"I like your house," she said, settling onto the sofa and hugging a cushion as she looked at Grace.

  Grace handed her a cup of coffee. "Then you should visit more often. My sister has joined a film crew, so I'm home alone now."

  Scarlett's eyes sparkled as she nodded. Remembering the previous night, a renewed sense of guilt washed over her. "I'm truly sorry about yesterday, abandoning you like that."

  "I told you it's fine, why keep apologizing?" Grace said with a soft sigh, gazing at Scarlett with concern. "What about you? Are you really alright?"

  The light in Scarlett's eyes faded, and her lips pressed into a thin line. She clearly was not alright.

  But it was understandable. How could anyone completely come to terms with the sudden engagement announcement of someone they had secretly admired for years in just one night?

  "There's nothing to be done," Scarlett said, forcing a strained smile that looked more like a grimace. "If he's getting married, then... that's just how it is."

  Grace felt a pang of sympathy. She moved closer and took Scarlett's hand. "Since he's getting married, it's time to move on. I know you need time, and I'll be here with you."

  Scarlett nodded. The somber mood prompted her to lean in slightly, seeking comfort on Grace's shoulder, but Grace suddenly stood up. "Oh! I almost forgot, I have a gift for you!"

  Scarlett ended up toppling over onto the sofa cushions. Before she could voice a complaint, she saw Grace dash upstairs and return moments later, her footsteps tapping lightly on the stairs.

  Grace opened her palm to reveal a single piece of paper.

  "What's this?"

  Grace raised her chin with an air of mystery. "Open it and see."

  With a suspicious expression, Scarlett took the paper and slowly unfolded it. What greeted her eyes looked like a chaotic scribble!

  "Is this... some kind of talisman to ward off evil?"

  "Seriously?" Grace laughed. "It's Gavin's autograph! What evil spirits?"

  "Really?" Scarlett exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand in excitement. "Gavin's autograph? How... where did you get this?"

  So Grace recounted her chance encounter with Gavin on the airplane. The story immediately sent Scarlett into peals of laughter, momentarily dispelling her gloomy mood.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "Do you like him?" Grace asked, somewhat unsure.

  Scarlett nodded emphatically. "Yes! He's handsome and a fantastic actor. I've been a fan since his debut."

  "Good, I'm glad you like it. Good thing I didn't throw it away."

  "Are you kidding? Even if you weren't a fan, you could sell this autograph online for a good sum."

  "Well, if you ever stop liking him, you can sell it then."

  "I'm never selling it! I'm going to have it framed and hang it on my wall!"

  The two chatted and laughed for a while. Grace glanced at the time and said to Scarlett, "Why don't you go back and get changed? Let's go out for lunch, and then you can come with me this afternoon to meet a couple of people."

  "Meet who?" Scarlett asked, curiosity piqued.

  Scarlett had been absent when Richard and Harry appeared the night before, so she knew nothing about them. Grace didn't feel like going into a lengthy explanation. "You'll find out when we get there."

  Scarlett, not wanting to stay home alone either, agreed without hesitation.

  Roughly an hour later, Grace got into the Maserati waiting at her front gate.

  The driver was a middle-aged man in a suit. Scarlett made a point of introducing him. "This is Walter, Charlie’s father."

  Grace nodded in understanding and promptly greeted him. "Hello, Uncle."

  Charles's father smiled and nodded in return, then asked Scarlett, "Where to, Scarlett?"

  Scarlett looked at Grace. After a moment's hesitation, Grace said, "Lily's Stir-fry?"

  "Lily's Stir-fry" was the small, unassuming eatery on the food street behind the university that the two girls had visited together once before. Coincidentally, Grace's afternoon meeting with Richard was also near the campus.

  Scarlett nodded eagerly.

  Charles's father dropped them off at the entrance to UST's food street and drove away. The two girls walked straight to “Lily's Stir-fry”. To their surprise, upon opening the door, they found Richard and Harry seated at a table right by the entrance, intently focused on devouring a large bowl of fish in soup.

  Their eyes met, and both Grace and Richard were momentarily taken aback.

  "Hey! Grace!" Harry stood up, his face a mix of surprise and delight. "What a coincidence!"

  Scarlett, who had never met the two men, leaned closer to Grace and whispered, "You know them?"

  Grace first exchanged greetings with the two, then looked at Scarlett. "They're the people I'm meeting this afternoon. Quite a coincidence."

  Scarlett nodded in understanding and immediately suggested, "Shall we eat together then?"

  Grace noticed the two young men had only ordered one dish between them. Knowing the rice here was complimentary, she could easily guess their financial strain.

  She nodded and seized the opportunity. "I was originally planning to invite you both for coffee at a cafe. But since we're here, lunch is on me. We can talk just as well here."

  "Uh... well..." Richard was speechless for a few seconds. Seeing that Grace and Scarlett genuinely intended to join them, he quickly motioned to Harry across the table. "Hey, come sit over here. Let the ladies sit together."

  Once seated, Scarlett directly summoned the proprietress and proceeded to order six different dishes in one go.

  Ever since her first visit with Grace, Scarlett had become a regular at this little restaurant and was intimately familiar with its menu.

  With the new dishes not yet served, the two young men felt too awkward to continue eating alone. Richard pulled out a napkin, wiped his mouth, and looked at Grace, asking softly, "Grace, what exactly did you want to discuss with us?"

  "About your software program."

  Harry chimed in, "What he means is, after we talk, then what? You don't understand this field. What's your goal?"

  Grace smiled. "I don't understand it now, but if you explain it to me, then I will."

  Richard's expression turned troubled. He hesitated before saying, "I'm afraid even if we explain, you might not grasp it. There are too many technical terms that are hard to simplify."

  Hearing this, Grace asked curiously, "Then how do you dare pitch your idea to the CEOs of big companies? You don't think those in chairman positions understand these technical terms, do you?"

  Grace was certain that neither Arthur Vance nor Jeffrey Dylan understood the intricacies of specialized software; that was the domain of their respective technical teams.

  Richard explained, "When seeking investment, we only pitch to those executives by outlining our product's advantages, its potential impact on existing AI systems, and the improvements it can bring. The highly technical details would only be discussed with their specialist teams if they show genuine interest."

  Grace nodded in understanding. She straightened her posture and looked at Richard with a serious, attentive expression. "Then treat me as one of those executives who don't understand technical jargon. Describe in detail the advantages and potential of your product, and the benefits it could generate in the future. If you can convince me, I will invest in your project!"

  Richard: !

  Harry: !

  Scarlett: ?