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

she was being very reserved in Gerald’s presence. He knew it was because

Gerald used to be the sort of person who never felt he was

age. Gerald used to think he’d gotten the short straw in life, but Queta here had it so

often did you come across a woman like

moved with admiration for

do you stay?” he

All three children pointed towards an ordinary residential area, not

for a bit?”

moment’s consternation, Queta

area was basically a collection of old

stool and offered it to him. Then she shooed the three kids away to go get a bath. The children

is Gerald Crawford. Shall we be

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

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

a powerful man be interested

say why, either. Today was just a chance

and held particular sympathy

problems straight away: Find them a nicer place to stay in, put all

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

understand

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

How could he

was that, from the moment he met

of them began to talk, warming towards each

entire afternoon

a few days!” Gerald waved goodbye to the girls and took

his

rang.

last parted ways, Gerald had asked to exchange numbers

Gerald… I invite you to be a part of this gathering, and you’re going to be late for your first

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

doot… Without another word, she’d hung up

Gerald smiled wryly.

of this ‘old schoolmates’

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

car, and found the

enough, Gerald! You’ve really kept everyone waiting for you, you

After all these years! No patches on

How have you been doing lately?

first. Gerald, tell us all about

in a private dining room, with a massive table that could easily seat two dozen. That was the number of ‘old friends’ who were in attendance this evening, including a handful

at everyone, then spotted a girl at

girl in class, and his best friend in high school. They used to study together

matter of fact, each had been harboring some measure of

Sharon hadn’t wanted to get involved with someone

get involved

too great a fault

much more to each other

her. Sharon had changed tremendously. She’d learned how to use make-up,

first-class beauty without

to sit down!” Sharon replied with a smile and in a tone that was

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

just

empty seat, and he moved to

sit there?” Before he could actually do so,

Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter

thing to have been a loser back then, but after three years of university, you still haven’t improved one

be bothered to pick a

the door, where all the food would be brought

intention all along, Gerald simply resigned himself

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

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

wishy-washy about everything. Every time, he’ll say he’s almost

sounded upset, in truth her heart sang

Sharon talking about Murphy, as in the Murphy who graduated and immediately became sales manager of an upmarket business along Mayberry Commercial Street? Are the two of you not

Now that he’s a Mayberry big shot, you’re full of complaints? Actually, you just want us

speaking though, could you tell us how he landed that job? Gosh, sales manager at Mayberry

the whole table was abuzz about him. The air was

Sharon laughed. “When he gets here, he

doors opened,

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

was Murphy—Sharon’s current

girl’s boyfriend, and he casually took

Let me introduce you… That guy over there?

Pleased to meet you!” Wearing

remained in his seat

that he was really starting to get annoyed

a simple reunion between old friends he hadn’t

odd bit

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

really cared about him, not even Sharon—Gerald

had turned out

had no interest in this

the other hand, was beaming at him. “Ahaha, what a character you are, Gerald! Sorry, I was

offering to shake hands with you,

have to apologize to this guy at

Novel

graduates, he might very well find

get in on

basically be colleagues!

would often have to hear about everyone bringing up this old friend

curious about what she’d seen

made things awkward

as Gerald, Murphy couldn’t resist having

social skills to speak of whatsoever. Once he started working

him to get a job in Mayberry Street, the boss

you never told us how you scored that Sales Manager job

focus had been returned to Murphy,

my field of specialty. But my boss thinks I’m still kinda green, so my salary’s only

“Whoa! That’s amazing, man!”

a rare thing. What’s more, he could still

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

the moment, Sharon

sought out

pang of sorrow arose in her heart, followed immediately by horror—imagine if, during those years, she’d succumbed to a moment’s sentimentality and had become an item with that guy…

you and the others have done pretty well for yourselves too—I hear

Lilian nodded. “Yup, yup!”

on, we can all continue to grow with the Mayberry family. I’m planning to

apply for a government position? Have you

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

all this,

ate, keeping his own counsel. The only thing he said in reply was, “We’ll see how it goes. Whatever

yo! There’s that attitude, again… Can’t

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

went on heckling Gerald in this way, unbeknownst to any of

group of youths were having a disagreement

a big group—it has to be this room!” snapped a crude sort of

Secretly Rich Man Novel

Their food has

you—and if you can’t get it done

a shot.” The waitress

the others would have none

had gotten here first—they had even begun eating already!

you think

moving!” Lilian was glaring, her temper

who that is hollering in there, thinking

opened, and the other

was building up toward

your run-of-the-mill rich brats—especially not now that he was working for the Mayberry group. Everyone looked toward him in

option—that’s just unreasonable. How about this, next time,

was cool and collected, smiling

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

claims to be from Mayberry these days! You think just because I don’t work there myself, that means I don’t have any big friends

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

way to effusive fawning. Even Sharon had to avert her eyes from

attending Sunnydale University and had

also used to be a recurring fixture at cruise parties, where he

Yancy was not your

who I

you!” Murphy was

Yancy smirked. “I came here to have dinner… is switching tables for my sake really too much

we’ve already started here, you see… Couldn’t you

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

swallowed hard. So did everybody else at

Ziegler was not

here. One word to Aiden and he could kiss his precious job in Mayberry Street

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

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

still discussing the same matter as before, this

move everything over to our new table. Clear the room for Mr. Ziegler!” one of the

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

froze in

Gerard?

his back toward him, just quietly

first walked in here, he had glanced at that

burst into action, hurrying over

very nearly shrieked aloud. It was Gerard

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

had also met Gerard before were too

Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest)

thought that Mr. Crawford would be

Ziegler, you know this hobo, Gerard?”

Gerard Crawford by name, Murphy and many of the other guys present at the scene were overcome with jealousy. How

What was this?

the hell out of my sight!” Hearing what Murphy had called Gerard, Yancy was roaring

blood drained out of Murphy’s