"That's good. Where are your parents? Why didn't they come with you?" Gregory Miller asked.
Matthew Clark said, "It's not very convenient for them."
Gregory Miller nodded kindly and said, "It's been a long time since Uncle has seen you, too. I remember when you were little, you used to come over and play every day. You and Evan Miller probably haven't seen each other in a long time, right? Why don't you stay over tonight? There are plenty of empty rooms in this house. You can stay, the two of you can chat and catch up. It would be a shame if childhood friends drift apart as you get older."
"I wouldn't dare to trouble you." After Matthew Clark finished speaking, he suddenly turned his head. "Ryan Miller, are you staying here tonight?"
Ryan Miller had been eavesdropping and didn't expect Matthew Clark to bring him into the conversation. He was caught off guard. "Of course I'm not..."
"He'll stay." Gregory Miller put away his smile and finally spared Ryan Miller a glance. "Ryan Miller, it's been a long time since you came back, too. Stay tonight. Your grandmother has something to say to you."
Ryan Miller hadn't expected that the door he'd been unable to enter for over twenty years would open to him because of a single sentence from Matthew Clark.
But why?
Although he wasn't close to his biological father, he could tell from Gregory Miller's previous actions that this man was definitely not the type to go around spreading love and caring for bankrupt families.
Bankruptcy has to go through the courts. If the news hadn't gotten out, he'd have suspected Matthew Clark had been pretending to be humble in front of him all this time.
After saying this, Gregory Miller turned to Matthew Clark and said, "President Yun and the others were just asking about you. Come on, let's go say hello."
"Okay." Matthew Clark turned back. "I'll be right there."
Ryan Miller: "...Go if you want, why are you telling me?"
Matthew Clark smiled at him and turned to leave.
Ryan Miller swirled the wine in his hand, his gaze fixed tightly on Matthew Clark.
His friend hadn't been lying. Matthew Clark followed behind Gregory Miller, toasting all those old foxes at the front tables. He wore a polite smile, graceful and poised, every gesture like a seasoned businessman.
Fake.
Ryan Miller cursed inwardly and took a gulp of wine.
With the formalities over, it was time for socializing. People around him chatted in small groups, and business was never far from their lips.
Luckily, no one came over to talk to him, so he got some peace. After sitting for a while and getting bored, Ryan Miller simply got up, planning to go to the restroom for a smoke.
Once in the stall, he had just lit his cigarette when he heard footsteps.
"What's up with Matthew Clark? Did he really go bankrupt?"
"Is there any doubt? But he doesn't look like it... Evan Miller, you know more, tell us."
Damn, enemies really do cross paths.
Ryan Miller exhaled a smoke ring and kept listening.
"Of course it's true," said Evan Miller.
"Then how come... I don't mean anything by it. It's just, he still dresses well, and just now he was following your dad around greeting all those big shots."
Evan Miller said, "So what if he's bankrupt? My dad values character, and he always liked him anyway, wants to promote him."
Yeah, right.
"I see. Well, Matthew Clark does get along well with those old guys. By the way, I think I just saw Ryan Miller? Did I see wrong?"
Evan Miller's voice grew louder: "Can you stop? Why are you bringing up that bastard?"
"Don't be mad, I'm just curious. Why did you invite him? Planning to mess with him? Just say the word, we'll help you!"
Mess with me?
Ryan Miller narrowed his eyes, thinking, go ahead and try. Damn it, let's see who messes with who.
Evan Miller said, "My grandma invited him. Today is my engagement party, so don't cause trouble. I'll have security kick him out in a bit."
Ryan Miller took a deep drag, stubbed out his cigarette, and opened the stall door.
"Kick me out? Evan Miller, aren't you taking yourself a bit too seriously?" As Ryan Miller spoke, smoke drifted from his mouth. "Let me tell you, not only can you not kick me out, tonight you'll have to open the door wide and invite me to stay."
Evan Miller's face immediately darkened. His friends reacted first: "You—"
"What about me?" Ryan Miller cut him off, looking Evan Miller's friends up and down. "You little chicks want to mess with me? You're all skinny as sticks, gone soft from sitting in the office? Bet you don't even go out in a typhoon. If I punched you, you'd fly from the restroom to the stage."
Evan Miller snapped, "Ryan Miller!"
The atmosphere instantly plummeted, cold as an ice cellar.
For a moment.
"Just kidding, I wouldn't hit anyone."
Ryan Miller's tone was especially insincere. He looked at the now-silent 'elite crowd,' straightened his suit collar with satisfaction, and sneered, "I'm done here, you guys carry on."
Chapter 9
Ryan Miller returned to the hall and found his table already empty—no one was there.
He instinctively looked around and immediately spotted Matthew Clark. Matthew Clark was still following behind Gregory Miller, but now there was a woman beside him, with shoulder-length black hair, a cocktail dress, and a gentle smile.
Ryan Miller recognized her. She was Gregory Miller's family, his cousin.
His phone buzzed—William Harris had sent another message.
William Harris: Xiao Nannan, let me crash at your place tonight. My cheongsam party will probably go until midnight, and my dad definitely won't let me in.