Ch. 2441..2450

Chapter 2441 Chapter 2441 Team XS's official account didn't address any of the rumors spreading around in public.

Leon Batton went about his day as usual by going to classes with Lynette Batton.

He could hear people screaming as soon as his car stopped in front of the school, but he remained indifferent while his sister smiled sweetly.

"You seem to be in a good mood today," Leon couldn't resist stating with his brows raised when he saw how jolly she appeared.

"Not too bad. Same as usual," she answered softly.

"Why do you seem a little out of sorts today?"

The smile on her face widened. "I browsed the internet to look for basic tips on behaving like an idol. I have to smile and maintain a positive image, so I thought I should start practicing."

Her hair danced to the breeze, her eyes glistening as she smiled. It was a breathtaking sight.

"She's so pretty!"

"I'd like to be Lynette's friend. Unfortunately, I'd never get the chance!"

"Yeah, she's way too pretty. If only I look half as good as she does. I wouldn't have to be so sad!"

People around them spoke, offering compliments one after another.

Leon didn't say anything. After all, this was his sister's dream. He thought it was inappropriate to ask her too many questions about it.

They arrived at their classroom just as the bell rang.

His desk was full of pink-colored love letters and various intricate-looking snacks as usual.

After taking his seat, he cast disinterested eyes over the items not seeing the small slice of toast. For some reason, he felt a little disappointed.

A look of disappointment briefly appeared in his eyes as he looked down, but it was gone before anyone noticed.

The first lesson was chemistry.

The chemistry teacher was a middle-aged Mediterranean man who seemed popular among the students because he gave clear and detailed explanations despite being long-winded.

Even so, Lynette and Leon weren't planning on paying attention.

After school, the two of them walked along the road in school. There were tall trees on both sides of the road that blocked the scorching sun.

"Leon, why do you seem a little distracted lately?" she asked while cocking her head sideways and blinking her eyes.

She had never seen her brother like that before.

"No, you're mistaken," he replied with a shake of his head. He didn't want his sister to know what was on his mind.

"How's that possible?" she asked incredulously with a pout, rolling her eyes. "I grew up with you. I can tell right away if something is wrong. Hmm det me guess. It's because of I those letters the other day, ame right?" FindNovel.net เน She smiled in smug satisfaction when he didn't reply, watching his face relaxing somewhat.

"Hahaha! Your silence means I was right," Lynette said triumphantly. Over the years, it was the first time she had seen her brother like that.

"All right, all right, stop making fun of me," Leon grumbled. "I didn't say you were right."

Chapter 2442 Chapter 2442 Leon Batton coughed gently.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Why won't you admit it yet?" Lynette Batton asked.

She knew her brother so well, so naturally, she wouldn't believe his excuses.

"There's nothing to admit," he insisted.

"I don't believe you. You're just trying to hide it," Lynette replied, looking adorable as she puffed her cheeks.

"Can you not gossip about me every day?" he retorted helplessly, gently brushing her pert nose with his index finger.

"How is this gossip? You obviously felt something the other day. Why don't I help you by finding out news about that girl?" she asked with an eager smile while tugging at his sleeve. "All right, all right. Stop making a fuss," Leon interjected.

To him, relationships were all based on serendipity. It would last if it was meant to be.

Love should never be forced but allowed to develop naturally. If they were fated to be together, it would happen sooner or later.

"What do you mean by making a fuss? I'm trying to help you out, okay?" his sister exclaimed with her hands on her waist.

Lynette did feel a little curious about the kind of girl her brother would end up dating.

"Okay, okay. Didn't you say you wanted a limited-edition Hermes purse? Why don't we head over and buy that now that school's over?" He had hastily changed the topic.

His sister was a naive girl without any ill intentions, so she was momentarily distracted and forgot all about his love life.

"Really? Let's go right now!" she exclaimed, grinning as she grabbed his arm.

"Okay," he answered before driving to the most luxurious and largest shopping mall in Atlantis.

When they arrived to see the variety of shops inside, Lynette seemed more excited than usual. Perhaps, this was an inherent quality of girls.

Meanwhile, the striking duo instantly attracted a lot of attention.

"Are they students? They probably attend some exclusive private school based on their school uniforms, right?"

"They look like actors on a film set to me. They look gorgeous!"

"The guy looks even better than celebrities to me. Could he be a celebrity pretending to be a regular person here?"

"Perhaps they are filming for a variety show. Are there cameras hidden in advance?"

People talked about them openly, with several young ladies even holding up their phone cameras. They seemed hesitant about asking for a photo with Leon and Lynette even though they had gotten used to that kind of attention.

They didn't think much of it and focused on looking for the Hermes store.

As soon as they walked in, they drew the attention of every sales assistant in the store. However, when the staff saw their school uniform and discovered they were high school students, they seemed uncertain.

Not long after they stepped inside, someone approached them.

"I'm sorry, but our store is a VIP Hermes outlet. Each purse costs at least several hundred thousand dollars. Therefore, we don't serve regulan customers. I suggest you look elsewhere," the sales assistant said with a look of annoyance.

Despite their striking good looks, the sales assistant only cared about making a sale.

She gazed at them with disdain as her eyes perused them up and down. She was very close to kicking both of them out.

"Do we look like ordinary customers to you?" Lynette retorted unhappily, hating people who looked down on others.

Just because the staff worked in a store selling luxury brands, it didn't make her better than some customers who couldn't afford these goods.

Chapter 2443 Chapter 2443 Lynette Batton wasn't the kind of person who liked to show off her wealth, but she couldn't stand the sales assistant's arrogance and couldn't resist arguing back.

"Are you kidding? How could two students afford a purse that costs several hundred thousand dollars? I have never met anyone like that while working here for years!" the staff scoffed.

She had worked at the store for close to eight years, but she had never met any student who could afford such price tags.

"That's not our problem. It doesn't mean we can't afford these purses," Lynette declared while rolling her eyes.

"Cut the crap," the staff snapped. "All right, stop standing around. You're getting in the way of our business!"

To her, the truly wealthy women should be old housewives, not a student.

She also couldn't be bothered to keep arguing with the young lady when she was adamant about kicking them out.

Leon Batton's facial expression changed at that point. Seemingly upset, he planted himself in front of his sister to block the sales assistant's way.

"What are you doing?" she asked impatiently.

"We're buying a purse," he answered simply.

"You can't afford it."

"Are you sure about that?" he interjected when she was about to continue to belittle him.

"Isn't it obvious? How could a high school student afford a branded purse that costs several hundred thousand dollars? It's nearly the price of a house!" She crossed her arms in a huff.

"What if I can afford it?" he asked with a half-hearted smile.

"Then I'll apologize to you right now!" she replied in annoyance, daring to call his bluff because she was confident these two youngsters were simply troublemakers who liked pranking others. "Sure," he responded before pulling his sister into the limited-edition Hermes store. "Lynette, go ahead and pick whichever one you like."

"All right. Thank you, Leon," Lynette replied with a sweet smile.

She then began browsing for the designs she liked.

"That's way over the top. Those are limited-edition purses. Why are they making it seem as if they're buying groceries?"

"Perhaps these two are secretly from a wealthy family?"

"You can't be too sure, but no matter how rich their family is, they shouldn't be allowed to buy several hundred thousand dollars worth of purses each. They're probably just trying to intimidate us!"

Observers nearby were doubtful over the entire scene, but none of them knew that not only were the students from wealthy backgrounds, but they were also actually from ultra-rich families. FindNovel.net The two of them ignored the chatter around them and continued browsing the display area.

"Can you help me get that purse with crocodile leather? I want the bright blue one, and it would be best if the interior material is velvet," the young female student said.

Her demeanor and familiarity with the materials made it seem as if she had frequented limited-edition branded stores like this one.

"Is she really from a rich family?"

"That explains why I sensed an aura of wealth from these two as soon as they walked in. They don't seem like common folks at all!"

"Yeah. They're the most attractive people in the crowd!"

Everyone was stunned by Lynette's dignified behavior.

"This-" The arrogant sales assistant bit back her retort, seemingly put off by what she heard.

"Looks like you have good taste,"

another employee spoke up as she pulled on a pair of gloves before launching into a detailed explanation of the purse's features. "This is the newest aqua blue purse with a ripple design. It's the only unit in the entire city of Atlantis."

"Hmm, indeed, it does look pretty good," Lynette replied as she picked it up and carried it around.

The size was perfect, and the aqua blue was also an easy color to match with her cute outfits.

Chapter 2444 Chapter 2444 "Leon, do you think I look good with this purse?" Lynette Batton approached Leon Batton, carrying the designer purse on her shoulder as she twirled in front of him.

The aqua blue color symbolized purity and innocence. It was compatible with her personality. On top of that, it had a unique design that made it seem a rather playful choice. "Not bad. I think it looks good on you," her brother replied approvingly.

"I'm sure you're right," she responded with a chuckle. She trusted Leon's taste.

"It's not just because of the purse, though. It's because you're pretty, Lynette," he said affectionately with a laugh.

Everyone felt envious of her when they heard that.

Lynette turned around and continued selecting purses, chatting briefly with her brother as her eyes swept across the displays with a purse in hand.

She looked up at another purse with a marble pattern on it. "Please let me take a closer look at that purse."

She had good fashion sense despite her tender age.

"About that..." The staff seemed troubled.

"What's the matter?" Lynette asked.

Were they not willing to sell it?

"That particular purse is the most valued model in our store. Only supreme VIPs have the privilege to buy it. Moreover, it's the most expensive," the staff explained respectfully.

The previous sales assistant then began to chime in sarcastically. "You should drop the act if you can't afford it. That is the most expensive purse in the store. Ordinary people like you can't afford to damage it!"

"Hey, stop looking down on people," Lynette snapped at her before turning back to smile at the other employee. "My apologies. I am indeed a supreme VIP."

As soon as she spoke, everyone in the store erupted into whispers.

The minimum requirement to become a supreme VIP was very high. Apart from spending up to ten million dollars, one also had to hold a special status in society. "How is that possible?" The sales assistant had her eyes wide open in disbelief at what she heard.

"Hmm?" Leon frowned as he looked at his sister in confusion.

He had no idea when she had become a supreme VIP member here. He burst out laughing when she called Xyla Quest on the phone. "You're smart."

He gently rubbed her head as he spoke.

"Of course." She chuckled playfully.

"All right. We've received confirmation regarding your supreme VIP membership. Please wait for a moment."

The demeanors of the people around them changed upon discovering that Lynette was a supreme VIP member. Even the store manager showed up personally shortly after that.

"You're all doing a terrible job," the store manager snapped at the staff. "Why didn't any of you inform me such an important customer was in our store? What if there's been an incident or negligence of any kind? Who's going to bear the п responsibility?"

The manager pretended to be upset with the employees. Then, she turned her attention to Lynette and smiled at her.

"Our esteemed VIP client, please allow me to get you the purse you wanted," she added.

The siblings felt a little uncomfortable with the fuss. They were no strangers to commotions such as this, but they weren't the kind of people who enjoyed being glorified.

"Honestly, you don't have to exaggerate," Lynette trailed off uneasily.

"Not at all. As our supreme VIP member, you must be treated as such," the manager replied.

And then, she began explaining every aspect of the purse with great enthusiasm.

Her staff had never seen their store manager behaving like that before. Staring at her with their eyes wide open, they couldn't believe what they were witnessing.

The long-winded explanation lasted for several minutes, throughout which Lynette wanted to interrupt several times but thought it was impolite to do so. Hence, sh@didn't cut the manager off.

After all, the siblings were taught not to interrupt others when they were talking as it was considered impolite.

Chapter 2445 Chapter 2445 "Now that I've explained every detail, was there any part you didn't understand?" the store manager asked respectfully. After all, Lynette Batton and Leon Batton were going to rake in a lot of revenue for her.

"No, I understood everything," Lynette replied hastily with a wave of her hand.

She was afraid she would pass out if the manager continued talking.

"That's great!"

Nodding, she picked up the purse to study it carefully. It was definitely of superior quality in terms of design and material.

"Indeed, it lives up to being the most valued treasure of this store," she murmured. "Leon, I've made my choice, but I want two purses, is that okay? I really like both colors." She held up two purses, one in each hand.

One was the aqua blue purse with rippled patterns, while the other was the most expensive one in the store.

"Sure, as long as you're happy," Leon answered casually, seemingly unbothered by the amount of money he was about to spend.

His cavalier attitude sparked another bout of whispers and surprised gasps around them.

"That's so cool! How could he spoil her like that? Whoever becomes his girlfriend in the future will be very happy indeed!"

"Yeah, I can tell by how he treats his little sister. I wonder who'd be the lucky girl!"

"Sigh. People like us can forget it. Only gorgeous women deserve handsome men of his class!"

Leon behaved as if he didn't hear them. He'd gotten used to being the center of attention since he was a kid.

Calmly, he retrieved a card from his pocket. It was all black with golde engravings on the edges. It looked unique.

"This-isn't that the legendary Niello VIP card?" somebody in the crowd asked.

Not just anyone could own the Niello VIP card.

There were only five such cards in existence. It was surreal for this young student to just happened to own one.

"He's handsome and rich. How can someone's future husband be that perfect?"

"Forget it and stop thinking about it. He's so handsome and rich. He would never even spare us a glance."

"I'm truly envious of his future girlfriend. I'm sure she would be a happy lady. I'm already jealous!"

The women in the store were all drawn to Leon, but he didn't think much of it. Suddenly, a thought struck him right when he was about to pay with his card.

He turned to gaze at the arrogant sales assistant from before.

"Do you remember what you said?" he asked coldly.

He didn't hold back his hostility toward her because he never liked people who looked down on others.

"Oh, yeah. I nearly forgot," his sister exclaimed while facepalming her forehead.

The sales assistant had a horrified expression on her face. She felt deeply embarrassed.

Why did she have to open her big mouth?

"I-"

Standing in front of so many people, two high school students, including she y couldn't bring to do such a humiliating thing.

Chapter 2446 Chapter 2446 Likewise, the bystanders also recalled the earlier incident. Even they felt somewhat dissatisfied seeing how the sales assistant was trying to avoid her apology. "Why aren't you saying anything now? Weren't you acting so arrogant earlier?"

"Exactly. You looked down on other people, so you shouldn't be a sales assistant. You're an employee, too, and it's not like you're rich either. Why would you look down on others?" "They're right. Hurry up and apologize unless you're someone who goes back on your own words?"

With everyone speaking up and pressuring her, the sales assistant had no choice but to apologize to Leon Batton and Lynette Batton.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, her face reddening. "I was ignorant and misunderstood the two of you. Please accept my sincerest apology on this matter."

Deeply humiliated, she wished she could disappear on the spot.

"Forget it. We're all equal. I hope you won't look down on anyone else in the future," Lynette said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

The store manager sensed something was wrong. "What exactly happened?"

A nearby employee hurriedly whispered in her ear to fill her in. She looked livid upon finding out about the whole situation.

"How could you treat our supreme VIP like this? Someone unprofessional like you shouldn't work in our store!" she exclaimed.

"I-I was only-" the sales assistant trailed off.

She was close to tears. She didn't think it would cause her to lose her job.

"Don't give me excuses. Pack up and leave right now," the manager informed her firmly.

Lynette and Leon felt sorry for the mortified woman.

"Leon, I think she has already learned her lesson now. Why don't we plead for her?" Lynette whispered to her brother as she tugged at his sleeve. "You're right. People should have a chance to change their ways," he replied.

The siblings weren't the kind of people to hold grudges or be vindictive even though the staff offended them.

"Hey, please don't fire this lady,"

Lynette spoke politely. "She's already apologized to us. Since she's aware of her mistake and is willing to change, can you give her another chance?"

The bystanders praised her even further upon hearing her words- "Wow! She's such a nice girl!"

"Exactly. She is not only pretty and comes from a wealthy family, but she's also such a kind person. Indeed, none of us can compare."

"Sigh. There is no way we can compare to her. I'm so envious of her!"

The store manager decided to let the sales assistant off the hook after some consideration. "All right. Since our supreme VIP client has pleaded your case, I'll look past this incident, but this better be the last time."

"Oh, that's a relief! Thank you for letting me stay," the sales assistant said in gratitude.

"I'm not the one you should be thanking," the manager stated. "You should thank our supreme VIP client."

"You're right. Thank you for not holding a grudge against me," the sales assistant said while holding Lynette's hand.

"It's fine. Make sure you don't look down on others next time." Lynette smiled before pulling away from her.

"Okay, okay. There won't be a next time, I promise!" she replied confidently.

The siblings nodded their approvals and then completed the purchase before leaving the Hermes outlet after the minor commotion. They soon put everything that happened in the store behind them. They browsed around the mall until YSL's new gift set caught Lynette's attention.

She retrieved a tomato-colored YSL tester lipstick and applied it gently onto her pursed lips. Her lips were naturally light-colored, so this tomato-colored lipstick gave her a more vibrant look.

"Leon, look. This lipstick looks great on me, right? Can you buy this for me, please?" she pleaded with her best puppy dog gaze. "Leon, I know you're the best brother ever. Surely, you'll buy it for me, won't you?"

She was so pleased with her reflection in the mirror that she turned around to share her enthusiasm with her brother.

"All right, all right. As long as you're happy," Leon said affectionately.

Chapter 2447 Chapter 2447 For Leon Batton, Lynette Batton could have anything she wanted. He was willing to pluck the stars and moon from the sky for her, let alone buy her a lipstick.

That was how a brother would behave if he loved his sister. He wanted to fulfill her every request that was within his means. He liked seeing his little sister happy all the time. "That's awesome. You're the best, Leon!" Lynette leaped into the air and wrapped her arms around his neck.

In front of her brother, she could do whatever she wanted and act like a child.

They were about to head home after a day of shopping and getting into their car in the parking lot when Lynette suddenly screamed.

"What's the matter?" Leon asked frantically, worried that something might have happened to her.

"I think I left my stuff in the lipstick store. What should I do?" his sister lamented while fishing for something in her pockets.

"All right, wait here for a moment. I'll go back and look for it," he replied calmly before returning to the shopping mall by himself.

Leon made his way to the YSL store and managed to retrieve the items left behind after explaining to the staff behind the counter.

Then, he hurried out of the mall, not wanting to let his sister wait alone for too long, when suddenly, he came to a screeching halt.

From the corner of his eyes, he had glimpsed a familiar face. He saw a young lady in a red-and-black uniform not far away as he turned around.

It was a simple attire, yet her beauty was unconcealable. Her long silky hair, pretty eyes, and smoky makeup gave off a cold vibe.

Leon couldn't resist staring at her as she reminded him of the student who stood in front of him the other day.

If he wasn't mistaken from eavesdropping on some of the gossip of his classmates, she was the girl who worked hard to fund her own studies at their prestigious school.

Leon, who usually never cared about anyone else, actually stayed to observe the young lady silently for some inexplicable reason.

He watched as she stood outside a beverage shop, promoting some sample drinks in front of her. There was a small megaphone hanging by her waist. Her beauty was still apparent even with a cap on her head.

"Would you like to have a taste of our new product? This is our newest yam flavored bubble milk tea!" she announced enthusiastically with a sweet smile.

She seemed so passionate in promoting the new flavor despite being rejected repeatedly by passersby.

Suddenly, there was a loud sound, ། and she had accidentally spilled the glass of yam bubble milk tea she was holding due to the floor being too slippery. én.swnovels.net Leon frowned when he saw this and subconsciously thought of stepping forward to help her, but then he saw her standing up on her own, so he hung back.

The girl ended up falling to the ground with milk tea spilled all over her. It was a sorry sight to see her biting her own lip.

"Are you all right?" the shop owner asked as he quickly came to her aid.

She smiled and gave a curt nod, pretending to be unaffected.

Leon stood where he was as the thought of a sunflower appeared in his mind.

The girl was like a stubborn sunflower, persistantly chasing after the sun despite anything that stood in its way. She'd even smile to hide her pain when she fell.

He suddenly felt an urge to approach her and ask for her name.

However, his phone suddenly rang. Lynette was getting impatient, and was calling to ask where he was.

"Leon, haven't you found my stuff? It's been over half an hour," she said anxiously.

"I've got it. I'll be out soon," Leon assured her before ending the call.

The girl had disappeared by the time he turned back around to look for her.

'Did I miss another opportunity?' he thought to himself.

Finally, he left with a bitter smile. There was nothing he could do except believe that fate would bring them together one day.

Not long after he left, a small figure hiding under a table in front of the shop resurfaced.

Chapter 2448 Chapter 2448 Hannah Roland tried her best to cover her mouth so that she wouldn't be heard crying. She didn't want Leon Batton, the guy she liked, to see her in such a downtrodden state.

However, it never occurred to her that he probably didn't care about any of this.

They had missed the opportunity to get to know each other again due to the many complicated situations they had encountered so far. Meanwhile, Leon drove Lynette Batton home in his limited-edition sports car after leaving the mall.

She had her window rolled down as she watched cars passing by outside.

"What took you so long in the mall earlier?" she asked casually.

"I met someone special," Leon answered in complete nonchalance. He didn't plan on keeping it a secret.

Hearing that, Lynette instantly detected potential gossip and nearly hopped onto her feet.

"Oh? I'm surprised an unfeeling person like you would have a special someone. Tell me more!"

"There's nothing to tell," he replied, finding her excited reaction hilarious.

"I don't believe you," she scoffed. "Did you bump into that girl from the other day?"

To her surprise, he seemed a little taken aback by her question. She caught his subtle reaction even though it only lasted briefly.

"No. Stop making random guesses," he denied without even thinking about it.

"I don't think it's random. You seemed touched when you received those letters. Besides, you've been acting strange lately," she said. She was quite confident in her suspicions after a period of observation.

"You're wrong," he denied again.

Realizing that her questions were pointless, Lynette decided to drop the subject for now.

.nét "You're obyjously interested in her, yet you're still denying it. I was happy for nothing. I thought there would be some gossip this time," she murmured. én.swnovels.net Leon's eyes glistened slightly. He was already feeling intense emotions inside even though he hid it well.

***

Finally, they arrived home.

Xyla Quest began reprimanding her daughter when she saw the two new purses in her hands.

From her perspective, Lynette was was only a high school student. It was unacceptable for her to be buying purses that cost up to a million dollars at this point.

"Why did you buy her such expensive purses, Leon?" she asked as she pinned her son with a glare.

"I didn't think much of it. I bought the purses because Lynette liked them," he replied casually. He adored his little sister too much.

"What's wrong, Mom? Leon bought them for me because he saw that liked them. He's just being nice to me, Lynette said with a pout while speaking up on his behalf.

Then, she cozied up to Xyla's arm and behaved like the pampered princess she was. Her mother eventually gave in.

Chapter 2449 Chapter 2449 "You act like a spoiled brat all day long," Xyla Quest said while pinching Lynette Batton's nose affectionately.

"Mom, that's nonsense. I'm not a spoiled brat!" her daughter retorted with a pout.

She seemed to be full of energy.

"All right, stop horsing around. I've asked the nanny to cook a feast, so let's eat," Xyla said.

"Okay. Hearing that makes me hungry. My stomach is already rumbling!" Lynette exclaimed while rubbing her stomach dramatically.

"You're such a clown," her mother said.

After that, the three of them sat at the dining table.

The nanny proved to have impressive culinary skills.

She had prepared five dishes in total, including herbal chicken soup. The rest of the dishes consisted of shredded cured meat, eggplant with minced meat, baked chicken, and a mixed salad. The three of them enjoyed the home-cooked meal immensely.

Contrary to popular beliefs, the Battons were nothing like how their wealthy status implied. Their regular diet didn't include expensive wagyu beef, caviar, or truffles.

It was because of Xyla that they remained down-to-earth. To her, it was necessary to instill a healthy view of consumption in her children. Excessive spending was not a requirement to achieve this goal.

It didn't take long for them to finish their meals. They then gathered in the living room to catch up with each other.

"Lynette, my company is filming a talent show. Would you like to take part in it?" Xyla asked as she glanced at her daughter, knowing that becoming an idol was her dream.

Still, it was better to ask Lynette directly than to assume out of consideration.

"Really? Of course, I would!" Lynette's eyes lit up at the news.

"Great!" she nodded with an approving grin. "I have arranged for the show to start filming in the next month or so."

"There's only a month left, though. I have to practice hard after classes from tomorrow onwards," the young student said as she rubbed her chin in contemplation.

"Don't exhaust yourself, okay? I will support you in chasing your dreams no matter what," she assured her daughter, patting her head gently.

"I know I have to put in a lot of effort to achieve my dreams. Don't worry, Mommy. I am mentally prepared to work harder than I ever have," Lynette said firmly. Leon Batton stood nearby and observed the two. He was like a sculpture with distinct facial features. Without realizing it, he began to smile.

"All right, Darling. I know you've mentally prepared yourself. However, as your mother, I don't want you to suffer too much.

Anyway, I'll always be there to protect you, no matter what," she said with a pleased smile upon seeing how determined Lynette was in pursuing her dreams.

"Me too," Leon finally spoke up after maintaining his silence while they chatted.

"That's so great. With my Mom and big brother around, I won't fear whatever challenges lie ahead," Lynette sighed, feeling touched by their show of support.

She was fortunate to have such an open-minded family. After all, most prominent and wealthy families seemed reluctant to let their children work their way up the conventional way. They also looked down on careers as an idol.

The sky gradually darkened as they chatted, so they retired to their own rooms to rest.

Leon took a hot bath to drive away his exhaustion.

He emerged from the bathroom an hour later in a black silk robe, his dark hair still damp as water droplets dripped past his adam's apple and trickled down his tanned chest. He looked sinfully attractive.

He walked over to the couch step by step, opening his arms wide before sinking onto the soft cushion. Moonlight seeped through the window to shine on the floor illuminating it.

Leon became lost in thought as he stared at the glistening reflection of the moonlight.

Would he receive a slice of toast tomorrow?

Chapter 2450 Chapter 2450 Perhaps Leon Batton would never receive another slice of toast like before?

Would the mystery girl stop going to school for real?

***

The more Leon thought about it, the more restless he felt. He decided to stop thinking about it altogether.

He steeled his gaze until there was a cold glimmer in his eyes.

The gentle breeze that blew in from the balcony managed to dry his hair after some time. Then, he got off the couch to lie on his bed.

***

Meanwhile, Hannah Roland only got off from work at eleven o'clock in the evening. She hastily hopped onto the last bus to make her way home after changing out of her work uniform.

She opened the window by her seat, watching as the city passed her by, still bustling with activity despite the late hour.

As she approached the final stop, the surroundings changed from the busy city to the quiet suburbs.

The dim streetlights illuminated her perfect face the entire journey. She was the only person left on the bus by then.

After making her way through a run-down region, she made a turn and walked down an alley, holding a can of pepper spray tightly as she hurried back to her rental apartment.

By the time she had her shower, it was already past midnight. She tossed and turned in bed.

"Should I quit school?" she murmured out loud as her eyes opened suddenly.

Nearby, a piggy bank gleamed under the moonlight. It contained her salary for the month. Coupled with the money she earned from selling her luxury goods, she had enough to pay for the next semester's school fees. Hannah recalled the day she carefully approached Leon to ask if he would accompany her on the piano during a school performance.

Alas, her crush had mercilessly rejected her then.

That thought alone induced a look of disappointment to appear in her eyes, making her look sad.

Her one-sided admiration for Leon burst like a bubble.

She felt a little defeated.

But then she promptly recalled how he had saved her from bullies outside his classroom and that.net feeling of defeat diminished 10 somewhat.

Instead, she felt endless warmth in her chest.

She was already in her final year.

If nothing went awry, she could steal glances at Leon for one final year.

She was reluctant to bid farewell to the guy she had loved from afar for ages.

She had once walked around the entire school just to catch a glimpse of Leon. She hadn't even dared to gaze at him openly.

He had occupied her entire youth.

Thoughts about those days made her tear up ever so slightly.

However, it wasn't because nothing came to fruition from her crush. It was only because her heart ached at the thought of bidding farewe the boy she had loved.

'That does it! I'll still pay for next semester's tuition whether or not anything comes of it!' Hannah. thought as she slammed her hand on the surface, her mind made up.

There wouldn't be any regrets even if her crush on Leon ended with no outcome.

Hannah felt a sense of relief she'd never felt before upon convincing herself of the thought. Perhaps that was the power of love. She could finally close her eyes and sleep now that she had resolved her troubled thoughts.