Chapter 331 Chapter330-Attending the Concert, Reunion with Benjamin Taylor
John quietly took his place at the end of the line, waiting for the ticket check to enter the opera house.
Soon, the security at the entrance inspected the tickets of the attendees ahead.
When it was John's turn, the guard's gaze was laden with doubt.
"Sir, may I see your ticket, please?"
John pulled out his phone, displaying the digital invitation.
However, the guard scrutinized it for a prolonged period before handing it back, saying solemnly, "I'm sorry, sir, but your ticket doesn't specify a name. I can't just let you in like this."
With a hint of exasperation, John replied, "But this is how the invitation was sent to me. I haven't altered it in any way!"
The burly security guard, although stern, wasn't unreasonable. "Your ticket is indeed genuine and valid, but tickets for these inner seats require identification due to their exclusivity. We can't ascertain if such unnamed tickets might be used by someone else…"
"So, if you wish to enter, you'll need to provide proof of identity."
A frown subtly crept onto John's face.
In this age, personal identification could easily be showcased on a smartphone, but it wasn't something people typically displayed casually.
As technology advanced, such sensitive information could quickly be exploited by criminals.
Seeing the guard's distressed expression, John had no intention of contesting.
After all, the guard was just doing his job, and such a high-profile concert naturally demanded tighter security.
After pondering for a moment, John calmly suggested, "How about this? Call this number, and they'll vouch for my identity."
Relief washed over the security guard.
He'd feared this young man might be challenging, given that attendees of such an elite concert, especially those with inner-seat tickets, were either affluent or influential.
Not someone a mere guard would dare to offend. Thankfully, this casually dressed young man appeared reasonable.
As John was about to dial the number, a surprised voice rang out from behind, "Is that you, Brother John?"
The voice, familiar and tinged with childlike innocence, made him turn around.
There stood Benjamin Taylor and his wife, hand in hand with the adorable little Mia, all smiling brightly.
It was the young girl who had just called out to him.
"Chairman Taylor? What a pleasant surprise to bump into you here!"
John greeted with a light chuckle.
Benjamin Taylor responded with a hearty laugh, "Indeed! I wasn't expecting to see you here, Jonathan. If Mia hadn't spotted you, neither my wife nor I would have recognized you."
John laughed heartily, opening his arms wide, and swooped up Mia, spinning her around twice, eliciting a bubbly giggle from the little girl.
Benjamin Taylor and his wife exchanged amused glances, sharing a knowing smile.
After setting Mia down, Benjamin Taylor, with a curious tone, asked, "What brings you here dressed like this?"
John, with a hint of vexation, shook his head and explained, "I came for the concert too, but I hadn't realized the dress code would be so formal..."
Benjamin Taylor, barely containing his laughter at John's chagrin, remarked, "This is the grandest concert our city has seen in recent years. Many dignitaries and luminaries are on the guest list, so attire is expected to be a bit more on the formal side. Yours is a tad... casual."
John, with a spread of his hands and an air of resignation, replied, "Well, there's nothing I can do now. It's too late to go back and change... Besides, I don't think there's a strict dress code for such events."
Benjamin Taylor's wife chimed in with a teasing smile, "Though there might not be a strict code, your outfit is indeed an outlier... We have a spare suit in the car. You and Benjamin are about the same size; why not try it on?"
Before John could even respond, little Mia tugged at his arm, urging, "Come on, Brother John, I'll take you!"
Benjamin Taylor laughed, "Go on, both of you. We'll wait here. That suit's brand new, never worn. Don't be shy about it, Jonathan."
John could only give a wry shake of his head.
While the Taylors' gesture was well-intentioned, John didn't see the pressing need for a change of attire.
Yet, with Mia's infectious enthusiasm, he found himself being ushered towards the parking lot.
Originally, Mrs. Taylor wanted the two burly bodyguards nearby to accompany them, but Benjamin Taylor waved them off.
"There's no need," he said with confidence. "With John there, Mia will be perfectly safe."
Mrs. Taylor looked at her husband, her eyes filled with puzzlement, seemingly not understanding why Benjamin Taylor held such profound trust in John.
Ever since Mia's near-drowning accident, Mrs. Taylor had been exceptionally protective of her, rarely allowing the bodyguards to leave her side.
"Are you being overly confident, dear?" she asked. "Even though John saved Mia's life, he's still just a young man. I've heard that there have been some disturbances in the city lately, and our family stands out quite prominently. Wouldn't it be safer to have bodyguards accompany them?"
Benjamin Taylor, however, looked as if he were the picture of assurance, smiling enigmatically. "You're unaware, my dear. Having John by Mia's side is more effective than dispatching ten bodyguards!"
His wife, still doubtful, responded, "Why do you say that? Is John that formidable? He doesn't particularly look the part. While he's tall, he isn't exactly built like a tank..."
Wrapping his arm around his wife's shoulder, Benjamin chuckled, "Let's just say you've yet to comprehend the true depth of John's abilities. White once told me directly that in a one-on-one confrontation, he'd be taken down by John in a single move. What does that tell you about John's capabilities?"
Mrs. Taylor's eyes widened in even greater disbelief.
She was well-aware of who Nicholas White was — the head of security at Taylor Group, Benjamin Taylor's trusted right hand, and the most combat-proficient individual in the entire Taylor Group.
And he claimed he couldn't even last a single move against John?
No matter how she tried to piece it together, it just didn't seem plausible to Mrs. Taylor.
However, seeing the somewhat serious look on Benjamin Taylor's face, Mrs. Taylor chose not to press further.
She trusted her husband's judgment; after all, in all these years, Benjamin had never misjudged a situation.
Soon enough, John, now redressed, returned with little Mia by his side.
And truly, clothes do make the man. John instantly became the center of attention.
Wearing a sophisticated, custom-tailored grey suit, it perfectly accentuated his aristocratic demeanor.
With naturally good looks, chiseled features, and a slender frame, John was the epitome of many a girl's dream.
Coupled with the steadily resurfacing abilities from the Godslayer game, he exuded a unique charisma that easily attracted the opposite sex.
Numerous women, both young and mature, found their gazes lingering on him, their eyes filled with admiration.
This drew many displeased and envious looks from their male companions.
No man enjoys seeing their partner's attention being so effortlessly stolen.
John seemed oblivious to the varying glances directed his way.
Holding Mia's hand, he approached the Taylor couple with a light chuckle, "You two really do have a lot of trust, letting Mia come with me alone. After all, until today, we've only met twice. Aren't you afraid I'd run off with her?"
Hearing John's playful words, both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor smiled in unison.
Benjamin Taylor calmly responded, "You saved our Mia's life. If we can't even trust you this much, then there's no place for me, Benjamin Taylor, in the business world."
"Jonathan, you of all people should have faith in your Uncle Taylor's judgment. What benefit would there be for you in running off with Mia?"
John shrugged playfully, jesting, "Well, one can't exactly say that. Who doesn't know the position of Taylor Group in this city? Mia is your precious gem. If someone were to run off with her, I bet you'd pay any ransom they asked for."
Benjamin Taylor burst into laughter, "You're not wrong there. If someone tried to extort money from me using Mia, I'd willingly pay any price. But for you, I believe money isn't really a concern, is it?"
John neither agreed nor disagreed, responding indifferently, "I'm just offering a friendly reminder, Uncle Taylor. One must always be cautious, after all."
Benjamin Taylor confidently retorted, "Rest assured, if anyone in this city dares to harm Mia, I'll make them regret they ever lived."
John gave a thumbs up, exclaiming, "That's the chairman of the Taylor Group for you—so commanding in speech!"
Benjamin Taylor shot him an annoyed glance, "Oh, Jonathan, did you come here specifically to tease your Uncle Taylor?"
John smiled slightly, holding his hands up in a gesture of innocence.
As they laughed and chatted, Benjamin Taylor, driven by curiosity, suddenly asked, "By the way, what made you want to attend a concert like this? Isn't the gaming world your main stage? Could it be you have a budding interest in music?"
John chuckled wryly, shaking his head, "Me? Interested in music? I'm here only because I accepted someone's invitation."
A curious expression dawned on Benjamin Taylor's face as he inquired further, "Oh? Is it an invitation from some young lady? Perhaps the Emma you brought to our house last time?"
A fleeting look of surprise crossed John's eyes; he hadn't expected Benjamin Taylor to remember Emma's name after just one meeting.
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