Chapter 9: The Extortion Trio

Before long, Ah Si returned quickly with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, panting heavily for fear that Fu Lingrui had already lost his life.

"Young Master, I'm here, I'm here!"

Fu Lingrui used the back of one of his subordinates as a table, while the others scrambled to grind the ink and spread the paper.

He didn't want to waste another second and hurriedly began writing the IOU.

The subordinate who had just run the errand handed the IOU to Mu Xiaobao with trembling hands, wearing a forced smile. "Please, Young Master, accept this!"

Mu Xiaobao rested his chin on his hand and thought for a moment. "This doesn't necessarily prove that you're the one who wrote it. How do I know if you, Uncle, will honor the debt?"

Fu Lingrui's face darkened. "What more do you want?"

Mu Xiaobao looked at Fu Lingrui with innocent radiance, while simultaneously, those cunning eyes scanned him up and down. "Should Uncle use your seal, or give me a unique family heirloom as a token of trust?"

Fu Lingrui immediately and silently pressed a seal onto the paper.

"Can my Young Master leave now?" the servant asked, looking at him expectantly.

Mu Xiaobao went through the motions of reviewing the IOU, then scurried over to Ye Beiling's side, blinking his bright eyes. "Uncle, can you stamp it too? With an extra witness, Xiaobao won't have to worry about him not honoring the debt!"

Ye Beiling felt like he must have gone mad today; he pulled out his seal and pressed it down.

"Ooh, Uncle, you really are richer. Your seal is much more exquisite than his..."

Ye Beiling snatched the IOU away, helped roll it into a scroll, and sealed it. "Take it carefully. This piece of paper is worth a million gold."

"Now, can my Young Master leave?" a trembling voice ventured.

"Goodbye, Uncle!" Mu Xiaobao gave a sweet smile. "Remember to hurry home and prepare the cash!"

Just as Fu Lingrui breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to leave, Mu Lingbo deliberately coughed twice, then 'secretly' gave Mu Xiaobao a meaningful look in front of everyone.

"Oh dear, I forgot the main business." Xiaobao slapped his forehead. "Uncle, can you give your travel permit to Xiaobao?"

"What?"

This was their main business?

Fu Lingrui didn't dare waste words; he only wanted to escape this extortionist trio immediately.

Before he could even pull out the travel permit, a calm female voice interjected, "Wait, Xiaobao. That thing at his waist is more useful than a travel permit."

Mu Xiaobao widened his eyes and looked at Fu Lingrui, asking in surprise, "Really, Uncle?"

"Damn it..." Fu Lingrui wished he could burst into tears. He ripped the waist token off his belt and handed it to him, never wanting to stay in this place again.

"Thank you, Uncle!"

"Safe travels, Uncle!"

"See you next time!"

Mu Xiaobao waved his small arms as he watched them leave.

Mu Lingbo wore a meaningful smile, watching Fu Lingrui sprint away as if fleeing for his life. He said nonchalantly, "Xiaobao, go pick up your ball. Let's go."

The boy picked up his ball and followed them in high spirits, clutching the IOU.

Ye Beiling stood there, watching the large and small figures in the distance, suddenly realizing he had been forgotten.

"This... it would be safer if Mother kept it for you." A pale, slender hand took the IOU from the child's hands.

Mu Xiaobao mumbled, "Xiaobao has the safe box Uncle Zi gave me. It's the safest."

"Whether you trust him or Mother, of course, Mother's place is the safest."

He was really being ignored???

Thus, Ye Beiling also coughed lightly twice.

Mu Xiaobao immediately turned his head. "Uncle, are you sick? Do you need to see a doctor? There are discounts available right now!"

"Uncle is in very good health!" he said, feeling a bit awkward. "But are you all leaving just like that? Don't you feel like you've forgotten something?"

Mu Xiaobao scratched his head. Not knowing what had occurred to him, he suddenly narrowed his eyes alertly and lowered his voice. "Uncle, you don't... want a share of the money too, do you?"