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 being obscured

He knew it was because she

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

life, but Queta here

often did you come across a woman like this,

deeply moved with admiration for

you

towards an ordinary residential area, not far from

swing by for a bit?”

a moment’s

a

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 every day. That

Gerald Crawford. Shall we

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

Novel (Invisible or

would such a powerful man be interested in her

why, either. Today was just

man and held particular sympathy

Find them a nicer place to stay in, put all the kids in school… all it would

out of control. Some subtle emotion was compelling him to get closer to

understand this

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

met purely by chance. How could he be feeling

didn’t have the slightest clue. All he knew was that, from the moment he met her, he’d felt like he’d known her

of them began to talk, warming towards each other with

noticing, an entire afternoon had

few days!” Gerald waved goodbye to the

spending the day with them, his heart felt light, his soul at peace

his phone rang.

had asked to

a part of this gathering, and you’re going to be late

held back. On my

another word, she’d hung

Gerald smiled wryly.

just stayed out of this

now. He returned to the car park, started up his car, and made for the hotel where the reservation had

parked the car,

everyone waiting for you, you

all these years! No patches on your

swanky place! How have

about what you’ve been through,

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

then spotted a girl at the head of

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

been harboring some measure of affection for the

involved with someone from

get involved with

had been too great

so, they’d never been much more to each other than just

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

first-class beauty

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

without contact, anything they had had

just

Gerald spotted an empty seat, and he

do so, however, another girl—another ex-classmate—snapped harshly at

Man Novel (Invisible

could sit here? This spot is reserved for my boyfriend! Goodness gracious… it’s one thing to have

even remember her name anymore, and he couldn’t be bothered to pick

left the seat by the door, where

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

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

turned and asked, “Sharon,

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

upset, in truth her

in the Murphy who graduated and immediately became sales manager of an upmarket business along

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

could you tell us how he landed that job? Gosh, sales manager at Mayberry Street… I wouldn’t trade it

boyfriend than the whole table was abuzz about him. The air

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

on cue, the doors opened,

greeted the tall, thin man

was Murphy—Sharon’s

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

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 was sipping at

to meet you!” Wearing a look of awe,

his seat and ignored

that he was really

been too naïve, expecting this to be a simple reunion between old friends he hadn’t seen in

craved the odd bit

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

one here really cared about him, not even Sharon—Gerald didn’t even know who she was

whole thing had turned out to be a huge

no interest

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

shake hands with you, just now!

Murphy, you don’t have to apologize to this guy at all! Just

Novel (Invisible or Poorest)

He goes to Mayberry University, you know—after he graduates, he might very well find himself a job along Mayberry Commercial Street,

get in on the

Then we’d basically be colleagues! Let’s

often have to hear about everyone bringing up this old friend

had made him curious about what she’d seen in a

it even made

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

of whatsoever. Once he started working life, it would be a

a job in Mayberry

never told us how you scored that

been returned

But my boss thinks I’m still kinda green, so my salary’s only 45k

“Whoa! That’s amazing, man!”

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

with envy toward Sharon now. She was her equal in terms of looks—but Lilian was more carefree, while Sharon was more

the moment, Sharon was beaming

sought out Gerald, further down the

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

I just got lucky. Lilian, you and the others have done pretty well for yourselves too—I hear you’re an

Lilian nodded. “Yup, yup!”

the Mayberry family. I’m planning to get my own place in the district in a couple of years… and then, I shall marry

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

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

this, everyone watched

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

attitude, again…

bad enough how hopeless you are, but you won’t even listen to good advice? Alas, your future looks bleak!” Lilian

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

having a disagreement

snapped a crude sort of fellow. “Name your price, d*mn it, and then kick everyone out

Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter

Their food has already been

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

it a shot.” The waitress hurried inside and explained the

and the others would have

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

do you think you

we’re not moving!”

to see just who that is

doors to the private room opened,

up toward a

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

reserve this room first. Changing places now is simply not an option—that’s just unreasonable. How about this, next time, I make it my treat? We can have a meal together at

and collected, smiling

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

these days! You think just because I don’t work there myself,

strolling through with both hands in his

Murphy’s stern countenance instantly gave way to effusive fawning. Even Sharon had to avert

kahuna attending Sunnydale University and had been painting the town red regularly

at cruise parties, where he was said to

was big. Yancy was not your typical rich brat at

I

Murphy was in total doormat mode now. Gone was the cool champion from a moment

came here to have dinner… is switching tables for my sake really too

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

Yancy was done playing nice. “Enough horse

did

was not someone

to Aiden and he could

now, there was nothing for it but to grit

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

she was still discussing the same matter as

Clear the room

it, then!” Everyone else nodded in

meanwhile, froze in

Gerard?

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

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

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

shrieked aloud. It

were here!” Yancy stammered, remembering what Aiden had said last

had also met Gerard before were too

Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or Poorest) Chapter

Crawford would be here, hanging with this sort

Mr. Ziegler, you know this hobo,

when Yancy Ziegler greeted Gerard Crawford by name, Murphy and many of the other guys present at the scene were overcome with jealousy. How was it that Yancy

What was this?

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

drained out