The system notification slowly faded, but the words lingered in Gray’s mind.
[Grow Your Business.]
It seed like the System was eager to make this investnt possible.
Gray glanced down at the black card again, then quietly slipped it into his wallet. He didn’t say anything more, but his grip tightened for a mont.
That card was valuable, so he should make sure to take care of it.
’I guess I need to work harder this month.’
The dinner went on after that.
The soup had cooled slightly, but it still tasted rich and comforting. Every course that followed was plated like art.
For the main course, there was a silky fish dish with foam, a slow-cooked lamb dallion that lted in the mouth when you bit into it. Adding to that, the dessert was also top-notch. It looked like a snow globe made of sugar and filled with hazelnut cream.
For the rest of the night, they ate, talked, and laughed.
When the business talk died down, Conrad’s deanor changed entirely.
"So..." Conrad looked at Lily, his eyes filled with curiosity.
"Tell , Lily, how long has your brother been talking to your sister Selina?"
Gray almost choked on his water.
Selina blinked and was also caught off guard.
Lily, however, didn’t notice any of that. Instead, she smiled widely and turned to Conrad as if the question was the most interesting thing she had ever heard that night.
"Not that long!" She exclaid out loud. "Brother even took us to a mall last ti! We three ate together. It was so much fun!"
Lily’s words rang out with full enthusiasm, causing a mont of silence at the table.
Then—
Conrad laughed.
A genuine, hearty laugh escaped from Conrad’s mouth. He leaned slightly back in his chair, one brow rising as he shot both Selina and Gray a mischievous look.
"Well, well, well," the old man said out loud as he placed his wine glass down with a soft clink. "Is that so?"
"Lily—" Gray sighed.
But Lily was already turning toward Conrad again, her face glowing with excitent.
"Yup! We went to a big mall! Sister Selina took us to her favorite restaurant! We had dinner there!"
"Dinner, you say?" Conrad’s eyes twinkled as he stroked his chin dramatically. "How romantic."
"It wasn’t like that," Gray muttered.
Selina, anwhile, looked like she was trying not to laugh.
’I guess my grandpa is back now,’ she shook her head and just let him be.
"Oh? Not like that?" Conrad raised an eyebrow, turning toward her next.
Selina tried to hold her composure, but there was a pink tint rising across her cheeks.
"I an..." she started, glancing sideways at Gray, "it was just dinner."
"Just dinner," Conrad repeated, unimpressed with it. "In my ti, ’just dinner’ was how half the marriages I know started."
Gray groaned.
Now it was starting.
"Grandpa," Selina burst into a soft laugh, covering her mouth with her napkin. "You’re being ridiculous."
Lily watched the exchange like she was curious why they were reacting that way.
"Oh, co on," Conrad waved Selina’s words off with a grin.
"Do you know how boring my etings are these days? It’s always tax reports and investnt charts. This is so much better than those."
Then he turned back to Lily, his eyes narrowing playfully.
"So, what else happened, Lily? Don’t leave hanging. Did your brother do anything gentlemanly? Hold the door? Carry her bag?"
Lily gasped as if rembering sothing critical.
"He paid for all the clothes we bought!"
"Really?"
Conrad’s mouth fell open in mock shock. He placed a hand over his chest as if Lily’s words had physically surprised him.
"He paid for everything?" he repeated, eyes wide with exaggerated disbelief.
"Selina! You let a young man do that? What happened to the strong, independent woman I raised?"
Selina groaned softly, dropping her forehead into her palm.
"Grandpa, please."
But Conrad wasn’t done.
"Back in my day, if a man bought clothes and dinner, I’d be picking out a wedding ring by now."
"Back in your day," Gray muttered, "horses were still used for public transport."
Selina laughed loudly at that
Conrad pointed a finger at Gray.
"Hey! Don’t try to dodge my words, young man."
Gray just sighed and shook his head.
There was no stopping Conrad, so he just better shut up.
When he didn’t hear any answer, Conrad just clapped his hands
"Ah, young love. It gives hope for this generation."
Lily, who was thoroughly entertained, nodded along as if she understood everything.
"Brother and Sister Selina’s face is so red," she whispered to Conrad. However, since they were seated away, it was loud enough for everyone to hear.
Conrad stifled another laugh.
"All right, all right," Conrad finally waved his hands as if calming a crowd. "Let’s put a pause on the teasing before your brother hates ."
Gray exhaled in relief, while Selina laughed.
"But before you escape," Conrad continued smoothly, sitting up straighter, "I do have one more thing to say."
Gray and Selina’s eyes suddenly beca serious when the teasing dropped in Conrad’s voice.
Conrad reached into his coat pocket once more, but this ti, it wasn’t a card he pulled out. Now, it was a small, elegantly folded envelope. It was thick and high-quality paper with a gold seal in front.
"I want both of you," he said, eyes flicking between Gray and Selina, "to attend an upcoming gala. On my behalf."
Gray felt sothing twist in his stomach.
’A gala?’ He barely knew how to act at a formal dinner, let alone a room full of elites.
"A gala, grandpa?" Selina’s brows rose.
"It’s a charity gala hosted by the Foundation," Conrad explained. "I usually go, but this year, I’m skipping it. I have too much work, and frankly, I need a break."
He pushed the invitation across the table, right between them.
"So, I want you two to represent instead."
Selina blinked, clearly caught off guard. "? And Gray?"
"Precisely," Conrad nodded, folding his hands together. "You’re both young, attractive, and compelling. A fresh face for the Everett legacy."
"I don’t even belong in that kind of place," Gray said quickly, holding up a hand. "I’ve never been to a gala in my life."
"And that’s exactly why you should go," Conrad smiled. "It’s ti for you to build your connections, Gray."
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