The Secretly Rich Man

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 191

Gerald looked up. “What’s up?”

“We’ve got a gathering between old friends tonight. It happens every couple of months. I’ve never mentioned it before—but since we’ve bumped into each other, this is me letting you know!

“Also, Sharon will be there.” Lilian stifled a little laugh. “Come to think of it: Back in high school, you’d come first place in grades, and she’d come second. The two of you were close—in fact, you were after her, weren’t you?”

Gerald didn’t reply.

Sharon Leslie, an old friend from high school. It was true that they got along well back then.

It was also true that Gerald had harbored feelings for her, but that had been before… all of this.

Had he pursued her? He hadn’t dared.

Early on, during their first year of high school, they’d chat together often. Later, even on those few occasions when he’d tried to strike up a conversation, she hadn’t replied. And so, they’d drifted apart.

Three years had passed in a flash.

“Tee-hee! Come on… you know, last month, Sharon’s boyfriend was treating us to some eats, and then the topic of you came up! Sharon wanted to know what Gerald was up to—no one could answer her at the time, but now… you free tonight?”

As she spoke, Lilian stole a peek at Gerald, searching for a hint of despair.

But no such expression was to be found in his features.

“Tonight? Yeah, I can make it!”

“Great, great. You have to come, then—let everyone have a look at you!” Surreptitiously, Lilian snuck out her handphone and stole a snapshot of Gerald, which she sent to the chat group for the gathering:

“Guess who this bozo is?”

“Who? Looks familiar… I’ve definitely seen him somewhere before!”

“Same here, but… he just doesn’t look like anyone worth remembering! Ring a bell with any of you?”

Sharon Leslie: “Is that Gerald?”

“Oh, yeah!” Lilian gushed. “You two were buddies back in high school, huh? Only took you one look—it’s Gerald!”

It’s exciting to be the one who brings up something that gets everyone excited. That was the main reason why Lilian had suddenly decided to invite Gerald to the gathering.

They had a lot of former schoolmates in Mayberry—there was a handful in her class alone. Perhaps they wouldn’t recognize Gerald, but they were guaranteed to have heard his name before.

If he showed up at the gathering, she was certain he’d be the hot topic of the night.

Just look at the uproar in the chat group right now…

Sharon Leslie: “Were we buddies in high school? I don’t recall anything like that! Hehehe…”

Lilian’s fingers flew over the keypad. “Alas! Found yourself a hunk in Sunnydale now, so your ex doesn’t matter anymore?”

Sharon Leslie: “Get out of here! What do you mean ‘ex’… How about you ask him along to our gathering? We should catch up—we’re all old friends, after all!”

“Alright!”

Lilian turned to Gerald. “Everyone’s eager to see you again—especially Sharon. She even said it herself. Since you’ve got time tonight, just come for the gathering! If you’re worried about whether you can afford it, I’ll cover you for the time being!”

Gerald had just been about to turn her down. Truth be told, he hadn’t made a lot of friends back during those years. He’d have nothing to talk about with everyone there.

But now that Lilian had said all that, he couldn’t very well say no anymore.

“Alright, tonight then!” Gerald nodded his agreement.

Lilian gave him the venue, then went on her way.

Gerald shook his head in exasperation. “Lilian’s teaching at my new school. It’s a small world after all!”

He’d been planning to take a stroll through town, but talking to Lilian had ruined his mood for that.

Well, it was noon, and he was hungry, so Gerald headed out anyway.

At the school gates, there were three children in tattered clothes, perhaps four or five-year-olds. They were peering inside.

“Is this a school, brother? It doesn’t look like what Ms. Queta was talking about…”

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 192

Her face smeared with dirt, the little girl was talking to the boy beside her.

“Maybe they haven’t started classes yet—that’s what’s missing!” The boy wiped away some snot. “I wanna go too!”

Another somewhat chubby boy piped up, “You need money to go to school. We don’t have any money. Ms. Queta is already working several jobs to feed us. We can’t ask her for any more!”

“I’m hungry!” the little girl whined.

“I’ll find you some bread in a bit!”

“Why are you urchins crowding the gates? Get lost!” A security guard came out, hollering in fury.

The three children leaped up in fright.

The guard was in his fifties, the sort you might find at a construction site.

The children were visibly terrified by him, and on the verge of fleeing—but they kept on gazing at the school, just a little longer…

Gerald spoke up: “They’re only looking. That’s fine, isn’t it? It’s not like you paid for this school.”

“Kid, I didn’t say anything about you going inside earlier, but don’t be putting on any airs with me! You don’t own this school any more than I do… now, get lost!”

The man was red and blustering. He had clearly had a few pints to go with his lunch—his breath reeked of alcohol.

“Here, buy yourself a real drink.” With a little smile, Gerald reached into his wallet and tossed him a hundred bucks.

This money obviously wasn’t being offered as a compliment. Gerald made a note to recommend the man to be fired later. A lousy old drunkard in charge of security, probably hustled in by a friend in the company.

“Yo! Alright, alright! Thanks a lot, man!” Then the guard left.

Gerald knelt down and smiled at the children. “You kids wanna go to school, too?”

The girl in the middle nodded vigorously. “I do!”

The other two were more cautious and watched him wordlessly.

Truth be told, seeing these three young children, yearning to go to school like this… it tore at his heart.

No one understood that feeling better than him.

That was why he couldn’t resist the urge to do something for them.

“Anyone hungry? How about I take you guys out for lunch?”

“Ms. Queta says we shouldn’t talk to strangers—and we absolutely mustn’t follow them anywhere!” The two boys stepped out in front of the girl.

Gerald laughed and nodded. “Alright… then I’ll buy some stuff and bring it to you here!”

With that, he ran off to the KFC opposite and procured a pile of burgers, fried chicken, and drinks.

“You don’t have to follow me anywhere. Just take it and eat it. Besides, I’ll help you go to school, too!” Gerald patted the girl on the head and handed the food to them.

“Thank you!” The children’s eyes came alight.

The moment they received the food, they began gobbling it down.

“Why are you just eating something that he gave you?”

It was the dulcet sound of a woman’s voice—pleasant, yet anxious.

“I can’t apologize enough, sir. How much was all that food? I’ll pay for it!” the woman babbled nervously.

However, when Gerald saw who she was, his eyes shone.

“It’s you!”

Gerald Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter 193

Gerald recognized her straight away.

He had met her in Homeland Kitchen just a few days ago. Jane had been scolding her—back when she still worked for them.

She’d left an impression on him. Even just seeing her from the side, he had known that she was an extraordinary beauty. Seeing her again now, she’d immediately seemed familiar to him, and then he’d placed her.

“You know me?” she whispered, gathering up the three children protectively.

She was evidently frightened of him. What if he was involved in human trafficking?

“Yes, we bumped into each other in Homeland Kitchen. Have you forgotten me?” Gerald smiled at her.

The woman spent a moment in recollection, then brightened up. “Oh, it’s you, sir! Thank you for helping me out, that time!”

That time, she was being scolded so hard she didn’t dare look up from the floor. It was only when she was leaving that she had stolen a brief glance at Gerald.

Meeting him again now, what she recognized was his voice.

He had saved her that time.

Also, he was rich!

“Don’t mention it. At least you won’t have to keep your guard up around me. Have you been looking after these three children?” Gerald inquired curiously.

“Yup, yup!” Queta Smith nodded, bringing over the three kids.

As they walked along together, she told him the story: It turned out that these three children had been wandering urchins who had managed to escape after being kidnapped by slavers.

With such muddled circumstances, no orphanage had been willing to take them in, and so they’d been wandering the city on their own, begging for scraps… until Queta found them, and took them all under her care.

She mainly worked as a kindergarten teacher and also did some other work on the side, thereby earning enough to keep them all fed. She had even been saving up money to send them to school.

Good thing Queta often worked with kids. She’d taught these three well.

What a mess. And the three children were all siblings.

His heart wrenching terribly, Gerald asked, “What about your family?”

“I don’t have one—I grew up in an orphanage.” As she told him this, Queta hung her head and picked at her clothes.

she was, though her radiance was being

Gerald’s presence. He knew it was because she was afraid he

be the sort of person who never felt he was good

them were about the same age. Gerald used to think he’d gotten the short straw in life, but Queta here had it so much worse: A young woman with no parents, caring for three kids

you come across a woman like

was deeply moved with

do you

All three children pointed towards an ordinary residential area, not far from

you mind if I swing by for

moment’s

area was basically a collection of

and offered it to him. Then she shooed the three kids away to go get a bath. The children had been trying to do their part, collecting some

name is Gerald Crawford. Shall we

aback. Queta knew that Gerald was a powerful man since he had been able to

Rich Man Novel (Invisible or

would such a powerful man be interested in

just come out and say why, either. Today was just a

a soft-hearted man and held particular

he could just solve their problems straight away: Find them a nicer place to stay in, put

Queta again, his heart had been racing wildly out of control. Some subtle emotion was compelling him to get closer to her, to get

didn’t understand

he laid eyes on her… Just one look from the side and her face had

How could he be feeling

that, from the moment he met

to talk, warming

an entire afternoon had gone

in a few days!” Gerald waved goodbye to the girls

them, his heart felt light, his soul at

phone rang. It

ways, Gerald had asked to exchange numbers with her. Reluctantly, she’d

late for your first time?” Lilian’s voice was sharp with reprimand. “I said to meet at

held back. On my way

word, she’d

Gerald smiled wryly.

stayed out of this ‘old

he had already given his word, so he had to keep it now. He returned to the car park, started up his

arrived, parked the car, and found

waiting for you, you know?” Lilian’s face contorted hideously at the

all these years! No patches on your

hear you’re in Mayberry University? That’s a swanky place! How have you been doing lately? The internship is coming up soon—found yourself

a seat first. Gerald, tell us all about what you’ve been through,

could easily seat two dozen. That was the number of ‘old friends’ who were in attendance this evening, including a handful of former high

spotted a girl at the head of the table:

in class, and his best friend in high school.

each had been harboring some measure

get involved with someone from

to get involved

been too great a fault in their

they’d never been much more to each other than

Sharon had changed tremendously.

beauty without

replied with a smile and in a tone that was neither malicious

three years without contact, anything they had had between them had long

just

spotted an empty seat, and he moved

actually do so, however, another

Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter

is reserved for my boyfriend! Goodness gracious… it’s one thing to have been a loser back then, but after three

anymore, and he couldn’t be bothered to pick a fight with her

the seat by the door, where

been everyone’s intention all

However, she’d left her handbag on there, indicating that she was saving the seat for

turned and asked, “Sharon, when’s

time, he’ll say he’s almost there—but you’re still

upset, in truth her heart sang with

Sharon talking about Murphy, as in the Murphy who graduated and immediately became sales manager of an upmarket business

clung to him everywhere. Now that he’s a Mayberry big shot,

how he landed that job? Gosh, sales manager at Mayberry Street… I

than the whole table was abuzz about him. The air

wouldn’t know about that!” Sharon laughed. “When he gets here, he can tell you

doors opened,

the tall,

this was Murphy—Sharon’s

he

just talking about you! Anyway, check out who’s joining us today! Let me introduce you… That guy over there? Meet Gerald!” Giggling, Lilian pointed out Gerald, who

Gerald? Pleased to meet you!” Wearing a look of awe, Murphy

in his

was only at this point that he was

to be a simple reunion between old friends he hadn’t seen

craved the odd bit of socializing,

to suspect that Lilian might have had other motives behind inviting him here. Gerald had been brought here

cared about him, not even Sharon—Gerald didn’t even

had turned out to be a huge

no interest in

are, Gerald! Sorry, I was only joking around. I heard from Sharon that the

Gerald, Murphy was offering to shake hands with you, just now!

to this guy at

Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible

He goes to Mayberry University, you know—after he graduates,

get in on

basically be colleagues! Let’s get along,

going. He would often have to hear about

made him curious about what she’d

even made things

was why, the moment this guy was introduced to him as Gerald, Murphy couldn’t resist having a bit of

Gerald had no social skills to speak of whatsoever. Once he started working life, it would

him to get a job in Mayberry Street, the

never told us how you scored that

been returned to Murphy,

story—but I suppose it could be because this is my field of specialty. But my boss thinks I’m still kinda

“Whoa! That’s amazing, man!”

level of pay was a rare thing. What’s more, he could still climb further

in terms of looks—but Lilian was more carefree, while Sharon was more reserved. The latter approach apparently made

moment, Sharon was beaming with

out Gerald, further down

those years, she’d succumbed to a moment’s sentimentality and had become an item

well for

Lilian nodded. “Yup, yup!”

family. I’m planning

Gonna apply for a government position?

honestly, you’d be terrible at this sort of thing, Gerald. As for design, it sounds great on paper, but the reality is a nightmare! It takes a sharp, logical mind… another talent you

said all this, everyone watched Gerald

on the table. Gerald ate, keeping his own counsel. The only thing he said in reply was, “We’ll see how it goes. Whatever works. No

that attitude, again… Can’t

it! It’s bad enough how hopeless you are, but you won’t even listen to good advice?

to any of them, trouble was brewing outside their

group of youths were having a disagreement with one of the

extra, understand? We’re a big group—it has to be this room!” snapped a crude sort of fellow. “Name your price,

Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter

Their food has

get it? Don’t you know who you’re talking to? Three minutes, that’s all I’ll give you—and if you can’t

I’ll give it a shot.” The waitress hurried inside

and the others would

the meaning of this? They had gotten here first—they had even begun eating already! Now, you come in here and say,

do you

we’re not moving!” Lilian was glaring, her

like to see just who that is hollering

the private room opened, and

building up toward a

their champion on this side. He had nothing to fear from your run-of-the-mill rich brats—especially not now that he was working for the Mayberry group.

places now is simply not an option—that’s just unreasonable. How about this, next time, I make it my

was cool and collected,

were standing their

and their mother claims to be from Mayberry these days! You think just because I don’t work there myself, that

appeared at the doorway, strolling through with both hands in his

sir?” Seeing this man, Murphy’s stern countenance instantly gave way to effusive

was a big kahuna attending Sunnydale University and

to be a recurring fixture at cruise parties, where he was said

Yancy was not

who I

not? I’m friends with Ken, and he’s always going on about you!” Murphy was in total

boys, huh?” Yancy smirked. “I came here to have dinner… is switching tables for my sake really

we’ve already started here, you see… Couldn’t you just see this as doing me a

owe you any favors.” Yancy was done playing

So did everybody else at the

not

routines were worthless here. One word to Aiden and he

for it but to grit his teeth and say, “Understood!

there are so many dishes on the table… How shall we do this?” Lilian suddenly chirped sweetly. Just a moment ago, she had been a raging

discussing the same matter as

Clear the room for Mr. Ziegler!” one of

way we’ll do it, then!” Everyone else nodded in

froze in

Gerard?

sitting with his back toward him, just quietly eating away

Yancy had first walked in here, he had glanced at that same guy and

his name had been spoken, Yancy burst into action, hurrying over to Gerard for a better

aloud.

S-s-so you were here!” Yancy stammered, remembering what

who had also met

Novel (Invisible

that Mr. Crawford would be

know this hobo, Gerard?” Murphy asked

the other guys present at the scene were overcome with jealousy. How was it that Yancy knew that

What was this?

is it any of your business whom I happen to know? Get the hell out of my sight!” Hearing what Murphy had called Gerard, Yancy was roaring

out of