Elena and Layla came out of the KTV because Layla said that she was hungry. They had booked the KTV room for an overnight session from 10 PM to 6 AM the next day. They had decided to go out for a snack halfway through the session because they were poor students who could not afford the food at the KTV. The supper they served were expensive and yet lacked the taste. Furthermore, they had ample time to sing since their session would last until the next morning.
Elena felt a little uneasy when she got out of the KTV. She felt as if someone had stared at her as she walked on the street. The steady stare was like how a leopard tracked its prey… just like what Eldest Young Master Williams would typically do.
“Elena, what’s wrong?” Layla tugged her sleeve. That was enough to turn her attention back on track.
“Nothing, just… um, nothing. Just hunger pangs,” Elena said plainly.
Elena continued to move forward as she dragged Layla and Lois with her. Eldest Young Master Williams should be at his mansion. How could he be at that place so suddenly? She was probably still jittery because he had scared her multiple times that night. She managed to convince herself that that was the reason she thought he was at every corner. She was not that attractive that the eldest young master would trail after her to wherever she went. What a shameless thought!
The group of young men and ladies walked across the street, and Henry narrowed his eyes as he stared at one of them. Michael’s group of friends had not attended his engagement party as all of them had been abroad. So, Henry had never seen his fiancée before. However, it was not hard to pick her out of a crowd. He was too far away to take a good look at her face, but even then, he could make out her sharp and pretty features. No wonder his big brother had fallen for her. Suddenly, Michael stepped out onto the street to follow that group of young adults.
Henry followed and caught up with him. “Big Brother, are you… trying to catch your partner red-handed cheating on you?”
Michael did not bother to answer him. He had wanted to leave, but he was too curious to not trail after them. He wanted to know what those young people liked to do at night. Henry had no choice but to follow after him discreetly, and Monty and Johnny also did the same. Many passers-by stared at those four good-looking young gentlemen as they walked by them. However, those handsome men were not bothered as they were also used to unwanted attention.
Michael crossed the street and spotted Elena and her friends as they decided to eat at a food stall. They chattered with each other and then ordered their food. Elena blended well with them, and she did not make it obvious that she was a young madam from a wealthy and prominent family.
Michael wanted to go up to her, but Henry stopped him. “Are you jealous because they could mingle in such a relaxed mood? Or are you curious about their activities and conversations?”
Michael glared at Henry with his cold eyes.
Henry sneered, “Admit it, Big Brother, you are jealous.”
“Are you looking for trouble?” Michael’s voice was so cold that the air around him would probably vaporize.
That dreadful glare and tone would frighten everyone, even Monty. Everyone, except Henry. He was too familiar with Eldest Young Master Williams’s attitude and behavior. Such was his reserved demeanor.
“Well, they don’t know who I am. Do you want me to go snooping around them for you?” He retorted with a laugh.
“Boring!” What exciting activities could a young kid do?
However, he wanted to know about the girl’s conversation with her friends, perhaps even what she had ordered. She had been very picky about their luxurious food at home, and he was sure that the prices for the dishes at the hawker stall could not even compare with the amount of one of their appetizers. Yet, she seemed happy to be there. Why did she look so happy when they were only discussing what food to order? Had she not been too full to eat another bite at dinner earlier that night? How could she be so hungry when she was with her friends?
Henry patted Michael’s shoulder gently before he stepped out of the shadows and walked toward the food stall.
“Hey, your beautiful wife doesn’t know me either. So I can go with Henry too.” Monty had wanted to chase after Henry, but a firm grip on his collar stopped his intention. Before he could even react, the hand on his collar pulled him back.
“Big Brother, you almost killed me!” Monty choked.
Monty did not expect Michael to use such extreme strength on him, and he almost broke his neck!
“I won’t go without your permission. Why did you have to use such force on me? No wonder your little wife would abandon you for her toyboy… Okay, okay! I was wrong, okay!”
Michael glared at him coldly and then turned to walk into a nearby restaurant.
Johnny gave Monty a hard kick. “You and your nonsense! One day, Big Brother might just sew your mouth shut with a needle and thread.”
“He wouldn’t do that to me.”
“Continue this, and we’ll see about that.” Johnny followed Michael and walked into the same restaurant. He chose a seat with a good view of the food stall.
Monty arrived at the table seconds later, so he could only take the second-best seat. When he saw Henry got nearer to Elena’s table, he was so excited that he nearly stuck his body on the glass wall just to take a closer look. That was the first time that a woman had upset his big brother so much, to the point that he had wanted to commit murder. So he really wanted to speak to that woman in person. If he could not do it that night, then perhaps another time!
It would not be a problem if he did that when his big brother was not around, right?
…
Elena and her friends started a serious conversation when they had ordered their food.
“Rufus, your coloring skill is just not enough.”
Rufus had been talking cheerfully to Layla, and his face darkened when he heard Elena’s comment. He knew about his shortcomings, and he had wanted to pull out when Lois told him about the upcoming competition.
“I can practice more and maybe help out with other tasks. I won’t even join the competition. Would that work for you?”
Earlier that day, he had stormed out of the studio in fury after Elena made a ruthless remark about his work. Then, he had felt better when Lois told him about Elena’s dinner invitation. As they conversed, they stumbled upon Layla. That was the reason they invited Elena to supper and a karaoke session. He never thought that his spirit would be broken again even before they started to sing.
“I didn’t say that I wouldn’t let you stay in the club. You are an excellent sketcher, so it would be a waste if you don’t stay with us.”
Elena blinked and looked at him earnestly. “You’ll definitely have to participate in this competition. There’s no escape from it.”
Rufus was stunned. Lois and Layla, too, were puzzled.
“Elena, what… what do you mean?”
Had she not complained about his coloring skills? Did she accept him because she had no choice? However, they would not even make it through the competition’s preliminary round with only mediocre work.
“I said that you couldn’t paint, but I didn’t say anything about other tasks.”
Elena turned to Layla. “Have you shown them the original picture that I gave you earlier today?”
To everyone’s surprise, Layla did not reply to her. Instead, she had stared blankly at a man nearby.
“So handsome. Elena, he is so… so handsome!”