The employee was quite straightforward, immediately revealing my identity. "Yes, he''s a first-year student at Welsington University."
When Zeke saw that message, he waspletely stunned.
The others gathered around to look at the screen. Everyone was exchanging nces, unable toprehend. They wondered how a small-time guy who came with Gabrielle could be the boss of a gamepany.
To clear up their confusion, I exined, "Nixon Games is indeed mine. A few months ago, the university held a businesspetition, and I participated by starting thispany. We yed a small game and won the championship. I didn''t want to close thepany afterward, so I kept it going.
"Charlotte should know about this."
I turned to look at Charlotte. I didn''t expect her to speak up for me, but she could at least confirm what I said was true.
She immediately spoke up. "It''s true. He won thepetition and received a 500 thousand prize money."
Zeke''s eyes widened. "What... What does thispany have to do with the White family of Gothville?"
"Well, maybe you''ve got it wrong. I hire all the employees, and thepany has no connection to the White family of Gothville. It''s probably because myst name is White, and I''ve kept a low profile, so someone might have spread a rumor."
I had to deny that connection, or else my hidden identity would be exposed.
Zeke stared nkly for a long while before a cold smile appeared. "So, I was wrong?"
I nodded.
"All this time, this useless gamingpany was just something you casually started for fun, and it''s nothing special?"
"It might be small, but it''s not useless," I replied.
At least we had over 30 employees, a modest office environment, and goodpany benefits. While its future might not be extraordinary, it was definitely on
a steady upward path. How could he call it a uselesspany?
"Yourpany is nothing but a joke."
Kaelyn scoffed. "What the heck! I thought that we had found a golden opportunity.
It turns out that it''s just a uselesspany he started."
"Investing ten million? With thatpany of his, he wouldn''t even know if he could handle 100 thousand dors!"
The others sneered at me, clearly looking down on mypany.
I sighed. "I''ve been running mypany just fine without begging for your investment. You were the ones who offered, and now you''re backing out? Maybe you should think about getting your brain checked."
ra stood up, fuming. "What did you say? Brat, you''ve been annoying me since earlier. You heard Uncle Zeke mention Nixon Games, but you didn''t bother to exin.
"You just waited for him to call. Are you trying to show off? Do you really think we''ll
think more highly of you because you have apany?"
"Exactly! Who doesn''t have apany these days? Only someone as inexperienced as him would act like this."
"Charlotte, is he like this at school?"
Charlotte nced at me, then
hesitated before replying, "Everyone, please stop talking about him. He''s actually quite popr at school, and he''s a good person. He donated most of the money he won from the lottery to poor students."
I couldn''t believe that she would defend me.
This surprised me, and I couldn''t help but look at her again.
But the Whiteheads weren''t buying it. "For someone like him, donating money was just a way to boost his reputation. He''s not genuinely trying to help. Don''t let him fool you."
"Alright. Don''t waste your time on this kid anymore. The more we give him attention, the more he''ll get cocky. Let''s eat."
Under Kaelyn''s direction, everyone quickly sat down to eat.
Charlotte, Gabrielle, and I went to Gabrielle''s room and didn''t join the meal. The adults didn''t call us. It was probably because they were tired of dealing with us.
Gabrielle''s room was cozy and sweet, clearly reflecting the taste of a young
woman.
Stuffed animals were hanging on the wall with pink sheets and covers on the bed, giving off a very feminine vibe. For a moment, I didn''t know where to sit.
She pulled me to sit on the edge of the bed, her face full of apology. "William, I''m really sorry for dragging you into this and making you endure so much scolding."