The Inheritance
-3-

Chapter 101

The moment that woman walked in, Richard and everyone else immediately knew who Felicity’s patron was.

Cassandra McGregor!

“Counselor!” As shocked as everyone was, they greeted her warmly nevertheless.

This was a big deal! They’d only known Cassandra as a beauty queen with impossibly high standards, and never any boyfriends.

Who would’ve thought that she’d have something going on with a big-shot like Flynn Lexington?

Even more astounding was the reverence Flynn seemed to have for her.

It was truly befuddling!

Regarding the relationship between Felicity and Cassandra—it all started from that night, when Richard rescued Cassandra from that newly opened bar.

That time, he’d sent her back with Flynn.

Whilst in the car Cassandra had discovered Richard’s power bank which was left behind. With that giving her a heads up, she slowly started to realize that it might have been him behind her rescue.

Just as she headed back to get to the bottom of the matter, she ran into Felicity, who freshly came out after her latest recording.

It had startled Felicity too, seeing Cassandra step out from a Rolls Royce. She’d hurried over to ask if anything was the matter, and Cassandra had given her a brief rundown of the recent events. She also subtly mentioned about being the one to see about Mayberry affairs.

Since it was about Richard, she’d then hurried back to ask about things.

All she got was what Flynn and Richard had already arranged ahead of time, and it was enough for Cassandra to drop the matter.

However, that wasn’t the end of it.

Some time during last week, Cassandra and Felicity had gone shopping for cosmetics.

They ran into a spot of trouble when some drunken old tycoons sought to have a bit of sport with them. A frightened Cassandra called Flynn immediately, and Flynn had rushed to the scene with a bunch of men to beat up the troublemakers.

What a thrill that had been for Cassandra. What more, it had garnered a new-found admiration from

Felicity.

It felt really good to have someone powerful on your side!

And so, when this latest fiasco had happened today, Felicity had obviously called for Cassandra as soon as she could.

That was how things had ended up this way.

Sensing that Jake might yet have realized whom he was dealing with, Flynn leaned in and whispered a few things into his ear.

Color drained out of his face. He finally understood—this lady was not to be harassed by the likes of him!

Cassandra examined Felicity, and her eyes narrowed. “Did someone hit you? And you too, Blondie?”

Unbeknownst to Felicity, Cassandra had secretly been in contact with Ordinary Man. She owed a lot to Felicity for that.

“That’s right, Cassie!” Felicity huffed.

“Blast! Whoever did this… you go get him back!” Cassandra folded her arms.

Slap! Bam!

Felicity stepped up and smacked Jake right across his face. Rage flared in his eyes, but remembering what Flynn had just told him, he didn’t dare make so much as a peep.

As for Blondie, he smashed a beer bottle against the head of his assailant.

It felt good. Ahh, it felt good!

Those university students all thought so too.

There was nothing Jake could do about it either. Even if they broke his jaw and shoved him all his teeth, he’d still be owing them an apology. Even if they smeared a turd all over his shirt, he’d still have to lick it and call it delicious. That was how pathetic the position he was in at the moment.

Satisfied with how the situation had been resolved, Flynn took his leave.

Everything he’d done was for the sake of returning a favor with Richard Crawford.

Yet he’d completely failed to notice that Richard was sitting right there in the corner.

“Counselor, you’re so awesome!” everyone cheered enthusiastically. Toasts were raised in her name.

—

Even Harper Sullivan joined in the merry-making.

Richard could hardly stay out of it. “A toast to Cassandra!” he announced, raising a glass.

“Oho, so you were here, Richard? It’s like you’re always there whenever something’s going on. I didn’t spot you earlier—where were you at?” Although Cassandra still held little regard for Richard, through sheer force of habit—nevertheless, she was no longer as cold to him as she used to be, considering he’d helped her out before, in his own way.

“Ahaha, are you asking about him, counselor?” Yvonne cut in. “He’s been hiding in that corner the whole time! When Jake burst in here with all his guys, Blondie and the others stood up to them, but Richard just sat there! Gosh, he’s more helpless than us ladies!”

Earlier, when she’d slipped away, she also happened to pass by where Richard was seated, and had noticed him there.

“That’s right! Anyway, were you really expecting this guy to be any help in a fight?”

“Now, I’m sure Richard would have stood along with everyone… it’s just that his knees were too weak from fear, ahahaha!”

Several girls sniggered, their voices filled with mockery.

Cassandra watched as Richard only shook his head and sighed helplessly. She sipped to his toast.

“I’m going to the washroom!” Deluged with insults, there was no way for Richard to respond. Certainly, he’d been of no help at all today. His only option was to flee.

“Hahaha, he literally pissed himself!”

“Goodness me… I’d rather die than have a boyfriend like Richard!”

“Pfft, and what girl would be interested in a guy like him?”

Annoyed, Felicity changed the subject. “Gosh, enough already about that guy! Oh, right—counselor, when I called you earlier this afternoon, you said you wouldn’t be free to hang out. Did you have something else going on?”

“Oh, I had an errand to run, things to buy and stuff. If it wasn’t because Flynn was busy himself as well, I’d have sent him along to watch over you girls. Sadly, that matter really took him a while to settle—in fact, half of Mayberry is in an uproar over it!”

“Oh? What happened?” Everyone's interest was piqued.

“How come I haven’t seen anything on the news?” someone exclaimed.

“Don’t be stupid. It’s too big to talk about in public. Flynn wouldn’t tell me any details either, but something seems to have happened at Scothow Elementary, and it’s got major players like Zack Lyle and Michael Zeke involved, as well as a bunch of other notable businessmen. They’ve sealed off the road outside the school, cordoned off by nearly a hundred cars!”

“My god!”

“No way!”

Everyone was in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Richard was just leaving through the door. Overhearing this bit, he shook his head again. He had no clue what that was all about, either.

Some people you don’t care about, but they get something good out of you anyway.

Some people you want to help, but end up harming instead.

It wasn’t yet time to reveal his true status, and Richard really, really didn’t want that to become public knowledge in any event. Sometimes, this made things rather complicated and difficult.

It seemed that from now on, he ought to keep a low profile, and stay out of matters which didn’t concern him!

He’d just mind his own business, and finish his studies quickly and quietly.

Just then, his handphone rang. It was Queta Smith calling.

He ducked into the washroom and took the call.

“Richard, are you busy right now?”

“Not at all. What’s up?”

“It’s Yasmin,” Queta whispered. “She said she’s not feeling well again. I just checked her temperature— she’s got a high fever. She needs to go to the hospital!”

Richard knew that for her to call him directly meant that she really needed his help. She was probably tight on cash at the moment, otherwise she wouldn’t be bringing this matter to him.

He’d have to help Queta find a better job soon. Rather than to give a man a fish… better to teach the man how to fish, right?

Worried for Yasmin, Richard didn’t dare delay any longer. Leaving with a quick goodbye, he drove over to fetch both girls to the hospital.

It was the middle of the night, but surprisingly there were quite a few people here to see the doctor. Holding Yasmin in his arms, Richard lined up behind them.

Just as their turn was about to arrive, a woman suddenly stepped in front of him.

—

A young woman suddenly cut right in front of them, without a word, displaying not the slightest bit of regard for others.

Richard was not in the mood for this. “Miss, don’t you find this a little rude?”

The woman ignored him.

“That’s right! My teacher says you can’t cut in a queue!” Yasmin exclaimed with a frown.

“Bah!” The woman turned around and snapped, “So I cut in front of you, so what? What can you do about it? All bark and no bite!”

One could see she was around twenty-one, with a fair complexion and a pretty face—and dressed in such a way as to leave little to the imagination.  

However, her stuck-up attitude only pissed Richard off to look at her.

“You’re the one barking!” At the limits of his patience, he snapped off a harsh reply.

“What did you say to me? Just wait right here—I’ll have somebody cut you down to size!” Shrieking and swearing as though she’d suddenly gone mad, the woman was pulled away by several bystanders.

Finally, she left in a huff.

Well, that came out of nowhere. Brushing it off mind, Richard got back in line.

“Sir, maybe you shouldn’t have done that. That woman seemed like trouble!” A pretty young nurse whispered this as she was ushering some patients in. “She was here earlier this afternoon to visit one of

our patients—someone of note—and she came with a whole train of fancy cars! I wouldn’t underestimate her clout, you know? Hurry on in—and no more trouble!”

Clearly, she’d started it! Well, the nurse meant well… Richard made no further remark.

“Let’s not fuss over it, Richard,” Queta agreed. “We’ll just wrap it here and leave immediately!”

So Richard brought Yasmin in to see the doctor. It turned out to be nothing alarming—just a common cold—and some medicine was prescribed.

Queta was visibly relieved, and they left the hospital together.

As they arrived at the entrance, glossy black cars suddenly rolled up, one after another… at least a dozen in total. A massive group of well-dressed people got out and headed inside.

When she saw the woman who emerged from the car in the middle, Queta quaked with fear. It was that woman who’d cut in line earlier, starting off a spat with Richard.

Had she really returned to cause trouble for them?

Thank goodness they’d made it out of there in time.

“I only just heard about it. How’s Mr. Rye? Is he still in the Intensive Care Unit?” A dashing young man asked.

The woman nodded. “Yeah. He’s suffered terrible bone fractures in all four limbs, and he’s still in the ICU ward—but thankfully his life is not in danger!”

“Blast! Who could be behind such savagery? I know… it must have been Mayberry.”

“Hey! Don’t talk about that here!” the guy snapped at her, causing her to shut her own mouth.

Richard lingered nearby, easily within sight of them. Why did he do this?

Because he recognized that dashing young man.

Face still beaten up from that fiasco at the Emperor Karaoke Bar, it was none other than Jake!

Having overheard their discussion concerning a ‘Mr. Rye’, he finally saw the picture now.

It was most likely the great Damien Rye himself. So that scoundrel had been admitted to this hospital.

It appeared that all these people—including that horrendous harpy—were from Rye Group.

Vroom, vroom! Then, in a rumbling storm of engines, another fleet of a dozen cars appeared.

One would naturally assume they were with Jake and company.

That wasn’t all of them. More cars continued to follow from behind.

It stood to reason. Rye Group, under the Rye family, had long encroached upon Mayberry territory. Their roots ran deep.

They were a fierce gang of thugs.

Damien Rye was guaranteed to have powerful backers. No matter how hard anyone tried to cover things up, the events of that afternoon were simply too great to hide.

Chapter 102

Word about this whole incident, with the maiming of Damien Rye, was guaranteed to get out.

The question was how Damien himself would spin it.

“Do you know them, Richard?” Seeing all these powerful people gathering outside the hospital, Queta stood beside, feeling anxious.

“I know them; but they don’t know me.” Richard smiled wryly. “They’re just here to visit somebody. Never mind about it!”

“That gave me a fright! I thought that woman had summoned a bunch of thugs!” Queta gave a long sigh of relief.

After one last look at them, Richard turned to go. He drove Queta back to her place.

Zack Lyle had some dirt on Damien Rye, so the latter would probably hesitate to stir up further trouble.

Along the way, Richard didn’t forget to bring up that other matter, concerning a change in employment for Queta.

“By the way, Queta… interested in changing jobs?” he asked with a smile.

If she wanted to, she could have her pick of any position in Mayberry International. It wasn’t out of the cards to just build a kindergarten for her, either.

“I have also been meaning to ask you about this…” Queta replied. “Today, Manager Thornton told me that they might be interested in investing in the kindergarten, and even providing me with training at Sunnydale University! I’ll be attending some Psychology lectures there as soon as tomorrow!”

“Oh? That’s great!” Richard nodded.

Ah… at times the thoughtfulness of men is no match for the consideration of women.

Many universities held community classes for people who were already working a job, or who had never received a higher education themselves.

He’d actually had the same idea before—about getting Queta signed up for such classes—but he’d just never found the time.

Well, this was an agreeable turn of events. Sunnydale was on par with his own Mayberry University. Everyone said so.

Richard wanted to show her his own sincerity, so he promised that whenever he was free, he’d come see her at Sunnydale.

After dropping her off, he finally returned to his room at almost ten-thirty.

It had been an exhausting day. He fell asleep right away.

Two days passed without any incidents. Richard spent this time studying quietly in the library. Summer break would be coming soon—but before that, the term exams.

That same day, at around 10 a.m., Richard was attempting model questions in the library.

Suddenly, a sweet fragrance wafted over from his side.

It was the smell of a woman.

Turning to look, Richard found a tall girl taking the seat beside him.

Everyone knows what it’s like inside a university library—particularly star students such as Richard— research and revision were going on non-stop, and the place was packed to the brim.

Richard had been occupying this spot since 5.30 in the morning.

It started to get a little crowded in there.

The girl was tall, slender, and statuesque, with skin as fair as porcelain. Long hair cascaded down to her waist. She was a serene, captivating beauty.

One could tell that it wouldn’t have been her first choice to sit down next to some guy—but it was the only empty seat left.

This was compounded by how all the guys had been eyeing on her since she came in, causing her to feel terribly self-conscious. Richard meanwhile was fully engrossed in his studies, which afforded her some small measure of reprieve.

Blushing faintly, she gave him a little nod and a smile, then sat down and opened her book.

Resting her head upon one hand, turning the pages with the other… she was a mesmerizing portrait to behold.

“Damn it, that babe went and sat over there!”

“Come on! I’m a hundred times better looking than that turd! Ah, I can’t take this!”

Jealous cries arose from the local menfolk.

“Ah-choo!” Meanwhile, inhaling the scent of a woman elicited a great sneeze from Richard.

Immediately realizing that it was her own perfume at fault here, the girl flushed bright red, and began edging her chair away from him.

But for Richard, this unfortunate event was only the beginning.

He lowered his head to focus on his work.

Drip. Splat.

All of a sudden, his nose was on fire—and then blood began to trickle out from it, dripping onto the papers before him.

He needed a tissue, right now!

Fidgeting about anxiously, he saw that the girl had turned away from him, her head laid upon one hand with discretion. Her other hand, however, surreptitiously extended a pack of tissues his way.

Her face was similar to a sight of a wildfire, blazing red.

As for Richard, right then he’d wish for nothing better than to find a hole to crawl into…

… and then maybe he’d just die there.

—

Richard couldn’t remain in the library a moment longer. Wiping the blood from his nose, he promptly fled the scene.

His life was over.

He couldn’t even help himself! First off: That girl was simply fine as hell! What a body!

She was the sort of goddess that average guys weren’t even allowed to dream about.

And that fragrance she’d been wearing… so intoxicating, his very nose had been aroused.

Sigh. A beauty of that caliber most likely came from a wealthy background.

What sort of ordinary man could win her attention?

Hold on! Wasn’t he, himself, a wealthy fellow? Gah! How did he keep forgetting about this?

Richard shook his head wryly.

He tried to peek into the library through a window—but by some strange coincidence, that girl had her head turned, and was presently looking out the very same window. She watched him curiously.

Their eyes met—and then she hurriedly dropped her gaze.

Richard decided not to keep staring at her, either.

With a guilty little start, he remembered that he had Mila, now. He shouldn’t be ogling at other chicks like this. Anyways, there would always be a pretty girl around the next corner—he couldn’t very well go falling for each and every one of them!

That wasn’t the way of Richard Crawford, no.

Fighting to suppress the surging tides of his heart, he realized that he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on his revision like this.

It was almost noon. He’d made a date with Queta to meet her for lunch at Sunnydale University, where she’d been taking professional courses the past couple of days. He hadn’t gone to see her there yet.

He drove over to Sunnydale which, like Mayberry University, was located in the Mayberry University District—further proof of its equivalent prestige.

Fortunately, this meant that the two campuses weren’t located too far apart. It took him roughly twenty minutes to get over there.

“Richard!” Having received his call, Queta was already waiting at the gates.

They exchanged a few pleasantries upon meeting each other again.

“Hop in, let’s go eat!” Richard gave her a smile.

“No need for that, Richard. Let it be my treat today!” Queta suddenly replied, with an air of mystery.

“Why this, all of a sudden?”

“Well… today’s my birthday, you see.” Queta’s voice fell to a whisper. “I used to have no friends or family—no one to celebrate my birthday with. Now I have you. You’ve helped me with so much… this is the least I could do for you!”

“It’s just that… Richard, is the cafeteria okay with you?”

At the end of the day, Richard Crawford was a rich young heir. Although Queta already knew he wouldn’t cause a fuss over this, she felt compelled to ask nonetheless.

Richard scratched his head. “Now I see why you called to ask me out yesterday… So today was your birthday! You should have said something—I don’t even have a gift ready!”

“I don’t need one. Just share a meal with me!”

Since Queta put it that way, there was nothing more Richard could add. Still, it was her birthday—he couldn’t actually allow her to pay today… and if this was really her first time ever celebrating it, they should be doing more than this.

As such, Richard chose instead to go to Surati, a Western-styled restaurant in Sunnydale campus. Back when he used to run with Aiden Baker and his lot, he’d often hear about those big spenders going on about this joint.

It was a nice enough place. Pretty expensive, obviously, but since Richard had asked to come here, Queta voiced no objections, and followed him inside.

Classic symphonies greeted them. At this hour of the day, there were already quite a few patrons within—all finely dressed kids from families rolling in dough.

—

Queta and Richard walked in, dressed plainly.

The sight of them elicited disdainful scowls from many of the women in the restaurant.

“Isn’t that Queta Smith? She came here, to Surati?”

Next, a group of four or five girls and guys entered as well. As they walked past the table where Richard and Queta were seated, some of them stopped in their tracks to stare at Queta in surprise. A playful spark flitted through those eyes.

“Linda…oh, hey, everybody…” Queta blushed as she greeted them, setting her food down and clutching her dress nervously.

Linda was fetchingly made-up and wore a form-fitting little black dress that only barely covered her butt.

Her female friends were clad in similarly risqué fashions, while the guys had piercings which announced their considerable social statuses.

It should be fair to assume that these were Queta’s classmates.

They had such teacher training courses at Richard’s university too. You get all sorts in there.

Some were rich brats who’d failed to qualify for other courses. Some were small-business entrepreneurs. Some were regular working stiffs.

The rich brats attended classes mainly to pick up chicks.

The pretty young things there were hoping to find a sugar daddy.

The rest were like Queta—genuinely here to learn something.

“Hahaha… surely you can’t afford this place, Queta?” Linda hugged her shoulders, grinning at Queta with delight. Clearly, putting Queta down like this made Linda feel like she really was somebody.

Particularly because when classes first began two days ago, one of the rich boys had raised the topic in class as to who the prettiest girl among their classmates was.

At first, Linda had been all for it…but then, after the votes had been cast, the winner turned out to be Queta!

There had been joking invitations for her to come up front and present an acceptance speech for this honor, but Queta had so far paid no attention to their jibes and their attempts to chat her up.

However, this only further antagonized the competitive Linda, who’d never once lost to anyone in terms of looks. After all, wasn’t it said that the greatest cruelty to inflict upon a woman was to name another woman as being more beautiful than her? Even if they admitted it out loud, it’s still such a heartwrenching thing.

So it was for Linda, and to make matters worse, she’d lost to some penniless tramp!

“It’s my birthday today and I’m treating a friend to lunch!” Queta wasn’t oblivious to Linda’s enmity towards her, so she only offered her a simple reply and no more.

“Good heavens, is this your treat? I’m guessing this guy’s your boyfriend, then?”

Another one of the girls joined in. “Ahahaha! Someone has to say it: the two of you are a perfect match! Look at what you’re both wearing!”

“Quit sulking, you two. They’re only some steaks and fruit juice,” one of the guys with them pointed out, shaking his head. “It’s our class beauty Queta’s birthday today, let her enjoy herself. Stop causing a scene!”

‘Class beauty’, he’d said. Linda couldn’t let that pass.

“But look, you guys! They’re only having the bare minimum here! Someone’s celebrating her birthday, but I bet they can’t even afford a cake! Looking at the two of them, I’m guessing she had to spend all of her life savings just to be in here! Gahahahaha!

“Well, I shan’t interrupt you any further. No wonder Queta’s neighbors were talking about how she never eats any dinner—and that even for lunch, all she has is one bowl of plain rice. Here I thought she was just watching her figure, but I guess she just doesn’t have much money for food!”

Having spoken her piece for the moment, Linda harrumphed, folded her arms, and stalked off.

“We’re going now. You’ll have no more trouble from us. After all, we’ll still have to accompany Finn to Miss Liara’s birthday party afterwards. Isn’t that right, Finn?” Linda made a show of clinging to a young man’s arm and finally left.

Having been humiliated like that, Queta bowed her head and kept silent. She didn’t eat another bite. A moment later, Richard saw hot tears winding their way down her cheeks.

Chapter 103

“I’m sorry, Richard. I’ve disgraced you too,” Queta wept. “I shouldn’t have come here, to a place like this!”

It was her birthday today and she was spending it with her only friend in the world. Even Queta’s feelings would be hurt by such ridicule.

No one understood her feelings better than Richard. He too had once been poor. Whenever his pride had been trampled on like that, it felt like he was being stabbed through the heart.

When Queta was being attacked by those girls, Richard had wanted to retaliate.

But if he’d done that, how much more would Queta suffer in class with them from that point onwards? Anyway, he hadn’t really understood what was going on until the end, just as they were walking away, and it’s not as though Richard could chase after them and give them five across the face, right?

“Don’t mind it. The day will be over before you know it,” Richard consoled her. “What you’ve got to do right now is work hard at your studies!”

He wondered if he ought to ask Aiden to help look after her here.

Queta nodded vigorously.

“Wait right here for me. I’ve got to go get something. I’ll be right back!” Richard told her with a smile, and then slipped outside.

He was going to get her a cake.

Earlier, he’d placed an order online with a dessert shop on campus.

Outside, he had encountered two dozen young men and women crowding around a girl with sunglasses.

They had all gone inside together and everyone was wearing the latest fashions.

Richard didn’t have any interest in them. Perhaps he’d heard that Linda girl mention something about someone’s birthday? That was probably her, then.

Whatever.

Richard found the dessert shop, which was just close to Surati. It took him another fifteen minutes to secure the cake and then he headed back.

Now there was a massive crowd of students outside the restaurant. They were peering in through the entrance, with some even taking pictures on their cell phones.

Something must have happened.

“Hot d*mn! I guess that girl must have pissed off Miss Liara! Really, now… of all the people to pick a fight with!”

“Lucky that it’s Miss Liara’s birthday today and she doesn’t want to make too big a fuss over it— otherwise, that girl would be done for!”

“But what exactly did she do wrong?”

“Seems like there was an old grudge from before. Sad…she’s quite the beauty. This is gonna be tragic!”

The onlookers were all in heated discussion over the matter.

Ignoring everything else, Richard pushed his way through the crowd, and got a great shock!

Several girls were pulling Queta’s hair and holding her down on the floor.

One woman sat imperiously before her, one leg crossed over the other.

Queta’s face was red and raw, as though she’d been hit.

“Let her go!” Richard roared. Charging in, he shoved away the girls around Queta.

“Hmph! So it really was the two of you…” The woman in charge here rose to her feet. “I’ve searched high and low to no avail, but in the end you came to me on your own!”

Now that she’d opened her mouth to speak, Richard finally remembered who she was.

It was the woman he’d quarrelled with, that night at the hospital.

She had connections to Damien Rye.

He hadn’t recognized her right away because she was made up in a different style today.

“Well? Why did this have to come to violence?” Richard hollered in fury.

—

“Violence, you say? Heh! You were lucky you escaped the hospital when you did, let me tell you…otherwise, you would’ve been admitted there that night!” the young woman cackled. “I’ve been searching for the two of you so I can get my revenge—how nice of you to allow me to find you here instead!”

“Miss Liara, is this the punk who was bothering you last time?”

“Pfft. Just a couple of losers. And here I thought it might be someone special and that’s why we couldn’t track them down. You must be tired of being alive, huh? Trying to start something with our Miss Liara!”

Several men were posturing hopefully for Liara’s approval.

“Miss Liara, I know these two! The girl is one of my classmates. Her name is Queta Smith. That guy seems to be her boyfriend!”

Linda finally understood what was going on here. One moment they’d been welcoming Miss Liara, and the next, she was pointing at Queta and shrieking for someone to grab her.

And then, Miss Liara slapped Queta right across the face.

So… Queta had been stupid enough to draw Miss Liara’s ire.

Beside herself with excitement, Linda scrambled to tell on the offending duo.

Liara was a big-time celebrity in Sunnydale University, with Rye Group behind her and all.

She was one of the empresses of the campus, haughty and forbidding. No one dared to cross her.

In fact, matters of reputation played a major part in why Liara was holding such a grudge against them. That night, she’d planned to put on a big show in front of her uncle’s men. That was why she’d showed up all of a sudden, aiming to be the first one on the scene to take charge of everything.

Instead, she’d crossed paths with an ignorant fool who wouldn’t allow her to cut in line.

Damn him! He deserved the worst fate imaginable.

She was the renowned Miss Liara! If not for the sake of appearances, would she even have bothered with getting in line?

What a joke!

The point was that she was very upset over the whole affair. She’d managed to keep it bottled up at the time, until they were finished with visiting Uncle Damien. Then, she’d summoned a small army of men to hunt down Richard, but he’d slipped through the net.

And yet, what a beautiful coincidence this was!

“Hey, seize that guy too!” Liara shrieked jubilantly. “Ahaha! This is the best birthday present I could possibly receive! I’m going to enjoy this to the fullest!”

Immediately, Richard was pinned down by a whole horde of guys.

He hadn’t expected that girl to be a student here at Sunnydale.

“Liara, your beef is with me! She’s got nothing to do with this—let her go!”

Held down and unable to escape, Richard knew that his time had finally come.

But what about Queta? She was completely innocent.

“Hahaha! So this is true love! But the more you beg me to let her go, the more I want to punish her too! I’m going to make an example of you two! You over there, give them each a sharp slap across the face! And you, start streaming this live! Make sure everyone knows what happens to those who cross Miss Liara!” This last command was directed toward Linda and was accompanied by a huge grin.

This appointment caused Linda to puff up with pride.

Her main goals in university were to catch a big fish and to make powerful friends. That was how she would get ahead in life.

All of a sudden, she was this close to Miss Liara already?

Sneering wickedly, she moved to stand in front of Richard and Queta.

“You heard it yourself—I’m carrying this out by Miss Liara’s command. Blame yourself for not knowing your place, like ants railing against the heavens, hahaha!”

Smack! Smack! She meted out the punishment upon Richard and Queta as ordered.

Quite a number of students were streaming this scene on their phones. Naturally, many of them had been doing so right from the start.

“Holy cow! Elena, check this out! Miss Liara is staging a public execution in Surati Restaurant! Who’s the unlucky fellow who ticked her off? LMAO!”

In a girls’ dorm somewhere, someone was announcing this news flash.

“Gosh, she’s even appointed a professional headswoman…what a drama queen!” another girl exclaimed. “Elena, let’s get down there now and see it for ourselves!”

“I’m not going!” Or so she said, but Elena glanced over at the video anyway before turning away again in disinterest, and flopping down in bed to continue using her phone.

A long moment passed, and then…

“What the hell?”

—

Elena was just about to take an afternoon nap, but now she was wide awake.

She snatched up her handphone for a closer look, and her heart flip-flopped between joy and alarm. Still wearing her pajamas, she raced to the cafeteria.

Joy, because the man who had been in her thoughts had somehow appeared in her campus.

Alarm, because…good lord, was Richard Crawford being abused on live-stream?

Meanwhile, at the Sunnydale University Fight Club…

It was a large organization, created at the whim of some rich kid or other, which went on in a particular corner of the campus.

This club boasted many members—over three hundred in total.

Presently, in the fighting ring…

“Yeah! Awesome!”

One of the fighters had just knocked down his opponent with a masterful technique. The spectators burst into uproarious applause.

“Water!” The fighter shrugged his shoulders as he walked out, and was immediately greeted by a disciple, who uncapped a water bottle and presented it to him. After several mouthfuls of water had been gulped down, the rest of the bottle was flung aside.