Chapter 144: In Big Trouble

"Really?" The young man suddenly became interested. "Without any supplementary esoteric records, without the guidance of a master, without instructions from teachers, and with practically no guaranteed time for cultivation, he managed to reach this level relying purely on some garbage so-called 'cheat sheets'? Such a character would be considered a minor genius even in the Inner Solar System. I never expected that a backwater dump like Tumubao would still harbor such potential."

That voice replied, "Young Master, Tumubao is, after all, a lineage passed down from the old era; its potential should not be underestimated."

"Hmm, that's true." After pondering for a moment, the young man made a decision. "Since he is a minor genius, that couldn't be better. Pull some strings to ensure he can participate in the Lesser Provincial Examination, and don't let that idiot He Chong meddle in it. Oh, and since he needs to work to make money, find a way to get him in touch with Old Wen."

"Is the Young Master planning to groom him as a seed?"

"Just taking precautions."

"Understood, this subordinate will see to it right away."

The voice vanished. The young man sank back into the sofa, seemed to let out a slight breath, and muttered to himself in a low voice, "Shi Tiexin, I hope you can put on a somewhat dazzling performance so I can catch my breath and not feel quite so suffocated..."

===============The Breath-Catching Divider===============

Muyuan District Orphanage, Pseudo-Principal's Office.

"Hah... hah... hoo... hoo..."

Strange sounds drifted out from the office.

No, it was not that bald old man Situ was up to anything bizarre. Look closer, and you would see that the orphanage principal was actually squatting on the floor, meticulously applying polish to his sofa. He rubbed it with such care and concentration, constantly breathing hot air onto the sofa before wiping it, or gently blowing away dust with his mouth, treasuring it like a priceless artifact.

"A fifty-year-old genuine leather sofa..." The bald old man stroked the surface of the sofa, a look of utter intoxication on his face. "Genuine leather furniture from the Central Star Region is simply the best..."

He had just hosted another employer representative. This genuine leather sofa from the Central Star Region had really saved face for him. Bald Situ decided to give the sofa another maintenance session and then lock the door tightly, refusing to let even a single speck of dust land on his beloved couch.

After all, this was already the only thing left up and down the entire orphanage that he could use to brag.

Sigh, not a single one of those damned brats gives me any peace of mind. One of them fights today, another gets sick tomorrow, and blast it, some girl even ends up pregnant and needs an abortion—can't anyone bring me some good news for a change?

Just then, Situ Zhennan's personal communicator suddenly rang.

"Hello, this is Situ Zhennan, I... Oh? Old comrade-in-arms! Right, there is indeed someone named Shi Tiexin, what about him? Oh... Hmm? Ah?! What the—!" Clatter, Situ Zhennan's communicator dropped straight to the floor, but he didn't care at all. He stood frozen for a split second, then suddenly bolted out the door and let out a roar: "Is Shi Tiexin around? Which turtle's grandson, go get that little punk over here for me!"

When Shi Tiexin returned to the orphanage, he found that everyone was looking at him with very strange expressions.

What happened?

"Brother Tie, the old bald guy is looking for you."

"Yeah." Shi Tiexin nodded, then grabbed a half-grown kid and asked, "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"I don't know, but rumors are going around that you've gotten yourself into deep trouble, Brother Tie." The kid looked around left and right, then lowered his voice, "Word is the old bald guy took a phone call and was howling and hollering in his office for ages. Who knows what's really going on—you better watch your back, Brother Tie!"

Hmm? What on earth is going on? Could it be...

Shi Tiexin had an inkling and immediately set off toward Principal Situ Zhennan's office.

On the sixth floor, he pushed open the door to the real Principal's office. The dog kennel inside was as messy as ever, completely empty with not a soul in sight.

"Over here, Brother Tie, over here!"

Huh?

Shi Tiexin turned his head and saw a half-grown kid poking his head out from the fake office door—the one that was rarely used twice a half-year—and waving at him.

Why would he be in that room? Didn't the old bald guy treasure that set of furniture so much that he hardly ever used it himself?

Slightly puzzled, Shi Tiexin pushed open the door and stepped into the fake Principal's office.

Whoa!

As soon as he crossed the threshold, Shi Tiexin was mildly startled. He had never stepped into this fake office before, but he hadn't expected it to be so luxurious inside! Look at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling, look at the carpet covering the entire floor, and look at that set of sofas that clearly had some age to them yet looked extremely high-class. Every single detail was meticulously maintained and gleaming.

Shi Tiexin grew even more baffled. What on earth was going on? Why was the old bald guy not only willing to let people inside, but even willing to turn on all the lights in the room?

Snap.

A harsh flash of light went off, causing Shi Tiexin to instinctively blink shut. When he opened his eyes again, a bald head was right in front of him, also quite shiny. Looking left and right, the kid from just now was actually holding an old-fashioned camera, apparently taking photos to document the scene. Meanwhile, the bald man opposite him wore a smile so sickeningly sweet that Shi Tiexin couldn't help but want to recoil.

"Shi, Tie, Xin! Do you know that you're in trouble—you're in big trouble!" Bald Situ grabbed Shi Tiexin's hand with a grip so tight it looked as though he feared Shi Tiexin might attempt to flee from justice.

"I know." Shi Tiexin had a clear idea.

The Star Industrial Federation was an important window for the orphanage to solve employment issues; it was no exaggeration to say many people in the orphanage depended on the Star Industrial Federation for a living. That morning, he had plowed through a crowd of eight hundred people and openly provoked He Chong. He had already anticipated the situations that might arise.

The best outcome he had imagined was that He Chong's father wouldn't care, and the parents of the students knocked unconscious would make a fuss without causing any fundamental damage, leading to a smooth transition. The worst-case scenario he imagined was that He Chong's father, disregarding status and shame, would personally step into the arena to deal with him before the Lesser Provincial Examination.

Shi Tiexin had inquired about the personality of He Chong's father; the probability of that worst-case scenario was relatively low.

He simply hadn't expected matters to slide inexorably toward the worst possible outcome. In the short time since he returned from school, the Star Industrial Federation had already begun pressuring Situ.

And the old bald guy seemed to have already made his choice.

Just look at the one taking my picture—is he taking my funeral portrait?

"You know?" Bald Situ was astonished. "How could you know?"

Shi Tiexin replied as a matter of course, "I have a mental count, anticipated it long ago."

The old bald guy seemed utterly stunned by this matter-of-fact attitude, and couldn't help giving a thumbs-up: "Up and down the orphanage, aside from me, you're the most badass!"

Shi Tiexin looked at the old bald guy and noticed that his expression didn't seem as exasperated as he had imagined.

Could it be he isn't planning to tie me up and hand me over to appease the other side?

"Spare me the polite talk." Shi Tiexin looked earnestly at Situ Zhennan. "What are you planning to do?"

"What am I planning to do? Need you ask? Such a big deal, of course I'm going to take you along!"

So he *did* plan to tie me up and deliver me! Well, I'm sorry, but I have no intention of surrendering without a fight.

"Let's go, let's go, set off right now!" Bald Situ looked utterly enthusiastic. "The exhibition and evaluation meeting starts this afternoon, the results come out today, and the awards are presented tonight!"