
Ah...I think I've been eating too much sweets recently...I'd better not get cavities.
Suddenly thinking of some sad things, Yin's raised mouth corners fell back down, returning to his original calm and uneventful expression. He picked up the computer, placed it on his legs, called up the data that had not been processed yet, and continued typing on the keyboard.
…………
………………
At night, when everyone else had returned, Li also returned home on time, but this time when he came back, he was followed by two people... But those two people left after sending Li to the door, just like guards, leaving silently and quickly.
And all of this naturally caught the eyes of others.
"...Boss, what's going on?"
"Don't worry about it, just go to school."
"Boss, look at what you're saying. We all live together, and we're all brothers and sisters. Is there any problem that can't be solved together?"
Someone curled his lips and blamed Li in an unhappy manner.
"And boss... you're very angry, and... [Record Player] hasn't come back yet, is something wrong with him?"
"........."
"Quer, tell them."
"...Alas, [Record Player] is in the hospital, his hand...was injured."
Li sighed somewhat irritably and helplessly, then told the truth.
"Ah? Is there really something wrong?"
"Damn it, where is that bad mouth of his?! I'm going to strangle you to death!"
"Then his game..."
"He withdrew from the competition. Given his current condition, he won't be able to catch up."
"Ah this..."
"Alright, that's all you need to know. Don't worry about the rest. I'll take care of it... Just go to sleep and go to school tomorrow. I'll beat up anyone who's late."
Li slightly pushed aside the crowd surrounding him and walked towards Yin.
Only this time, the others didn't listen to him, but instead grabbed his shoulders.
"Hey, Boss, this is your problem... You didn't tell us about such a big thing, and it seems like we can't help at all."
"…You'd better not get involved."
For the first time, Li glanced at them with a stern and fierce look, and there was a hint of threat in his words.
"This is not something you should be involved in..."
"Look at what you said, Boss... We all live under the same roof, is there anything we can't help?"
One person said with a smile, turning around and greeting the others.
"Brothers! Don't listen to the boss this time! Let's rebel against him together! If you don't help, the record player will become the boss's family alone!"
"It's a rebellion! Everyone, charge!"
As they spoke, a group of people rushed forward and pressed Li to the ground, while another group of people took out their own terminals and started contacting their families.
"I'm sorry, Big Sister. The boss really went too far this time... It's not like we can't help with everything. Everyone's family still has a little... well, a little influence, so we can help a little... It's still okay."
The man who first spoke up for "rebellion" gestured to Yin, who was sitting on the sofa without moving, with the terminal in his hand and said half-jokingly.
"After all...if you break someone else's things, you have to pay for it, right?"
"...Yes, you are right."
Yin was silent for a while, glanced at them who were whispering while holding the terminal, nodded, and did not object.
"You little bastards...are really rebelling against Tian Gang...get out of my way! I won't stop you!"
"Ha ha……"
Amidst the laughter, everyone pulled Oak up from the ground again.
"You can help me if you want, but... don't leave any evidence behind. Also, don't go too far."
"Boss, how much is considered excessive?"
"Don't worry about it. I want to do this part myself."
Li narrowed his eyes, brushed off the non-existent dust on his body, and spoke softly.
"After all... no one knows how to [deal with it] better than us."
…………
………………
At night, Eden returned home with worry and thought.
"…What's wrong, dear?"
The mother asked with concern.
"Did something happen today, Eden?"
Even his father looked over and asked.
"... Dad, Mom, I... want your help with something."
Eden hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
"That's right..."
After Eden explained Xiwang's situation clearly, the couple both frowned and looked somewhat displeased.
Although they have not seen the child that Eden mentioned, they are clear about one thing... that is, the child named Xiwang has similar talents to their daughter. In the future artistic journey, the two will definitely be very good friends or "rivals."
Therefore, the couple had some good feelings towards this child they had never met before, and encouraged Eden to build a good relationship with him. After all, if two talented children communicated with each other, their progress would definitely be accelerated.
But now... that child was treated like this... even worse, his hands were hurt. This is hard for anyone who studies art to accept.
"We understand. We will have a good talk with the school staff about this matter... Such a serious [bullying] incident actually occurred on the eve of the competition. The school must bear some responsibility."
"Compared to that... dear, how is the child now? You said you took a leave of absence in the afternoon to visit him, so his condition..."
Hearing his father's promise and his mother's concern for him, Eden smiled slightly. Especially when his mother asked about his condition in the hospital, Eden would always unconsciously think of Xi Wang's smile, that smile full of joy and happiness.
Whenever he thought of that slightly "dazzling" scene, Eden would unconsciously reveal a smile similar to Xiwang's at that time.
"He's...very good. He even sang a song with me. His hand is injured, but he'll be fine if he rests well."
"I see... That's great."
The couple looked at each other, and then showed different expressions.
The father naturally frowned, feeling a little unhappy in his helplessness... He obviously noticed the faint affection that Yidian had for Xiwang. Although it might be the mutual admiration between the two [geniuses] and the closeness generated by their being too "similar", he still felt a little uncomfortable with the feeling that his daughter might be "stolen"... Especially since the other party was a boy! The possibility of "stolen" his daughter was even greater!
On the contrary, the mother did not react much to this, or it was not what she expected. This was why she deliberately asked about Xiwang's gender when Yiden mentioned Xiwang to her... A man with similar talents, and even very "similar" personality and way of dealing with people appeared next to her daughter, and her daughter even developed curiosity and a slight liking for him... Then the relationship between the two is not far from entering the next stage.
But of course ~ Although they had expected it, as parents, they still had to keep a close eye on their daughter and couldn't let her be deceived by a bad man.
It just so happens that this time... I can also go and meet that child.
"Dear, how about...you take us to meet him."
The mother narrowed her eyes slightly, took Eden's hand, and spoke softly.
"That child...we also want to meet him, and we can also deal with his problems at the same time."
"Hmm? Sure, I'll take you there when you guys are free."
"........."
Eden's matter-of-fact and unabashed tone stunned the couple.
What's going on, my dear daughter... In a sense, this is like meeting the parents, right? Aren't you a little nervous?
