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.

was, though her radiance was being obscured by

reserved in Gerald’s presence. He knew it was

used to be the sort

to think he’d gotten the short straw in life, but Queta here had it so much worse:

you come across a woman

moved with admiration for

you

an ordinary residential area, not far from

for a bit?” he asked

a moment’s

basically a

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

Smith, my name is Gerald Crawford.

that Gerald was a powerful

Man Novel (Invisible or

man be interested in

and say why, either.

soft-hearted man and held particular

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 a few words from

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

understand

now, he’d known from the first time he laid eyes on her…

girl he’d met purely by chance. How could he be feeling this

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

began to talk, warming

entire afternoon had

going now. I’ll visit again in a few days!” Gerald waved goodbye

his soul at peace for the first time

his phone rang. It was

Gerald had asked to exchange numbers with her. Reluctantly,

to be late for your

came up, so I was held back.

Without another word,

Gerald smiled wryly.

of this ‘old schoolmates’ trouble. What a d*mned

now. He returned to the car park, started

parked the car,

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

all these years! No patches on your clothes… have you started dressing like normal

I hear you’re in Mayberry University? That’s a swanky place! How have you been doing

about what you’ve been

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

then spotted a girl at the head of

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

fact, each had been harboring some

hadn’t wanted to get involved with someone from his sort

Gerald hadn’t dared to get involved with someone

been too great a

never been much more to each

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

first-class beauty

don’t you find a place to sit down!” Sharon replied with a smile and in a

years without contact, anything they

were just strangers,

spotted an empty seat, and he moved

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

Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or

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

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

seat by the door, where all the

had been everyone’s intention all along, Gerald simply

empty spot beside Sharon, too. However, she’d left her handbag on there, indicating that she

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

Always wishy-washy about everything. Every time, he’ll say he’s almost there—but you’re still gonna have to wait

upset, in truth her

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

when he was still a student, Sharon clung to him everywhere. Now that he’s a Mayberry big

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

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

know about that!” Sharon laughed. “When he gets here, he can tell

opened, and

Everyone greeted the tall, thin man

was Murphy—Sharon’s

other girl’s boyfriend, and he casually took

were just talking about you! Anyway, check out who’s joining us today! Let me introduce you… That

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

Gerald remained in his

that he was really starting

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

the odd bit

only after he’d arrived that he began to suspect that Lilian might have had other motives behind inviting him here. Gerald had been brought here to be the party clown, the

cared about him, not even

thing had turned out to be a

no interest in this

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

offering to shake hands with

you don’t have to apologize to this guy

Novel (Invisible or Poorest)

University, you know—after he graduates, he might very well find himself a job along Mayberry

to get

Then we’d basically be colleagues! Let’s get

conversation going. He would often have to

about what she’d seen in

even made things awkward

Murphy couldn’t resist having a bit of fun at his expense, just

no social skills to speak of whatsoever. Once

For a guy like him to get a job in Mayberry Street, the boss would have to be

you scored that

had been returned to

a long story—but I suppose it could be because this is my field of specialty. But my boss thinks I’m still kinda green, so my salary’s only 45k per year for now. Ahh, I still have such a long way to

“Whoa! That’s amazing, man!”

that level of pay was a rare thing. What’s more, he

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

the moment, Sharon was

gaze sought out Gerald, further

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

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

Lilian nodded. “Yup, yup!”

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

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

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

Murphy said all this, everyone watched

table. Gerald ate, keeping his own counsel. The only thing he said in reply was, “We’ll

that attitude, again… Can’t handle

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

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

youths were having a disagreement

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

Crawford:The Secretly Rich Man Novel (Invisible or

Their food

know who you’re talking to? Three minutes, that’s all I’ll give you—and if you can’t get it done for me, your manager will do it in your place. Try me!”

a shot.” The

and the others would have none of

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

do you think

moving!” Lilian was glaring,

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

private room opened, and the other group strode right

up toward

rich brats—especially not now that he was

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 my treat? We can have a meal

and

were standing their ground, and he

from Mayberry these days! You think just because I don’t work there myself, that means I don’t have

doorway, strolling through with both hands in

stern countenance instantly gave way to effusive

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

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

was big. Yancy was not your typical rich

know who I am?” Yancy said

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

huh?” Yancy smirked. “I came here to have dinner… is switching

here, you see… Couldn’t you just see this as doing

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

hard. So did

Yancy Ziegler was not someone to be taken

were worthless here. One word to Aiden and he could kiss his precious

was nothing for it but to

How shall we do this?” Lilian suddenly chirped sweetly. Just a moment ago, she had been a

was still discussing the same matter as before,

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

it, then!” Everyone else nodded

meanwhile, froze

Gerard?

the young man, sitting with his back toward him, just

he had glanced at that same guy

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

very nearly shrieked aloud. It was

here!” Yancy stammered, remembering what Aiden had said

him, those henchmen who had also met Gerard

Novel

thought that Mr. Crawford would be here, hanging with this sort

Mr. Ziegler, you know this hobo, Gerard?”

some reason, 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 knew

What was this?

happen to know? Get the hell out of my sight!” Hearing what

blood drained out