John Lee and Lynn Bolton stepped out the door. In the hallway, John Lee, who hadn’t said a word from start to finish, finally spoke to Lynn Bolton, “I didn’t say a single word just now, nor did I greet anyone. Was that a bit rude…” If anyone had seen it, they would never believe that the man who was now the boss of dozens of people, usually so full of confidence and pride, could actually be so timid and cautious.

Lynn Bolton tugged at John Lee’s sleeve and said, “It’s best not to say a word! Do you think that girl is stupid? Do you know her background? She’s seen far more than either of us! If you showed even the slightest hint, she’d know we were being deliberate! The way you acted just now was perfect! Honest… harmless!”

That smug look reappeared on John Lee’s face. “Of course! Do you know who I am?”

Lynn Bolton laughed, “Your acting is really something…”

And then the couple began to compliment each other back and forth.

Chapter 9: The Gathering (Part 2)

The change in atmosphere brought by Rose Grant was such that even the usually dazzling Summer Young now felt as if her own radiance had been overshadowed. She greeted Rose Grant with reserved politeness, secretly sizing up her outfit—a red dress with lotus-edged ruffles, the curve of her waist and abdomen cinched by the dress, making even Summer Young, as a fellow girl, feel a criminal urge to reach out and hug her. Her fair arms and the pair of glossy black leather shoes at the end of her slender legs made her look both exquisite and graceful, while also exuding a natural, effortless poise.

This kind of aura is not something an ordinary girl could easily cultivate.

Evelyn Lee flitted around Rose Grant like a butterfly, but the other girls at the scene were noticeably less lively than before. Perhaps with such a comparison, most of them felt a bit inferior, and her presence made them all more self-conscious about their own words and actions.

Standing to the side, Shawn Hughes watched the boys’ gazes constantly drifting toward Rose Grant, and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, “This is what they call ‘when my flower blooms, all others wither.’ Old Jiang really is Old Jiang! Still so commanding!”

Evelyn Lee looked around the room and clapped her hands. “Everyone’s here, so let’s eat!”

Seeing everyone gradually heading to the dining table, Shawn Hughes finally realized—where was Ryan Carter? Why hadn’t that guy come over yet?

“Um, Ryan Carter isn’t here yet…”

At the mention of this sensitive name, everyone’s expressions shifted. Summer Young had actually noticed earlier that Ryan Carter hadn’t shown up, and thought maybe Evelyn Lee hadn’t invited him, since she’d heard about the conflict between Charles Sun and Ryan Carter. But with all the old friends from the compound here today, if Evelyn Lee had left Ryan Carter out because of that, it would be a bit much. Yet, it turned out he simply hadn’t come himself. Had he forgotten, or was he just being late? Seeing how eager the other boys were, Summer Young was a little surprised by the contrast.

Meanwhile, Charles Sun’s ears perked up. The reason he’d always held a grudge over that fight with Ryan Carter was because, in all the fights he’d been in since childhood, he’d never lost—until he met the reckless Ryan Carter and suffered a crushing defeat, pinned down and beaten. If it had been someone stronger or more impressive, he could have accepted it, but to lose to someone like Ryan Carter—a nobody—made him resentful.

Evelyn Lee looked uncomfortable, inwardly annoyed at Shawn Hughes. Of course she knew Ryan Carter hadn’t come, and had hoped he’d have the sense to stay away, which was why she’d just said “everyone’s here.” But now she could only say, “Well… maybe you should give him a call…”

In fact, everyone present could hear the reluctance in her voice. Among the compound kids, they’d all heard Evelyn Lee look down on Ryan Carter in private.

Sure enough, Shawn Hughes, oblivious as ever, went to the phone and called Ryan Carter’s house. After a bit of back and forth, she hung up and said, “Ryan Carter said he won’t be coming for dinner, he’s eating at home, but he’ll drop by later.”

“Heh… acting like a big shot!” Bella Yale chimed in.

Evelyn Lee smiled and called everyone to eat.

……

Being able to enjoy his mother’s cooking at home, Ryan Carter naturally had no intention of going to Evelyn Lee’s for dinner. He just wanted to see his old friends, and figured he’d stop by after eating—he didn’t consider it a particularly important event.

Besides, today Lana Foster had specially made cold chicken for him, and he was really craving it. If nothing unexpected happened, in his previous life he’d only get to taste this kind of food during the holidays, and for various reasons, he couldn’t even make it home every year. Rebirth had given him the chance to experience a different life—how could he miss out on such a feast?

While eating, Lana Foster probed, “I heard Evelyn Lee is hosting today… She… didn’t invite you?”

“She did… but I’m eating your cooking, aren’t I? No time to go over.” Ryan Carter gnawed on a chicken leg without even looking up.

Lana Foster breathed a sigh of relief. “Honestly, Shawn Hughes invites you and you don’t go, and now Evelyn Lee invites you and you’re not going either. I know you’ve been studying hard these days, but don’t overdo it. You should still go to gatherings when you can. After you finish eating, go find them. I’ll do the dishes.”

Urged on by Lana Foster, Ryan Carter didn’t even get to finish his meal properly before his bowl was snatched away. No one knows a son like his father—Flynn Carter saw Ryan Carter still smacking his lips, and though he didn’t know why Ryan Carter was so much greedier than usual, he chimed in, “The boy hasn’t even had enough to eat yet…”