Chapter4
1515 Words
"Stop it! He's my savior! Thanks to him, I still have my life. Retract your words!"
"Sir, I'm sorry, we were late taking care of you. I saw him from afar giving you something. So I panicked, sir."
"You're wrong, he's my helper. Without her, I'd be out of breath. Apologize immediately!"
The woman looked down. "I'm sorry, sir, and thank you for helping Mr. Morris."
“Yes, well, I'll be going. Hope you feel better soon, Mr. Morris."
Mark didn't wait for Mr. Morris to say anything else; he immediately left and drove to the next destination.
While Mr. Morris was still rooted to the spot, he stared at his guards. "Find out about him as much as possible. My stomach is hungry, let's eat seafood!"
***
Mark arrived at the restaurant with his stomach screaming to be filled, and he headed to the waiter. The waiter didn't open the restaurant door; he looked Mark up and down. Mark hadn't changed his clothes, not even his watch and shoes; he was still wearing his old clothes.
"This restaurant is open, right?" asked Mark with a questioning look.
"Of course, but only for people who can afford it. Can you afford it?" the woman looked at him with a mocking smile.
Mark furrowed his brows. This all-too-familiar insult bored him.
"Of course, why would I come if I can't afford it?"
The woman with the tag name Sophia laughed amusedly. "Never mind, your jokes are useless this time. Do you need leftovers? I'll try to be nice to you. You can get it at the back of the restaurant. It's in the trash, and we lined it with clean plastic. Take enough, leave some for the other homeless people."
Mark doesn't know if the trend of insulting people has spread to other lines..
Mark let out a long sigh. He replied, "Do you want to get fired for driving away customers, Miss? Don't block the way or obstruct people who want to enter!"
Sophia chuckled. She waved a hand towards the security post, "Security, take this clown away from the restaurant, he has no right to enter, he just wants to eat for free like the homeless!"
Mark was already on the verge of anger. He insisted on maintaining his position. Mark twisted the security hand on his right side, then jumped and kicked the one holding his left side.
"Sophia! Let go of that man!" A familiar voice broke the tension between them. The security, who were about to grab Mark again, immediately stood still. They bowed to the man respectfully.
Sophia bowed and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Morris. But he has made a mess in this restaurant. He wants to buy but has no money. He is a beggar."
Mark shook his head. "You don't know anything."
"Your appearance alone makes it clear. You are a beggar who will ruin the name of this restaurant. Leave!" Sophia was still stubborn.
Mr. Morris clenched his fists, and he glared at his female bodyguard. "Don't let her in my presence again."
“Yes, sir."
Sophia was slapped. The bodyguard shouted in her face. "You're fired!"
Mr. Morris looked at Mark with a smile as he approached, holding his hand.
"We meet again, you've saved me twice, son. You're amazing. Let's go to my restaurant."
"Twice?"
"Yes, you took my inhaler and opened my eyes to Sophia, who likes patronizing my customers."
Mark just nodded his head. They entered the restaurant and ate all the delicious dishes, including the lobster he wanted, until Mark was stuffed.
Mr. Morris didn't say much; he just said he was grateful to Mark.
At parting, Mark got the man's business card.
"You should contact me in the near future."
"Well, sir, thank you for the food. Everything was very good. I'll take my leave, bye!"
Mark was already in the car, the engine started, at the same time, the system sound echoed again, and the holographic screen appeared before his eyes.
Ding!
[Host gains trust. The host gets +100 Infinite points, then unlocks a new skill, charisma.
Mark left the restaurant and headed to the dormitory.
***
Parking his Supercar in the dormitory's parking lot was not difficult; there were many people with nice cars on this campus, even though he was just a rickety motorcycle user who was always insulted.
Mark got out of the car, carrying his paper bag. Apparently, his arrival brought something new to everyone. His arrival made people focus on him, and some even openly approached him as he exited the car. He was Orion, one of this campus's richest men's sons. He looked him up and down, "Have you lost your mind? You stole someone's car and parked it in this dorm? You want this campus to have a bad name because you stole?"
"Listen to me, Mark, I know no one likes you on this campus, but I don't want to interfere. I'll help you get it back. Tell me, where did you take this car? Tell me now!"
Mark let out a long sigh. He knew he would hear many questions and doubts about him if he brought expensive things, but how could he leave all this comfort to listen to other people's opinions?
I appreciate your good intentions, but this car is mine, so never mind, don't keep assuming someone is doing bad things just because their status is better. You continue what you want to do, this is already my part," Mark s, leaving Orion. His steps stopped again when he passed two of Gerald's bodyguards. They looked at Mark with an annoyed look, but not a word came out; the wounds on their faces and bodies still looked fresh. Mark only showed a fist, and they ran away.
Mark walked into his room, and then he met Kean. His dorm mate, who had just returned from vacationing on a cruise ship. Seeing Mark enter, Kean immediately approached him. "I heard what happened at the coronation of the campus princess. I'm sorry I wasn't there to defend you, but I'm glad you safely returned to campus."
For Mark, Kean was an oasis in the middle of the desert. When everyone turned away and insulted him, only Kean could help him.
"I'm fine, how was your vacation?"
"As usual, boring. I'm not cut out for business. But my father keeps pushing me."
Mark placed the paper bag on the bed. Kean, who was talking, suddenly fell silent, his gaze fixed on what Mark bought. He came closer, touched the paper bag, and peeked at the contents.
"Gwen asked you to go shopping again?" he asked, annoyedly. "I'm not trying to interfere, but she doesn't seem to recognize you as her boyfriend. She's just using you."
Mark smiled. He regretted not listening to Kean earlier; if he had realized earlier, he would have been saved from Gwen's treatment.
"No, this is all my stuff. I bought it with my own money."
He showed the contents and replaced his clothes with the new ones he bought. "How does it fit, right?" asked Mark.
Kean looked at Mark in disbelief. "Mark, I still don't get what's going on? Can you explain?"
Mark laughed. "My successful relatives just gave me a lot of money. Maybe they're sad that I've been an orphan living alone."
"I'll be happy if you get what you want, Mark."
Kean smiled despite the many questions he was holding in his head to protect Mark's feelings.
"Let's go to the cafeteria. I want coffee, so I'll treat you," Mark said.
***
At the cafeteria, they enjoyed a cup of hot coffee. This fairly priced coffee was something Mark had never tasted before. He often bought it to give to Gwen or when he got orders from some people on campus.
"Wow, you're really rich already? Or did you borrow Kean's money to taste a drink that never greeted your throat? Or did you steal someone's money?" Brandon, who was quite annoying and ignorant, came over and sat down while putting his arm around Mark's shoulders.
His face was smiling, but he was upset because he had heard the story of Gerald being beaten by Mark.
"Don't accuse people carelessly! Stop that pretentious attitude, Brandon. We're not in the mood to play games with you!" Kean gave an annoyed look to Brandon, who took no offense.
Brandon laughed instead. He ignored Kean. "You're always the defender of these poor humans, Kean. Or maybe you like him?"
Kean pounded on the table. Mark stood up and pulled the collar of Brandon's shirt, who was still belittling him. "Watch your words, damn it!"
“Easy! He he... I'm just here to deliver a message from Gerald that Kean was invited to the opening of Stone City Avenue. His father bought many tickets, but sorry, Mark, you're not invited! Poor people don't belong in rich people's entertainment."
Brandon left with a
n annoying laugh.
"Mark, you know, I'll never go there." Kean meant it.
"No, you should come, because I'll be there this time too."
- Writer
