From Wednesday to Friday, Viloti didn’t show up to class.
Similarly, Adeline was nowhere to be seen in her academy.
After the incident in the Underground City, the misunderstanding was cleared up through communication, and it didn’t cause any major fallout.
But Filin could feel in his bones that things weren’t just going to end like this.
Especially not after a certain ojou-sama with an insanely competitive streak was inexplicably attacked by her nemesis.
Filin had originally thought Adeline’s demand for him to confess his feelings in public was just his own delusion, but now it seemed like it might actually happen.
“Ah… what should I do? Can’t a meteor just drop on Silver Moon Valley already?”
Filin rolled around on his bed, burying his head like an ostrich in the sand.
It was already Saturday, and Filin still hadn’t gone to pick out a suit. That was how much he didn’t want to attend the banquet.
Normally, he could’ve just skipped it, but after the Underground City incident, Filin didn’t dare to. He was Afraid Adeline would redirect her fury onto him.
Plus, Adeline had given him 10,000 crowns!
He wasn’t about to turn down free money. Only an idiot would do that.
As for Viloti, Filin was already at the point of “whatever happens, happens.” He didn’t care what she thought anymore.
The trouble was, Viloti didn’t know Filin had been hired by her father. She probably thought Filin genuinely liked her.
If Adeline and Viloti ever met and started comparing notes, his reputation as a scumbag would be set in stone.
Adeline would 100% think he was using her money to chase after Viloti.
The paper airplane of childhood trauma had come full circle to smack her right in the forehead again.
And with Viloti’s attack on Adeline, the drama jackpot was piling up!
What kind of Adeline would he be facing by then? Filin didn’t even dare to imagine!
“Monday’s the day after tomorrow,” Filin muttered as he got up from bed, glancing at the calendar on the table.
“Oh yeah, Daiyi’s coming back on Monday.”
The ojou-sama he’d seen off at the station last week was about to return.
Just thinking about her twisted sense of humor made Filin shiver.
This ojou-sama was a real handful!
Luckily, she wasn’t coming back to Seiva on Sunday, or she might’ve ended up attending the banquet as well.
At noon, Filin reluctantly dragged himself out of his house.
He took the ring Adeline had given him and the suit Viloti had just handed over to his usual second-hand luxury goods store.
“Mr. Filin, got something good again?”
The store owner’s daughter, Naya, had a great relationship with him.
On one hand, it was because he always brought in high-quality, barely-used items.
On the other hand—and he wasn’t bragging—his looks and charm were hard for any ordinary girl to resist.
He was a male model, after all!
“Yeah, the boss sent this—a ring.”
Naya took the ring from Filin and held it up to the light for a closer look.
“Oh my God, isn’t this the latest ‘Seraphina’ Caranthia gemstone ring? The product launch was less than a week ago, and you already got your hands on one?”
Naya’s chestnut-brown hair curled slightly at the ends, and her eyes widened as she stared at the ring.
Her slender wrist was adorned with a rare crystal bracelet her father had acquired from an elven merchant, but it paled in comparison to the ring.
“Hey, your boss—does she like girls? Because I’m available!”
Brand new, no scratches, and 100% genuine.
She just gave it to him? No questions asked?
What kind of legendary client was this?
“It’s not easy, you know. I have to deal with this middle-aged lady every day.”
Naya carefully placed the ring in a jewelry box, imagining a greasy, unpleasant-smelling middle-aged woman, and couldn’t help but shudder.
Filin always told people his clients were a bunch of middle-aged ladies.
It earned him a little sympathy and helped him sell things at a higher price.
“How much are you selling it for?”
“500,000 crowns.”
“The new one’s only 550,000 crowns! That price is way too high!”
“Naya, do you know why I always come here to sell my stuff?”
Filin paused for a moment, as if deep in thought.
“Huh? Why?”
“Because of you.”
Naya froze, her heart starting to pound like a drum.
“Devotees go to church every week to pray, and I come here every week to see you. Maybe others don’t see it that way, but in my heart, I’ve always thought of you as a goddess.”
Naya was stunned, her eyes widening slightly, her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink.
Filin gently took Naya’s slightly stiff hand, making the young girl let out a soft gasp.
“A goddess? Oh, stop it… I’m not a goddess…” she whispered shyly.
The voice softened, carrying a barely noticeable tremor. The corner of his mouth involuntarily curled upwards, yet he tried to suppress it, afraid it would be too obvious.
“People usually look down on me when they find out about my profession. Only you look at me with genuine respect. If making everyone happy makes you the goddess of all, then making just me happy makes you my goddess alone.”
He moved closer to Naya’s face, close enough to feel the girl’s rapid breath.
“Well… maybe it’s not entirely out of the question… consider it a treat for myself,” Naya finally relented.
Filin wasn’t some scoundrel preying on an innocent girl.
He had already done the math—this limited edition ring had been sold out the moment it was released, and it was incredibly popular.
Even second-hand ones were in high demand, and Filin’s ring was practically brand new with hardly any signs of wear.
Naya could definitely make a hefty profit from reselling this ring.
“Hey, you! Trying to scam my daughter again?!”
Just as Filin thought he had succeeded, a burly man in a blue-and-white striped shirt stormed in.
“Filin! Take your hands off!”
The man roared, his voice practically piercing.
How could his precious daughter fall so easily to this guy?!
“Dad? I… I didn’t!”
Naya panicked, hurriedly taking the ring off.
Filin gave an awkward chuckle, knowing full well he looked like some smooth-talking delinquent right now.
If he dared to say something like, “Old man, is my scooter safe downstairs?” he was certain his face would end up looking like a swollen pig’s head.
“470,000, that’s the highest I’ll go!”
The shop owner took the ring, gave it a quick glance, then glared fiercely at Filin.
“Dad! This…”
Naya tugged at the shop owner’s sleeve, biting her lip as she glanced worriedly at Filin.
Why don’t you just hand over the entire store to him? The shop owner screamed internally.
Filin pretended to think it over, then reluctantly agreed.
“Fine, out of respect for Miss Naya, I’ll consider it half sold, half gifted.”
Naya lowered her head again, letting her hair cover her eyes.
The shop owner, seeing this, wished he could toss Filin out right then and there.
“I also have a high-end suit, never worn.”
Filin took out the suit Viloti had given him and placed it on the counter.
“150,000, no bargaining.”
The shop owner took one glance and knew it was top-notch, and indeed brand-new.
“Out of respect for Miss Naya, 130,000 will do. But I’d like to pick out a second-hand suit in exchange.”
The shop owner grunted, quickly transferring the money to Filin’s account, all while shielding his daughter behind him.
“Go pick a suit upstairs. No more than 50,000.”
“Dad, let me help Mr. Filin pick out a suit.” Naya tugged at the shop owner’s sleeve, gazing up at her father with puppy-dog eyes.
“You…”
Daughters grow up and forget their roots.
The shop owner waved his hand, turned, and went back to his room, leaving them to their own devices.
Just end me already!
Naya spent half a day adjusting and tailoring the suit to fit Filin’s body perfectly.
“Miss Naya, you don’t have to be so meticulous. It’s too much trouble.”
“No! It’s for Mr. Filin, so it has to be perfect.”
Is this her playing the role of a wife? It definitely is, right?
Next time he sells something, he’ll skip the haggling with her.
Filin looked at his reflection in the mirror.
The deep blue suit perfectly accentuated his figure, with the carefully tailored shoulder line making him look even more upright. The faint golden patterns shimmered subtly under the light, enhancing his handsome features.
The silk tie at the collar gleamed softly, and the shirt’s folds were just right, every detail showcasing the suit’s exceptional quality.
It really was impressive—no one could tell it was second-hand. Another bargain.
Adeline had given him 100,000 for a suit, but now he could pocket that money.
The ring and the suit Viloti gave him had sold for 600,000 in total.
Small investment, big returns—just shifting things around, he made 700,000.
Beside him, Naya’s face flushed as she saw Filin’s pure, genuine smile.
Thankfully, the suit she had carefully selected and tailored made him so happy. He looked so satisfied!
He’s different from other men!
Filin had once confided in Naya, and she knew he had a sister whose monthly medical expenses were 300,000. Recently, she’d heard that his sister was about to wake up.
If his sister saw her brother like this now, she’d be so happy, wouldn’t she?
But what Naya didn’t know was that Filin’s mind was occupied with only one thing.
The banquet is tomorrow. Why hasn’t the meteorite come yet?
