Chapter 26: Easton Rivers

"Keep your distance from him," Lucius warned.

Scarlett thought to herself, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't even be in the same universe. She nodded obediently, "Understood."

Lucius had a deep aversion to the pretty boy, barely wanting to mention him. Scarlett, being perceptive, naturally didn't ask further, but quietly took note.

Not long after, the door to the private room was pushed open from the outside. Jack, fully armed with a hat and mask, appeared. Scarlett looked at him for two seconds before asking, "Why the sour face?"

Jack pulled out a chair and replied gruffly, "The paparazzi are nuts."

Scarlett laughed, "With your getup, they must think you're a celebrity."

Jack retorted, "They're obsessed even though they're not sure what I look like. They're crazy."

Scarlett poured him a drink and spun it over to him on the lazy Susan, "Have a drink to cool off."

Listening to their conversation, Lucius finally understood why Jack had a different view of Scarlett. She could tell from a face that was almost entirely covered that Jack was unhappy. This was either extraordinary sensitivity or mind-reading.

Scarlett was relieved to have Jack there. His presence made the situation more bearable. And truth be told, she enjoyed his company more than Lucius'.

Midway through, Scarlett excused herself from the private room to pay the bill at the front desk. The cashier was as polite as usual, but as soon as Scarlett left, she immediately started gossiping with the person next to her, "Hey, hey, hey, what's going on? The woman from room 106 is paying."

"Is it Lucius' card?"

"No, I've seen Lucius' card."

"Maybe it's a card Lucius gave her."

"…Oh, right."

"New girlfriend? She dares to go out without makeup. I took a closer look just now, it seems she hasn't had any plastic surgery, and she's naturally pretty."

"Could Lucius pick someone who's not attractive? If she wasn't good-looking, he wouldn't keep her around."

"Ah, I wonder how long this one will last."

"Don't worry about it. Lucius is the constant, and his girlfriends are the variables. But hey, it's not our job to guess."

"Ah, sometimes I feel life is so unfair. Not only is he rich and powerful, but he's also so handsome…"

"Look at you, all starry-eyed. Do you want to throw yourself at him?"

"I want to! Why wouldn't I? If not Lucius, Easton would do."

"You're really something. You're not beautiful, but you dream big. You're not brave, but you're daring. You're eyeing everyone, you're shameless…"

Scarlett left the private room with Lucius and Jack. Seeing Lucius heading towards the front desk, Scarlett said, "Mr. Zhou, I've already paid."

A flash of surprise crossed Lucius's eyes, "Trying to make us owe you a favor?"

Scarlett smiled faintly, "It's only right since I've taken advantage of you."

As they were talking, the three of them arrived outside the restaurant. Scarlett didn't plan to take the Zhou family's car and said her goodbyes in advance, "Take care, see you tomorrow."

Lucius said, "You don't need to come for the next few days. Let Jack recover from his illness."

Scarlett immediately responded, "That's a good idea. Jack, remember to take your medicine on time. See you in a few days."

Jack, fully covered, didn't show any expression, but one could imagine that he was not pleased under his mask. He didn't say a word. Scarlett smiled as she watched the two of them get into the car. Only when the car had driven away did she hail a taxi to go home.

The place she rented was in a good location, only five subway stops away from the company. However, it was an old residential area with just a few buildings and no security. The safety of hundreds of residents depended on a sixty-year-old man on duty at the entrance. The old man had a good routine, turning off the lights and going to bed at nine o'clock sharp every night. As long as no one was robbing him directly, he could sleep soundly until dawn.

Usually, Scarlett didn't feel anything was amiss, but tonight, with Young Song suddenly showing up, she couldn't help but think about what might have happened if Jack hadn't come, or rather, if Lucius hadn't come.

As she was going upstairs, Scarlett quietly took out an electric self-defense tool from her bag. She had been carrying this since her first day at the Zhou family's house. As she walked, she heard faint footsteps behind her. She didn't turn around, but she was on high alert. The breathing sounded like a man's, and it was getting closer and closer. Finally, when he was about to catch up with her, Scarlett swiftly turned around, holding the electric baton in front of her.

The man was startled and took two steps back. Scarlett took a closer look, "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Ryan leaned against the wall, looked at Scarlett, then at the electric baton in her hand, and swallowed, "Why are you overreacting?"

Scarlett said, "You should be glad I didn't just jab you with it."

Ryan said, "I saw you in the neighborhood just now and wanted to give you a scare. You really jumped."

Scarlett, feeling a bit more at ease after seeing Ryan, put away the electric baton. As she continued upstairs, she said, "Don't play this kind of joke on single women. It's life-threatening."

Ryan followed behind, grumbling, "Don't generalize. You're the only dangerous single woman."

Scarlett changed the subject, "How did the other single woman do tonight?"

Ryan knew Scarlett was referring to Mia and said, "The negotiation went smoothly. We should be celebrating with a meal in the next couple of days."

"It's good that you were there for a business talk with a bunch of men." Scarlett said.

"Unnecessary. I took a look. All these people are trying to curry favor with Lucius. They wouldn't dare to mess around." Ryan said.

"As long as the opening goes smoothly." Scarlett said.

Ryan joked, "I told her she's riding on your coattails."

"She must have retorted that you're not even as good as a dog or a chicken." Scarlett said.

"Those who know her, know you too." Ryan said.

The two of them climbed up to the fifth floor, each standing at their own door fishing for keys. Ryan, who had drunk more than half a catty of white wine, suddenly realized something and turned to ask, "Where did you go this late at night?"

Scarlett, halfway through opening the door, calmly replied, "Jack invited me out for dinner."

Ryan was about to say something when Scarlett's phone rang. It was Mia. She promptly answered the call, giving Ryan a look that said 'go to sleep.'

Mia, who had also had quite a bit to drink, excitedly gossiped with Scarlett about the dinner party that night, painting a beautiful picture of the future while thanking her for her fearless spirit in venturing into the tiger's den for the sake of her best friend.

Scarlett sat on the couch, the phone on speaker, spraying medicine on her leg while chiming in.

Mia kept mentioning Lucius. Scarlett asked, "Do you know if Lucius has any enemies in the city?"

"There are plenty." Mia replied.

Scarlett said, "I think it's something Easton."

Mia was puzzled, "Easton Rivers?"

Scarlett said, "I heard people call him Easton. He's tall and fair-skinned, like a pretty boy."

Mia, who had sobered up quite a bit, quickly asked, "You've met Easton Rivers?"

Scarlett briefly explained the encounter with Easton while having dinner with Lucius this night, leaving out the part about Young Song to avoid startling Mia and having her come over in the middle of the night to keep her company.

Mia on the other end was slapping the bathtub, exclaiming, "It's Easton Rivers! It's him!"

"Who is he?" Scarlett inquired.

"One of the three evils who can compete with Lucius for the top spot. Lucius's number one enemy!" Mia replied.