The next morning, William went to school as usual, with the events of the previous night being nothing more than a minor blip in his routine.
At noon, William continued to have his meal at the school cafeteria. Lucy and Evelyn once again had a “coincidental” encounter with the folks from his dormitory. After some chit-chat, they agreed to meet at the school’s east gate at six o’clock and head to a hotel together.
After lunch, Lila called.
“William, are you free right now?”
“Yes, I am.” William didn’t decline. He had agreed to visit Lila’s friend’s company the day before, so he wasn’t going to bail on the plan.
“I’m at the East Gate. Come here, and we can head over together.”
William acknowledged, hung up, and after bidding farewell to his dorm mates, headed straight to the school’s east gate.
Lila’s car was anything but inconspicuous at the school. Every time she drove it, it would undoubtedly attract a crowd of students, especially her admirers, whose fervent actions never seemed to cease.
By the time William reached the East Gate, David was already standing by Lila’s car window.
“Lila, are you free tonight? I was hoping to have dinner with you, just the two of us. I feel there’s a misunderstanding between us we need to address.” David originally planned to attend a mixer event hosted by the dance department that evening. However, a few days ago, he and several of Lila’s other suitors played a card game. David won, which meant it was now his turn to court Lila. If she agreed to date him, he would undoubtedly skip other events. There might be plenty of interesting girls at the mixer, but how could any of them compare to Lila? Winning her heart would be his ticket into the Carter family, propelling his status to the heavens. What more could he wish for in life?
“I’ve been really busy lately, and I don’t think there’s any misunderstanding between us.” Over the years, Lila had become accustomed to politely turning down the advances of her suitors.
David wasn’t as impatient as the other admirers. Winning the card game meant he had two weeks to court Lila, and as long as she didn’t outright reject him, he had exclusive rights to pursue her during that period.
“How about tomorrow? There’s a new Michelin-starred restaurant near Broadway. How about we go there?”
“I already have plans for tomorrow.” Lila had spotted William by then and seemed a bit impatient as she got out of the car. She frowned, looking at William, who was standing in the distance, making no move to approach.
Following Lila’s gaze, David saw William.
It’s that annoying guy again!
“Why aren’t you coming over?” Lila exclaimed, visibly annoyed. What was he thinking, just standing there?
Only then did William leisurely stroll over and ask, “Are you guys done talking?”
“We’re done. Get in!” Lila said emotionlessly as she got into the car.
William flashed a smile at David before getting into the car. Once William was seated, Lila immediately drove off, not wasting a single second.
David was left standing there, looking like a fool. 𝐞𝗼𝘃𝐞𝐥．𝗰𝐨𝗺
“William!!” David’s fists clenched as he watched the departing car, resentment brewing in his heart.
If he had lost to some other rich young master, maybe he could have come to terms with it. But losing to a guy like William, a seemingly poor lad, was genuinely hard for him to stomach.
Inside the car, William pulled out his phone and started reading the news.
He had only discovered this feature on his phone the previous night — the ability to read news.
It was so convenient to be able to catch up with the latest global events right from his mobile device. It also allowed him to stay updated with current affairs.
Lila felt a pang of irritation. What was she even doing?
Had she specially come to pick William up for a job interview?
Was being a chauffeur that thrilling?
Watching William get in the car and immediately focus on his phone, it feels like he’s Lila’s boss.
So busy, huh?
“William, in a bit you can show off what you can do. My friend will pick an agent for you, and they’ll tailor your image. It should be quite profitable.”
“Okay, thanks!” It was only then that William put down his phone and looked at Lila, expressing his gratitude.
Wow — William actually said thank you!
Lila felt she should express some gratitude. At least this time, William’s ‘thank you’ to her wasn’t just because Lila had opened the car door for him.
Soon, they arrived in Manhattan, New York, an area filled with towering skyscrapers and bustling office environments. Under Lila’s guidance, they entered an iconic building, the One World Trade Center.
Nowadays, many companies choose to lease one or several floors in these skyscrapers for office spaces. For William, this was his first time stepping into such a building.
The environment inside made William feel extremely comfortable – it was neat and upscale. Those coming and going were professionally dressed individuals, each impeccably groomed. This sharply contrasted other bustling and chaotic areas of New York.
Riding the busy elevator, William could sense the urban pace of the place. Over the past few decades, where New York was once filled with low-rise buildings, it now boasts a skyline dominated by skyscrapers. This transformation marked unparalleled urban progression.
In certain historical periods, such tall structures might have been exclusive residences for nobility or royalty. But now, they are utilized for various commercial office purposes.
Crescent Media LLC.
This was the company run by Lila’s friend.
She led William into the company where the office staff were all engrossed in their work. Upon their entry, it immediately drew numerous discreet glances.
The company was in the media business, involved not just in the live-streaming industry but also the film sector. While many minor celebrities often visited, it was rare to see individuals as stunning as William and Lila.
In terms of appearance alone, Lila could easily overshadow many top-tier celebrities. Born into affluence, she exuded an elegance that many performers couldn’t emulate, making her stand out wherever she went.
William’s looks were undoubtedly exceptional. Even his walk radiated natural grace. Had he been around during Hollywood’s golden era, directors and producers might have just needed to observe his every move to recognize the movie star charisma he exuded. His presence was undeniably distinct.
Having two such individuals together, how could they not be the center of attention?
After speaking briefly to the receptionist, Lila was immediately led to the Chairman’s office.
The CEO of Crescent Media LLC was Lila’s friend, Lana Crescent. Born into New York’s elite society, her family provided her with two million dollars as startup capital. In just a year, the company’s valuation had reached half a billion dollars.
Such a high starting point naturally bestowed Lana with numerous advantages. Apart from the substantial initial funds, she also had an array of industry contacts and connections, ensuring that whatever venture she undertook flourished effortlessly, making revenue generation relatively straightforward.
When William entered Lana’s office, she was engrossed in paperwork. But as she heard the movement and looked up to see William, her eyes lit up.
Was this the man Lila had mentioned?
Being the CEO of a media company, Lana understood what William’s striking appearance signified.
Even based solely on his looks, with professional branding and promotion, he could generate significant revenue for the company. Lila had also informed her that William was not only exceptional in calligraphy but also an adept violinist.
He was, without a doubt, a natural artist and star!
The moment Lana laid eyes on William, apart from the astonishment she felt, she envisioned the surge of dollars rolling into the company’s account.
As long as we sign him, it’s definitely like getting a gold mine!