Chapter 9 9

Ethan quickly pocketed his high-end phone, stood up, and smoothly walked to the door. With well-practiced, refined movements honed over two years, he laid out a pair of comfortable slippers for Olivia and neatly placed her high heels in the shoe cabinet.

"Dinner is ready. Go wash your hands so we can eat," he said warmly, turning to head back into the kitchen.

"Wait a minute. I have something to ask you."

Olivia stopped him, her voice exceptionally firm as she walked over and sat on the sofa.

Ethan paused and turned around. Seeing her stern, dead-serious expression, his heart sank slightly. He couldn't help but wonder if he had inadvertently done something wrong again.

"What's the matter? Why so serious?" Ethan asked, puzzled.

Olivia held up the elegant, rectangular box, showcasing the contents. "Did you secure these three Royal VIP concert tickets for Ivy?"

"Uh... no, they aren't from me." Ethan looked at the tickets in her hand, a look of genuine surprise crossing his face.

In truth, a small glimmer of hope had sparked in Olivia’s heart; she had deeply wished that Ethan was the one who had gotten them for her.

But seeing his completely clueless expression, that tiny sliver of hope vanished instantly. Thinking about it logically, it made perfect sense. Ethan’s pockets were entirely empty. A single VIP ticket of this caliber cost nearly two hundred thousand, meaning three tickets would easily approach six hundred thousand. Where on earth would a man like him get that kind of money?

Meanwhile, Ethan watched the complex shifts in her expression and muttered bitterly to himself: 'When I tell the truth, you don't believe me anyway, so acting clueless is far better.'

Ethan’s phone vibrated with an incoming text message: [My Lord, the Royal VIP tickets have been successfully delivered directly to the Madam.]

"Who's that texting you?" Olivia asked, catching the illumination of his screen. A trace of curiosity flashed in her eyes because for over two years, she had almost never seen Ethan text or call anyone outside of herself and her parents.

"Oh... it's just the network provider. My balance is running low, and they're urging me to top up," Ethan said, shrugging his shoulders naturally before turning back toward the kitchen.

Watching his retreating figure, a wave of disappointment washed over Olivia’s striking face.

While Olivia was completely racking her brain trying to guess the identity of the mysterious benefactor who had sent her such a fortune, her personal phone suddenly rang. The moment she saw the caller ID, her expression shifted dramatically. She rose and quickly walked into the bedroom to answer the call in private.

By the time Olivia finished her call and stepped out, Ethan was already seated at the dining table, having meticulously laid out the plates and utensils, waiting for her.

"An old university classmate of mine just returned from abroad tonight," she said, standing by the table. "There's a small gathering, so I won't be having dinner at home."

"Oh, I see. Be careful then. Once you're done, I'll ride the electric scooter over to pick you up."

Ethan felt a bit helpless. Olivia’s parents had a business dinner tonight, and now Olivia had a gathering of her own. If she had told him earlier, he wouldn't have gone through the trouble of preparing all these elaborate dishes.

But Olivia caught him off guard, adding, "You're coming with me too."

"Uh..."

Ethan froze in sheer surprise. This was the absolute first time in their two years of marriage that Olivia had ever requested his presence at a social gathering with her friends.

"She's my closest friend from university," Olivia explained, her tone slightly tense. "She was studying abroad when we got married, so she couldn't attend our wedding. She just landed back in the country today and insisted on meeting you."

In truth, Olivia was incredibly reluctant to introduce Ethan to her social circles, but she couldn't refuse her friend's persistent request this time.

She added a sharp warning, "Just remember, once we get there, it's best if you don't talk too much or spout nonsense."

Ethan smiled simply and replied, "Understood. I'll just eat and keep quiet." Then he muttered under his breath, "But I hope your classmate isn't as incredibly arrogant and insufferable as Clara..."

"Shut up!" she snapped icily. "Clara is my best friend, and I won't have you speaking ill of her."

---

The Wanlong Luxury Hotel

After parking his cheap electric scooter in the designated area, Ethan followed a few steps behind Olivia as they calmly entered the hotel and navigated toward the reserved private suite.

The moment they stepped through the double doors, a young woman wearing bold, heavy smoky makeup jumped up excitedly. "Olivia, darling! You're finally here, we've been waiting for ages!" She rushed over and wrapped Olivia in a fierce embrace.

"Chloe! It's been years, I missed you so much..." Olivia replied, returning the hug with equal enthusiasm.

Chloe pulled back slightly, a cryptic smile playing on her lips. "Look who else I brought along tonight."

As soon as she spoke, a young man and a woman stood up from their seats to greet Olivia.

"Lucas, Mia! You two are here as well?" Olivia said, her face lighting up with surprise. "It's been so long, how have you both been?"

The young man named Lucas offered a smooth, diplomatic smile. "Olivia, you're a prominent executive and corporate manager now. Catching a glimpse of you in the same city requires a formal appointment these days!"

These individuals were all Olivia’s former classmates from university. Back then, Lucas had relentlessly pursued Olivia, only to be completely rejected at every turn. Following graduation, he had ultimately married Mia.

Throughout this entire exchange, Ethan stood directly behind Olivia, completely treated by the trio as if he were invisible air. It wasn't until Olivia took her seat that the gazes of the three individuals simultaneously locked onto him.

Chloe pointed a manicured finger at Ethan and asked in a condescending, inquisitive tone, "And who might this be?"

Feeling a wave of acute discomfort, Olivia stammered slightly, "Oh... this is... my husband, Ethan."

Ethan offered a polite nod and said, "Hello, everyone."

The trio openly scrutinized Ethan from head to toe without the slightest hint of modesty. The moment their eyes fell upon his ordinary, unbranded clothing, their expressions instantly contorted into unmistakable disdain and contempt.

Chloe was the first to speak, her tone dripping with superior curiosity. "So, Mr. Ethan, in what prestigious sector or corporate firm are you currently employed?"

Ethan replied with absolute honesty and simplicity, "Oh, I don't hold a standard corporate job at the moment. My primary responsibility is overseeing Olivia's daily schedule and managing her meals."

The women stifled their giggles, while Chloe burst into an unsuppressed, mocking laugh.

"Oh... so you're basically a private butler, or rather, a house servant?"

Mia turned to Chloe and spoke loudly enough for the entire table to hear, "Chloe, haven't you seen the news yet? Olivia's husband is the live-in son-in-law of her family, and word is his roots trace back to some remote rural countryside!"

Because of Lucas’s past pursuits of Olivia, Mia had always harbored a hidden jealousy and resentment toward her. Now, she had found the perfect opportunity to strike a devastating blow to Olivia’s pride.

Chloe feigned absolute astonishment. "Oh... really?! I had no idea!"

Lucas joined the attack with a sly, malicious grin. "If you don't believe it, just check the local corporate platforms today; her husband gained massive notoriety in the company lobby, looking completely wretched while speaking as if he ruled the world!"

He then turned to Olivia and added mockingly, "Olivia, I truly never expected your taste in men to sink to such a dismal level, heh..."

Olivia’s face burned a deep crimson from intense humiliation and shame. She had never expected her old university friends, whom she once thought close, to turn into such shallow, materialistic, and spiteful individuals.

Ethan, however, maintained a perfectly calm and detached expression, looking as though their words didn't concern him in the slightest.

Chloe continued with immense pride and arrogance, "Olivia, as the saying goes, a man fears entering the wrong profession, while a woman fears choosing the wrong partner. I honestly thought you had married an elite gentleman from the upper echelons of society. I was even planning to ask your husband to back some of my future fiancé's corporate deals... but it turns out he's just a broke country bumpkin with zero ambition."

Olivia felt a crushing sense of disappointment toward her former close friend; all fond memories dissolved in the face of such blatant materialism.

Mia interrupted the heavy silence with a forced, patronizing smile as she picked up the menu. "Chloe, let's not dwell on such embarrassing matters. Look how flushed Olivia's face has become. Let's order dinner now, and let's select the most luxurious and expensive dishes. Judging by their circumstances, they must live an incredibly austere life, and they certainly don't have the luxury of dining in high-end hotels like this normally."

Olivia felt as though she were sitting on a bed of hot coals. A violent urge to stand up and storm out of this hypocritical place washed over her, but her deep-rooted dignity held her back from showing weakness or letting them think she had retreated out of defeat. Swallowing her intense rage, she resolved to stay, silently vowing never to take Ethan anywhere with her again.

At that exact moment, Ethan—who had remained completely silent the entire time—let out a soft, freezing chuckle. Fixing his calm gaze on Mia, he said evenly, "I am indeed a simple man from the countryside without a massive corporate career... however, I am highly curious to know what prestigious position your honorable husband holds to afford you such a profound sense of superiority."

Mia's features shifted, a haughty, self-satisfied smirk plastering her lips. "I was actually refraining from mentioning it out of fear that it would trigger a severe inferiority complex in you, but since you asked, I'll tell you. My dear husband is the Regional Director of the Luxury Sales Division at the global corporate powerhouse, 'Crystal' Haute Jewelry, pulling in an annual salary exceeding five million dollars."

She turned to Olivia and continued in a patronizing tone, "By the way, 'Crystal' is the official sponsor and organizer of the mega-star Ivy's concert tomorrow. Thanks to my husband's legendary achievements, his reward was two premium VIP tickets. Olivia, I know you've been a massive fan of Ivy since our university days; why don't you accompany us tomorrow? After the concert, there will be an exclusive, closed-door showcase of the rarest royal jewelry, featuring a mysterious, ancient artifact. Even if you can't afford it, just catching a glimpse of it is a massive honor!"

Lucas quickly backed his wife with an artificial smile. "Absolutely. You can reach out to me tomorrow, and out of respect for our old friendship, I'll grant you a very special discount if you wish to purchase anything."

Ethan offered a brief, flat smile and commented indifferently, "We will certainly be attending the concert... however, I am accustomed to never purchasing any piece of jewelry at a cheap discount, especially when it comes to presenting gifts to my wife."

The trio erupted into a loud, mocking fit of laughter at Ethan's words, which they deemed to be absolute lunacy. At that very second, the heavy doors of the private suite suddenly swung open, and another individual walked in.

"My deepest apologies, I got severely delayed by the heavy traffic..."

The newcomer spoke while walking briskly toward the dining table. But the exact moment his eyes landed on Ethan sitting there serenely, his entire body locked up completely as if struck by lightning. His eyes widened, and his face was instantly painted with absolute shock and pure, unadulterated terror!