I was stunned and looked at Ryan in confusion.


    Did it really matter where my money came from?


    If my money hade from a lottery win rather than something I earned, my donation would seem even more noble.


    I couldn''t understand the point of Ryan''s actions, but the voices of the crowd soon gave me the answer.


    "Damn, so he''s not actually a rich kid? I can''t believe I wasted all that praise on him!"


    "Wait, it was prize money, and not even his own cash? That''s hrious-I was about to ask for his number. Now I''m d I didn''t."


    "I knew something didn''t add up. If he was really that rich, why didn''t he clear it up sooner? He''s been letting everyone think he''s a loser. Guess he was just faking it!"


    "Wasn''t his prize money around 50 thousand dors? He only donated ten


    thousand. The rest probably went to partying. What a joke! If he really cared, he should''ve donated the entire 50 thousand dors!"


    Everything suddenly made sense.


    It wasn''t my donation that mattered to the attendees-it was my status.


    If I were a rich kid, they would be showering me with praise and trying to win my favor.


    If not, even if I donated the full 50 thousand, they wouldn''t care. To them, I would still be that poor, insignificant person they could look down on.


    The truth was disheartening.


    I turned toward Ryan and gave him a faint smile. "Thank you for helping me see the true nature of people."


    Ryan frowned. "What do you mean? Did getting exposed mess with your head?"


    I shook my head and extended my hand. "Give me the microphone."


    Ryan pped the microphone into my hand. "Go ahead. Let''s see what youe up with."


    I took the microphone, cleared my throat and calmly said, "Yes, I did receive 50 thousand dors in prize money from thepetition. However, my donation had nothing to do with that. I donated to help those in need and to support this charity event. To put any further doubts to rest, I''ll be donating an additional 60 thousand dors right now."


    Adding an additional 60 thousand dors to the original 10 thousand would bring the total to 70 thousand dors, far exceeding my prize money.


    Now, no one should question whether I''m trying to appear as a rich kid. I believed this was the best way to address the rumors.


    Ryan''s eyes widened in disbelief. "An additional 60 thousand dors? You''re joking, William. Do you even have 60 thousand dors? Can you afford it?"


    I smiled. "If I say I can, then I can."


    "You''re bluffing!" Ryan barked. "You only had 50 thousand dors in prize money. You''ve already spent 10 thousand dors, plus whatever you blew on Felicia''s clothes today. At most, you have 25 thousand dors left. How can you possibly donate 60 thousand dors? Stop pretending!"


    Lina watched me with suspicion.


    She was clever. Instead of challenging me right away, she remained quiet and observed me. She wanted to see how things would unfold to avoid bing the crowd''s first target of judgment.


    However, I knew she was likely the one who had encouraged Ryan to go on stage.


    I knew her too well.


    At that moment, the host approached me, looking unsure whether to prompt me. Without hesitation, I took out my phone and transferred 60 thousand dors to the donation ount.


    "It''s been received!" the girl with pigtails eximed excitedly. "The 60 thousand dors donation just came through! It''s real!"