Huh?

  Richard blinked in confusion, then exchanged a puzzled look with Harry. The two of them seemed not to have fully understood the meaning behind Grace's words, "I'd like to talk with you."

  What could they possibly have to talk about between them?

  With a slight smile on her lips, Grace glanced at the document in his hand and said softly, "I'm very interested in the program you're working on."

  "Huh?"

  Richard was taken aback, his expression showing surprise. "You're interested in this?" he said, giving the document in his hand a little shake.

  Grace gave a gentle nod. "Although I don't understand the technical details, I would like to learn more about it."

  "But wait..."

  Richard was utterly baffled. He had no clue what Grace's motive could be. She admitted she didn't understand it, yet she expressed interest and wanted to learn more. And after learning more, what then?

  "Our program is still in a prototype stage, so it's not complete..."

  "I know," Grace smiled. "To finish developing this program, you'll need funding. That's why you came to talk with Arthur today seeking investment."

  Richard nodded, his demeanor turning somewhat dejected.

  After a moment's thought, Grace took her phone from her small clutch bag and opened her personal QR code. "You might have doubts about me right now, but I believe we could find a suitable time and place to sit down and have a proper conversation. Shall we connect on LetsChat?"

  A girl was proactively asking to connect on Letschat, and she was as wonderful as Grace. Although Richard's mind was still reeling, his actions showed no hesitation. He pulled out his phone, quickly added Grace, and proactively said, "My name is Richard."

  Seeing this, Harry grinned broadly. "I'd like to add you too!"

  "Of course," Grace said, offering her QR code to him as well.

  Just at that moment, a luxurious Mercedes-Benz sedan slowly pulled over and parked at the roadside. The driver got out and opened the rear door. The Chairman of the Dylan Group, Jeffrey, and his wife stepped out one after the other.

  Mrs. Dylan linked her arm with her husband's. Looking up, her eyes fell upon two young men and a girl by the roadside, scanning codes to add each other on social media. The girl was dressed in an evening gown, possessing remarkable looks and an elegant bearing, while the two young men were attired in waiter uniforms.

  At first glance, she hadn't paid much attention, but after an inadvertent glance, she suddenly froze, then quickly looked back more intently, unsure if her eyes were deceiving her.

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  Under the glow of the streetlight, the girl in the black dress, radiantly beautiful... why did she look so familiar?

  It was Grace!

  The moment she recognized Grace, Mrs. Dylan's hand instinctively tightened its grip on her husband's arm.

  "What is it?"

  Noticing his wife's unusual reaction, Jeffrey turned his head and inquired in a low, concerned voice.

  Mrs. Dylan's face was pale with anger. Thinking about how her son's personality had changed drastically these past days, how he shut himself in his room all day long, listless and depressed, filled her chest with a stifling frustration. Her eyes bore into Grace as if filled with poison.

  "Jeffrey, that girl is Grace!" Mrs. Dylan spoke through clenched teeth, a disdainful snort escaping her nostrils. "Standing by the roadside late at night, exchanging contact information with two boys. How utterly shameless. How could our son have fallen for such a cheap, low-class girl?"

  Hearing this, Jeffrey followed her gaze. He only knew of Grace by reputation but had never met her in person. Taking his first look now, Jeffrey, as a man himself, seemed to instantly grasp why his son had been drawn to Grace.

  She was exceptionally beautiful.

  But Jeffrey was a man of great composure. He objectively acknowledged Grace's beauty. Yet, as Eric's father, he would absolutely never permit his son to be with a girl who was merely attractive on the surface.

  So without a moment's hesitation, he strode directly towards Grace.

  Seeing this, the corners of Mrs. Dylan's mouth curled upwards in an involuntary, icy smile.

  Grace had just finalized plans with Richard to meet tomorrow afternoon at the coffee shop outside UST's east gate. Before they could even properly say their goodbyes, she sensed an intensely oppressive atmosphere closing in on her.

  Instinctively turning her head, she met the furious, venomous glare of Eric's mother.

  And the middle-aged man beside her, emanating an aura of cold severity, was unmistakably Eric's father.

  Stopping directly in front of her, Jeffrey fixed his eyes intently on Grace's. His gaze was overpoweringly dominant; merely being subjected to such a stare was something few ordinary people could withstand.

  But Grace was no stranger to this. She remembered this look, she remembered Jeffrey, and she remembered how she had once felt like an insignificant ant before him, her pleas falling on deaf ears.

  Now, however, her heart was as calm as still water. She simply returned his gaze with serene composure.

  "So you are Grace," Jeffrey stated, breaking the silence first.

  Grace allowed a slight smile to touch her lips and nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, that's me. A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Dylan."

  "Since you know who I am, I'll speak plainly," Jeffrey said, his expression stern and serious. "I expect you to stay away from Eric and cease all further entanglement with him."

  "Mr. Dylan, I have grown weary of explaining the nature of my relationship with Eric. Mrs. Dylan is fully aware of the circumstances. If you are not informed, I suggest you inquire with her."

  "I am aware that you have ended the relationship," Jeffrey stated, his face impassive. "But as long as you remain at UST, your presence will continue to exert an influence on Eric."

  "Shall I leave the planet, then?" Grace couldn't suppress a light, humorless laugh, then countered. "Mrs. Dylan sought me out and demanded I break up with Eric. I agreed, and I complied. Afterwards, when Eric persisted in pursuing me, I remained unmoved. Are you still not satisfied?"

  "Are you now attempting to force me to voluntarily leave UST, or perhaps even leave Aethelburg altogether?"

  Richard and Harry watched the unfolding scene with stunned expressions. They, too, instantly recognized the man in the suit—it was Jeffrey, Chairman of the Dylan Group.

  Their eyes met, engaging in a silent, frantic conversation.

  Richard: It's Jeffrey. The Dylan Group only ventured into AI two years ago. This could be our chance.

  Harry widened his eyes: Now? Here?

  Richard's eyes darted meaningfully: It's the perfect opportunity! When else would we get a chance to approach him directly? Miss this, and it's gone for good!

  Harry's face fell into a pained grimace: At a time like this? It's completely inappropriate!

  The air between Grace and Jeffrey was crackling with palpable tension!

  "I am prepared to offer you compensation. 100 dollars?" Jeffrey proposed, his eyes fixed on Grace.

  Grace smiled faintly but remained silent.

  Jeffrey's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of reaction finally crossing his stern features.

  "200 dollars!"

  Seeing Grace show no sign of relenting, Mrs. Dylan could no longer contain herself and lashed out scornfully, "Don't be insolent when offered a way out. Do you genuinely believe you are worth such a sum? If it weren't for—"

  Her words were abruptly cut off by a sharp, silencing look from Jeffrey.

  In contrast to his wife, one marginally commendable trait Jeffrey possessed was his understanding that quarreling and hurling insults rarely solved anything.

  But that was the solitary point in his favor at this moment.

  He turned his attention back to Grace. "Alternatively, you may state your terms."

  "Indeed, birds of a feather flock together. Your tactics are virtually identical," Grace remarked, thinking of the "10-dollar check" incident at the coffee shop. A cold smile touched her lips. "Equally revolting!"

  Jeffrey's eyes darkened dangerously as Grace continued, holding his gaze. "Instead of wasting your breath here trying to bribe me into leaving Aethelburg, allow me to suggest an alternative. Why don't the two of you send Eric abroad? That way, he won't see me, and I will, fortunately, be spared the annoyance of seeing him. A solution that benefits everyone!"