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Chapter 33
A Grand Entrance
Under the fiercely similar, vicious stares of the two men demanding an explanation, Vendia began to sweat profusely.
“Well… Grandpa, you asked me if he could get by on looks alone…”
“And with this face, he can do more than just get by. Don’t you think so, young lady?” The grandfather’s eyes seemed to say, Go on, tell me what you think.
Why is the spotlight on me all of a sudden?!
The answer was obvious. Despite hitting his grandson with a cane, the grandfather seemed to think Ron was the most handsome man in the world, proving the saying that blood is thicker than water. While it was objectively true that Ron was good-looking, Vendia also had her own personal taste.
Of course, this wasn’t the time for personal tastes.
“Hahaha, of course, he’s handsome. Whoa, it’s so bright! The light from his face is so dazzling I can’t even open my eyes!” She tried her best to compliment Ron without displeasing the grandfather, but it seemed she had overdone it.
The grandfather’s brow furrowed in dissatisfaction.
“Wanna die?” Ron, who had finally figured out what was going on, shot her a murderous look.
Thwack!
“Ow! What was that for?”
“You rascal! What kind of way is that to talk to a woman?!” the grandfather roared, hitting Ron on the top of his head with his cane.
Vendia’s lips clamped shut to hide her stifled laughter. Ron’s glare turned even more terrifying, but she ignored it. It served him right.
“But who are you, young lady, coming out of this house? Are you a maid?”
“Pfft!” Ron scoffed.
Vendia gave him a sharp glare from the corner of her eye. He arrogantly lifted his chin and mouthed the word, ‘What?’
“What’s so funny, you fool! What do you know about the world that you’re running away from home? I’ve told you before that a person should be chosen based on how well they work! Who told you to hire someone based on their looks?!”
“…” Ron, who had been momentarily stunned, looked aghast.
“Are you insane, old man? You see this face, and that’s what you say?”
This jerk! Vendia fought the urge to snap back. Unlike him, she was a cultured intellectual. She shouldn’t stoop to his level.
“Grandfather, I’m not a maid.”
“Then who are you, young lady?” The grandfather’s gaze, now turned back to Vendia, became sharp.
If she wasn’t a maid, and a woman was with his grandson, he was likely trying to figure out who she was and if she was a decent person.
“Since you asked, it’s only right that I answer. I am this kind of person.” Vendia, barely suppressing a twitching smile, pulled a business card from her pocket as if she had been waiting for this very moment.
“You’re so full of yourself. What does a landlord need a business card for?” Ron clicked his tongue, watching Vendia’s arrogant display.
“A consultant for the Second Commercial District?” The grandfather read the card, squinting. Ron’s tongue-clicking stopped.
“Yes. I am a consultant for The Line’s Second District. I am also the owner of this mansion, a dual role.” She gave a slight bow, then proudly lifted her chin to look at Ron.
See that? This is who I am.
‘Wow, I was a little cool just now.’
The business card was one that Eulyze had semi-forced on her, but Vendia secretly loved it. She just enjoyed this kind of display of her abilities. It felt like it was only a matter of time before she published an autobiography titled, “From Regular Employee to Building Owner and Consultant.”
“You’re the owner of this building?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And you’re a consultant for the commercial district, too?”
“Haha. Yes, I am.”
“Hmm…” The grandfather’s piercing gaze softened.
It feels so good. I’m so awesome when I’m capable.
“You fool!”
“Why are you hitting me again!” A bolt from the blue hit Ron on the back of his head, and he lost his temper.
“You pathetic boy! How could I not hit you! Not only did you run away from home at 24, but you also made your old man clean up your messes! Why did you beat people up and leave them there?! Are you a thug?!”
“They’re the ones who came to my place with weapons first, so I dealt with them.” Ron grumbled, rubbing the back of his head.
Vendia, who had unintentionally overheard the conversation, finally understood. She had wondered how Ron handled the thugs he’d beaten up that night, but it was his grandfather who had taken care of it. It made sense that he had someone to rely on.
“So, how long are you going to keep being pathetic like this!”
“Mind your own business. Why is a retired old man meddling in family affairs so much?”
“Your grandmother would be so proud to see you like this from the heavens!”
“…” Ron, who had been rudely talking back, suddenly went silent. He bit his lip and frowned, as if suppressing something.
‘Oh, my…’ Vendia felt like she had just heard something she shouldn’t have.
Now that she knew the grandfather wasn’t a prospective tenant, she wanted to get away from the two of them. It was never a good idea to get involved in other people’s family matters. She wanted to escape immediately, but her deep-rooted Confucian values wouldn’t let her. She carefully opened her mouth to say her goodbyes to the grandfather.
“Well, then, I’ll be going…”
“Come along at once!” the grandfather snapped, grabbing Ron’s arm and pulling him.
Vendia slowly moved her legs, trying to slip away unnoticed.
“Don’t waste your energy. Go back home.” Ron’s face was hardened. He easily pulled his arm out of his grandfather’s grip.
“If you won’t come, I have my own ways. I’ll start by cleaning out this house…”
“No!” Vendia shouted. “My rent!”
“Why is that a ‘no’ for you, young lady?” The grandfather raised an eyebrow. Ron did the same, looking at her with an expression that said, ‘What are you doing?’
“I need it!”
“This guy…?”
“Yes? Yes! That’s right!” She nodded vigorously, shouting out of sheer desperation. If Ron left, she’d lose her tenant, and the rent would be empty for too long. Since she needed the rent, it wasn’t a lie that she needed Ron.
“Why do you need my grandson, young lady? Are you two…?”
“Of course not! He’s my employee!” Vendia shrieked, startled by the grandfather’s suspicion.
“Hey, you b…”
“He’s so incredibly talented that I desperately need your grandson, Grandfather. We work together in the Second District.” Vendia cut Ron off and spoke to the grandfather.
By this point, he seemed to be amused, crossing his arms and watching her to see how far she would go. Vendia gave the grandfather a mechanical laugh and rolled her eyes at Ron, trying to signal to him.
I’ve gone this far, so you’d better play along. You don’t want to leave either, do you?
“What? Is that true?” The grandfather looked back and forth between them, as if trying to gauge the truth.
Ron stared at Vendia’s silent signals for a long time before uncrossing his arms and running a hand through his hair. “Yeah. I’m working with her.”
Only in times like these did the two of them work together so well.
The Unspoken Truth
“I understand your occupation, young lady. But what family do you belong to?”
How did I end up like this?
Vendia sat with her back uncomfortably straight and her hands on her knees, feeling awkward. She had only wanted to get out of the immediate situation, but the grandfather’s offer to give them a ride to the Second District had landed her in his carriage. She got in to keep the lie from being exposed, but the grandfather’s stare from across the carriage was too much to handle.
“Old man, it’s not like that, so mind your own business.” Ron, sitting next to her, cut in. Unlike Vendia, who was stiff with tension, he leaned back nonchalantly with his legs crossed.
“Was I talking to you, you rascal!”
“Hahaha, this carriage is great. The ride is so smooth!” Vendia said, trying to stop the grandfather from raising his cane at Ron again. It wasn’t an empty compliment. The carriage was indeed great. No, it wasn’t even a carriage. There were no horses pulling it. But its shape was like a carriage, and there was a coachman outside. The coachman was controlling a speed-regulating magic tool and a direction-regulating magic tool instead of reins.
Vendia knew the purpose of those magic tools. She had read about them in the newspaper just last week.
