As Frederick disappeared toward the bedroom with his bags in hand, Anya couldn't help but shake her head helplessly.While she wasn't materialistic, Anya understood the unspoken language of appearances, especially for a director like herself. It was a high-end gala—a room filled with impeccably tailored suits and designer dresses.A fancy restaurant demanded a certain dress code, and Frederick's usual casual wear wouldn't do with his usual shorts and flip-flops.Frederick quickly changed into his clothes, slicked his hair back with hair gel, and put on a tie.In Motheca, Frederick's dashing looks and undeniable charm made him the irresistible target of noble ladies' affections.His towering height, sharp features, and well-toned physique were complemented by an effortless style that made him look good in anything he wore.However, Frederick's usual unkempt appearance concealed his true attractiveness from the world with his hair often obscuring his face.Looking at himself in th
"Hmph, what kind of luxury clothes could he possibly have? Fancy clothes, huh? They don't look like any luxury brand, not even high-end or any of those others."Frederick gave a helpless smile. The clothes he was wearing indeed bore no brand."These clothes aren't from any brand. An old friend from Motheca made them for me by hand."Anya's eyes widened with interest. "Could your friend be persuaded to come here? I'd love to have him as the creative director of our fashion company!Examining Frederick's attire, Anya was certain that such clothing would be coveted by even the noblest families here. If they could hire this designer, their company could become the pinnacle of Salmasian fashion without any other effort.However, Frederick smiled and shook his head. "He doesn't make clothes anymore."A sense of disappointment washed over Anya. She had glimpsed an incredible opportunity for financial success, only to have it vanish before her eyes.How did Frederick even know someone w
After leaving the villa, Frederick jogged to Anya's sports car and opened the passenger door."Sweetheart, it's not easy to drive in those heels. Let me drive."Frederick's gentlemanly act caught Anya off guard, but she shook her head helplessly. While she acknowledged his charm and good looks, Anya couldn't help but feel a twinge of disdain for him.What good was a handsome face without ambition and career?Frederick took the wheel and sped off toward the restaurant. As they walked in, their striking good looks immediately commanded attention, a seemingly flawless pair that turned heads wherever they went.At that moment, a man in a high-end suit with glasses approached. His pale complexion and slightly sunken cheeks couldn't hide his excitement as he called out from a distance."Ann, over here!"This was Wynne, Anya's senior.Hearing her name, Anya turned and was taken aback. Wynne looked nothing like she remembered.When Anya was a freshman, they had met a few times and Any
Wynne's eyes flew open in bewildered confusion. Instead of Anya's dainty hand, his lips had met with a large, black shoe caked in polish.He recoiled instantly and spat repeatedly as black residue clung to his mouth. It was an utterly repulsive experience.Anya couldn't suppress her laughter at the scene. She hadn't anticipated Frederick's swift intervention. In a moment of uncertainty, Frederick had tossed his shoe to her rescue.Witnessing Wynne's predicament, Frederick decided to escalate the situation further. He slipped the shoe back on, then retrieved a fresh dollop of polish from a nearby complimentary shoe-shining machine. With exaggerated motions, he began vigorously buffing his shoe.He then lamented in a dramatic tone, "Oh dear, my shoe is filthy!"Wynne observed Frederick's antics and was incensed. Not only had this man ruined his romantic gesture, but he was now openly mocking him.It was a provocation beyond tolerance!"Hey, who the hell do you think you are?"F
Frederick's words struck a nerve, and Wynne struggled to contain his mounting fury. He was on the brink of losing his temper when Anya intervened, stepping forward to address Frederick."Enough with the nonsense. Let's go inside."She then turned and walked away, with Frederick following close behind.Seeing Anya's nonchalant demeanor and lack of support, Wynne watched their retreating figures, his face twisted with anger."Just wait until I get my hands on you!"Anya's nonchalant response to Frederick's words and her lack of rebuke stemmed from her traditional upbringing. The notion of a hand-kiss greeting was utterly foreign and unpalatable to her.However, she assumed Wynne's familiarity with this custom was due to his extensive travels abroad and chose not to fault him, unaware of his predatory intentions.The trio settled into their seats. Wynne feigned cordiality and extended his hand toward Frederick."Hello, I'm Wynne Chandler," he said with a practiced smile. Sensing
Wynne's eyes widened in surprise. Frederick's nonchalant tone revealed that he wasn't actually in pain.A sense of unease crept over Wynne as he summoned all his strength to squeeze harder, only to feel as though he were gripping a solid steel bar. On the other hand, Frederick remained no response. A sharp pain shot through Wynne's hand as Frederick squeezed harder, a smirk playing on his lips."Despite the intense pressure on my hand, I must bear the pain like a man, right? Isn't that what you said?" Frederick taunted him.Wynne's face paled. Determined not to appear weak in Anya's eyes, he gritted his teeth and endured the agony, sweat beading on his forehead.Frederick's smile widened as he applied even more force. Wynne's hand felt as though it were caught in a vice, and the pain was truly unbearable.He struggled desperately to free himself, but Frederick's grip remained unyielding.Finally, Wynne collapsed to the ground as he was still desperately pulling at his trapped h
Wynne returned. His eyes, burning with hatred toward Frederick, were hidden behind a facade of cheer."Well, Mr. York, you're much stronger than I expected. I must say, you're truly exceptional!"Frederick wasn't fooled by Wynne's act. It was clear Wynne was putting on a show for Anya to maintain a gentlemanly facade in front of her. Wynne was playing a shrewd game. Anya remained cordial toward him, and Wynne continued to treat her with gentlemanly respect.Wynne sat back in his chair as if nothing had happened and called for the waiter. "Let's order," he declared, then turned to Frederick with a sly smile."Don't hold back, Mr. York. After all, it's not every day you get to dine at such a prestigious establishment."This wasn't bragging. This particular Fancenia restaurant was the epitome of fine dining in Jenaire City. The ingredients, flown in fresh from Fancenia itself, ensured a hefty price tag. A meal for the three of them would easily cost thousands, which was far beyon
A blush crept across Anya's face as she said softly, "Wynne, you always know how to tease me."Now, all eyes were on Frederick.Wynne didn't believe this country bumpkin, who didn't even understand the hand-kissing gesture, could know Mothian."Just a heads-up, Mr. York. Westargian cuisine is served in separate courses, so everyone orders their own dishes. But no worries, if Mothian isn't your forte, just tell me and I'll be happy to translate for you."Anya was well aware of Frederick's background and knew formal education wasn't his strong suit. She worried he wouldn't understand Mothian and wanted to intervene, saving him from embarrassment.Surprisingly, Frederick took the menu, scanned it slowly, and then let out a scoff."Do you even know where you are? Ordering in Mothian? How unsophisticated."Anya and Wynne braced themselves for another rant about Salmasian customs. Anya couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment washed over her.This man simply lacked refineme
Mary's case was the most severe, while Ivan's symptoms were the mildest, and Frederick could roughly deduce the sequence of transmissions among them. It was clear that Mary infected Nigel, who then passed it to Kimberly, then finally passed it to Ivan. Frederick also saw that Ivan was actually a decent person who unfortunately ended up being betrayed and infected. However, Nigel was primarily worried that Ivan might start trusting Frederick, as he wanted Ivan to believe in his capabilities to carry out his plan.Originally, he intended for Mary to insult Frederick for being poor and unskilled, but she ended up attacking him for having an unpleasant odor, which backfired when Frederick exposed her for contracting syphilis. Now, Nigel had no choice but to take matters into his own hands, he then said to Frederick, "Hehe, Frederick. We all know Ivy is a director, what exactly do you do to be worthy of her?"Nigel assumed that Frederick was just a low-level salesperson, something
Hearing Frederick's words, Kimberly jumped with joy and stopped crying. While wiping her tears, she pointed at Mary, laughing and said, "You're covered in syphilis, yet you're making fun of me.""Slut, I wonder how many people you've slept with!" After being pointed and insulted, Mary was furious and she was ready to fight Kimberly. "You bitch! I am going to teach you a lesson!" At this moment, Nigel felt terrible. If Mary was diseased, he'd be the first victim. He grabbed Mary and shouted, "Bitch, let me teach you a lesson first. Now I know why you always wanted the lights off! I thought you were shy, but you just didn't want me to find out."In a fit of anger, Nigel slapped Mary hard across the face. Just as Mary was about to explain, she was interrupted by another slap. Holding her face, she yelled angrily, "Nigel, how dare you hit me?! Do you want me to expose all your little schemes and tricks?"Nigel froze in horror; if Mary exposed him, it would have been disastrous.
Kimberly heard her laughter, and body odor had always been a sensitive issue for her; a wound she'd tried to cover up over the years. For Frederick to bring it up in front of everyone felt like rubbing salt into an open wound. Yet what hurt even more was Mary's laughter; as a fellow woman, it felt like salt to the wound, then roasting it. Kimberly was furious, pointed at Mary and said, "What are you laughing at? Do you want me to come over there and shut you up?"Mary felt wronged, she had only let out a reflexive laugh, but now Kimberly's anger was directed at her. "Did I laugh at you? What proof do you have that I laughed at you?""You're the one with body odor, yet you're taking it out on others. You're such an unreasonable woman!"Kimberly grew even angrier after hearing Mary's retort. "You're the one with body odor, your whole family has it!" "Look at what you're wearing, it's like you just threw on two pillowcases. You're a shameless woman, just trying to show off t
When everyone heard Ivy's words, they laughed even more. Her words effectively confirmed that Frederick did indeed have an unpleasant odor. It wasn't entirely her fault as Kimberly's words had been a bit of a trap. "Haha, if you smell, just take a shower and don't embarrass yourself here.""With all that cheap stuff on, no wonder he has a smell."Hearing this, Frederick simply gave a slight smile and then asked Mary and Kimberly, "Are two really that fragrant?"Mary and Kimberly lifted their heads proudly after hearing Frederick's words. "Why don't you ask everyone here, ask them if we smell good or not?""Exactly, go ahead and ask."Both of them considered themselves beautiful, and of course, they would smell pleasant. The men around them quickly chimed in, especially those eager to admire Mary, who was dressed in a way that gave them a bit of eye candy. "Of course, they smell good. How could these two beautiful ladies not smell good?""Hehe, Frederick with his cheap, th
In a hidden corner, Nigel said to Mary, "Damn it, that bumpkin Frederick keeps stealing my spotlight. I am worried that our plan won't go well later.""You should help me humiliate him properly, and Ivan's girlfriend will back you up."Mary pursed her lips and said to Nigel, "Every time something comes up, you just ask me to handle it. My bag hasn't been bought yet, and you've lost 300 thousand dollars"Although Nigel was annoyed by Mary hitting a sore spot, he kept his tone calm and replied, "Help me humiliate Frederick and talk him down in front of Ivan. After that, leave the rest to me. Once it's done, I'll get you more than one bag, I could get you ten bags and it wouldn't be a problem. I don't care about that small amount of money. You saw that Porsche just now, right? I wouldn't mind burning it if I had to." Hearing this, Mary was delighted and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, babe." She hadn't realized that Nigel was so wealthy and even had a Porsche. Up until th
Knowing Martin as someone who knew a lot about wood, everyone immediately looked as though they were ready for a good show. They were convinced that the Saint George statue couldn’t possibly be made of anything valuable.Martin let out a strange exclamation. "What the hell!"Kimberly, thinking that Martin was angry, quickly said, "Mr. Lawson, tell us what’s so disastrous about this wood. Are you saying it’s just a piece of junk?"Contrary to expectations, Martin replied angrily, "I’m saying that whoever preserved this Saint George statue was a jerk. This is genuine sandalwood, and yet it’s completely neglected, covered in dust."Most of the group had no idea what sandalwood was worth, but judging by the name alone, it sounded impressive.Kimberly asked curiously, "Mr. Lawson, are you saying this is really antique wood?"Martin examined the statue carefully, scrutinizing every detail. "Judging by the texture, this carving must have been made at least 150 years ago."Everyone was
"The Saint George statue was indeed a fitting choice for a karaoke." Nigel chuckled, turning to Ivy.“Why didn’t you just go on Amazon and buy a new one for a few dozen bucks? This one is obviously second-hand. Or was it picked up from some junk stall?”Frederick heard Nigel’s mockery and nodded in agreement, a faint smile on his lips. “You’re not wrong. This statue actually was picked up from a street stall.”“At the Treasure Hall in the antique trade market, no less. And yes, it’s an antique.”The truth was, the statue was from the Victorian era. Even the owner of Treasure Hall, Dominic, had recognized its age but dismissed it as worthless, tossing it onto a stall outside.Frederick had picked it up casually, thinking it would come in handy one day, and now it was the perfect gift for Ivan.Hearing this, Nigel burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. “An antique? Treasure Hall? You’re really trying to fool us.”Kimberly chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she glance
The group’s attention was fully captured by Frederick’s words, their eyes all on him. Nigel, knowing that Kimberly had informed Ivy at the last minute and that she likely didn’t have a gift, sneered at Frederick."Well, if you’ve got a gift, go ahead and show it.""Considering Ivy and Kimberly’s relationship, the gift should be pretty decent, right?"Everyone was now staring at Frederick with anticipation, curious to see what kind of gift he could produce.Ivy, on the other hand, was completely flustered. She hadn’t handed any gift to Frederick, though she understood he was trying to help her out of a tough spot. But wasn’t this making things even more awkward?Nigel continued to press him, "Where’s the gift? Come on, take it out already.""After all this time, you still can’t take it out. Don’t tell me you don’t even have one."Frederick glanced at Nigel with a calm smile. "Oh? Are you planning to bet 300 grand with me again?"Nigel froze. There was no way he had another 300 t
Ivan was deeply moved, feeling as though all the unpleasantness from their school days had been swept away. A sense of childhood nostalgia, unique to old classmates, welled up within him.The crowd continued to shower Nigel with praise, giving him thumbs up one after another."A gift worth 10 grand is no small amount. Nigel is truly generous.""That’s right. These days, even classmates hesitate to prepare gifts, but Nigel has shown such generosity.."Most of the attendees had come because of their connection with Kimberly. Each had prepared gifts with costs ranging from a few hundred dollars. Compared to Nigel’s grandiose gift worth 10 thousand, their contributions paled in comparison.Hearing the compliments, Nigel waved his hand dismissively, feigning modesty. "It’s nothing, really. After all, Ivan and I are good friends from way back."Then, Nigel’s expression shifted slightly as he added, "Speaking of good friends, I’m sure it’s not just me and Ivan here who share a special b