2026-01-25 19:00:13They ordered shortly after.
Waiters came in, putting menus in front of them. The menus were sleek black leather, etched with gold and lit from the inside with a soft backlight to help with better reading.Gray hadn't even fully opened his when a waiter appeared beside him with a small nod."Would you like the six-course tasting menu, Sir, or would you prefer to order à la carte?"Gray blinked at the question."Uh... tasting menu's fine.""Excellent choice, Sir." The man bowed slightly and disappeared.That... was fast. He didn't even know what he ordered.A few more waiters came one after another, placing new cutlery with gloved hands. They adjusted the plates and utensils. They even refilled Lily's juice before it dropped below halfway.It was the kind of service where you didn't even have to ask because they were already a step ahead.Gray glanced around again, taking it all in. Every movemen
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Chapter 145: Invitation
The system notification slowly faded, but the words lingered in Gray's mind.[Grow Your Business.]It seemed like the System was eager to make this investment possible.Gray glanced down at the black card again, then quietly slipped it into his wallet. He didn't say anything more, but his grip tightened for a moment."I guess I need to work harder this month."The dinner went on after that.The soup had cooled slightly, but it still tasted rich and comforting. Every course that followed was plated like art.For the main course, there was a silky fish dish with foam, a slow-cooked lamb medallion that melted in the mouth when you bit into it. Adding to that, the dessert was also top-notch. It looked like a snow globe made of sugar and filled with hazelnut cream.For the rest of the night, they ate, talked, and laughed.As the business talk died down, Conrad's demeanor changed entirely."So..." Conrad looked at Lily, his eyes filled with curiosity."Tell me, Lily, how long has your broth
Chapter 144: Real Deal
Gray blinked in disbelief.For a second, he was stunned. He couldn't believe that Conrad would actually say yes so easily.He expected some rejection, maybe a "we'll talk about it later" or some elegant way of brushing him off.But this?This was so unexpected.Gray cleared his throat before he straightened up a little.Now, they were talking about the real deal."I got a grocery about a month ago. It used to be a mess when I first took over with poor management, but things are better now."Selina looked genuinely surprised by what she heard. Her brows lifted slightly as if she was hearing it for the first time. However, it was different for Conrad.Conrad leaned in with interest, his wineglass hovering just below his mouth. The expression on his face barely changed. His eyes just narrowed slightly with a glint of interest as if he was saying he already knew everything."The numbers have been stable so far," Gray continued. "We're breaking sales each day. The foot traffic's been decen
Chapter 143: A Better Proposal
"I apologize," Selina held his gaze. She pressed her lips together, guilt flickering across her face. "The truth is... I was the one who suggested it," she admitted softly. "After I visited her school.""You?" Gray asked Selina before turning back to Conrad slowly. He was still trying to process everything."It's not charity, Gray," the old man said firmly. "And it's not because I think Lily isn't being cared for. It's quite the opposite."Conrad smiled faintly, folding his hands neatly in front of him. His voice remained calm, yet there was something in his tone that said he was genuine."Selina told me about your situation. About how much Lily means to you. I respect that. Deeply. And I admire it."Gray didn't respond. He stared down at his bowl for a long moment. The steam from the soup rose steadily, curling into the air like smoke."I just think she deserves more," Selina added beside him, her voice gentle and cautious, as t
Chapter 142: A Sudden Offer
They ordered shortly after.Waiters came in, putting menus in front of them. The menus were sleek black leather, etched with gold and lit from the inside with a soft backlight to help with better reading.Gray hadn't even fully opened his when a waiter appeared beside him with a small nod."Would you like the six-course tasting menu, Sir, or would you prefer to order à la carte?"Gray blinked at the question."Uh... tasting menu's fine.""Excellent choice, Sir." The man bowed slightly and disappeared.That... was fast. He didn't even know what he ordered.A few more waiters came one after another, placing new cutlery with gloved hands. They adjusted the plates and utensils. They even refilled Lily's juice before it dropped below halfway.It was the kind of service where you didn't even have to ask because they were already a step ahead.Gray glanced around again, taking it all in. Every movemen
Chapter 141: Then We Can Talk
"What does that mean?"Gray rubbed the back of his neck and leaned back into his swivel chair. His eyes wandered to the ceiling, then to the faint reflection of himself on the window.Selina and Lily had left earlier in the afternoon.Selina had offered to bring Lily along after her class so they could hang out while Gray was away. It was harmless at the time. He found it nice, even, since Lily liked her so much.Now, though... it kind of felt like he'd walked into another trap.Now it was a dinner trap.He scoffed under his breath."Meet the grandfather again," he muttered. "Of course."Still, Gray didn't want to overthink it.Even though Conrad could be scheming again, he was a nice man. He also seemed harmless, so Gray was just fine with it."This is just another dinner, right?"Gray feared the topic of the dinner more than the dinner itself."Oh well..." he exhaled."I just hope that man doesn't bring up talks about relationships again."---Later that evening, Gray arrived at the
Chapter 140: What Do You Mean?
A few days after Ben was hired, the situation in the grocery store had become even better.The employees looked better, there was harmony among them, and Ben, overall, was a good leader.It was to the point that Gray had barely any work, except to read some files, sign some important papers, and just observe.It made his work really, really light that for the first time in his life, he had enjoyed being a CEO."It's just been a few days since you were signed to your post, but the employees' performance has noticeably improved greatly."Inside the store's office, Gray leaned back on his swivel chair. A small grin tugged at his lips as he scanned the figures again on the report that he was holding. The paper crinkled a bit as he folded it and placed it on the table.Ben stood nearby, hands behind his back. His sleeves were rolled up, his shirt still neatly tucked despite the busy morning. He looked slightly shy, but proud nonetheless."I just followed what we talked about last time, Sir
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