I sat at the side of the road, lost in thought. Rich or poor, it seemed everyone had an angle.When I was wealthy, people swarmed around me, their intentions as transparent as glass—each one after my fortune. No one really wanted me.Yet, when I am poor, people also leave me because of my poverty; no one really loves me either.Suddenly, my phone rang, pulling me from my reverie."Mr. Alex.""Yes?" I answered."I got your number from Mr. Xian.""What do you want?" I asked, noticing a group beginning to form around me. It appeared that Damian's thugs had rallied their forces."I heard you offer freelance bodyguard jobs, and right now, you're at the University of Oxford.""Yes," I replied as I stood, plugging my phone into a wired earphone.About ten guys, armed with baseball bats and iron bars, approached me menacingly."How dare you hit Damian's people," they shouted as they advanced.To me, their movements were sluggish, almost comical. I struck one in the face, channeling my inner e
Inside the pizza café, in front of all the people eating, drinking, and looking at the incident."Oops, sorry," Damian said, laughing. "My hand slipped."I took a deep breath and glanced at the clock on the wall; only three more minutes remained before I could end my shift."It's okay," I said politely as I moved to clean it up. "I'll take care of it."Just as I bent down to pick up the soup bowl, Damian carelessly dropped another bowl of soup on my head, chuckling, "Oops, sorry waiter, it slipped from my hand again.""It's okay," I replied calmly.When the next shift part-time worker arrived to help clean up, I headed to the back of the café, took a wash, and changed my clothes.After slipping into my usual attire, I exited through the back door and then re-entered the café through the front door.The part-time worker looked up in surprise. "Anything left?" he asked."No, I'm a customer now. Please give me the menu," I responded. He handed me a menu, and I ordered two bowls of chicke
As I was taking care of Sophia, explaining everything about Oxford University to her, she clung to my arm with a smile on her face.I felt like she was enjoying the relationship between a man and a woman for the first time."Are you still doing this? Don’t you think your boyfriend will be jealous?" I asked when we are passing the park.Sophia laughed joyfully. "Do you know that I've never had a boyfriend?""Really?" I smiled in disbelief. "It's impossible for a beautiful girl like you to have no boyfriend.""I went to an all-girls high school, and when I was there, there were a lot of scary guys chasing everyone. So, no guy really dared to make a move on me."I laughed. Thinking they must be her bodyguards, Who in the right mind want to date a mafia’s daughter.Suddenly, I found myself thinking maybe it was time for me to return to my early life being rich.Why do I keep pretending to be poor? For my ego? Let's start by reclaiming my title, "Prince Charming." It's already been so long
In the entrance hall of the bridge, where people were hanging around, Danielle approached me and said, “How can a poor person like you come here?”I stared at Danielle, this girl so eager to cling to Damian’s side, as he is the wealthy second son of the Spencer family.It seemed she played a crucial role as the go-between Miranda and Damian.From what I recalled, Miranda typically stayed at her apartment, immersed in college work and her paintings, rarely venturing out except for our beautiful times together.It was impossible for Miranda to looked for Damian.As for Danielle, she was just another bad girl, flitting from one group to another, desperate to connect with society’s elite.But who knows.In past I invested in Miranda artwork, but everything changed once she became quite famous and gained money.“Danielle, I could ask the same thing of you. Last time I checked, you were just as poor as me, and even poorer since you still owe me $200 for rent from months ago. Please pay it b
Damian, upon first glimpsing Sofia, was captivated by her beauty and smile. He could not shake the image of her from his mind, his desire for her growing.Stealthily, he moved toward where Sofia was, while Miranda and Danielle were still engrossed in watching Alex perform.He approached Sofia, "You are Sofia, right? I just got your name from my friend."Sofia looked at Damian, her brow furrowed. "So, are you thinking about breaking up with your new girlfriend?""Let's not talk about that," Damian replied, his mind still on Miranda. How could he let go of a catch that was already so close?"Alex is poor and unfit for you. I'm honestly giving you advice; kick that guy out of your life.""Why are you making choices for my life?" Sofia challenged."Because it's for your own good," Damian said, forcing a smile. "I'm a good and kind person you should hang around with. Care to give me your phone number?""Fuck off," Sofia snapped suddenly. "You're just an asshole. A disgusting creature.""It
I was sitting at the table with Sofia, enjoying a peaceful moment with wine after the dinner when Danielle suddenly rushed over to us in panic and sweat on her face.She was clearly frightened. “Miranda was caught by Jeremi Bolton in the private room number 2.”“Where is Damian?” I asked, somewhat indifferently.“Damian was there trying to protect Miranda, but Jeremi and his people are going to hit him.” Danielle’s face turned pale. “Please, Alex, help her.”“Nope, I’m done for. Just call the cops.” I poured more wine into my glass and Sofia’s to continue our evening.“Alex!” Danielle yelled. “He’s Jeremi Bolton. Even the police can’t catch him; his father is Vex Bolton, the most scary underworld king of Oxford.”“Then Miranda is lucky,” I said sarcastically. “She got someone even better than Damian. Isn’t it also your dream, Danielle? Sucking up to your friend when you push them for higher social hierarchy?”“Fuck you, Alex,” Danielle snapped angrily. “Just help her.”“Why must I hel
At the University of Oxford, I heard that Jeremy Bolton was searching for a guy who had hit him, and anyone who could provide a name would receive $5,000.People thought that anyone daring enough to strike Jeremy must be a madman with a death wish.Yet, I think they would never meet me as my schedule was already set: mornings at the university and the market to buy fresh food, then locking myself in my room, the art room, or Sofia’s room to paint.I wasn’t type that hanging around.I had mastered my art skills, by system shop. But I was never short of money, so I didn’t think I needed to sell any of my paintings. It was better to use it for myself.One day, Sofia was looking at my painting of her and she loved it. "This is the most beautiful painting I have ever seen," she said.She liked it so much that I gave it to her.One day, she fell down the stairs because of the winter. I carried her to her room and used my acupuncture skills to address the swelling, which reduced significantl
Inside the VIP room of the hospital, the grandpa Anderson just coughed out a blood.“Sir, please don’t misunderstand; I only meant that I want Sofia to be happy,” I pleaded earnestly.Sofia quickly wiped the blood her grandpa had coughed up, her face flushed with embarrassment.The old man chimed in, his voice weary yet relieved, “I coughed up the stale blood, I think, as my body now feels lighter and healthier.”Suddenly, an authoritative voice cut through, “Sir, please don’t make assumptions about your health. We doctors need to conduct a proper examination to determine your condition. Sometimes people feel healthy only to face severe health issues and die shortly after.”Doctor Michael’s expression remained skeptical, seemingly unable to accept my ‘traditional healing’ result.Grandpa’s gaze shifted to Sofia as he asked, “Who is this doctor who seems to be predicting my imminent demise?”Beth’s face turned ashen. “Grandpa, he is Doctor Michael, the most famous doctor from the USA.