My older sister is a villainous rich girl

Heywood never expected this to happen.

He and his family had hoped that by using this golden hen that laid eggs, they could leap into the ranks of the capital's elite. But before they could even set up their business and get the hen to lay more eggs, the old hen was targeted by a crocodile in the pond.

He felt inexplicably bitter.

"I really can't decide which company to sell the secret technique to right now... How about the two of you discuss it some more?"

Heywood knew perfectly well that he couldn't stop these two companies from doing what they wanted, and letting them negotiate might help him avoid offending the other party.

Wayne looked at Ge Li thoughtfully, "It's not impossible—"

"no!"

Ge Li frowned and rejected the proposal.

"Since there are more troublemakers joining in, we'll give you a little more time to get to know each other. Our family isn't so petty as to lack that much tolerance." With that, she stood up and straightened her clothes.

"However... I hope your store will carefully consider what I just said, so as not to make an irreparable mistake."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ge Li strode past Wayne and left without giving him any face.

As soon as she moved, the Edgeworth family servants immediately followed suit, and in an instant, the office was more than half empty.

A gentle breeze blew by, carrying a faint, unique fragrance emanating from her, and Wayne couldn't help but grind his teeth.

Don't you want to be alone with me that much?

……

However, Ascletis's hope that Heywood, the store manager, would suddenly realize his mistake was destined to remain unfulfilled.

After inviting Haywood to the Duke of Winchester's mansion, Wayne went to great lengths to persuade him, but in the end he resorted to his trump card—hinting that even if Haywood was unwilling to sell, he already knew the most crucial secret and that a replica was in the works.

Thus, Haywood, who had been making excuses and refusing to give a definite answer, finally came to terms with reality and signed all the conditions offered by the Wincher family on the spot.

The Wincher family will receive complete technical processes and labor support, while Heywood will gain access to a broader market and a share of the profits.

"Pleasant to work with."

After putting away the signed cooperation agreement, Wayne extended his hand to Haywood.

"Young Master Wayne, you really don't leave any loopholes at all!"

Heywood sighed, wiping his palms on his clothes several times before cautiously shaking hands.

"This is simply to make our future negotiations easier," he said casually. "The Big Starfish Dessert Shop will soon be the most famous shop in the capital, bar none."

Wayne never fights a battle unprepared; if he's going to do something, he has to succeed.

Heywood store manager couldn't help but show a hint of joy upon hearing this.

But his joy didn't last long; he became hesitant to speak: "By the way, what about the Edgeworth family..."

Given his small size, Haywood knew he couldn't afford to offend Edgeworth, the giant crocodile, so he could only pray for protection from another equally large and ferocious crocodile.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything," Wayne said nonchalantly. "Even if they want to retaliate, they probably won't be able to get it to you."

The Edgeworth and Wincher families have a long-standing feud, so one more incident won't make a difference.

After comforting him for a while, Wayne sent a carriage to take Haywood home.

He stood alone at the courtyard gate for a while before returning to report to Chris with the newly signed agreement.

"Hey, not bad!"

Chris, who had an unpleasant incident a few days ago, seems to have recovered her composure; at least on the surface, she doesn't appear unhappy at all.

She glanced at the agreement briefly and then casually put it aside.

"You acted quite quickly... Actually, I didn't expect you to be able to buy it, since everyone likes to keep the good things to themselves."

Otherwise, there would be no need to secretly make two preparations and conduct experiments at home.

"When he saw that the shed in our backyard had been set up, the store manager, Haywood, panicked and obviously lost his composure."

This was not a difficult task for Wayne.

Rather, the real test for him was how to comfort Miss Ge Li, who might be angry about it, afterward.

Chapter 570 An Argument That Went Wrong

“However, when I went to invite Haywood this time, I happened to run into the eldest daughter of the Edgeworth family,” Wayne casually remarked, seemingly unintentionally.

If Chris finds out about the fact that they met once but doesn't mention it, she'll inevitably become suspicious.

Then he saw that Chris's right hand, which was writing something, stopped.

What was she doing there?

Chris's voice was alert and wary.

“Of course, she’s just like us, eyeing this lucrative opportunity.” Wayne pulled up another chair and sat down next to Chris. “But with me here, her scheme is doomed to fail.”

In reality, the Edgeworth family's businesses far exceeded those of the Winchester family. Almost every profitable industry within the capital was influenced by them.

Given the upbringing and cultural environment that Ge Li grew up in, it's not surprising that she could perceive the potential of this technology.

"Hmph, that guy's always picking on me, this time I'm going to kick him while he's down!" Chris shrugged.

"...Should we refrain from kicking someone when they're down?"

Wayne earnestly advised, "If we provoke them and they're determined to cause trouble, it will be very difficult for us to defend against it."

"Let her cause trouble if she wants to. Do you think I'm afraid of her?" Chris said fearlessly.

“It’s not a question of whether you’re afraid or not, it’s that it could easily lead to trouble—” Wayne was about to continue when Chris interrupted him.

Why are you always taking that guy's side?

The words stuck in my throat suddenly became impossible to say.

“No,” Wayne heard himself say.

"I'm not trying to take sides, but rather to make an analysis from an objective perspective."

However, his insincere explanation failed to convince Chris.

"Ha, forget it." She scoffed. "Does letting her off this time mean she'll never bother me again?"

"Only by making her fully realize the cruelty of reality can we prevent the next conflict."

This is really difficult...a war among girls.

Wayne shook his head helplessly.

……

Regardless of Chris's determination to compete with Geli, Geli's situation was not much better.

"Get out!"

As soon as Wayne appeared, he was hit in the face with a pillow.

He caught the pillow just as it was about to fall to the ground and tossed it onto a chair nearby.

"You've already received the message?"

They probably sent someone to keep watch at Heywood's house...

“Go back to your Chris and never come to see me again!” Ge Li sat with her knees drawn up to her chest, leaning against the headboard, her eyes slightly red as she looked at him.

Wayne sighed softly and sat down beside her bed.

“I can only handle this from the perspective of the Wincher family,” he said somberly. “Besides, even if you succeed in buying it, this deal is definitely not worthwhile.”

A more likely outcome is that Asley had just spent a fortune to buy the planting technology, ready to make a fortune, only to be caught off guard by Chris.

In this case, it's less of an investment and more of a trap.

However, Ge Li clearly did not understand his words.

"Just because Chris also has her eye on this technology?" she countered. "What makes her so trustworthy?"

Wayne opened his mouth in vain, only to find that he had no way to explain.

"Give up on this."

Wayne stated objectively, "Before I even went to invite the store manager, she already knew exactly how those off-season crops were grown. Even if you get involved, you're destined not to gain anything. You might as well try a different approach."

Upon hearing this, Ge Li fell silent.

"Change the business direction?" She curled her lips as if she found the statement ridiculous. "According to you, does that mean I have to avoid her for the rest of my life?"

“That’s not what I meant!” Wayne said, sounding a little agitated.

He knew his actions would likely anger Ge Li, but when the anticipated argument finally arrived, he still felt agitated.

After closing his eyes and adjusting his breathing, Wayne softened his tone.

"I didn't come to see you to argue with you."

As long as you keep this in mind, the topic may not stray too far from the mark.

"But I'm sitting here waiting for you just so we can argue."

Ge Li's icy expression remained completely unmoved.

"..."

Wayne finally had nothing more to say.

"How can I keep the conversation going?" he asked, looking somewhat tired.

“You can just go back to your own home without saying anything.” Ge Li looked away at the corner of the bed on the other side, not sparing him even a glance.

“Really?” Wayne smiled enigmatically. “I thought that even if the Wincher family didn’t want me anymore, at least you would still take me in.”

"Wayne, how do you really see me?"

Ge Li didn't find his self-deprecating remark funny at all.

"I've already been accommodating enough to you, so why do you keep provoking me?"

"Do you believe that I can never escape your grasp no matter what, so it doesn't matter how you treat me?"

The more she spoke, the colder her voice became.

"I never thought that way..."

"But you've been doing this all along!"

Ge Li hugged her knees tighter, as if to dispel the cold around her.

Looking at the innocent boy he once thought he was, now staring blankly and unable to refute, Ge Li suddenly felt ridiculous.

"Is not it?"

Her body trembled slightly, and even her fragmented words sounded like she was talking to herself.

"I always think... maybe if I were just a little better, you would notice me; if I tried a little harder to please you, you would really fall in love with me..."

"But it's no use."

In those pleading eyes, the sorrow and pain were almost impossible to conceal.

"You liar, you can't fool me anymore." Her faint murmur faded into the deep darkness.

"What you like... is not me, but someone else's 'like' for you."

What he saw was her haggard face, and what he heard was her silent sobbing. Wayne felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

“You just need someone to be around, that’s why you’ll do everything you can to keep me by your side,” she said, looking at him and enunciating each word clearly.

"—As for the person who 'liked' you, it doesn't matter who it is."

"That's not how it is..."

Wayne turned to his side, knelt on one knee on the bed, and reached out to cup her face, turning it towards him.

Do I have to cut out all my internal organs to show her in order to prove my sincerity?

"If that person wasn't Ge Li, I wouldn't like him."

Chapter 571 The So-Called Immaculate Emotion