Chapter 268: Don’t Look at Me Like I’m a Child
Carrie froze, surprised that Paige knew about this, and became extremely excited. “Paige, you knew? Have you been watching over us these past three years?”
“Yes.” Paige nodded.
“Then I’ll notify everyone. Let’s have a proper reunion for the members of Peak Club.”
Carrie immediately took out her phone and dialed Nick’s number, but it was a dead line. She felt a bit embarrassed and awkward. “We all got busy with our own careers even before we graduated, and we’ve lost touch more and more. But we do have a group chat-I’ll try to find it…”
As she was about to search for the group, Paige reached out to stop her and said directly, “I came back this time to rebuild the slums, so unless it’s absolutely necessary, I don’t want to involve everyone.”
“…”
Carrie paused, noticing the determination in Paige’s eyes. “But you can no longer serve as a council member.”
“That’s why I’m changing my approach this time. I plan to take down major conglomerates one by one, expand my influence, and prevent them from uniting against the slum redevelopment resolution in the future,” Paige explained.
Carrie wiped the still-wet tears from her face, her eyes suddenly brightening. “The Grissom family?”
Paige wouldn’t have mentioned this without reason.
“Yes.” Paige nodded. “There’s a charity auction in two days. I need you to attend and do me a favor.”
“Sure!” Carrie agreed without hesitation.
Paige chuckled. “I haven’t even told you what the favor is.”
“I’ll help with anything.”
Carrie responded without thinking twice, then bitterly smiled. “When I was in school, I thought I understood the rigid class distinctions in A Country, but it wasn’t until I entered the entertainment industry that I truly realized how vast the gap is between the capital and ordinary people. It’s been three years, and I haven’t even landed a lead role in a small production because it requires sleeping with the capitalists.”
“…”
Paige looked at her.
“I’m numb to it-truly numb.”
Carrie’s voice was bitter, and tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Paige. “I thought I would live out my days like this, but when I saw you suddenly appear, I was reminded of the way you were when you founded Peak Club. I remember it so clearly, and my heart suddenly came alive.”
“…”
“Paige, I want to live following you, to live a life that’s truly fulfilling.”
Carrie spoke with determination, tears once again streaming down her face.
She had endured enough frustration over the past three years.
With the conversation at this point, Paige had nothing more to say. She patted Carrie on the shoulder and stood up. “If that’s the case, wait for my instructions.”
“Understood.” Carrie stood up, nodding with deep respect.
…
On the way back, Paige was driving along the night road, thinking about what Carrie had said earlier. In today’s A Country, social classes are starkly divided: the conglomerates, the ordinary people, and the slum dwellers.
There are probably many people like Carrie, who clearly have the talent to succeed and the acting skills to match, but are suppressed in their prime, unable to even land a lead role in a small production. Gradually, they lose their motivation and sense of self in such a harsh environment, eventually becoming numb and living out their lives in mediocrity.
It’s not that living life this way is necessarily terrible, but when someone grows old and reflects on their life, there might be a sense of regret, even if only a little.
“The main members of Temple in Heaven are slum dwellers who escaped from Wind Island…”
A man’s deep voice suddenly resonated in the car.
Paige turned to see Enrico sitting in the passenger seat, holding the fox mask she had worn earlier. She was a bit surprised. “How did you know the main members were from the slums?”
She hadn’t told him that.
Enrico lifted his hand and tapped his wrist with the mask. “They’ve concealed the cuffs on their wrists with decorative items.”
“Impressive.”
Paige was slightly taken aback by his keen observation. His insights always managed to surprise her.
“Don’t look at me with that ‘admiring a child’ gaze,” Enrico said, frowning in displeasure as he looked at her.
“Aren’t you only nine years old mentally?” Paige teased with a smile.
“I only lost my memory; that doesn’t mean I’m stuck at nine.” Enrico’s expression turned cold as he clutched the mask, clearly unhappy.
“Oh.” Paige gripped the steering wheel, the amusement in her eyes deepening. The combination of a mature man’s voice and a young boy’s irritation was surprisingly not as jarring as one might think.
She glanced at the navigation system and said, “There’s a small shop up ahead. Should I buy you a few more bags of jelly?”
Enrico was even more irritated, his face darkening. “Paige, do you think I only care about snacks?”
Hmm…
A nine-year-old boy might not only be interested in snacks.
Paige thought seriously for a moment and then looked over at him. “Do you like toys? I could buy you some more toys. A bubble machine? I’ve heard there’s a particularly popular pig-themed one. Or maybe model kits-Transformers?”
High-tech drones might not be as appealing to a nine-year-old.
Enrico nearly crushed the mask in his hand. “Paige!”
He was gritting his teeth, his temple veins visibly throbbing.
He had a 28-year-old body and a 28-year-old mind-he wasn’t living as a nine-year-old!
Seeing that she had truly angered him, Paige quickly said, “Alright, alright, I’ll stop. I’ll try not to look at you like a child anymore, okay?”
“…”
Enrico was still upset, but since she had said that, he couldn’t really complain further. He leaned back in his seat, glaring at the road ahead.
After a while, his disgruntled voice filled the car again-
“Bumblebee.”
“…”
“A collector’s model, not a toy.”
“…”
Paige nearly burst into laughter, but she held it in. “Alright, I’ll buy you a Bumblebee.”
The nine-year-old Enrico and the 28-year-old Enrico at least shared one consistent trait: they both loved contradicting themselves.
“Have Jaden give you the money,” Enrico said, knowing he had plenty of it.
“Sure.” Paige didn’t argue with him. She looked ahead, spotting a small shop on the roadside, its lights faintly glowing yellow.
Paige pulled the car over and walked towards the shop.
It was an old, small shop. Behind the tiny counter, an elderly man was dozing off in a reclining chair. Although the weather had cooled down, he still had an electric fan running beside him.
The fan’s blades whirred loudly.
Paige was about to wake the old man when she heard footsteps behind her-it was Enrico.
She glanced at the fan, her expression changing. Without thinking, she pulled Enrico behind her. “Go back and wait in the car.”
Enrico, holding the fox mask, looked at her in confusion. “What are you…”
The next second, he couldn’t finish his sentence.
He heard the sound of the fan spinning, and his handsome face instantly turned pale.
He wanted to flee, but his feet felt frozen in place.NôvelDrama.Org owns this.
Seeing this, Paige quickly walked into the shop and turned off the fan. When she came back out, Enrico was still standing there, motionless, his pupils dilated, and cold sweat forming on his forehead.