My older sister is a villainous rich girl

"What is it?" Wayne asked casually.

He's been hanging around Geli area every night for the past few days.

Of course, it wasn't to do anything inappropriate for children, but rather to provide more detailed guidance to Miss Ge Li on how to start her own business.

With access to insider information from the Edgeworth family and ample funds, they were able to accomplish a great deal.

"A very famous painter is currently holding an exhibition."

Chris said, "I think we'll meet a lot of artists there. Talking to some of them might bring some extra benefits to our publishing house."

Running such a business is no easy task.

Quite some time has passed since the proposal to establish the publishing house was approved by Duke Elliott, but Chris still hasn't chosen a location for the publishing house's headquarters.

There were many alternative locations, but what was the result?

They complain that it's too far from home, too far from the academy, or that the surrounding area isn't bustling enough; but if it's too bustling, they start to complain that the surrounding environment is too noisy.

The proposed plans have all been temporarily shelved. If things continue at this pace, Wayne doubts that we'll even see the publishing house by this time next year.

"So this is an admission ticket? An invitation?"

He took one from Chris's hand.

The sign read: "[Renowned artist Mrs. Cherry's solo exhibition is opening soon! Stay tuned!]"

Mrs. Cherry?

Wayne's gaze paused slightly upon seeing the name.

Isn't this the rumored mistress of His Majesty the King?

Chapter 177 Do you think I'm a nuisance?

Unexpectedly, despite rejecting Gavin first, things have come full circle and we've ended up back where we started.

At the entrance of the exhibition hall, Wayne and Gavin bumped into each other.

"Huh?" Gavin was clearly surprised to see him. "Wayne, didn't you say you weren't coming?"

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he let out a long "Oh," leaned closer with obvious understanding, and whispered:

"I understand! You must be trying to keep Miss Chris from finding out about this!"

He gave a knowing smile, "You can completely trust my good brother with something like this! I'll definitely keep it a secret for you!"

Hey... don't make it sound like I'm here to secretly meet my lover.

Moreover, didn't you feel the watchful eyes on your back?

"Are you hiding something from me?" Chris's voice suddenly appeared.

Caught off guard by the voice of the person involved, Gavin was startled and darted to the other side of Wayne like a rabbit.

"Huh? Why did you bring Chris with you?!"

Wayne slapped his forehead in exasperation and shook off the hand that was gripping his arm.

"Go play somewhere else and don't interfere with my and Chris's private time, understand?"

When Chris heard Wayne use the phrase "just the two of them," her expression softened.

However, seeing that Gavin seemed to want to say something more, she couldn't help but frown, and pulled Wayne away.

Gavin's reluctant calls were left far behind.

After quickly walking to the corner where there were few people, Chris stopped and looked at Wayne.

"Wayne, stay away from people like Gavin from now on!"

Wayne paused, then chuckled, "What's wrong? Did he offend you?"

Chris scoffed, "He's been blatantly pursuing a girl from another class again lately..."

He had never paid much attention to these gossip stories from the academy.

With this kind of thing, positive rumors are rarely taken seriously, but negative rumors can spread far and wide in a day.

After Chris explained, Wayne realized that she was standing up for Molly.

“But Molly didn’t like Gavin…” he said with a wry smile.

Chris said irritably, "Before this, many girls knew that Gavin liked Molly and was pursuing her."

"Before the splashes had even dried, he went off to pursue other women with great fanfare. Do you think no one made fun of Molly about this?"

Hmm... so it seems that if Gavin's favorability rating in Molly's heart was zero before, it has probably become negative now.

She said angrily, "To change one's mind in such a short time is so disrespectful!"

As she spoke, perhaps thinking of herself, she pouted and looked genuinely aggrieved.

"To be able to do something like this so easily... it's basically just standing on the shore casting a net, hoping to catch whatever catches them..."

Seeing her once clear eyes gradually turn sad, Wayne sensed something was wrong.

"No, no..." He didn't know how to explain himself.

If I answer directly from my own perspective, wouldn't it seem a bit like I'm doing something wrong?

After all, she wasn't referring to herself specifically.

Chris looked sad and asked softly, "Is it because you never really liked it in the first place? You just wanted to have some fun, right?"

...Never mind, it's better to die for your fellow Daoist than for me.

Gavin, rest in peace!

He pursed his lips and said resolutely, "Gavin is a complete scoundrel!"

"I suggest spreading the word as soon as possible that 'Molly had already seen through Gavin's womanizing nature and therefore rejected his confession'!"

"That way, it won't be Gavin looking down on Molly, but rather Molly looking down on Gavin. Therefore, it won't have a significant impact on Miss Molly's reputation!"

Chris paused for a moment, then said without revealing her true feelings, "Your friendship with Gavin is truly touching."

Wayne's smile was flawless.

"I'll do anything to make Chris happy."

Upon hearing this, Chris didn't speak, but stared at him for a moment.

Under her scrutinizing gaze, which could become incredibly sharp when she got serious, Wayne felt he could barely maintain his smile.

Fortunately, it didn't last long.

Chris took a step closer to him and buried her face in his chest.

“Don’t lie to me,” she said.

I want to believe you, so don't lie to me.

……

At the opening ceremony of the art exhibition, Wayne met the protagonist of the rumor.

Mrs. Cherry is said to be in her thirties, but she is well-maintained and looks only in her twenties with her exquisite makeup.

She was very adept at greeting people from all walks of life who came to participate in the exhibition, moving around like a butterfly flitting among flowers, warm and cheerful.

She even went so far as to walk over and greet Chris and Wayne when she noticed the two people there.

Lady Cherry bowed and said softly, "You two must be the young master and young lady of the Duke of Winchester's mansion. Please forgive us for not entertaining you properly today, as we have too many guests."

Chris returned the greeting expertly: "Congratulations on the successful completion of your art exhibition. We're just here to join in the fun, so please don't mind us."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lady Cherry hurried off to greet the other nobles.

Watching her departing figure, Wayne seemed lost in thought.

Is she a woman who is very enthusiastic about social activities in the world of fame and fortune?

If Gavin hadn't said all that nonsense to me, I probably wouldn't have minded so much.

But once they learned of the title "the king's mistress," they always felt that it could be used to make a big deal out of it.

Beside him, Chris reached out and pinched his waist hard.

"Hiss—" Wayne gasped.

He covered Chris's slender, pale fingers. "What is it now, Miss?"

Chris pouted and glared at him angrily.

Wayne carefully reflected on his behavior and astutely discovered the problem.

He sighed and said, "I was just lost in thought."

However, this time Chris was not appeased by his gentle words.

"Do you think I'm a hassle?" she suddenly asked.

Wayne, danger!

—This is a life-or-death question!

He immediately straightened his posture: "I had absolutely no such intention!"

"Don't lie to me!" she said, raising her voice slightly.

In those shimmering eyes, like ripples on water, something seemed to be hidden, something that wanted to be released.

He paused for a moment, then took Chris's hand.

“There will be a little bit,” he stated truthfully.

Feeling the struggling force in his hand, Wayne secretly sighed, thankful that he had grabbed it a step in time, otherwise it would have been an immediate disaster.

He pulled Chris, who was biting her lower lip and was emotionally unstable, into his arms.

"Although it's a little troublesome, but—"

“I like Chris, even though she’s so troublesome,” he whispered in her ear.

Chapter 178 If you fall in love with someone

If you fall in love with someone, you will become a different person than before.

Thinking of him unintentionally always brings a mix of joy and doubt, sweetness and bitterness.

—I hate it.

Inside a shady wooden pavilion at Seokye Academy.

Around me, my friends were chattering away about their weekend holiday, sharing the funny things that happened to each other.

After the original topic came to a close, Eve paused for a moment before asking with great concern, "Lady Chris, how did your date with Wayne go?"

"Hey, wow? A date alone?"

Upon hearing those suggestive words, Molly's eyes lit up, and she leaned closer.

Chris felt slightly uncomfortable under their intense gazes.

"Uh...it's alright."

Those two art exhibition tickets were provided to her by Eve, who said that "a date alone is an essential way to deepen a relationship."

The problem is, she and Wayne often spend time alone together.

"Did you hold hands?" Eve asked.

Chris nodded.

"Did you hug?" Eve asked again.

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded again with some difficulty.

"Did you kiss?" Eve continued to ask.

She was exasperated. "Why do you have to ask such detailed questions?!"

"So you don't have it?"