"Brian, what's going on?" Rendi asked, his face tense. The young man stood beside Brian, occasionally glancing at the growing crowd of residents behind them.From the start, Rendi had been one of the most vocal opponents of the company's plan to purchase the residents' land. For him, the land wasn't just a plot of land but a place his family had protected for years.Brian took a deep breath, trying to remain calm even as the situation around him began to heat up. "Let's think about it carefully. The main thing is that we have to meet Mr. James today," he replied, keeping his gaze fixed on the village head's house, which was heavily guarded by guards."What about Meysa?" Rendi asked again, this time in a quieter but meaningful tone. He knew Brian had come here not only to bring the villagers' voices, but also because of a promise from the village head's daughter."I'm calling her," Brian replied, holding out his cell phone.For the past few minutes, Brian had been trying to reach Meysa

"Hey Brian, don't even dream of fighting Mr. James," said the village chief, looking at Brian with a sardonic smile that was clearly disdainful.In his view, Brian was nothing more than a village youth who thought he was outstanding just because he had received an education in the city. Such figures, he believed, usually only dared to talk big without actually having the strength to make it happen.To him, what Brian was doing now was just an attempt to be a late-night hero. He appeared brave in front of the villagers but was actually empty. Moreover, he considered Brian's recent threat nothing more than a baseless bluff.Brian wasn't provoked by the condescending tone. He stood his ground, staring straight ahead without averting his gaze. "I'm not dreaming, and I won't fight him if he doesn't dare," he replied in a calm yet emphatic voice.These words only further irritated the village chief. "This village will never progress with your village-like attitudes and constant resistance t

“I won’t regret it. In fact, if I accept your offer, I will.”Brian’s voice was calm, but the determination in his words was clear. There was no hesitation on his face, as if his decision had been final from the moment he stepped into the room.Mr. James stared at him for a moment, trying to find a last glimmer of hope, but all he found was a hard, impenetrable wall. Brian’s face was firm, a face that was very difficult to control.“Three billion is a lot of money!” Mr. James pressed again, this time in a deeper tone, as if hoping the figure would finally sway Brian’s resolve.“I know,” Brian replied without hesitation. “But that won’t make me sell this village to you. The money could be gone in an instant, but this village has a history and pride.”There was nothing more to say. The conversation ended in a tense atmosphere, full of unspoken tension. Brian stood from his chair, took one last look at Mr. James, then turned and walked toward the door without waiting for permission."I'l

Two days later…“Where’s Brian!” a man’s voice shouted from the front of the house, shattering the previously calm morning atmosphere into one filled with tension.The shout wasn’t just once but was repeated over and over again, prompting people in the surrounding area to come out of their homes to see what was happening.Brian, who was resting in his room at the time, immediately woke up. He frowned, trying to recognize the voice that sounded so full of emotion. Without hesitation, he quickly got up and walked out of the house.As soon as he reached the yard, the sight he saw made him pause. A group of men stood in front of his house, quite a few, with faces clearly showing anger. Some of them were men he recognized as village thugs, often seen hanging around company projects.“Why?” Brian asked calmly, though he could already tell that their arrival wasn’t good news.One of them stepped forward, staring at Brian with a sharp gaze. “Pay us compensation.”Brian frowned, clearly not un

"I'll go home by myself, Dad." Meysa ignored her father's calls."Sorry, Meysa. Go home..." Brian said."What's wrong with me that you've rejected me so many times?" Meysa asked in a trembling voice, even though she was trying to appear strong in front of so many people.The atmosphere, previously filled with jokes and laughter, suddenly fell silent. The people around them glanced at each other, then slowly looked away, pretending to be busy with food or small talk so as not to embarrass Meysa further.They understood that this was no longer a village matter, but a matter of the heart that no one should interfere with.Brian took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before answering. He knew that every word that came out of his mouth right now would mean a lot to Meysa. The slightest mistake could hurt her even more."I told you," Brian said in a low but clear voice, "I'm not thinking about love right now. I just want to focus on finishing my studies. I don't have anything to be prou