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.

though her radiance

knew it was because she was afraid he would tire

to be the sort of person who never felt he was good

straw in life, but Queta here had it so much worse: A young woman with no parents, caring for three

you come across a woman like this,

deeply moved with admiration

you

three children pointed towards an ordinary

you mind if I swing by for a

moment’s

basically a collection

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 refuse to sell

Gerald

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

Novel (Invisible

powerful man be

out and say why, either. Today was

held

straight away: Find them a nicer place to stay in, put all the kids in school… all it would take was a few

been racing wildly out of control. Some subtle emotion was compelling him to get closer to her, to get to

understand

first time he laid eyes on her…

purely by chance. How could

slightest clue. All he knew was that, from the moment he met her, he’d felt like he’d known

began to talk, warming

an entire

going now. I’ll visit again in a few days!” Gerald waved goodbye to the girls and took his

the day with them, his heart felt light, his

his phone rang. It

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

of this gathering, and you’re going to be late for your first time?” Lilian’s voice was sharp with reprimand. “I said to meet at five.

came up, so I was held back. On my way now,

word, she’d hung up

Gerald smiled wryly.

this ‘old schoolmates’ trouble. What a

had to keep it now. He returned to the car park, started up his car, and

the car, and found the

really kept everyone waiting for you, you know?” Lilian’s face contorted

patches on your clothes… have you started

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

first. Gerald, tell us all about what

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

spotted a girl at the

his best friend in high school. They used to study together all

had been

hadn’t wanted to get involved with someone from his

to get involved with

been too great

been much more to

had changed tremendously. She’d learned how to use make-up, and her appeal was now

first-class beauty

don’t you find a place to sit down!” Sharon replied

without contact, anything they

just strangers,

Gerald spotted an empty seat,

Before he could actually do so, however, another girl—another ex-classmate—snapped harshly

Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter

anyone say you could sit here? This spot is reserved for my boyfriend! Goodness gracious… it’s one thing to have been a loser back then, but after three years of university, you still

couldn’t be bothered to pick a fight with her

door, where all the food would

had been everyone’s intention all along,

spot beside Sharon, too. However, she’d left her handbag on there, indicating that she was saving the seat for somebody. Certainly, she’d made no move to

grinned at Gerald, then turned and asked,

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

sounded upset, in truth

immediately became sales manager of an upmarket business along

Back when he was still a student, Sharon clung to him everywhere. Now that he’s a Mayberry big shot, you’re full of complaints? Actually, you just want us

landed that job? Gosh, sales manager at Mayberry Street… I wouldn’t trade it for

whole table was

I wouldn’t know about that!” Sharon laughed. “When

opened,

you’re here!” Everyone greeted the tall, thin

this was Murphy—Sharon’s

guy was that other girl’s boyfriend, and he casually took the seat that Gerald had almost

today! Let me

tramp, Gerald? Pleased to meet you!” Wearing a look of awe, Murphy came over to shake

remained in his seat and ignored

only at this point that he was really starting to

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

the odd bit

arrived that he began to suspect that Lilian might have had other motives behind inviting him here.

cared about him, not even Sharon—Gerald

whole thing had turned out to

had no interest in

him. “Ahaha, what a character you are, Gerald! Sorry, I was only joking around. I

shake hands

Murphy, you don’t have to apologize to this guy at all! Just ask Sharon—he’s

Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest)

know—after he graduates, he might

get in on the

basically be colleagues!

conversation going. He would often have to hear about

him curious about what she’d seen in a

even made things awkward

this guy was introduced to him as Gerald, Murphy couldn’t

skills to speak of whatsoever. Once he started working

Leave him alone, Murphy! For a guy like him to get a job in Mayberry Street, the boss would have

told us how you scored that Sales Manager job over

been

a long 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!”

thing. What’s more, he could still climb further up

green with envy toward Sharon now. She was her equal in terms of looks—but Lilian was more carefree, while Sharon was more reserved. The latter approach apparently made

moment, Sharon was beaming with

her gaze sought out Gerald, further down

succumbed to a moment’s

others have done pretty well for yourselves

Lilian nodded. “Yup, yup!”

wonderful to hear. From now on, we can all continue to grow with the Mayberry family. I’m planning to get my own place in the

yes—Gerald, bro, what are your plans for after you graduate? Gonna apply for a government position? Have you got a job lined up for yourself? Interested

reality is a nightmare! It takes a sharp, logical mind… another talent you don’t seem to be blessed with. No, it’s gotta be something less cerebral, a basic desk job where all you need to know is how to

Murphy said all this,

counsel. The only thing he said in reply was, “We’ll see how it

There’s that attitude, again… Can’t handle the

enough how hopeless you are, but you won’t even listen to good advice? Alas, your

way, unbeknownst to any of them, trouble was

group of youths were having a disagreement

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

Man Novel (Invisible

there’s just no way! Their

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

a shot.” The waitress hurried

and the others would have

had gotten here first—they had even begun eating already! Now, you come in here and

do you

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

like to see just who that is hollering in there, thinking she’s hot

opened, and the

up

brats—especially not now that he was working for

this room first. Changing places now is simply not an option—that’s just unreasonable. How about this, next time,

and collected,

multiple payloads: They were standing their ground, and he

claims to be from Mayberry these days! You think just because I don’t work

appeared at the doorway, strolling

stern countenance instantly gave way to effusive fawning. Even Sharon had to avert her

University and had been painting the town red

fixture at cruise parties, where he was said to have

big. Yancy was not your typical rich

know who I am?”

going on about you!” Murphy

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

already started here, you see… Couldn’t you

any favors.” Yancy was done playing nice. “Enough horse crap—will you move

swallowed hard. So did everybody else at the

Ziegler was not someone to be taken

word to Aiden and he could kiss

cheeks were burning now, there was nothing for it but to grit his teeth and say,

but there are so many dishes on the table… How shall we do this?” Lilian suddenly chirped sweetly. Just a moment

discussing the same matter as before, this time, she had

over to our new table. Clear the room for Mr.

way we’ll do it,

meanwhile, froze in

Gerard?

back toward him, just quietly eating away without another care in

when Yancy had first walked in here, he had glanced at that

his name had been spoken, Yancy burst into action,

aloud. It

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

henchmen who had also met

Rich Man Novel (Invisible

thought that Mr. Crawford would be here, hanging

Ziegler, you know this hobo, Gerard?” Murphy

Gerard Crawford by name, Murphy and many of the other guys present at the scene were overcome with jealousy. How was it that Yancy knew that guy but not

What was this?

happen to know? Get the hell out of my sight!” Hearing what Murphy had called Gerard, Yancy

drained out