C7 I'll Give You a Discount This Time!

Previously, Director Mills had told Freya to "get lost."

Now, she found herself barred from even stepping foot into Blessing Restaurant. Yet, she wasn't ready to forfeit her chance to sing at the Seventh Festival, so she reluctantly sought out Duane for help.

"I'm not acquainted with him," Duane stated.

"What?"

Freya's face fell. Had she overthought the situation? Director Mills had shown such deference to someone on an electric scooter, likely out of politeness, not familiarity.

How infuriating!

She had wasted her apologies on Winter for nothing!

"Goodbye!"

She spun on her heel to leave.

But as she did, Duane added, "However, Director Mills has expressed a desire to become sworn brothers with me."

"What?!"

Freya was taken aback, quickly plastering on a smile, "Duane, we go way back as old classmates..."

"But I find him too old, so I declined," Duane interjected.

"..."

Freya's face chilled over once more.

"He wanted to recognize me as his elder brother," Duane continued.

"..."

Freya's expression shifted again, and she cozied up to Duane, rubbing his arm seductively, "Duane..."

"But I didn't agree."

Duane went on.

Pfft!

Freya nearly choked on her own disbelief.

The esteemed Director Mills of Blessing Restaurant wanted to acknowledge you as his elder brother, and you refused?

Are you out of your mind?

Hold on...

Director Mills wanted this guy as his elder brother?

Then, she caught the teasing smirk on Duane's face and realized she'd been played. Her expression turned icy.

"You jerk, you deliberately toyed with me! I must have been blind to think that a loser like you would be in with Director Mills. Get out of my sight! The farther, the better!"

Watching her deflate was too amusing for Duane, who burst into laughter before saying, "By the way, what brought you to Blessing Restaurant? Give me a reason, and maybe I'll think about helping you."

Freya paused, wrestling with her pride before deciding to take the chance. She explained her situation to him.

"If you can just put in a good word with Director Mills for me, I'll pay you 20,000 dollars for your trouble. How's that sound? That's like a year's salary for you, right?"

"No, I don't want money," Duane chuckled.

With over two hundred million dollars to his name, was he really going to miss a mere twenty thousand?

"Then you..."

Freya's face turned sour, and she clutched at her chest, exclaiming, "You wouldn't dare... How shameless, how vile!"

"I never said that; you're the one putting words in my mouth," Duane replied, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"Fine!" Freya bit her lip in determination. "If you can help me, I'll make it worth your while just this once!"

Duane was bewildered.

He had no such intentions, and he certainly hadn't expected Freya to suggest...

"Hey!"

Freya shot him a warning look. "Don't give me that look. I haven't stooped low! I've just come to realize that to get ahead, sacrifices must be made! So, are you going to help me or not?"

She felt trapped by her circumstances.

Such was the harsh reality.

She had been prepared to offer herself to someone like Director Mills, but now that she couldn't even set foot in Blessing Restaurant, she was left with no choice but to turn to Duane.

Seeing her resolve, Duane was at a loss for words but managed to say, "Okay, okay, I'll give you a call."

It didn't take long.

He got in touch with Freesia, quickly relayed the situation, and then assured Freya, "There, it's done. Go ahead and have your talk."

"Really?"

Freya's spirits lifted.

Sure enough.

Soon after, the manager who had conducted the interviews proactively reached out to her, inviting her to discuss things further at Blessing Restaurant.

Elated, Freya made her way to the restaurant, thinking to herself,

Hmph!

Once I've performed at the Qixi Festival and mingled with the wealthy elite, will I let you have your way? A toad in street-market shoes, riding a scooter, thinking he's fit to dine on swan meat?

In your dreams!

Duane had offered his help simply because he wanted her to perform for his wife on the Qixi Festival.

He had no choice.

His wife was, after all, her fan.

And, as it happened, the Qixi Festival was also his wife's birthday.

It had been three years.

For three years, Duane had led a life of monotony. But now that the dragon within him had been roused from its slumber, he was determined to throw his wife a birthday banquet that would be the envy of the world!

As he pondered birthdays...

Duane mused to himself, "I need to figure out what to get for her birthday gift..."

Just then,

A black Land Rover pulled up beside him.

Five or six individuals clad in Taekwondo gear jumped out and encircled Duane.

Their leader, Grant, sneered, "Duane, here we are again. Damn it, today's the day I finish you! Boys, get to it! Break an arm and you get 100,000 dollars. A leg? 200,000 dollars!"

Duane's eyebrows lifted.

He had already called Christian, instructing him to reduce him to begging on the streets. Wasn't that settled yet?

If that was the case...

He'd make it quick.

Bang!

Bang!

...

Seconds later,

The five or six assailants were sprawled out on the ground, howling in agony.

Duane approached the trembling Grant, who hadn't anticipated such ferocity.

"If you dare touch me again, I swear I'll kill you..."

"Heh."

With a scornful chuckle, Duane grabbed Grant by the hair, ready to slam his head against the Land Rover.

Grant's legs buckled in terror. Desperate, he blurted out his backup plan, "Wait! Duane, I can help your wife out of her company's crisis!"

"Look out for yourself!"

With a resounding thud, Duane's hand drove Grant's head into the Land Rover.

Grant was on the verge of tears, hastily adding, "Bro, I didn't mean it like that. There's a martial arts competition at Yu Tong Stadium right now, and the prize is the Heart of the Sea necklace, worth 20 million dollars. With your skills, it's a sure win!"

Heart of the Sea?

Duane was taken aback.

He was familiar with the necklace. Its gemstones were so unique that only five existed worldwide, each crafted by the hands of Master Wills himself!

And who was Master Wills?

Every creation of his started in the millions, marking him as one of the globe's most renowned jewelry designers!

Duane knew of the necklace because his wife had once been captivated by it while browsing a world jewelry magazine. She had longed to own one, even murmuring about it in her dreams...

"The Heart of the Sea symbolizes pure and everlasting love—a perfect birthday gift!"

Duane mumbled to himself.

Grant, noticing Duane's hesitation, let a sly smile creep across his lips. He stood up and said, "Come on, bro, let's go. I'll take you there!"

Throughout the journey, Grant was brimming with excitement.

The Challenge Competition was his coach's brainchild.

His coach was a three-time National Taekwondo Champion!

To build his reputation and recruit more students, he had organized the Fayedge Challenge Competition.

Whether it was practitioners of Taekwondo, Karate, or Boxing, anyone could step up to the challenge. There were no points, no rules—just fight until submission.

The event drew martial arts enthusiasts from all over Fayedge.

Grant had invited Duane for two reasons: first, he had already tipped off his coach to fight ruthlessly against Duane, aiming to break his arms and legs, if possible, and leave him disabled.

Second, he wanted to humiliate Duane publicly.

By doing so...

Even if Lavinia stood by Duane, the Xavier family would surely prioritize their reputation and cast him out.

Hehe, such a flawless plan!

Shortly after, they arrived at the Yutong Sports Center.

The place was teeming with people and alive with energy. There were individuals in judo, boxing, and sanda attire—all martial arts practitioners from various clubs.

The competition was in full swing.

Suddenly, with a resounding "bang," Coach Brad soared into the air, landing a kick on the chin of a three-hundred-pound judo athlete. Following up with a 360-degree whirl kick, he sent the judo athlete tumbling to the mat.

The crowd erupted into a thunderous wave of applause and cheers.

"Incredible!"

Grant's eyes sparkled with excitement and admiration. "He took down that three-hundred-pound giant with such ease. Incredible!"

"Is that him?!"

Duane's eyebrows lifted as he recognized the figure on the stage.

That man was Alec.

Duane recalled how Alec had once sought to learn martial arts in Mossley Village but was turned away. Seeing Alec's determination, Duane had offered him some guidance, which proved to be a revelation, leading Alec to refer to Duane as his master ever since.

To my surprise, after a few years apart, he had taken up Taekwondo.

Grant noticed Duane's furrowed brow and mistook it for fear, so he intentionally reassured him, "Bro, relax. He might be tough, but I have faith in you!"

"Tough? It's nothing but showy tricks," Duane responded, his tone nonchalant.

"..."

Seriously?

What's he playing at?

Grant was so frustrated he could strangle him.

But he worried that Duane might get too scared to step onto the stage, so he held back his anger.

Hmph!

I'd like to see if you can keep up this facade when you're the one crying later!