"Mr. Scott, hello, including the service fee, the total is 215,324 yuan."
Ethan Scott Professor Tavares: "..."
210,000?!
Even Ethan, who had seen the world, was taken aback by this figure.
"Are you sure it’s 210,000?"
Professor Tavares tily let out an exclamation.
Did they really eat that much?!
"Yes. The dishes ordered by Carefree Tour, and two-thirds of them aren’t even prepared yet." The receptionist answered with a standard smile, neither overbearing nor servile, "Our restaurant doesn’t support takeout or packing. If you two wish to finish eating, you can return to Carefree Tour and continue waiting."
Just when his emotions had slightly cald, they were once again in turmoil. Ethan, so angry that his liver hurt and his fingertips were trembling.
Nora!
After taking a deep breath, Ethan’s emotions teetered on the edge of losing control several tis but managed to hold back forcefully.
He gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few words, "No need, I’ll pay the bill."
The receptionist swiftly processed the paynt.
After handing over the card and receipt, she sweetly smiled and said, "Looking forward to seeing you again."
Snatching the card and receipt, Ethan’s manners and courtesy were completely discarded, not sparing the receptionist a glance as he turned to leave.
Professor Tavares followed behind him, quite moved.
Sigh, 210,000...
For Ethan, it’s not particularly much, but to spend it on one al, and in such an aggrieved manner... it’s hard not to feel sympathetic towards Ethan.
*
It was almost eight o’clock when Nora returned to the alley.
With unexpected windfall, she bought so snacks and treats at the alley entrance, then strolled ho leisurely against the howling wind.
As soon as she reached the doorstep, the cold wind made her feel chilled to the bone. She paused for a second, squinted her eyes, and stepped inside on her long legs.
In the large courtyard, the two people standing fearlessly under the tree in the cold rapidly caught Nora’s attention.
Michael Quinn, and... the boyfriend of Laura she t yesterday.
The young man who showed off his wealth in front of her and Laura yesterday was now nodding and bowing to Michael.
"Thank you, Michael! I really don’t know how to thank you enough!" The young man hugged a scroll of painting in his arms, unable to control his excitent.
Hearing this, Nora raised an eyebrow, understood.
Leaning against the tree trunk, Michael appeared calm and collected, "It’s no big deal."
The young man expressed gratitude again with tears in his eyes.
When Michael waved him away with a subtle hint, he finally subdued his enthusiasm, expressed a few more grateful words, and tactfully bid farewell.
As he turned to run towards the gate, he saw Nora standing not far away and, disregarding yesterday’s grievances, nodded a hello to her with a smile, then left gleefully.
That light and joyful figure seed almost ready to take off with excitent.
"Tsk."
Nora frowned, teasingly glanced at Michael under the tree.
Michael imdiately dropped the pretentious cool guy act, straightened his collar, stood up straight, and mimicked grabbing an imaginary hat, then placed his hand over his chest, bowing slightly.
"Welco, fairy descending to the mortal world."
A display of clumsy, cheap pseudo-gentlemanly behavior.
Nora tossed a piece of sugarcane towards him, whistling through the air with a forceful swing, aiming straight for Michael’s head.
Michael’s facade broke instantly as he hurriedly reached out to catch the sugarcane.
"Can’t you play along a bit?"
He rolled his eyes, then brought the sugarcane to his mouth, taking a bite.
Sweet.
Walking slowly toward the courtyard, Nora asked, "Aren’t you afraid your grandpa will find out?"
Michael coughed a couple of tis, quickly followed Nora, and grinned awkwardly, "You don’t say, I don’t say."
As they crossed the courtyard and climbed the steps, Nora handed him the handful of things she was carrying, asking, "Do you really think you won’t be found out?"
Holding a pile of food, Michael looked nonchalant and decided to just let it go, "Doesn’t matter, it’s not the first or second ti I’ve been caught, and Quinn can’t kill ."
"..."
Nora was speechless.
Since childhood, Michael rarely acted decently.
The two most "indecent" things: one was flirting with pretty girls everywhere; the other was imitating Bernardo’s works to deceive people.
When it ca to copying artworks, Michael had a special talent from a young age, coupled with Bernardo’s careful cultivation, and after the age of ten, he reached the level of "understanding at a glance" and "accurate likeness in one sketch," reaching the point where it was indistinguishable from the real thing during adolescence.
But, this guy didn’t act decent.
He often saw people visiting, disturbing Bernardo’s peace, making him displeased, so he had a devious idea. Once, while Bernardo was out, he spent a week copying all the paintings and calligraphy in Bernardo’s study and then secretly gave away these works under Bernardo’s na.
At that ti, Michael’s imitation skills were already maxed out, and he could easily pass off one or two pieces. However, despite having talent, he had no sense, and by giving away a dozen paintings at once, he was quickly exposed.
On that occasion, Michael got beaten up by Bernardo and wailed bedridden for half a month.
Originally thought that giving him a beating would teach him a lesson, and Michael Quinn wouldn’t dare to do it again, but to my surprise, it was just the beginning...
Afterwards, Michael beca almost addicted, showing off his painting skills every now and then, giving fake "gifts for grandpa" to boast in front of Bernardo Quinn.
Bernardo is very protective.
Whenever soone saw through Michael’s mimicry, he would claim the work as his own. So, Michael hasn’t been beaten to death for his antics, thanks entirely to having a good grandpa.
In short—
Over the years, none of the "Bernardo Quinn’s works" sent out by Michael have been genuine. They all relied on his slap-happy hands.
"How much did you sell?"
Fresh from pulling a fast one, Nora Scott asked just before pushing the door open to enter the living room.
"Well..."
There was a pause in the conversation, and Michael made a gesture to Nora.
Seeing clearly, Nora smirked.
What a coincidence.
It’s a bountiful day for everyone.
As soon as she walked in, the warmth in the living room enveloped her, dispelling the chill bit by bit.
While changing her shoes, Nora suddenly thought of sothing and asked, "Did those two break up?"
Michael looked puzzled for a mont before understanding who she ant.
With a smug smile, Michael scratched his nose and raised an eyebrow, "If they didn’t, would he give it to him?"
"Ha," Nora chuckled lightly, "Pretty decisive."
Just one day to see the situation clearly and break up promptly...
Sophia Collins really had terrible judgnt.
That’s why they say, do too many bad things, and you’ll get your couppance.
After changing her shoes, Nora walked into the living room, swept her gaze over the dazzling array of items, and paused, doubting if she’d co to the wrong place.
"What’s going on?"
Nora turned her head to ask Michael, who had co in behind her.
"Oh, it’s from your boyfriend’s butler." Michael shuffled over in his slippers. "Said they expected you wouldn’t prepare New Year’s goods, so they took care of it all at once. Plus, our house, Sir Sutton’s house, and Ward’s house all got so. Other neighbors got a bit too... they say the main reason is that it couldn’t all fit in the car."
Nora was baffled, "Whose boyfriend?"
"Yours!"
Michael answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Nora: "..." When did she ever admit that?
Seeing Michael’s sure expression, Nora couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. Her eyes fell on the pile of New Year’s goods stacked in the corner, and she could not help but mutter, "Why not just bring a truck over."
She instinctively reached for her phone to send a ssage to Pedro Langley.
But the mont she tapped on the chat with Pedro, she suddenly realized sothing and quickly backed out.
It’s just a trivial matter; what’s there to say?
Pressing the lock screen button, she put her phone back in her pocket, shuffled inside in her slippers, and inevitably glanced at the mountain of New Year’s goods again.
If this is Pedro Langley’s idea of a "New Year’s gift"...
Then she might indeed have to admire Pedro’s unconventional thinking.
*
The next day, Nora didn’t wake up until noon.
Last night, Michael stubbornly refused to go ho, while Marcus Shaw, with his sensational skills in a battle royale ga, piqued Michael’s interest. Michael eagerly insisted on teaming up with Marcus, dragging Nora along for the ride... The three of them played until two in the morning, only stopping after Michael single-handedly dragged Marcus down a rank.
The aroma of food prepared by the aunt in the kitchen roused Nora from her bed, and she washed up.
Leaving her bedroom, she picked up her phone, which had been charging while switched off, and powered it on.
Half a minute later.
The phone vibrated continuously as countless ssages popped up, directly draining two percent of Nora’s battery.
Nora: "..."
Grabbing her ssy hair into a ponytail, Nora curled on the sofa, lazily opening the ssages.
They were all from Ethan Scott, Professor Tavares, and others.
Their focus was—
Why aren’t you starting work yet?!
Based on Ethan’s barrage of ssages, there were threats, warnings, urging, anxiety... This morning was probably not pleasant for him.
"What a hassle."
Muttering, Nora squinted slightly, pulled up a few pre-saved photos, and posted them in the group chat.
[Z,]: If you’re bored, why not try redrawing my photos?
[The whole work group]: ???
Co on, couldn’t you at least take a clearer picture!
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