The Crown Prince Ascends the Entertainment Throne - Chapter 6

Does the law of this world mandate that one must buy anything they look at?

If I look at something but have no money to buy it, will I be arrested and beheaded?

For a moment, Xiang Xu realized he had been insufficiently cautious. He did not know if the regulations of this world differed greatly from the Yin Dynasty. What if the law of this world dictated that if you walked into a shop, you were obligated to spend money?

Even if it seemed unreasonable, what if it were legal?

Xiang Xu had no experience dealing with such laws. He became a bit flustered. His mouth opened and closed several times, ready to blurt out something inappropriate, but in the end, he kept his lips sealed, merely waving his hands and shaking his head.

Although the law might be that way, he truly had no money!

The store clerk in front of him, however, became slightly more composed. A look of indignation flashed across his face, and he even raised his voice. “Sir, you tore open this book, affecting our ability to resell it. Therefore, you must buy it!”

Xiang Xu was stunned once again.

Wait a minute, that is not right. I did not tear the book open.

The clerk’s angry tone attracted the attention of many customers. Xiang Xu felt pairs of disgusted eyes scanning him, and hushed whispers rose around him.

“I felt he had been acting suspicious ever since he arrived.”

“If you open it, you have to buy it.”

“They have been following him for so long; it is not easy for the staff, is it?”

“Probably just a young, ignorant kid.”

Although Xiang Xu could not hear the words clearly, he knew from their tone that these customers were all siding with the well-dressed clerk.

“What is going on, Xiao Zhou? What is the matter?” Several other men in sharp suits emerged from the crowd.

“He tore open a book but refused to buy it. I tried to reason with him, but it was useless!” Seeing his reinforcements arrive, Xiao Zhou’s embarrassment vanished completely, replaced by a face full of righteous indignation.

Xiang Xu’s eyes widened further. How did this person’s story become so absurd?

He was no fool; after the other party’s heavy embellishments, he finally understood that he was being framed.

No, how can it be that I have not even been here for a day, and I have already been almost framed once, and now actually framed? Is the social climate of this world like this?

The well-dressed clerks marched forward upon hearing the report.

Xiang Xu intended to struggle, but his frail body was rendered immobile by two sturdy men gripping his arms. Furthermore, he was unsure if using force was legal in this world.

Anxious and restless, he could only be dragged to the checkout counter, looking utterly dejected.

If I can get out of this crooked shop alive, I will definitely exercise and learn the laws of this world!

Xiang Xu wept silently in his heart, regretting that his first day out had been such an inauspicious start, resulting in such a major loss.

This store looked magnificent on the surface, but in reality, it was a hollow shell. The people inside were all beasts in human clothing, bullying the weak!

Xiang Xu cursed them in his mind, but he dared not utter a single word aloud.

What will happen if I cannot pay? Maybe I will be beaten, maybe I will be locked up, or maybe I will be made into meat buns.

The more Xiang Xu thought about it, the more pathetic he felt. He figured he probably would not be turned into a meat bun, but he might at least be beaten. If it were just a beating, that would be fine, but with this body, a single thrashing might cause him to fall apart.

No, Xiang Xu, you are a dignified Crown Prince of the Yin Dynasty. Even if you are wronged or extorted, you must maintain the dignity of a Crown Prince. Even if you are beaten, you must not cry out in pain or misery. Even if you cannot speak, you must use your eyes to look down on them and use your actions to showcase your unyielding character.

With this in mind, Xiang Xu held his head high while his hands were still being held, like an unyielding little duckling being marched to the register.

Far away by the window, a man with slender fingers pulled his book down slightly. A pair of sharp, Phoenix-shaped eyes with upturned corners narrowed slightly.

The cashier, a young woman, frowned when she saw this student-like person in a yellow hoodie being dragged over by her colleagues.

“You guys, what is this?”

Xiao Zhou slammed the green Ancient Chinese dictionary onto the counter. “He tore the packaging. Make him pay for it.”

Upon hearing this, Xiang Xu let out a cold “Hmph” and turned his face to the side.

“Let him go. Let us talk about this properly.” The cashier tapped the hands gripping Xiang Xu, and they released him. Xiang Xu kept his face turned away, but his eyes shifted, looking with some gratitude at the cashier with the ponytail.

The cashier gave him an apologetic smile and explained, “Little brother, if you do not buy a book in this bookstore, you cannot tear the packaging. It affects our ability to resell it. If you want to see the content inside, you can read the sample copy beside the bookshelf.”

Xiang Xu immediately turned his head, his gaze piercing the man named “Xiao Zhou” like a hawk. The people behind him grabbed his arms again, suspecting he was about to start a fight.

In reality, he had no desire to fight. He was merely furious. This “Xiao Zhou” clearly knew he could not speak, which was why he had been so tense when the book was first opened.

It was evident he had done it on purpose!

The cashier felt a bit troubled. After sighing repeatedly, she scanned the book’s barcode into the machine.

“Beep.” The sound made Xiang Xu look back.

“This one is 227 yuan. Please pay here.”

The cashier pointed her palm at the two QR codes on the table.

The number 227 made Xiang Xu’s eyes widen. He remembered that the medicine his Royal Sister bought him yesterday cost only 190-something.

For just this thin book?

He finally understood why the girl who had bought a book earlier was so angry.

Xiang Xu stared blankly at the cashier’s sympathetic face and shook his head slowly. Never mind 227; he did not even have one yuan on him.

Seeing his expression, the cashier took a sharp breath, her brow furrowing. She lowered her voice and asked, “You do not have enough money?”

Xiang Xu nodded, then shook his head.

Ever since he arrived, the young man had not said a single word. The cashier suddenly realized something, and her gaze toward him became much more complex.

“You, are you?” She pointed to her throat.

The young man looked at her innocently.

He really is mute. The cashier’s eyes softened with pity, and she spoke in a whisper. “It is alright, it is alright. Hey, you guys, let him go. He is disabled; he might have a cognitive impairment!”

When she said that, the people behind him let him go, their expressions looking a bit ashamed.

Xiang Xu was confused, but his body felt much lighter, and he felt a bit of gratitude toward this cashier.

“But this, this still cannot.” Xiao Zhou frowned, appearing quite anxious.

“Little brother, do you have your family’s phone number? Ask your family to come handle this,” the cashier said to Xiang Xu, casting a glance at Xiao Zhou.

Phone? What is that?

Xiang Xu could only shake his head.

Now, everyone else had their brows locked tightly; it was clear they did not know what to do.

Xiang Xu stood there, scanning each person’s face, lingering a moment longer on Xiao Zhou’s face before looking away.

He must be thinking about how to deal with me.

Xiang Xu lifted his chin again, looking heroic and resigned.

If you want to beat me, then beat me. I will not make a sound.

Xiang Xu cheered himself on in his heart.

Just as everyone was struggling with what to do, a stack of books was slammed onto the counter with a loud bang, drawing everyone’s attention.

Behind the stack of books stood a tall, slender figure. He wore a simple dark blue shirt with the top button undone, revealing a thin silver necklace. His long fingers tapped on the stack of books. As he stepped forward, his movements were sharp and somewhat oppressive.

The clothes and accessories were simple, but he wore them with great style. Xiang Xu looked at his face; he wore a hat and a mask, leaving only a pair of beautiful yet sharp eyes visible. He looked coldly at the cashier.

“Check out.”

The cashier paused for a second, then immediately began scanning his books one by one.

After the last book was handed over, the man reached out. “Add this one, too.”

Xiang Xu watched as he took the dictionary that had been torn open and, under the cashier’s shocked and grateful gaze, handed it to her.

How lucky. He wanted to buy this book too!

Xiang Xu instantly grasped what had happened.

This man must have happened to see the book and liked it, so he decided to buy it. He had good taste, and he had solved Xiang Xu’s trouble.

Xiang Xu felt a bit grateful, but since it was not his fault that the book had to be bought, he was not overly moved. He just felt that this “Xiao Zhou” person should kowtow to this man.

He clearly saw Xiao Zhou let out a sigh of relief, which suddenly made Xiang Xu feel unhappy again.

The person who did something wrong was let off so easily; this world was truly unfair.

Xiang Xu sighed, but so be it. He was someone just trying to survive in this world, not someone destined to stir up winds or uphold justice. Even if he felt things should not be this way, he did not have the capability to change it.

When he looked up, he saw the man who had bought the books squinting at him with great dissatisfaction.

With that look, does he think I am in the way?

Since the matter is resolved, can I leave now?

Xiang Xu understood everything and was prepared to run, but the man suddenly spoke.

“Stop.”

Xiang Xu: ???

Something else involving me? Others also looked at the man with puzzled eyes, wondering what he intended to do.

Based on a little bit of goodwill for the man having defused the situation, Xiang Xu turned and walked back to his original spot.

The masked man nodded with satisfaction and pulled out the last book he had paid for, the one without the plastic film.

“Did you tear this film?”

Xiang Xu was stunned. The man’s gaze became sharp, staring at him intently, his dark eyes almost burning two holes in his body.

What? What does he mean? Is he going to interrogate me again? Because this book he likes no longer has its film, is he going to make me pay for it?

Xiang Xu opened his eyes in terror, then shook his head like a rattle-drum.

Xiang Xu felt that although this man covered his face, his aura was much more imposing than those of the sharp-suited elites. If the man decided to unreasonably make him pay, he might face more than just a simple beating.

“Are you sure it was not you who tore it?” the man asked again in a deep voice.

Xiang Xu shook his head so hard he almost took flight.

With a loud bang, the dictionary was thrown back onto the counter, making a deafening sound that sent a jolt of alarm through everyone present.