Chapter 3: Chapter 2
"Hmph." Paul Pemberton shot a contemptuous glance at the person standing behind the manager, head bowed in silence, then reached out to lead Joanna Kennedy away.
Only when he turned his head did he realize Joanna was already two meters away, leaving only her unfeeling back in his view. Paul Pemberton hurriedly chased after her. "Joanna, wait for me..."
Behind them, a guilty Anna Yates followed along. As she passed Simon Lockwood, she whispered, "I’m sorry about that."
Simon Lockwood glanced up. "It’s fine."
The farce was over, and it happened to be time for the shift change.
In the staff break room, Simon Lockwood silently packed his things.
The manager came in, sat on a stool, and looked at the bruise on the corner of Simon’s mouth. He suddenly sighed. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"
"No." Simon Lockwood shook his head.
The manager clapped him on the shoulder. "You know, kid, you don’t usually seem very personable. What’s with this sudden urge to play the hero? With those rich young masters and misses, it’s all consensual. The rules are rigid, but people are flexible. You just need to turn a blind eye. If we can’t afford to provoke them, we can at least afford to avoid them. Clashing head-on will only get you hurt."
Simon Lockwood’s movements paused. After a long moment, he said, "Okay."
Knowing his personality, the manager shook his head and said no more. "Alright, hurry up and go home. It’s getting late."
The manager stuffed a few boxes of fruit he had packed from the drawer into Simon Lockwood’s bag.
He pressed down on Simon Lockwood’s hand as he tried to take them out. "We’ll just throw them out if they’re not eaten. Don’t be so stubborn."
Simon Lockwood pressed his lips together and didn’t refuse again.
Back in the private room, many more people had arrived, all of them rich second-generation kids who often partied together.
Having successfully invited Joanna Kennedy out, Paul Pemberton was especially excited today. The group of teenagers started playing Truth or Dare.
Joanna Kennedy "hit the jackpot" on the very first round. Uninterested in playing, she simply downed a glass of beer, then used the excuse of not feeling well to sit to the side and play on her phone.
Anna Yates, who was popular, instigated the others to get Paul Pemberton drunk. Paul crushed an empty can he’d just finished and tossed it aside. "You guys have no idea how arrogant that waiter was earlier. But didn’t I beat him so bad he didn’t dare to fight back?"
"HAHAHA, Paul, you’ve been bullying people again? You’ve really mastered that spoiled brat act."
"Was it the new guy at the front desk? He seems pretty arrogant. You better be careful he doesn’t ambush you and stuff you in a sack on your way home."
Paul Pemberton scoffed. "He doesn’t have the guts."
Someone called for Joanna Kennedy to come play, but she just waved her hand and picked up an apple to munch on. ’I have to say, you systems are pretty twisted. Do you get off on seeing the male lead suffer?’
’How can you see a rainbow without going through a storm?!’ 166 said, as if it were a matter of course. ’This is a necessary trial to become a Maximus!’
’Fine. I don’t understand it, and I don’t respect it.’
’The plot point is complete. No need to stay any longer.’
Joanna finished the last bite of her apple, wiped her hands with a wet wipe, and stood up. "Anna, come with me to the restroom."
Anna Yates had just lost a round and was being forced to drink. Hearing this, she immediately agreed. "Coming... It’s not like I’m not coming back... I’ll definitely drink when I get back..."
Only after she swore and made promises did the group let her go.
The whole world fell silent once they were out of the private room. Anna Yates took a deep breath and exclaimed, "That was actually pretty fun."
"Fun, was it?" Joanna Kennedy looked at her. "Alright, let’s go. If you get drunk, you’ll be sold off before you even know it."
"Huh?" Anna Yates hadn’t caught on yet. "Aren’t you going to the restroom?"
"Like hell I am."
Anna Yates: "..."
She said plaintively, "Jo, you’ve gotten crude."
A few meters away from the front desk, Joanna Kennedy stopped and sighed. "Stop hiding. Our star student has already gotten off work."
Anna Yates, who had been hiding behind her, immediately perked up. "Really?"
"Yeah." Joanna Kennedy asked, "What are you so guilty about? If anyone should feel guilty, it should be me."
’So you do know,’ Anna Yates grumbled. "Then why don’t you feel guilty?"
"Oh, I do," Joanna Kennedy said, raising an eyebrow. She shoved a bewildered Anna Yates into a taxi. "That’s why I’m now going to check on the victim’s injuries."
"What do you mean? Joanna, explain yourself..."
Anna Yates’s angry voice disappeared with the car’s exhaust fumes. Joanna Kennedy chuckled, then turned and walked in the other direction.
Cars occasionally drove past on the street. The sounds of footsteps and a rolling bicycle wheel were indistinct.
The young man’s figure was tall and straight as he pushed a worn-out bicycle forward. The early autumn night already carried a chill.
Having changed out of his waiter’s uniform, he wore only a white short-sleeved shirt.
The streetlight stretched the young man’s shadow long. Suddenly, he stopped without warning, and the sound of the wheel ceased. "Was it fun?"
Simon Lockwood’s voice was cold, sounding even more desolate on the empty street.
’Wow, his senses are sharp. He can still hear that clearly with one ear.’
Joanna Kennedy sighed and stepped out from behind a tree. "What a coincidence. We meet again."
Simon Lockwood didn’t speak. His gaze slid past her, and he continued walking forward.
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
She wasn’t annoyed at being ignored. She continued to follow behind him. As she got closer, she saw the deflated rear tire of the bicycle. No wonder Simon Lockwood was pushing it.
"Are you angry?" Joanna Kennedy deliberately sidled up next to the young man, who was staring straight ahead, and grabbed the bicycle’s handlebar.
She had approached suddenly, and on the side of his afflicted left ear. Simon Lockwood was first taken aback, then the temperature in his eyes dropped to freezing.
He reached out, grabbed Joanna Kennedy’s wrist, and mercilessly yanked her hand away.
A large red mark instantly appeared on Joanna Kennedy’s fair, delicate wrist. Simon Lockwood saw her pretty brows furrow in pain, her eyes shimmering with moisture. "You’re so strong, it hurts..."
"..."
Simon Lockwood had no experience with girls and was facing the "culprit" who had indirectly caused him to get punched. His tone was flat. "Serves you right."
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
’Is this guy always like this? No wonder he has no friends.’
Ignoring 166’s mocking laughter in her ear, Joanna Kennedy continued to act sweet. "I’m sorry for getting you hurt."
"But..." her tone shifted, and she threw Simon Lockwood’s own words right back at him, "...serves you right."
"There were so many people, so why did you only stop me? Simon Lockwood, do you have a crush on me?"
Her tone was confident, her little chin held high. Maybe it was her imagination, but Joanna Kennedy thought she saw Simon Lockwood smile. His thin, straight lips curved into a barely noticeable arc.
Before Joanna could get a closer look, Simon Lockwood’s tall frame loomed over her. He stared down at her, the bruise on his lip adding a wild edge to his look. "I’d rather like a dog than like you."
His words were filled with malice.
Joanna Kennedy froze, looking at Simon Lockwood in disbelief, her face flushed with anger. She remembered the scene at the classroom door, and an indescribable rage welled up inside her. She blurted out, "You like Serena Sutton?"
Simon Lockwood didn’t deny it. "Think whatever you want."
"Besides, who I like has what to do with you?" his tone was cool.
’Of course it has something to do with me!’ Joanna Kennedy bit her lip.
’She liked Simon Lockwood’s face, and that meant Simon Lockwood was hers. Yes, she was just that unreasonable, just that possessive!’
"How is she better than me?!" Deeply wounded, Joanna Kennedy made a threat in a trembling voice, "Simon Lockwood, you’ll regret this."
