Chapter 108: Little Puppy, Woof, Woof, Woof

"Brother Shi, Brother Shi—"

"Forget the 'Brother Shi' part." Since the young master had already settled things, Shi Tiexin didn't stand on ceremony. He sat on the sofa, exuding the aura of a big boss, and said, "My friends all call me Big Brother Tie, or Old Tie. Just call me Old Tie."

"Oh, oh!" Si Chongtian’s eyes practically lit up. "Old Tie, this aura of yours is just like something out of a TV show! I’ve never met anyone like you in my entire life! Oh, by the way, according to the ways of the underworld, what should I call myself?"

*The ways of the underworld? Good grief, what kind of nonsense have you been feeding your head with? No wonder your old man threw you to Liu Qigang for a reality check.*

Still, none of that hindered their conversation. "What to call you?" Since the young master’s character was so transparent, the answer was obvious. "Little Si."

Si Chongtian went quiet instantly, his eyes wide and unblinking.

*Oh no!* Shi Tiexin thought, *I let that slip out!* I can't leave it like this; I have to salvage the situation!

Before Shi Tiexin could speak, Si Chongtian suddenly grew excited. "Wow, Old Tie, do you see me as such a fierce person? 'Little Lion,' 'Little Lion'! The lion is the king of beasts on the Central Planet! So you think I’ll grow up to be that formidable?"

*Uh...*

*Is my pronunciation off? I didn't mean 'Little Lion.' I meant... 'Little Puppy.'*

"Yes," Shi Tiexin said, looking at Si Chongtian with a serious expression. "I believe you have great potential. You’re just young now, but when you grow up, you will unleash your own wild roar."

*Like a 'Woof-woof-woof!'—that’s pretty wild.*

*Phew, that was close.* Thankfully, the slip of the tongue hadn't gone too far. If he had actually said "Little Dog-Egg," it would have been a disaster.

How would he have explained that? *Look at this kid, what a great name, 'Little Dog-Egg'—a humble name makes for a hardy life!*

*Haha, I'm breaking into a cold sweat.* Why was he, a fifteen-year-old himself, always slipping into the role of a guardian? It must be because he spent too much time looking after the kids at the orphanage. It definitely wasn't because he looked too mature for his age. Absolutely not.

"Alright, quit looking around," Shi Tiexin said, his big-boss aura returning. "No matter how unpleasant Liu Qigang’s words are, he’s right about one thing: you need to experience the hardships of life. If you really want to get stronger, stop relying on your privileges. Since you’re here as a security guard, don’t be lazy. Do your job properly. Even if there are two of you on duty, at least one person should be standing post."

"Oh, okay, I’ll go first!" Si Chongtian stepped onto the guard post with confidence. "Don't worry, Old Tie, this is a piece of cake. I once practiced horse stance for ten hours straight!"

*Holy crap!* Shi Tiexin was shocked. *Is this kid a martial arts fanatic? Ten hours of horse stance is not something an ordinary person can do—though, in a regular family, even with the willpower, one would probably suffer muscle breakdown without adequate nutrition and medical support. So, being a martial arts fanatic is a luxury not every family can afford.*

As Big Brother Tie, he couldn't be intimidated by this little puppy’s claim. He had to maintain his authority.

"Practicing horse stance is for self-improvement. Strengthening yourself bit by bit is interesting in its own right. But standing guard for duty and for money—especially when you don’t even need the paycheck—is a different matter. It’s dull, boring, and yet you have to do it."

Shi Tiexin glanced at him and barked like an instructor, "Don't stand there like you're practicing martial arts! You’re at work now, not training! Head straight, neck upright, eyes fixed forward, chin slightly tucked, legs straight, heels together, toes pointed out at sixty degrees, arms hanging naturally, middle fingers pressed against the trouser seams! Your posture must be standard, your discipline strict. If you take a job, love it; otherwise, go back home and enjoy your life!"

"Yes!"

The young master, like a puppy receiving a clear command, puffed out his chest and widened his eyes, looking quite eager.

*Good.*

Since you're standing so perfectly, I won't waste your effort. You stay there, and I’ll practice my calligraphy.

There was only one graduation mark left, but the final stage was the hardest. Without an expert to guide him, he had to seize every second to practice.

*Swish, swish, swish.* Shi Tiexin took out paper and pen and began to write furiously.

Standing guard was monotonous, tedious, and boring, yet one couldn't afford to relax. Shi Tiexin wrote until he lost track of time. When he finally looked up to rub his wrists, it was already eight o’clock in the evening. Four hours had passed since four o’clock. He turned his head and realized the "Little Dog-Egg" hadn't moved an inch.

Most importantly, the chatterbox hadn't uttered a single word. That was truly impressive!

Shi Tiexin couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration. He had assumed that a spoiled young master, no matter his cultivation, wouldn't be able to handle hardship. Four hours was nothing to him, but the fact that the kid could hold such a strict posture was something to behold.

It seemed this kid wasn't just a blowhard who talked about virtue while being unable to endure the slightest struggle.

"Alright, time's up. I'll take over, you rest."

"Brother Tie, I'm fine. I can keep going!"

"I believe you, but it’s unnecessary. Since it’s a two-person shift, we alternate. Come down, I'll take the post."

Even though his training time was tight, a deal was a deal. He couldn't keep exploiting the kid.

"Oh." Si Chongtian stepped down, his chatterbox nature immediately resurfacing. "Brother Tie, since you grew up in an orphanage, can you tell me about it? I’m not trying to pry into your privacy; I’ve just never been exposed to that world. I have no idea how you all lived."

"There's nothing to hide." Since the kid had helped him gain four hours of training time, Shi Tiexin didn't mind sharing. If his own experiences could help this little guy, he didn't mind giving him a push.

But when the words reached his lips, Shi Tiexin fell silent.

He didn't know how to say it. He didn't know how much to say.

What was life in the orphanage like? Scenes flooded his mind—a thousand threads, but he didn't know where to start. Shi Tiexin was never a man of many words. He remained silent for a long time, eventually deciding to share the one thing he felt was most crucial.

"Life in the orphanage... it taught me one thing."

"What's that?"

"How to find a balance between survival and dignity."