Episode 20

Ryan spoke with an intensely sheepish expression to Lintang, while his internal System laughed uproariously within the confines of his mind.

"Damned System!" Ryan cursed inwardly.

He accepted Lintang's phone with a nonchalant air. However, the moment he fully held the device, a sense of wrongness gnawed at him, yet he couldn't pinpoint what it was.

Lintang, observing Ryan's thoughtful expression, found herself unable to resist inquiring.

"What's the matter, Yan?" she asked.

"Ah! Nothing at all... I was just pondering something you seem to lack!" Ryan blurted out, followed by an awkward grin as he scratched his itch-free head like an imbecile.

Lintang's gaze on Ryan was intricate and undefinable.

"So, who are you going to call?" she probed.

Ryan's awareness snapped to the deficiency he had felt earlier. Patting down his pockets, he found them disappointingly empty. His face instantly took on the dismal hue of a polluted river.

Indeed! Ryan wanted to call Rio! But he didn't have Rio's business card with the phone number on it. How was he supposed to call Rio now?

The System erupted in laughter once more inside Ryan's thoughts. This time, its cackles were even louder than before.

"Typical, Master blockhead! Hahaha..." the System mocked, still overcome with laughter.

"Why do you look so troubled, Yan?" Lintang asked again, puzzled by the sudden change in Ryan's demeanor as she found nothing amiss with her question.

"It's..." Ryan was at a loss for words again, uncertain how to even begin explaining his foolishness.

Seeing Ryan utterly defeated, the System finally ceased laughing, taking pity on its master.

"Calm down, Master! Don't panic! Your benevolent System here will assist you!" the System offered comfortingly, though it would typically be rolling with laughter at Ryan's clueless expression.

"What can you possibly help with? I'm looking utterly foolish in front of my new acquaintance! How is this in any way cool?" Ryan lamented.

"Hahaha... Stay calm, Master! I've memorized Rio's phone number!" disclosed the System.

Hearing the System's words echoed in his mind, Ryan's already sullen face darkened further as he suppressed his irritation and resentment. Wasn't he constantly being played by this cursed System of his?

"Hahaha... Please manage your expression if you wish for the System to divulge Rio's number! Heh..." the System taunted, leaving Ryan feeling utterly powerless.

"Fine... Just get on with it! Give me the number now!" Ryan demanded weakly, attempting a smile.

Ryan powered on Lintang's phone and started dialing Rio's number before making the call. It didn't take long for Rio to answer.

"Hello.. Who is this?" Rio questioned straightforwardly.

"It's me, Ryan!" Ryan replied.

"Oh.. Grand Master Ryan! Is this your number? I'll note it down!" Rio said.

"No, it's not mine! It belongs to a friend! I forgot my phone! By the way, can you come over right now?" Ryan inquired about his urgency.

"Sure! Where is the Grand Master currently?" Rio replied, ready to commit.

"I'm at the Fortune and Prosperity House on Kenanga Street!" Ryan informed.

"Oh.. Grand Master is at that entertainment venue? Alright! Wait for fifteen minutes, I'll be there with John and some of my men!" Rio promised.

"Great! I'll wait for you here!" Ryan stated.

"Understood, Grand Master!" Rio responded before hanging up.

Ryan handed the phone back to its owner.

"Thanks, Lintang!" expressed Ryan.

"You're welcome. Who did you call and ask to come here?" Lintang inquired curiously.

"Nobody special, just an old friend!" Ryan answered with a smile.

"Well then, while waiting for him, how about we order some nice drinks here? I'll treat you!" Ryan suggested.

"Sure!" Lintang responded enthusiastically.

Ryan looked for a comfortable seat while Lintang, seemingly more familiar with the venue, quickly went to order their drinks.

Returning a minute later with two glasses of orange juice, they began chatting haphazardly about their lives, occasionally laughing heartily.

The initially reticent girl was now opening up and sharing more about herself with Ryan.

Through their conversation, Ryan learned that Lintang was the daughter of a wealthy businessman from out of town, who had run away home to enjoy herself at this place. Unfortunately, her luck had turned when she was abruptly kidnapped by a stranger intent on violating her.

Luckily, before the blunt object could penetrate her, Ryan had arrived and burst through the door of the restroom where she and the vile man were.

"So why did you feel the need to run away from home?" Ryan asked, perplexed.

"It's... It's because my parents are pressuring me to take over all their business dealings! While I still want to go to college and get my degree first!" Lintang confessed sincerely.

Ryan simply shook his head, seeing the foolishness behind the girl's reasoning which ultimately led her to flee her home, almost destroying her future.

"After this, you should go back home! I'm sure your parents are worried sick about you by now! And do you realize how much easier your life has been made by fate?.."

"So many people scrape by just trying to find a job! Whereas all you have to do is continue your parents' legacy..."

"Regarding college titles, they're not that important! What matters are skills and abilities, and having a company or workplace that's willing to hire you! That's enough to live in this temporary world!.."

"Another thing! As long as parents don't ask us to do wrong or commit crimes, it's our duty as children to obey them!.."

"Regret! That's what we'll feel if our parents suddenly leave us forever, and we've not yet fulfilled their wishes or duties!" Ryan advised earnestly.

Lintang hung her head low, feeling disheartened by the handsome man's advice. He was right; her destiny had been kind to her.

She realized that indeed, there were many people struggling to find jobs. But her selfishness, cloaked in the desire for freedom and the allure of the outside world—misguidedly labeled as her wish to graduate and earn a degree—had blinded her to those fundamental and most important things.

As they continued their engaging conversation, suddenly everyone was startled by a commotion at the front entrance. The cause was the unexpected arrival of a group that was infamous in the city, none other than the notorious Black Skull Biker Gang.

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