Ding! My System Turns Your Arrogance Into Cash

Chapter 6: The Sweet Sound Of Confirmation

Beep.

A crisp, high-pitched chime echoed through the silent luxury boutique.

The small screen on the payment terminal suddenly flashed a vibrant, bright green.

Transaction Approved.

The machine began to hum smoothly, spitting out a long, white paper receipt.

The snobbish clerk’s smirk froze instantly, his face turning an ash-gray color as his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"N-No... this is impossible," the clerk stammered, his hands shaking as he stared at the screen.

The store manager pushed past the clerk, his eyes widening as he grabbed the printed receipt to check the numbers.

"Five thousand dollars... fully paid," the manager whispered, his voice cracking with sudden panic.

He looked up at Nicholas’s damp clothes, his mind racing as a cold sweat broke out across his forehead.

The manager instantly bent his waist, bowing deeply at a perfect ninety-degree angle toward Nicholas.

"Sir! Please accept my deepest, most sincere apologies!" the manager yelled, his voice trembling with fear.

"You!" the manager roared, spinning around and glaring furiously at the terrified clerk.

"You are fired! Pack your things and get out of my store right this instant!"

The clerk staggered back, his face completely pale as his mouth opened and closed like a fish. "Manager, I—"

"Get out!" the manager shouted, before turning back to Nicholas with a fragile, brown-nosed smile.

"Please give me one moment, honored guest. I will personally pack your custom laptops and phones."

Standing right there in the inner circle of the crowd, Miranda’s jaw dropped so low it looked like it would unhinge.

She clutched Chad’s arm with a frantic, painful grip, her eyes wide with absolute, dizzying disbelief.

"Chad... the card went through," Miranda whispered, her voice shaking violently. "He just spent five thousand dollars."

Chad's face switched from absolute glee to a deep, burning shade of furious crimson as he lowered his phone camera.

"No! There is no way that broke piece of garbage has that kind of money!" Chad screamed loudly, stepping out from the crowd.

He lunged toward the counter, his breathing heavy as he pointed an aggressive finger at Nicholas.

"Manager! Check that card right now!" Chad ordered, his voice echoing across the entire room.

"Nicholas Peterson is a penniless scholarship student! He is using a stolen elite black card!"

The wealthy students surrounding them gasped, their murmurs rising as they looked back and forth between them.

"A stolen card? Oh my god, that makes so much sense," a student whispered from the circle.

The store manager frowned, holding the receipt tightly and stepping in front of Nicholas protectively. "Mr. Sterling, the transaction is already fully settled."

"I don't care!" Chad roared, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "He’s a criminal! Call the police!"

Nicholas stood perfectly still by the register, his tall frame radiating a cold, completely unbothered aura.

He didn't offer a single word of explanation, his handsome face remaining an unreadable mask of absolute calm.

The manager quickly hurried back from the rear counter, carrying three sleek, high-end luxury shopping bags with trembling hands.

"Here is your premium merchandise, sir," the manager said, bowing again as he handed them over.

"Thank you for your patronage. Please let me know if you require anything else at all."

Nicholas calmly accepted the heavy bags, slinging the straps over his shoulder with effortless grace.

He turned on his heel, completely ignoring Chad’s shouting as he walked directly toward the store exit.

Miranda watched him approach from her spot near the door, a sudden, heavy wave of complicated emotion crashing into her chest.

Five thousand dollars... in cash... without even blinking, she thought, her mind spinning into absolute chaos.

Did Nicholas secretly come from an incredibly wealthy family? Had he been hiding his true status all along?

As Nicholas drew closer, Miranda’s expression switched from shock to a sudden, hesitant look of pure regret.

She took a small, nervous step forward from the crowd line, her lips parting as she reached a hand toward his wet sleeve.

"Nicholas... wait," Miranda whispered, her voice soft, completely dropping her previous arrogant tone.

Nicholas didn't pause for a fraction of a second, his icy gaze staring straight ahead as if she didn't even exist.

He walked right past her, the wind from his coat brushing against her hand as he stepped out into the night.

Miranda froze, her hand hanging empty in the air as a deep, burning sting of humiliation hit her face.

"Nicholas! Stop right there!" Chad screamed, rushing out of the boutique right behind him.

Nicholas stopped under the bright streetlights of the commercial strip, turning around slowly.

Chad wasn't alone anymore; he had quickly signaled to three of his large fraternity athlete friends who had been waiting outside.

The three burly athletes marched forward, their faces grim as they surrounded Nicholas on the wet pavement.

They blocked the exit completely, their massive chests puffed out as they glared down at him.

Chad walked into the center of the circle, his face twisted in a hideous, arrogant smirk as he held up his fists.

"You think you can just walk away after committing a federal crime, you broke rat?" Chad sneered loudly.

The fraternity athletes clenched their fists, their knuckles cracking loudly under the yellow streetlights.

Miranda hurried out of the store entrance, watching the confrontation with wide, anxious eyes but staying back.

"Show us the name on that black card right now, Nicholas," Chad demanded, stepping directly into his path.