Chapter 14 - I Delivered Dinner to My Rich Enemy
Lucas Vane opened the penthouse door wearing silk pajamas and annoyance.
Then he recognized Eli.
“You.”
“Pad Thai.” Eli held up the bag. “We meet again.”
Lucas looked at the delivery app.
“You work for QuickDrop?”
“I enjoy diversified humiliation.”
Two young cultivators inside laughed.
Lucas did not.
He took the food and deliberately dropped a twenty-dollar bill on the floor.
“Tip.”
Eli looked at it.
His system vibrated.
[DEFIANCE EVENT]
[OPTION A: PICK IT UP. FINANCES +20. SELF-RESPECT -?]
[OPTION B: DECLINE.]
[OPTION C: MAKE THIS WEIRD.]
Eli chose C.
He picked up the bill.
Lucas smirked.
Eli handed it to the hotel housekeeper walking past.
“Ma’am, apparently Mr. Vane is tipping the staff tonight.”
She smiled. “How generous.”
The two cultivators inside laughed harder.
Lucas’s face tightened.
[DEFIANCE +8]
[STYLE BONUS +4]
Then Lucas noticed the cracked storage ring on Eli’s finger.
“You repaired it?”
“Working on it.”
“I’ll give you five thousand.”
“No.”
“Ten.”
Eli almost said yes.
His bank account screamed yes.
His system did not.
[ITEM HAS UNDISCOVERED FUNCTION.]
“No.”
Lucas stepped close.
“You really enjoy being difficult.”
“It’s becoming profitable.”
As Eli left, the ring suddenly pulsed.
A hidden compartment opened inside it.
One item appeared in his palm.
A black metal key engraved with a lotus.
The system went silent.
No analysis.
No jokes.
Just one red line.
May you like
[DO NOT LET LUCAS VANE SEE THIS KEY.]
