At Wildgreen Café, Albert poured out the freshly brewed tea. His slender hands gleamed under the morning sunlight. The aroma of tea filled the air as Albert lifted the purple clay teapot and poured a cup for Daniel, who was sitting in front of him. "I heard you have sent somebody to take care of things over there?" Albert asked.Daniel picked up the small purple clay cup, brought it close to his nose, and took a deep breath. Then, he took a sip. After putting the teacup down, he responded, "Knowing oneself and one’s enemy paves the path for victory. We have to do something, so as not to be caught off guard later."Albert nodded and said, "I am grateful for your support over the years."He was clearly not talking about the future, but rather the past four years. The Johnson family had managed to make a name for themselves in Fairport due in part to Daniel’s help.Daniel smiled and said, "That was nothing. Mr. Johnson, you're being too generous."He didn't take advantage of this
"Hello, everyone." Rebecca had never dined with a group of strangers before, aside from the family dinner with the Johnsons. Despite this being their first meeting after her memory loss, there lingered a subtle sense of familiarity that couldn't be overlooked. However, this time was different. As Caleb guided her into the private room, a sense of reservedness settled in. Inside the private room, everyone was equally reserved. They were used to being around men, and their interactions with women were typically limited to encounters with the club's cook. None of them had ever seen a beauty as stunning as Rebecca. Even the beautiful hostess from the event paled in comparison. Were the Johnson family's genes truly this remarkable? Silence filled the private room, with nearly every gaze fixed on Rebecca. Each person stared as if seeing her for the first time. Despite Rebecca's greeting, she received no response. Hence, she looked at Caleb with a perplexed expression for he
Upon returning to the hotel, Rebecca didn't forget about the gifts she picked up for the club members two days ago. Seizing the perfect opportunity after today's lunch, she handed out the gifts to the club members. The club members were pleasantly surprised and expressed their gratitude politely. Rebecca felt a bit embarrassed by their courtesy. Little did she know, these polite and considerate guys were having a riotous celebration behind her back. Once Rebecca greeted everyone and entered her hotel room, they immediately erupted in excitement. The group chat exploded with strange remarks and images. It was all uproar and chaos. "Oh, the gifts from our goddess! If I round it up, I'm practically the goddess's sweetheart!" "The gifts picked by AlmightyAlex's cousin are so thoughtful. Although I already have a more expensive wristband, I feel like hers is the best." "I hope AlmightyAlex's cousin can visit more often and stop buying gifts. She can just stay at the club as a
As expected, just as Rebecca entertained these thoughts, Caleb declined the guest's request. Nevertheless, the guest remained polite and showed no signs of annoyance after being turned down. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he took his seat and continued watching the match. Dealing with well-mannered individuals made the interaction much more enjoyable, and one's mood could significantly improve. Recalling her earlier experiences on the red carpet when she first arrived in Amdale, Rebecca silently hoped for more encounters with people like this guest in the future. Even if it was an act, she didn't mind. In this emotional moment, Rebecca discreetly passed her phone to Caleb, displaying the words she had typed on the notepad. "Why didn't you take a photo with him?" Caleb glanced at Rebecca and took her phone to respond. Rebecca was simply curious. After all, Caleb had taken numerous photos with fans the previous day. Although he was portraying Alex, it was still hi
In her line of sight, Rebecca spotted Daniel. The dim lighting posed a challenge for her to discern whether the individual seated across from her was Daniel or David—until he spoke. "How ... how did you end up here?" Rebecca stared at Daniel for a moment before snapping out of her daze. She then shifted her attention to Caleb, seated on her other side, and discreetly pinched herself to confirm she wasn't in a dream. After that, she turned back to Daniel with a look of confusion. Daniel wore a faint smile and asked, "Does my presence surprise you?" Rebecca nodded. "Yes, a bit." She shifted her gaze to assess Daniel's attire and chuckled. "It's quite unexpected to see someone as accomplished as you embracing youth culture. I didn't see that coming." Daniel's gaze shifted slightly toward Caleb as he remarked, "Speaking of accomplishments, Mr. Crawford Junior should be even more accomplished. When I was his age, I was still at odds with my family." A hint of desolation passed
Upon hearing this, Daniel looked at Rebecca with genuine surprise. After a moment of contemplation, he couldn't help but ask, "If I'm not mistaken, isn't Mr. Crawford Junior's team supposed to be on the other side? And when you mention 'SUN,' are you referring to that ... female player?" "Yes." Rebecca nodded while keeping her gaze fixed on the close-up shot of SUN on the big screen until the director reluctantly switched to the next player. Only then did she shift her gaze and explain to the puzzled Daniel, "Even though SUN belongs to the Flashfocus Esports Club, it's hard not to admire someone like her. While I'm leaning towards Alex's team winning, it doesn't prevent me from hoping that SUN puts on a stellar performance." In a match, the display of both sides showcasing their best form and employing top-tier strategy was what made the game thrilling. Matches where one side made mistakes and lost, like the first one, were both surprising and disheartening. Even if the opp
Alex refrained from expressing any opinions on the matter. It was natural for everyone to feel uneasy after a loss. Recalling his past experiences when some of the younger members weren't part of the team, he had weathered even more tense atmospheres. Consequently, he had little to add to the current situation. If he were to harbor any dissatisfaction with the first round, it likely stemmed from the sheer foolishness of the mistake made. In the presence of voice chat and teammates assisting with critical points, being outplayed by the opponent's hero didn't match the experience of a seasoned player on the competitive stage. However, the outcome was decided, and there was no point in berating anyone. Moreover, with more rounds ahead, they couldn't afford to sulk or be angry. Instead, they should swiftly delve into strategic discussions and aim to devise a plan to reclaim the score. As the players gathered to discuss strategies, the tense atmosphere gradually eased. Their e
As the earlier guest pointed out, this match undeniably showcased a high level of strategic targeting. Flashfocus's players displayed a noticeable proficiency. They executed moves in ranked matches that were seldom seen. However, despite their impressive skills, the current momentum seemed to be favoring CalX. It could confidently be asserted that, as long as CalX's players avoided mistakes, victory in this round seemed well within their grasp. Moreover, with their teammates securing a draw in the first half, all CalX needed was to gain a slight lead in this round to secure an overall advantage. Even if the lead was somewhat narrow, considering the overall outcome of the match, they could be considered relatively even. If they continued to maintain this momentum, victory was not out of reach. The spirits of CalX's players soared at the prospect of victory, and their maneuvers became increasingly steady. With AlmightyAlex guiding them, as long as they maintained consistenc
Penny didn't have much free time over the past three years.As she had envisioned, during the first year, she honed her acting skills amidst criticism while also working as a translator.Later on, she felt that acting didn't hold much appeal anymore. Moreover, realizing that there weren't any roles left for her, she gradually gave up and moved toward working behind the scenes.She had some work during this period.It seemed that a daring reality show, not caring about potential risks, decided to capitalize on her controversial popularity and invited her to participate in one of their programs.The reason Penny agreed to participate was because the show's first season had a good reputation, and the payment offered was reasonable.Continuously doing translations could be quite tiring. After discussing with Cecilia and weighing the pros and cons, she eventually signed up for this TV show.Unfortunately, she had underestimated the darker side of human nature.The show's production
"Really?" Zane blurted out, staring incredulously at Sam, who nodded calmly. His unruly and carefree demeanor was restrained, and his composed attitude showed that he wasn't joking.Zane fell silent again, furrowing his brow as he intently observed Sam.It was as if he thought everything through in an instant, giving up without hesitation. He didn't even remind Zane of the request from years ago to take care of Penny. Instead, he said this would be the last time he would help out.Logically speaking, this should be a satisfactory outcome for Zane. After all, from any perspective, the Lowe family's scion would only be a burden to Sam.Looking again at Sam's attitude, it seemed he didn't want Penny to know he was the one quietly spending money to handle things behind the scenes.Since there was no plan to meet her, he didn't need to worry about anything after that. If that was the case, it would be better to just end it early.That way, if Sam saw Penny falling in love, getting mar
All those old scoundrels from the Lowe family undoubtedly ranked the highest. Then there was Jessica, the entertainment industry's national goddess, who also played a significant role.Besides them, there were a few minor celebrities who didn't really make the cut.However, as Sam's partner and someone who watched him grow up, Zane privately hoped Sam could find a better girl.So, he advised, "There are plenty of socialites in Riverwood, and Amdale has no shortage of beautiful young ladies, either, and Rookfort isn't much different."You and the Lowe family's daughter haven't even officially met…""Who said I haven't met her?" Sam interrupted him without a second thought.He had even seen her twice. How could Zane say they hadn't even met yet?The first time, she gave him all the money she had. The second time, he spoke up to help her get that role.After these interactions, they could be considered acquaintances.Zane choked up and couldn't find the words to refute.He was s
Because Penny declined his offer, Zane didn't insist. After a bit of small talk, he ended the call.He politely mentioned that if she needed any help, she could call this number again. If he could assist in any way, he certainly would.However, Zanw knew very well that, given Penny's temperament, she would rather give up what she had than actively seek help from a stranger.Yes, to Penny, Zane was just a stranger. He was a person she had met once but didn't really know.This time, Penny didn't respond as coldly as she did when she was 18. Instead, she exchanged a couple of polite pleasantries, mentioned that she would reach out if needed, and then hung up the phone.After that, she let out a long sigh of relief and lay on the lounge chair on the balcony, gazing at the view outside the window.There were fluffy white clouds in the azure sky and the greenery visible in the neighborhood. Sparrows were chirping persistently as they darted through the forest, and the cicadas loudly bu
Although the other person said only one word, Penny could still tell he didn't have any ill intentions.Because of that faint sense of familiarity, Penny didn't hang up the phone immediately. "Hello? May I ask what this is about?"The unfamiliar and distant tone probably made the man on the other end of the phone pause for a moment. It was only after a brief silence that he responded."Young lady, don't you remember me? It's Zane Moran."His voice carried a laugh, with a hint of teasing.Only then did Penny remember who he was, but she wasn't happy at all.Zane meant no harm when that incident happened back then. But despite that, over the years that had passed, he became one of the people and things Penny would rather not recall.Whether it was the exam she missed, the incident where Spencer took her to the hotel against her will, or Zane, who gave her 30 dollars for a taxi ride.She just wanted to hide all of them deep in her memories.The recent events had particularly made
"I'm fine. You all don't have to look so worried. You're making it seem as if something bad is going to happen to me."Penny looked at the two people at the door who were showing a range of expressions, feeling speechless.Cecilia was provoked by her words, and her eyes turned red."We're worried about you. You have no idea what you look like right now. You're almost like one of those disheartened protagonists in novels who hated the world."Penny clicked her tongue twice and said, "Aren't you exaggerating?"She didn't believe it. She was just worried about money. It wasn't like she had become disillusioned with life.Besides, she didn't dislike this world at all. On the contrary, she really liked it.Whenever Penny came across posts online suggesting that all humans should just die, she always felt like rolling her eyes. If they wanted to die, they shouldn't drag others with them.When searching for her own role in movies, TV dramas, and novels, Penny particularly preferred re
Penny's way of clarifying things was to simply tell the truth.Sometimes, trying to cover things up would just lead to needing 100 more lies to continue the cover-up. That would often end up making things worse and more ridiculous.It was better to tell the truth about the situation.To answer the question of why she lashed out at the Lowe family, she briefly explained her experiences over the years.Why didn't she attend the final paper of the college entrance examinations? She personally reopened that old wound.As for that man in the hotel, Penny didn't have much of an impression of him anymore. She only remembered not taking his business card and accepting 30 dollars from him.Why did she show up at that man's hotel room? She wrote it down truthfully—it was her father who personally took her and left her at the hotel, wanting to trade her like a commodity.Every single word was carefully considered and written by Penny.She didn't share much of these things with Cecilia. Th
Once the official statements were released, Penny's career being ruined became a certainty.The only surprising thing was probably that after the film crew issued their statement, the largest investor also requested to withdraw.The film crew was completely shocked, but there was nothing they could do. The scion was willing to lose money just to withdraw his investment, so what could they do?The amount of money in the compensation was nothing compared to the amount that the scion planned to invest. The production team would incur a significant loss.With one less investor, the project's status was essentially downgraded. They had much less room to manipulate their gains now, too.One would understand why the scion was doing this if they used their brain a little.However, the protests from the audience couldn't be ignored, and compared to the investors, it was clearly more important to keep the show going.After all, they could always attract more sponsors, even if the amount o
In addition to the widespread backlash caused by the phone recording, Penny's academic credentials were also scrutinized and exposed.Before the college entrance exam, she had always been the top student in her school and had never ranked anything else.However, in the college entrance exam, she barely passed the minimum mark for key institutions, far below her usual performance.Some people speculated that she had been cheating during regular exams and that her actual abilities were much worse.However, the exam results could be checked online, and the fact that Penny scored zero on the last exam was surprising.It was even more shocking that she was admitted to a top-tier university despite missing an exam. It was truly exceptional.But few people paid attention to this information.After all, the achievements attained through hard work couldn't be faked. Even if the results weren't as expected, it was undeniable that she was stronger than many others.Regarding this topic, t