115 Chapter 115: Engagement Party (2/2)
Glancing over, I couldn't help but note Shawn's expression. His lips were constantly curled into a mocking smile, pride written all over his features and his nose in the air. He reminded me of those typical arrogant young masters I read about in trashy, cliché wuxia novels. Fortunately, this was the future, so he wouldn't be using his family's name to go around killing people from the lower classes. No matter how rich you were, murder was still murder.
Even Lin Zhan Long didn't dare to go that far, and was tricked into summoning a high ranking monster at the cost of his life. Poor dude.
Fortunately for me, Shawn Franklin didn't cast a glance in our direction. All the better. I didn't want to catch the attention of such a slimeball if I could help it. Okay, I was probably being unfair because I didn't know the guy, but that perpetual smirk of scorn on his face automatically triggered my dislike button.
The best course of action was to minimize contact with such a guy. He was from the esteemed Franklin family, anyway. We were literally worlds apart. Our paths would never cross.
Cecilia had broken away to speak to some other guest, leaving Alicia, Adrian and me to our own devices. As we had no idea who anyone else in the engagement party was, we didn't reach out to them. In the same way, they left us well alone.
In the end, we just indulged in eating the delicious food available as there was literally nothing else to do.
”Richard Huang, correct?”
I almost jumped out of my skin when a deep voice boomed out behind me. Alicia, Adrian and I turned around and found ourselves standing before the president of Stuart Corporation, and Cecilia's father and Adrian's uncle, Lionel Stuart. Adrian, for his part, waved brightly while his uncle favored him with an indulgent look.
”Uncle Lionel!”
”Hey, Adrian. I trust you've been well. How's your father?”
”He's busy.” Adrian shrugged. ”He couldn't come today, but he sent me to congratulate Sister Cecilia in his place.”
”Ha ha! Sacha's always busy, isn't he?” Lionel Stuart laughed. ”Well, he has his own division to run.” He then glanced at me. ”So you're already acquaintances with Richard?”
”Brother Richard saved my life a few months ago, remember? Around Jing Tian Forest?”
”Now that you mentioned it…” Lionel Stuart nodded. He then swiveled toward Alicia. ”And the daughter of the Violet family, Miss Alicia. It's so nice to see you here today as well.”
”Same.” Alicia bowed politely. ”Thank you so much for inviting me here today.”
”Of course, of course.” Stuart then turned toward me. ”And…Richard, was it?”
”That's correct.” I also bowed as deeply as Alicia. ”It's an honor.”
”The honor's all mine.” Stuart chortled.
Raising my head, I studied him. Lionel Stuart appeared every bit as impressive as a president of a multi-trillionaire corporation should be. He possessed a massive frame that matched his stature. Behind him, right at the back of the room, was a golden-plated chair that resembled a king's throne. I could almost imagine him seated atop it, and the vision that swam to mind made him look more like a monarch than a corporation president.
The whole castle thing and royal wannabe vibes were growing stronger. Did this guy really thought of himself as a king?
Fortunately, he wasn't dressed like one. Like everyone else, he was dressed in a suit, a white shirt inside a white blazer and a dark tie that contrasted with his clothes. A single eyeglass hung on a chain atop his nose, more likely for aesthetic purposes than practical reasons, and his jaw was framed by a neatly trimmed beard.
”It's a pity that you're already engaged to Miss Alicia, or I would have pressured Cecilia to form a relationship with you.”
”…engaged?” I raised an eyebrow and glanced at Alicia, but she shrugged, apparently just as lost as I was. ”Um…I see.”
”I've heard a lot of good things about you,” Stuart continued, as if he didn't hear me say anything. ”And your rise through the school rankings have been nothing short of meteoric.”
”Um…meteoric? That's quite the claim.” I murmured nervously. ”But I must humbly warn you that whatever you might have heard regarding me, it has most likely been exaggerated.”
Stuart chuckled. ”You're very modest, I see.”
I shook my head in disagreement. ”I beg to differ. I'm just being honest.”
”Ha ha ha ha!” Stuart laughed heartily at that. ”I suppose the story about you destroying three Crastrates by nuking them with a spell of mass destruction capable of blowing a crater about three kilometers wide and obliterating an entire valley is exaggerated, then?”
”I probably did destroy the three Crastrates, but the measurements seem off.” I pretended to think about it. ”Yeah, I think three kilometers wide and an entire valley is definitely an exaggeration.”
”It's not, though,” Adrian muttered under his breath. ”They actually measured it.”
”And you did destroy the entire valley,” Alicia added in amusement. ”The academy has an actual recording of the site.”
Oi. Weren't you guys supposed to help me, not sabotage me?
Stuart was unable to suppress a vigorous guffaw. ”I like you, kid. I really do.” He lowered his voice. ”Between you and me, I think Cecilia has made a mistake in choosing him over you.” he then turned to Alicia. ”You're very lucky, young lady. You had best treasure this young man.”
Alicia smiled sweetly, the same expression that brought chills to my spine for some reason. I swear, one day, I was going to see a giant hanya mask floating above her head. ”I have every intention of doing so.”
”…so, you are Richard Huang, huh?”
All of us turned around, only to see Shawn Franklin swaggering toward us arrogantly.
I shrank back with a sigh. Seemed like no matter where I went, trouble always knew where to find me.