Studying at Western University starts with a knife-forging competition

Chapter 104

The three people got into the car.

Matt was driving. Emily sat in the back seat, and Richard sat in the front passenger seat.

The car drove out of the airport and turned onto Interstate 85.

Richard didn't ask for evidence directly. Looking out the window, he asked casually, as if in conversation, "How far is that Chinese kid's workshop from the school?"

"It's a ten-minute drive," Matt said. "It's an old factory building we rented; the conditions are alright."

"Where's the equipment?"

"It's basically all set. Lin Yuan used his connections with the professor to get a batch of discounted second-hand equipment from the school: a power hammer, a coke oven, a belt sander, and a tempering furnace. He even built a long grate furnace himself to burn coke."

Richard nodded and didn't ask any further questions. The car changed lanes in the traffic and merged into a faster lane.

After a few minutes of silence, Richard, looking ahead at the road, suddenly spoke: "Your mother asked me to ask you if you've been eating properly lately."

Matt gave a wry smile. "Dad—"

"Her exact words." Richard's tone remained completely unchanged.

Matt tightened his grip on the steering wheel, then loosened it again.

"I ate. Lin Yuan is a great cook. He's the one who cooks now, and I eat on time every day," he said.

"That's good." Richard paused, turning to look at Matt. There was no blame in his gaze, only a quiet, fatherly scrutiny. After a few seconds, he asked, "That girl, do you think she wants money, or something else?"

Matt recounted the entire story, from when Catherine approached Lin Yuan at the coffee shop, to her offer of "brand consulting plus a 10% commission" at the bar, and finally to her threat to register the trademark. He spoke slowly, clearly explaining each key point, including Catherine's deadline of "before next Friday."

Richard listened without interrupting or commenting. He looked away from Matt, turned to the window, and remained silent for a long time.

The trees lining the road receded into the distance. The distant mountain ridgeline traced a gray-blue arc on the horizon, the clouds hanging low.

Richard finally spoke when they were almost at the hotel.

"Let's take another look at that evidence package you brought back tonight." He paused. "If there's anything from your sister's side, bring that too."

Ma Te nodded.

Emily leaned over from the back seat and rested her arm on the back of the passenger seat.

"Dad, I think I got my hands on something." Her voice was lower than usual. "Lia, the girl who's always with Catherine—she recorded a phone call with Catherine. It wasn't a pleasant conversation."

Richard didn't immediately ask for details. The car turned into the hotel's driveway and came to a stop at the entrance.

"We'll talk when we get to the hotel." He opened the car door, got out, and then bent down to look at Matt. "This isn't your fault. But you have to remember—sometimes, money only buys you more trouble."

Matt handed the car keys to the doorman, and the three of them went into the hotel.

The assistant had already arrived and booked a room for Richard. While the doorman went to park the car, the assistant had already arranged for the waiter to bring the luggage to the room.

The suite is on the twelfth floor.

After Richard entered the room, he first went to the bathroom to wash his face, then changed into a dark blue cashmere sweater, took a bottle of water from the refrigerator, and sat down on the sofa.

Matt and Emily sat opposite him.

"Listen to your sister first." Richard unscrewed the cap, took a sip of water, and then placed the bottle on the coffee table.

Emily took her phone out of her pocket, unlocked it, opened the recording, pressed play, and placed the phone in the middle of the coffee table.

Catherine's voice came through the phone's speaker, sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet suite.

"That Chinese idiot doesn't understand the rules of the game in America at all. Once I register the trademark, he'll either work for me or get the hell out of here. Matt? Does he think he can get away with this just because he has money? I don't want tens of thousands of dollars; I want that brand for ten years, at least half a million dollars a year."

The recording finished playing. The suite was silent for about five seconds.

Richard didn't say "enough." He picked up his coffee, took a sip, then put the cup down and looked at Emily.

"Is this Leah reliable?"

“She’s willing to help us now,” Emily said. “She’s been with Catherine for almost a year and has done a lot for her. But she’s not that kind of person—she’s not a bad person. She just doesn’t know how to say no to Catherine.”

"Does she know you gave us the recording?"

"I know. She knew I would give it to you when she gave it to me."

Richard tapped his fingers lightly twice on the armrest of the sofa.

"Her testimony itself is insufficient," he said. "She only recorded a short passage without knowing the context. Catherine's lawyer can argue that it was taken out of context, a joke between friends, or something said in anger. Based on that one passage alone, she won't win the case."

Matt leaned forward slightly. "What should we do then?"

Richard did not answer him, but turned to Emily instead.

"Go ask her. Besides this recording, is there anything else—emails, text messages, other recordings, screenshots, anything related to this? Find out everything Catherine asked her to do, write, or forward."

Emily hesitated for a moment. "I'm afraid of her—"

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid she'll get hurt," Emily said. "Catherine won't let her off the hook once she finds out. She's helped us now, and if things get out of hand, she won't be able to stay at school."

Richard looked at her for two seconds, then removed his hand from the armrest and sat up straight.

"No." His tone was calm, but with an undeniable certainty. "If she's willing to help us, the Wayne family will help her transfer schools. Not just any university in Boston, she can choose whichever she wants."

We'll take care of the recommendation letters. In addition, we'll provide her with a scholarship in the family's name, enough to cover her student loans, tuition, and all living expenses throughout her university years.

Emily was stunned.

"dad----"

“I’m not doing charity,” Richard said, looking at her. “She’s helping us, and we have to live up to her trust. What she wants isn’t money, but a chance to start over. I can give that.”

He paused for a moment.

"Go and make it clear to her that transferring schools, paying off loans, and finishing college are the Wayne family's conditions. She doesn't need to agree right now, but she needs to know that we won't leave her to shoulder this burden alone."

Emily looked into her father's eyes, remained silent for a few seconds, and then nodded.

I'll go see her tomorrow.

“No,” Richard said. “We’ll go tonight. The Wayne family motto: Do ​​things early. Opportunity is something that, if you’re a step too slow, will be someone else’s.”