Prospect School rented the entire beach to foster bonding between parents and children, encouraging families to camp together in tents. While other parents were still puzzling over the instructions, Ka had already started setting up their tent with practiced ease.
As a police officer, Ka was well-versed in survival skills. Setting up a tent was a breeze for her.
Watching her swift and efficient movements, Oliver’s face showed a mix of pride and smugness, though his words contradicted his feelings. “Strong but simple-minded,” he muttered.
“What did you say, kid?” Ka turned to him. “Go get the groundsheet.”
“Okay…” Oliver obediently fetched the groundsheet.
“Bring the stakes, the big ones.”
“Okay…”
“Get the guy lines, the blue bundle.”
“Okay…”
Ethaniel watched the two of them working together seamlessly, smiling quietly as he started assembling a makeshift stove. By the time Ethaniel’s family had finished all their tasks, the other families were still in the early stages.
Ethaniel handed Ka a cup of homemade lemonade and asked, “Tired?”
“Not at all!” Ka waved him off. “This is the simplest tent. The military ones we used in the wild were much moreplex…”
Ethaniel, still smiling, reached out to touch Ka’s ponytail. “What do you want for dinner?”
“Steamed fish!” Ka responded without hesitation.
Ethaniel, without missing a beat, agreed. “Okay, steamed fish it is.”
Oliver silently eyed the simple ingredients and cookware provided, wondering how his dad nned to make steamed fish with them.
Meanwhile, Aria angrily threw a bunch of tent parts on the ground. “This thing is impossible to set up! Aren’t you going to help?”
Perez, ying a game on his phone, didn’t even look up. “I don’t know how to do it either. Why don’t you ask someone for help?”
Fuming and frustrated, Aria nced toward Ethaniel. She saw that their tent was already set up, with Ka sitting leisurely and drinking juice while Ethaniel skillfully chopped cherry tomatoes. Putting on a charming smile, Aria stood up, adjusted her clothes, and walked over to Ethaniel’s family.
“What do you want?” Ka immediately stood up when she saw Aria approaching, her eyes full of vignce.
“Move aside. I’m here to see Mr. Han,” Aria said, then smiled at Ethaniel. “Mr. Han, I can’t figure out how to set up my tent. Could you help me?”
“No,” Ka promptly answered for Ethaniel.
Aria angrily shouted at Ka, “I’m asking Mr. Han for help. What does this have to do with you?”
Ka raised her eyebrows and replied, “He doesn’t know how to set up a tent. Why bother asking him?”
“Then who…” Aria pointed to the tent behind Ka, looking at her in surprise.
“Sorry, I set that up,” Ka responded.
Realizing her n had failed, Aria red at Ka before going off to seek help from the supervising teacher.
Lunchtime arrived, and a huge pic nket was spread out on the beach. To liven things up, Miss Sewell asked everyone to introduce themselves.
Some families began chatting with each other, and such activities were also a great way to expand theirwork of connections.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.
When it was Ethaniel’s turn, he stood up. The casual attire softened his usually imposing presence, and he began, “I’m Oliver’s father, and I’m a police family member.”
Ka blushed upon hearing his introduction and tugged on his pants. The business elites present could easily see through the lie. No one believed that a man with Ethaniel’s demeanor and style was just a police family member. However, even knowing his identity was fake, no one challenged him openly. Only Aria nearly ground her teeth in frustration.
After the parents finished their introductions, Miss Sewell praised each student. Ka, amused, poked Oliver. “Outstanding grades, good behavior. Did she forget you skip sses and don’t follow the rules…?”
“I don’t! Stop poking me…” Oliver tried to hide behind Ethaniel, swatting at Ka.
Ka easily dodged his swats and tickled Oliver’s waist, making him even more frustrated.
“You…” Oliver fumed, ready to bite her.
Ethaniel watched them with a faint smile, not intervening, and quietly opened a prepared lunchbox. Inside were colorful vegetables, tender shrimp, and Ka’s favorite crab tofu stir-fry, all home-cooked but meticulously prepared.
After a while, Ka and Oliver, having had their fill of yful bickering, prepared to eat. Compared to the luxurious meals of other families, their simple homemade dishes looked quite modest.
Aria, contemting, whispered to Perez, “Why don’t you invite Oliver to join us?”
Perez, head down and eating, silently refused her suggestion. Aria sighed and stood up, walking over to Ethaniel.
“Mr. Han, why don’t you join us? Your food doesn’t look very appetizing.” She then looked provocatively at Ka. “Ka, is this what you’re feeding Mr. Han? How uncultured.”
Before Ka could respond, Oliver red at Aria. “Do you have a problem with our food?”
“No, no,” Aria forced a smile. “I just think Mr. Han might not be used to such in dishes. They don’t look appetizing at all.”
Oliver’s small face darkened. “Are you saying my dad’s cooking is bad?”
“Uh?” Aria was taken aback. “You… your dad cooked this?”
“Is there a problem?” Oliver coldly retorted.
“No, not at all…” Aria couldn’t believe Ethaniel could cook.
—
“Hey, you really don’t like her, do you?” Ka poked Oliver’s cheek.
Oliver red at her. “When someone bullies you, shouldn’t you fight back?”
“Why are you ring at me? I’m praising you. We’re quite in sync on this-I hate her too. Actually, I hate her whole family!” Ka bit into a shrimp, emphasizing her point.
Ethaniel’s lips curved into a slight, enigmatic smile. From the beginning, he hadn’t said a word.
…
“Mr. Abbott, doesn’t that guy look familiar to you?”
“… Yeah, he does look familiar. Like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”
The two of them couldn’t recall where they had seen Ethaniel, so they turned to their children for help. “What’s the name of that ssmate of yours?”
“The one with purple eyes? Oliver Han, the new transfer student in our ss.”
The surname “Han” wasn’tmon, and someone with that name who looked familiar could only be… Ethaniel, the CEO of Goldenshore Group and heir of the Lacroix Family!
These men had attended financial conferences where they had seen Ethaniel from a distance, but had never had close contact with him.
It was almost impossible to catch a glimpse of Ethaniel, and yet here he was, camping with them!
Recognizing Ethaniel, they didn’t dare to approach him, fearing they might mess up, just like that guy Sam…
While everyone was fretting, Ethaniel surprisingly approached them.
The group tensed up as he came over. But Ethaniel simply asked, “Do you have a fishing rod?”
“…” The group of presidents exchanged nces before snapping back to their senses and eagerly nodding, “Yes, yes, we do!”
In no time, a row of fishing rods was presented to Ethaniel. He casually picked one, “Thank you.”
“… You’re wee.” The middle-aged man who lent the fishing rod stuttered in reply.
Once Ethaniel left, the group looked at the man enviously. “Out of all those rods, he chose yours. That’s some luck.”
“… Yeah, it really is.” Even he found it unbelievable.
…
Ethaniel quietly fished, surrounded by several middle-aged men who were eager to strike up a conversation.
“Mr. Han, I never thought I’d run into you here today.”
“Indeed, my son often says that Oliver in his ss has outstanding grades, even better than the teachers. Mr. Han, you’ve done an excellent job raising him.”
“Yes, yes, my daughter also says that Oliver is very popr in ss.”
Ethaniel continued to stare at the sea, not responding to theirpliments.
“Mr. Han, we attended the financial conference a while ago too, but Mr. Han probably wouldn’t remember small businesses like ours.”
“Mr. Abbott, my memory isn’t that poor,” Ethaniel replied calmly.
“Mr. Han actually knows me!” Mr. Abbott eximed in surprise.
“I remember all potential business partners. Especially since Mr. Abbott’s investment proposal was submitted along with the Green Family’s, it left a deep impression on me.”
“No, no, I don’t actually know Sam. It was purely coincidental that our proposals were submitted together.” Everyone knew Ethaniel had publicly rejected the Green Family’s investment proposal. Though the reason for Sam offending Ethaniel was unknown, it was clear that distancing themselves from Sam was essential.
“Coincidence?” Ethaniel’s tone was indifferent.
“Absolutely. I’m not familiar with Sam at all, and I’ve heard that the Green Family’s internal funds are about to run dry. They’re looking for financing everywhere now.”
“Is that so…” Ethaniel suddenly reeled in his fishing rod, a wriggling fish hooked on the end. His thin lips curved into a slight smile. “Then let him keep searching.”
Everyone present understood his meaning. To avoid offending Ethaniel, they needed topletely dissociate themselves from Sam.