As Travis found himself in an unusual and unsettling situation, he couldn’t help but cast wary glances around the bustling surroundings. Everyone in the shop appeared blissfully unaware of his uneasiness, each absorbed in their respective activities and Mr. Shen looked anxious as he waited for his subordinates’ return with Mr. Matthew in tow.Although intrigued by the ancient book he had discovered, Travis contemplated returning it to the wooden box, but his decision wavered under the persistent voice within his mind. “Take it, Travis Danforth. You need it. Aren't you curious?”“What the hell?” Travis couldn’t help but mutter in bewilderment.The insistent voice continued to press him, challenging his hesitancy, “You’ve already opened the box. What is stopping you from opening the book?”Although Travis remained confused by the situation, he cleared his throat and fixed his gaze on the enigmatic book. On the title page, four ancient and cryptic characters were meticulously inscribed,
With a fury etched deep into his demeanor, Mr. Shen directed an incensed glare at Matthew, his voice a torrent of boiling indignation as he lashed out, “You, you old scoundrel! Did you think you could run after driving your car into my establishment, shattering my precious vase? Do you truly believe you can evade your responsibility to Jade Pavilion after the destruction you've caused?”Matthew, wearing a derisive countenance, turned his gaze upon Travis, letting out a scoffing remark, “See, I told you, he’d take care of it. It's all on him so why did you go after me the way you did?!”Mr. Shen’s tone turned frigid, his finger accusatorily pointing towards the imposing Aston Martin, his words dripping with disdain, “And who does that extravagant vehicle belong to?”Matthew shifted his gaze, first to the sleek car and then back to Mr. Shen, conceding, “It’s mine.”The question that followed came with a thundering rebuke, “And who recklessly drove it into my shop like a bat out of hell,
Travis locked eyes with Mr. Shen, a determined look in his gaze, and declared, "I need granulated sugar, a heavy-bottomed saucepan, a silicone brush, water, and a stove."Mr. Shen, utterly perplexed as to why sugar would be necessary for this endeavor, regarded Travis's request as a mere jest, while Matthew couldn't resist a scoff, reaffirming his belief that this was a futile endeavor. "I told you, you're wasting your time on him," he interjected dismissively.Ignoring Matthew's skeptical comments, Mr. Shen, partly out of curiosity, decided to entertain Travis's request. He swiftly dispatched someone to procure the items requested. Despite his willingness to provide the necessary materials, he couldn't refrain from a touch of mockery. "Using sugar to repair cultural relics – I've never encountered or heard of such an unorthodox method. Let me make it clear: don't attempt any trickery here. You either compensate us for the damages, or we'll take this man to court, and he'll be senten
A poised Asian woman, elegantly attired in a blue casual suit, strode into the shop. Possessing flawless stature, she emitted a sense of luxury, though her beautiful eyes conveyed both anger and arrogance.Mr. Shen's countenance underwent a sudden transformation upon spotting the woman, revealing his surprise. He promptly lowered his head in respect and inquired, “Ms. Lee, what brings you to our humble establishment?”Ms. Cora Lee, the eldest offspring of Owen Lee, the Jade Pavilion's owner, hails from one of the esteemed families in Grove City.Upon surveying the disarray within the shop, she furrowed her brow. With a disdainful scoff, she admonished, “Shen, at times, you can be utterly useless. Look at this chaos! Do you intend to ruin our business?”Mr. Shen, visibly frustrated, gritted his teeth and provided a brief explanation with a wry chuckle, “This old man accidentally drove into the shop, causing the bottle to break. His son-in-law utilized sugar to repair it. I was on the v
Approaching Travis with a subtle smile, Cora gracefully introduced herself, “I am Cora from the Lee family. May I ask from which cultural relic master you have acquired your skills?”Travis, unfazed by Cora’s prestigious identity, acknowledged the power of the Lee family in Grove City. While they boasted considerable wealth amounting to hundreds of billions, the Danforth family, to which Travis belonged, overshadowed them with a vast fortune reaching into the trillions.Responding with a mirrored faint smile, Travis calmly stated, “My name is Travis, and I lack any formal master or expertise. I merely repaired the damage caused by this regrettable uncle of mine,” gesturing subtly towards Matthew, “who made a mess in your shop and broke the bottle.”Cora, however, interrupted him, her expression revealing a sense of awe. “Mr. Travis, you didn’t just repair it; you performed magic on it.”With a gentle chuckle, Travis retorted, “I’m certain everyone can attest that I didn’t employ any m
Bianca entered the cell where Edwin was confined, her gaze revealing a sense of disappointment that mirrored her inner devastation. The weight of the situation was evident in her expression.Edwin, eager and hopeful, hurried towards his mother and urgently inquired, "Mom, what's happening? Am I getting out of here soon?! Why is it taking so long?!" Frustration dripped from his words as he addressed his mother.Shaking her head with regret, Bianca responded, "I’m afraid, Edwin, that we're currently unable to secure your release. Despite my attempts to bail you out, I kept facing refusals.""Mom, I'm not involved with drugs! I had nothing to do with it! I don't even know how it got into my car! I'm innocent, mom! I was framed!" His voice resonated with fear, his face contorted with anguish.In solemn agreement, Bianca affirmed, "I know, my dear son. I know you were framed, and there's only one person who would do this to you.""What?" Edwin blurted out in confusion. "Wait, don't tell me
Travis released a weary sigh, finding solace leaning against a building in a serene street with few passersby. He patiently awaited the arrival of individuals he deemed significant.Amid his quiet vigil, his phone buzzed, and a smile graced his face when he saw it was Joanna calling. Answering with a warm greeting, he said, "Hey, babe.""Hi, Travis. How did it go with my uncle? Did you have a good time with him?" Joanna's voice carried a hopeful tone through the phone.Travis chuckled softly and responded, "Not really. He tried to get me into trouble, Joanna. Your uncle doesn't seem to have much affection for me.""Oh," Joanna replied, a hint of disappointment evident. "I can't believe this. What the hell is their problem? I thought things were going to be fine, you know, with the kind of speech that he gave. So he really was planning to get you in trouble. What kind of trouble?" she inquired."The kind of trouble that would land me in jail," Travis stated matter-of-factly."Oh God. A
Gerald sat in anticipation, eagerly awaiting updates on the scheme he set in motion through his hired thugs. He found it somewhat entertaining that, thus far, none of them had reached out to report the progress of their assigned task. The silence, particularly from Matt, began to irk him, leaving Gerald contemplating whether he should break the silence and contact Matt for a status update.As he contemplated dialing Matt’s number, Gerald hesitated, deciding to afford it some more time, trusting that Matt and his accomplices were diligently carrying out their mission. In his mind, he envisioned the unfolding scenario: Matt orchestrating a severe beating, extracting a confession from Travis regarding his alleged framing of Edwin.Simultaneously, Gerald sensed an impending call from Bianca, who would undoubtedly seek information and reassurance regarding the plan’s progression. Aware of the need to satisfy her concerns, Gerald pondered the delicate balance between keeping her informed an