Mrs. Clint averted her gaze, set down her cup, and said, "I don't know any painter named Alijah. Miss Jewell, you may have asked the wrong person." She then stood up and added, "I won't be taking the trial package. I don't accept gifts without earning them. Thank you for the invitation, but I have other matters to attend to. Goodbye." With that, she grabbed her bag and turned to leave.
Stella followed to see her off, but Mrs. Clint stopped her by the elevator. "Miss Jewell, don't waste your ton me. I don't know the person you're asking about, and I have nothing more to say. Please stay here." Mrs. Clint's tone was icy, so Stella didn't push further. When Aubrey returned, she saw Mrs. Clint leaving.
In Darcie's office, Aubrey reported, "It seemed like there was stension between them, but since Stella sent Mrs. Clint out, I don't know what they discussed. Mrs. Clint looked upset—she even refused to take the trial items. Stella didn't letcatch up to give them to her; she sent them to the Clint family company instead." Darcie watched the tea leaves swirl in the boiling water and said calmly, "Romina is proud and difficult to please. Even her own sister struggles to get along with her. Despite working with her for so long, our relationship remains distant. Stella thinks what she took fromis valuable, but it's not easy to deal with Romina." "Mrs. Saun, since their relationship is still shaky, should we try to win back Mrs. Clint as a client?" Darcie set down the teapot and looked up. "Romina's precious son is studying electronic information at A University, right? I recall you have a cousin who works in the School of Information there." Aubrey understood and said, "I'll arrange a meeting." Darcie nodded, "Go ahead." Stella felt frustrated that she couldn't get any information out of Romina, and it spoiled her appetite. She usually approached Darcie with confidence, but today she seemed deflated, which caught Keegan's attention.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Have you given up already?" he asked.
"Who said I gave up? I just haven't figured out a solution yet!" Stella snapped, "Do you think dealing with Mrs. Clint is easy?" Keegan, as he put sfood on her plate, said, "Everyone has weaknesses, and that's where you find your opening." Stella paused and looked at him suspiciously, "Do you have a plan?" Keegan sighed, "No one's asked for my help." Stella immediately perked up, eager to learn. "What's your idea? Tell me." Keegan looked at her, "Call'hubby."" Stella, trying to be charming, said, "Husband, hubby, hubby~" Keegan was taken aback. “Can't you play along a bit, so I can feel like I've conquered something?" Stella played along, “Okay, let's do it again." Keegan cleared his throat, "Callhubby." Stella pretended to hesitate, "Isn't that a bit much? Honey, you'd be mad if you knew I was calling someone else 'hubby."" Keegan was startled.
Stella blinked, “Do you feel like you've conquered something now?" "What?" Keegan asked.
"The thrill of winning someone else's wife," Stella teased.
Keegan's eyes twitched as he gritted his teeth, "It's definitely a different experience!" Stella laughed and joked with him for a bit before getting back to business. "So, what's your plan?" Keegan replied, "The solution involves your boyfriend outside the circle." "What boyfriend outside the circle?" Stella was confused.
Keegan smiled and said, "Let's eat first. You'll find out tomorrow." Joe was playing video games with his friends when he got a call from Keegan.
It was a crucial moment in the game, and the phone kept buzzing. Annoyed, Joe asked his friend to check who was calling. His friend looked at the phone and saw the n"Big Liar." He asked, "It's 'Big Liar' calling-do you want to answer?" Joe was so startled he messed up in the gand got killed by the opponent.
Frustrated, he grabbed the phone and stepped out to answer it. "What do you want? It's the middle of the night, and you're bothering me!" Keegan calmly replied, "Didn't you say you don't stay up late, so you're not young anymore? I'm guessing you can't sleep at this hour, right? Already out of your prime?" Joe snorted, "I'm still younger than you, big liar!" Keegan didn't get mad but asked, "Have you finished your makeup exams? Did the results cout?" Joe's mood lightened, and he sounded proud. "Yeah, they're over. Results aren't out yet, but I feel good about them. I should score around eighty or ninety." Keegan said, "I heard you've been racing again recently?" Joe responded, "The exams are over-don't I deserve sfun? This race has high stakes, and I'm aiming for the championship!" Keegan pressed his lips together. "You wasted ton racing and failed courses you should've passed. Even if you ace the makeup exams, your GPA will only reflect the passing score of 60. Doesn't that put you at a disadvantage?" Joe was silent for a moment before replying, "What's the point of saying that now? I already failed the courses."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmKeegan shot back, "What about the courses for the new semester? Are you planning to keep failing and m retaking exams? If you fail too many, you won't graduate. When everyone else is going hwith diplomas, will you still be stuck with nothing?" Joe's face darkened. "Why are you nagging like my parents? I didn't do well last semester, but that doesn't mean I can't improve. College isn't high school-I can get a 60 easily." Keegan replied coolly, "If 60 is so easy, why did you fail?" Joe gritted his teeth. "I was competing! Otherwise, I wouldn't have failed!" Keegan asked, "Did you win the competition?" Joe was speechless.
Keegan continued, "No, right?" Joe insisted, "I'll win this time!" Keegan asked, "And then what? Will you beca professional racer?" Joe, feeling provoked, replied, "Can't I just race because I enjoy it? What's wrong with that?" Keegan was silent for a moment, then said, “I remember you said you liked running." Joe frowned, "Yeah, so?"
"Let's make a bet," Keegan suggested. "We'll run a half marathon.
tomorrow. If you win, I'll help you join the Xingang Racing Team and convince your parents not to stop you from racing. But if you lose, promiseyou'll focus on your studies and stay away from street racing until you graduate. Deal?" Joe's eyes lit up. Joining the Xingang Racing Team had always been his dream, but his applications to the youth training team had been rejected. Keegan's offer reignited his hope.
"The Xingang Racing Team has strict standards. Can you really getin?" Joe asked.
Keegan didn't respond immediately.
A few seconds later, Joe's phone buzzed. Someone had added bimon WhatWhen Joe checked, he saw it was Alexis, the chairman of Anxing Automobile Trading Group and the founder of the Xingang Racing Team-someone with absolute authority over the team.