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.

phenomenally beautiful woman she was, though her radiance was

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

the sort of person who never felt he was good

but Queta here had it

come across a

moved with

do you stay?”

children pointed towards an ordinary residential area, not

if I swing by for a bit?” he asked

a moment’s consternation, Queta

basically a collection of old

away to go get a bath. The children had been trying

is Gerald Crawford. Shall

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

Man Novel (Invisible

would such a powerful man be interested

wouldn’t just come out and say why, either.

held particular

course he could just solve their problems straight away: Find them a nicer place to stay in, put all the kids in school… all it would take was

Queta again, his heart had been racing wildly out of control. Some subtle emotion

didn’t understand this

back now, he’d known from the first time he laid eyes on her… Just one look from the side and her face had been burned into his

chance. How could he be feeling this way about

that, from

them began to talk, warming towards

an entire afternoon had gone

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

felt light, his soul at peace for the

phone rang. It

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

be late for

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

word, she’d hung up on

Gerald smiled wryly.

should have just stayed out of this ‘old schoolmates’

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

the car,

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

Gerald! After all these years! No patches on your clothes… have you started

place! How have you been doing lately? The internship is coming up soon—found yourself a spot

seat first. Gerald, tell us all about what

was the number of ‘old friends’ who were in attendance this

girl at the head of the table: Sharon

and his best friend in high

fact, each had been

to get involved with someone from

Gerald hadn’t dared to get involved with someone

had been too great a fault

been much more to

been well?” Gerald smiled at her. Sharon had changed tremendously. She’d learned how to use make-up, and her appeal was

beauty without

Why don’t you find a place to sit down!” Sharon replied with a smile and in a tone that was neither

contact, anything they

just strangers,

an empty seat,

you could sit there?” Before he could actually do so, however, another girl—another ex-classmate—snapped harshly at

Novel (Invisible

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 haven’t

remember her name anymore, and he couldn’t be bothered to pick a fight with her at the

where all the food would

had been everyone’s intention all along, Gerald simply resigned himself to

an empty spot beside Sharon, too. However, she’d left her handbag on there, indicating that she was saving the seat for

Gerald, then turned and asked, “Sharon, when’s Murphy

time, he’ll say he’s almost there—but you’re still gonna have to wait a

in truth her heart sang

the Murphy who graduated and immediately became sales manager of an upmarket business along Mayberry Commercial Street? Are the two of

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

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

sooner had Sharon mentioned her boyfriend than the whole table was abuzz about him. The air

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

cue, the doors opened, and two

here!” Everyone greeted the tall, thin man with warm

was Murphy—Sharon’s current

other girl’s boyfriend, and he casually took

check out who’s joining us today! Let me introduce you… That guy over there? Meet Gerald!”

to meet you!” Wearing a look of awe,

Gerald remained in his seat and ignored

that he was really starting to

this to be a simple reunion between old

the odd

he’d arrived that he began to suspect that Lilian might have had other motives behind inviting him here. Gerald had been brought

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

thing had turned out

had no interest in

at him. “Ahaha, what a character you are, Gerald! Sorry, I was only joking around. I heard from Sharon that the two of you used to be

Gerald, Murphy was offering to shake hands with you,

this guy at all! Just ask Sharon—he’s a

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

that! He goes to Mayberry University, you know—after he graduates, he might very

get in on the

we’d basically be colleagues! Let’s get

going. He would often have to hear about everyone bringing

what she’d seen in a

even made things

as Gerald, Murphy couldn’t resist having a bit of fun at his

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

Murphy! For a guy like him to get a job in Mayberry

you never told us how you scored that

had been

of specialty. But my boss thinks I’m still kinda green, so

“Whoa! That’s amazing, man!”

that level of pay was a rare 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

Sharon was

out Gerald, further down the

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

the others have done pretty well for yourselves

Lilian nodded. “Yup, yup!”

we can all continue to grow with the Mayberry family. I’m planning to get my own place in the district in a couple of

are your plans for after you graduate? Gonna apply for a government position? Have you got a

last one for you. A government office would be a tough fit for you. Speaking as someone working in sales, 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 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

all this, everyone watched

thing he said in reply was,

yo! There’s that attitude,

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

heckling Gerald in this way, unbeknownst to any of them,

youths were having a disagreement with

to be this room!” snapped a crude sort of fellow. “Name your price, d*mn it, and then kick everyone out of

Novel (Invisible or Poorest)

way! Their food

you—and if you can’t get it done for me, your manager will do it in

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

and the others would have

first—they had even begun eating already! Now, you

do you think

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

who that is hollering in there, thinking she’s hot

to the private room opened, and

building up toward

fear from your run-of-the-mill rich brats—especially not now that he was working for the

his throat and stood. “My friends, we did reserve this room first. Changing places now is simply not an option—that’s just unreasonable. How about this, next time, I make it

and collected, smiling

multiple payloads: They were standing their ground, and he had connections

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

someone appeared at the doorway, strolling

you, sir?” Seeing this man, Murphy’s stern countenance instantly gave way to effusive fawning. Even Sharon had to avert her eyes from the

kahuna attending Sunnydale University and had been

where he was said to have made friends with someone of

was big. Yancy was not

who I am?”

Murphy was in total doormat mode now. Gone was the

Ken’s boys, huh?” Yancy smirked. “I came here to have dinner… is switching tables

Mr. Ziegler, we’ve already started here, you see…

owe you any favors.” Yancy was done playing nice.

did everybody else at the

Yancy Ziegler was not someone to

Aiden and he

for it but

dishes on the table… How shall we do this?” Lilian suddenly chirped sweetly. Just a

the same matter as before, this time, she had

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

it,

meanwhile, froze

Gerard?

at the young man, sitting with his back toward him, just quietly eating away without another care in the

had first walked in here, he had glanced at that same

spoken, Yancy burst into action, hurrying over to Gerard for

nearly shrieked aloud. It

Yancy stammered, remembering what Aiden had said last

him, those henchmen who had also met Gerard

Novel (Invisible or

would be

you know this hobo, Gerard?”

Gerard Crawford by name, Murphy and many of the other guys present at

What was this?

hell 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 with

drained out of Murphy’s