Chapter 171: It’s Understandable If Children Don’t Know Any Better

Li Ming arrived quickly.

From what his son had said over the Phone, he could tell Li Shun had offended someone important.

“Dad, you’re here.”

Seeing Li Ming, Li Shun was overjoyed and shot a cold smile at Xu Shaochen.

He was so arrogant just now. The tables will soon turn. Does he really think he can go around offending anyone he pleases? Ridiculous!

“Uncle Li.”

Lili greeted him respectfully. Although she didn’t think much of Li Shun, she didn’t dare disrespect Li Ming.

Everyone’s eyes were filled with sympathy as they looked at Xu Shaochen. They thought he had really stepped onto a landmine and was in for some serious trouble. Mei Liangxin was actually a bit nervous too; after all, Li Ming was quite notorious in Jiangzhou, mainly due to the nature of his business.

Is it possible to run an entertainment business without getting involved in all sorts of things?

Moreover, the Imperial Club alone was enough to intimidate most people.

Could anyone less capable manage to establish such a large club in Jiangzhou?

But seeing Xu Shaochen remain calm and composed, Mei Liangxin decided to relax. If the sky falls, someone taller will hold it up.

Xu Shaochen has so much money and he’s not afraid to die, so why should a poor guy like me have anything to fear?

Once he figured this out, Mei Liangxin felt a bit disheartened. In this day and age, even being poor doesn’t give you the right to fear for your life?

“What exactly happened…?” Li Ming was about to ask Li Shun about the situation but immediately saw Xu Shaochen and his expression changed. He quickly put on a warm smile and walked over.

“Mr. Xu, I didn’t expect to run into you here. What a coincidence.”

Wow! Seeing this, the customers who had initially sympathized with Xu Shaochen were shocked. They stared wide-eyed at the scene before them.

Who is this young man? What on earth did he do to make Li Ming humble himself like this?

Lili and Li Shun were bewildered as well, standing there in a daze, their minds blank.

They had hoped Li Ming would come and stand up for them.

But now it seemed like things weren’t going according to plan.

Li Ming only had eyes for Xu Shaochen, completely oblivious to the shift in the restaurant’s atmosphere. He then pulled Li Shun over and introduced him to Xu Shaochen: “Mr. Xu, this is my son, Li Shun. I hope you might consider giving him a chance to learn something from you.”

“You fool! Hurry up and greet Mr. Xu!” Li Ming got angry when he saw Li Shun still standing there motionless and scolded him sharply.

This boy usually knows what’s what, but now, of all times, he has no sense at all?

Li Ming’s face turned red with embarrassment.

Seeing this scenario, he finally realized that Xu Shaochen was someone they couldn’t afford to offend. However, bowing his head at this moment was too much for his pride.

Li Shun was just uneasy and nervous, but Lili had already gone pale with fear, as the incident today was entirely due to her.

She’d never imagined that in picking someone random as a scapegoat, she’d choose someone with such a high status.

Even if Xu Shaochen doesn’t hold it against her, if Li Ming decides to take it out on her, her family would be in deep trouble.

Thinking of this, she was filled with regret.

“Are you deaf? Greet Mr. Xu!” Li Ming’s face had already darkened as he realized this was a golden opportunity. If Li Shun could stay around Xu Shaochen, it’d be a huge gain. Yet his useless son just couldn’t get it together, leaving him furious.

Xu Shaochen put down his bowl and chopsticks, looking at Li Ming with a half-smile, and said, “Chairman Li, there’s no need for such formalities. Your son is truly remarkable, I dare not accept such a gesture.”

“M-Mr. Xu, what do you mean by this?” Li Ming’s smile froze. He suddenly had a terrible feeling.

Reading that message from earlier flashed through his mind, and his palms started sweating.

Could this really be happening…?

Xu Shaochen didn’t answer him, instead, he looked over at Li Shun with a mocking smile.

Li Shun swallowed hard. He looked at Li Ming with a bitter expression and said, “Dad, it’s… it’s him who hit me.”

Smack!

Already on edge, Li Ming immediately flew into a rage upon hearing that. As soon as the words left Li Shun’s mouth, Li Ming’s arm swung out and slapped him hard across the face.

Yelp!

Li Shun cried out as one of his teeth flew out of his mouth. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips.

Gasp—

Everyone watching felt their scalps tingle. Is this really his own son? Could he be someone else’s son for him to hit that hard?

“You fool! I gave you work in the company, you didn’t focus on it, and all you do is cause trouble all day. You’ve now gone and offended Mr. Xu! If you want to die, don’t drag your mother and me along with you!”

Li Ming’s expression was dark as he angrily berated Li Shun.

This was exactly what he was worried about, and now that it had happened, it nearly drove him insane.

Who is Xu Shaochen?

Without exaggeration, in Jiangzhou today, if someone has heard of him, they wouldn’t dare mess with him.

Yet his foolish son has guts like no other. Is this not akin to seeking death?

Lili began to tremble slightly at the sight. If Li Ming was this harsh to his own son, what would he do to her, the one who started all of this?

“Dad, I… I was wrong,” Li Shun mumbled, his words slurred as his face was now swollen.

Li Ming glared at him, then turned to Xu Shaochen, speaking respectfully: “Mr. Xu, it’s the father’s fault for not teaching the son. I hope you can give him a second chance, considering it’s his first offense.”

If Li Shun wasn’t his son, Li Ming wouldn’t care whether he lived or died.

“Hey, Chairman Li, don’t be so angry. I haven’t said much, have I? It’s understandable for a child to not know any better, but it’s more concerning when adults lack understanding, don’t you think, Chairman Li?”

Xu Shaochen smiled as he spoke, his gaze as calm as a tranquil lake.

“Yes, yes, Mr. Xu, rest assured, something like this will never happen again.”

Li Ming replied respectfully, sweating profusely. He understood this was Xu Shaochen’s way of reminding him that if he couldn’t even manage his own son, what right had he to speak?

Li Shun lowered his head, his expression flickering between emotions. He was older than Xu Shaochen, yet here he was being called a child, and his father still had to humbly apologize.

He felt wronged, angry, but most of all, terrified.

He couldn’t imagine what would happen to the Li Family if Xu Shaochen decided to seek revenge. Would the company go bankrupt? Would their family be destroyed? Or end up in jail? Or maybe they’d be tossed into the sea to feed the fish?

With each thought, Li Shun felt himself sinking into despair, cold sweat soaking his back.