That's true.. what kind of bad intentions could someone like Finn, who would go out in the middle of the night twice to find a stray dog, possibly have?
Steve Montgomery and Matt were both very dedicated to this upcoming magic performance, which relieved a significant amount of Andrew's pressure. It was much better having all three of them there than having that other person up on stage in a state of panic. Moreover, in a setting like this, Steve Montgomery and Matt were naturally more composed than he was.
They spent even more time together, watching magic-related videos every day and discussing how to use psychokinesis to create even more wonderful and mysterious magic tricks.
Finn Osborn took it seriously, Steve Montgomery and Matt were also fully invested, which forced Andrew Damon, who usually had no ambition, to devote more effort to this magic performance.
On the day of the party, Andrew put on another full suit borrowed from Steve Montgomery. The stiff tailoring wrapped around his thin frame, making him feel uncomfortable, both foreign and awkward, as if he were wearing a glamorous shell that did not belong to him.
A massive sense of unreality surged in Andrew's heart once again, at the same time, an unmistakable panic and unease hammered against his chest.
To his surprise, Steve Montgomery handed him a brand-new black top hat and said with a smile, "This is for you."
"And mine, a gift." Immediately following, Matt also produced a high-quality royal blue tie and handed it over.
"Why.. are you giving me these?" Andrew stared at Steve Montgomery and Matt in shock.
Think of it as a souvenir of our first time performing together!" Steve Montgomery had specially changed into a brand-new suit. He patted his shoulder, his tone cheerful and excited, "We only made it into this party because we're riding your coattails. There are so many famous big shots from the internet here; we have to dress up a bit handsomely. Who knows, maybe we'll even get a photo with them!
To those already in high society, such a party might be commonplace and not worth mentioning.
But for ordinary high school students like them, this electronic invitation seemed incredibly precious.
“Andrew, I know you've always felt that life is terrible,” Matt said, his voice suddenly softening, his eyes sincere, “but even so, lucky things still happen, don't they?”
Andrew was stunned. He didn't know why, but he felt that his relationships with Steve Montgomery and Matt had also changed somewhat because of the preparations for this magic show..
It wasn't a bad feeling.
"This is a great opportunity! If you make a spectacular appearance here, when you go back to school, everyone will only remember you as the magician from Finn Osborn's party!" Steve Montgomery said, patting his back in encouragement.
“But what if I mess up again?” Andrew's voice carried an imperceptible tremor; he was afraid of failing once more, as he always felt he had never succeeded at anything. The thought of making a fool of himself in such a setting, being pointed at and loudly mocked by those in high society, made his breathing tighten and left him feeling nauseous.
"Regardless, there are three of us, aren't there?" Matt said with a smile, bumping his arm against Andrew's, his voice full of certainty.
That night, the magic performance by Andrew, Steve Montgomery, Matt caused a sensation at Finn's party.
Everyone was asking around about where Finn Osborn had paid such a high price to invite these magicians from, having no idea that the three of them were just ordinary high school students. With their flawless performances and innovative magic tricks, the crowd gave them the warmest applause. Even Andrew, who was usually timid and reserved, radiated an unprecedented glow of confidence on stage.
In the exclusive viewing gallery on the second floor—
Finn stared dumbfoundedly, unable to speak for a long time: ".."
What's going on?! They can actually do magic too?
Not only could they, but they also shone brilliantly, becoming the biggest sensation of the night?
—Could this be the script for a counterattack?
—Easily deflecting the provocations and traps of a rich second generation? And even seizing the opportunity to carve out his own stage?
—Truly a display of the Host's charisma.
Watching the three of them bowing and smiling on stage, their faces full of youthful vigor, Finn suddenly had a complicated feeling of "doing something good with bad intentions."
—No, this won't do, this simply won't do.
—But my [VS Andrew's Dignity Confrontation Track: Rich Second Generation's Total Defeat Plan] line is going off the rails!
Anyway, first, use money to smash through it.
Finn hurriedly found someone to call Andrew, upon hearing that Finn was looking for him, Andrew immediately rushed to the exclusive private room on the second floor at top speed.
It was only then that Andrew realized this villa actually contained a place like this—not only did it offer a perfect vantage point, allowing one to take in all the sights of the party, but it was also fitted with special glass that made the interior completely invisible from the outside.
So Finn had been watching them perform from here just now?
When meeting Finn's emerald eyes, Andrew rareley let a smile bloom on his face, his cheeks still flushed with the lingering excitement from the performance.
They had put their heart and soul into this performance, naturally, they hoped to meet Finn's expectations.
"For you guys." Finn remained slumped in the sofa with that same lazy demeanor, casually tossing a stack of cash onto the table, his tone as nonchalant as if he were dismissing someone insignificant.
The smile on Andrew's face froze instantly, he stood rooted to the spot, his blood seemingly turning to ice at that very moment.
You performed well," Finn said in a detached and somewhat arrogant tone. "I hope you can bring such a magic show next time as well.
"Next time?" Andrew froze, asking back instinctively.
"Exactly, you don't think one performance is enough, do you?" Finn asked back.
“I don't want money.” Andrew Damon took a deep breath. He couldn't even discern a look of satisfaction regarding their magic show on Finn Osborn's face, even though they had worked so hard.. Andrew Damon suppressed the bitterness in his heart as he spoke. This was the first time he had made a decision on behalf of Steve Montgomery and Matt, but he believed they would never refuse such an opportunity. "I was also responsible for the previous car accident. As for the magic show, we will continue to perform."
This is the compensation you deserve, it's not much." How could one achieve their goals without throwing money around? Finn stood up and directly stuffed the cash on the table into Andrew's hands. "You must have spent quite a bit on these props and costumes, right?
Andrew's expression grew even more stiff, his fingertips clutching that stack of cash, yet it only felt heavy and burning in his hands.
Yeah, his clothes were still.. borrowed; he was never meant for a stage like this.
Andrew knew his self-esteem wasn't worth much, but at this moment, a powerful sense of inferiority still swept over him. Meeting Finn's emerald eyes that were like gemstones, he felt utterly inferior, as if that tiny bit of pride that had just begun to sprout in the depths of his heart had been carelessly and brutally crushed and trampled by the person before him.
“I might have other things to ask of you later.” Finn looked at Andrew's pale, stiff expression with satisfaction, speaking in a casual, commanding tone, “When I think of something, I'll send you a message.”
That's exactly how it should be!
He must feel despised, belittled, constantly obstructed, deliberately treated with severity!
He must believe from the bottom of his heart that he is nothing more than a trashy rich second generation who has no concept of respect, only knows how to bully people with his influence, treats others like disposable servants!
"System PP, just you wait! Once the negative emotions in Andrew's heart accumulate to a breaking point and he completely snaps, he's going to explode and turn the tables on me!" Having learned from the experience of a former Host who had successfully counterattacked and crushed a bastardized rich second generation, Finn began to feel confident once again; a little bit of Misery Value would be more than enough for him to handle.
Andrew's grip on the money tightened, his knuckles turning white. He froze in place, his head bowing even lower, his lower lip bitten into a shallow mark by his teeth. He did not know whether to say "yes" or "no," nor could he tell whether he should leave or continue standing there.
"By the way, I heard you like filming," Finn suddenly remembered something.
Thinking of his nickname, Filming Freak, Andrew's face began to turn pale and awkward again.
Filming is prohibited inside the villas in this residential area. You can take photos, but of course, you must first ask for others' permission." Realizing that it was the first time for Andrew and the others, Finn gave a special introduction to the rules to avoid any unnecessary trouble, "Filming is allowed in the outdoor areas, the activity areas, on the stage, it is also allowed to upload them to the internet; this is something everyone has already agreed upon.
Actually, these regulations were also written in the electronic invitation, but Finn was afraid that Andrew and the others hadn't read them carefully.
"Fine, I understand." Andrew nodded woodenly.
"You like recording your life?" Finn Osborn looked at Andrew Damon strangely; Montgomery had mentioned before that Andrew was always holding his second-hand camera to film. Regarding this, Finn Osborn had also had System PP check, Andrew Damon didn't have any social media accounts at all; he didn't seem like someone who enjoyed sharing his life.
".. Not really." Andrew shook his head. He had nothing worth calling a "life," nor any moments worth recording.
"I just like carrying a camera around," Andrew said hollowly, even that was a sanitized version of the truth.
He is like a freak.
He likes to hide behind dark cameras, peeping into the vivid worlds of others.
No, not like that.
Once he shed this fake, glamorous magician's shell, he was nothing more than a gloomy, inferior, disgusting freak.
A magic show could not change his inner filth at all.
Finn Osborn suddenly laughed.
What was strange was that, facing this smile, Andrew didn't feel even a hint of contempt, mockery, or disdain.
The young man, dressed in a white haute couture suit, stood before the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor, his posture exuding an innate nobility.
His clear green eyes rippled with a faint smile as he lowered his gaze slightly, looking down from his high vantage point through the glass at the various people at the party below.
At this moment, Andrew heard Finn say something very strange—
You're like a system.
Chapter 13: Lizard's Tail
Andrew stared at the unexpected stack of cash in his palm.
Having received a sum of money that he hadn't expected, he should have felt a sense of secret joy.
But the ridiculous thing was, at this moment, rather than the money, he actually wanted to see genuine excitement and admiration for this performance in Finn's eyes.
However, there wasn't.
Andrew couldn't help but question himself with such contempt in his heart—
Could a single sincere compliment truly be worth more than actual money?
To get such a high-profile opportunity and earn a high salary at the same time.. this was a chance that so many people would envy.
"Thank you." Andrew clenched the money nervously, his knuckles turning white.
“Montgomery and Matt are looking for you,” Finn said, seeing the two other young men searching for Andrew at the party. “You should head down.”
Andrew looked at Finn, who was dressed in haute couture, his features radiating an innate nobility. Even though they were in the same space, it felt as if an invisible barrier separated them. That bone-deep sense of being out of place made Andrew's throat tighten and his breathing become labored, a feeling born from his inherent inferiority. The high spirits he had been lauded for on stage not long ago vanished when he faced Finn; in front of him, Andrew felt like he was nothing at all, like a balloon pricked by a needle, his momentary inflation instantly deflating into a crumpled mess.
Correct, even if he left this party, he would still be nothing.
Only money is real.
"I'll contact you if anything comes up," Finn said in a haughty tone.
"Alright." Andrew didn't know what else Finn wanted from him, but he felt he naturally had no grounds to refuse.
Finn watched Andrew's lonely retreating figure, confirming once again in his heart that his own actions and demeanor were in line with the tone.
Arrogant attitude√
Suppressing self-esteem with money√
Forcing the other party to do things they dislike.
The other party also had to yield to his financial power to please everyone.
Without even asking for the other party's opinion, he used his status as a rich second generation to boss people around at will.
Very good, Finn felt that everything was going according to plan.
Before learning how to be a good person, I have to learn how to be a bad one first." Burdened by the "Misery Value target," the new human Finn said with a sigh, "What exactly is the Main Brain planning by giving me this goal?
It's fine, it's fine.
Finn comforted himself once again in his heart—
I'll get my karma sooner or later.
[Host.] System PP's boyish mechanical voice suddenly rang out, with a hint of probing, [Is it possible.. to earn Misery Value by being a good person too?]