Chapter 8
The Student Government’s arrangements were announced quickly. Resting my chin in my hand, I glanced at the flyer everyone was holding and smirked. Dennis dismissed my idea, yet he indeed did what I said.
A student asked, “Since when did the northern district have a Farm Stay venue? How come I never heard about this?”
“Word is, someone took over an abandoned construction project there,” someone said.
Another one chimed in, “I went to check it out. The landscaped gardens are gorgeous, so natural and untouched, with sheep grazing all over the hillsides.”
At the mention of the “northern district,” the classroom buzzed with chatter. Raina shot me a glance, clearly itching to make one of her usual sarcastic remarks, but this time, she managed to hold it back.
Camila pointed excitedly corner of the
flyer. “That’s near where I used to live. Perfect–I can go back for a visit.”
Several gazes turned toward me. Apparently, this place happened to be my home now.
Camila’s lackeys glanced over, exchanged knowing looks, covered their red lips, and giggled.
One of them said, “Mila, you actually used to live in such a backwater place? How miserable that must’ve been for you.”
Another girl added, “Seriously, this is practically the backwoods. Who on earth still lives out here these days?”
One of Camila’s lackeys sneered, “You know, country bumpkins belong in the hills.”
- me.
I swept a cool glance their way. They didn’t dare confront me directly. All they could do was just buzz around like annoying flies around
+
Noticing my glare, the girls giggled affectedly. “Oh, Ashley, we weren’t talking about you. Don’t take it to heart.”
Someone smirked, “Yeah, don’t have your lawyer brother come and defend you again. We’re not talking about you.”
A girl said coolly, “That can hardly be considered slander, can it?”
“If I hit any of you, he could be my defence lawyer,” I said, casting a cold glance their
A girl snapped, “You-”
い
ww
way.
The sharp click of heels announced Melissa’s arrival. She shot the girls a glare and snapped, “What’s all the argument? Got a problem? Is this really how you want to spend every day?”
A hush fell over the room. I couldn’t help but mentally give Melissa a thumbs–up. She was such a badass.
“If I remember right, isn’t your company about to be bought out? Wasn’t it you who just sold off your designer bags the other day?” Melissa shot a look at the bob–haired girl.
She then glanced at the other two girls. “I bet the combined profits of your two families’s businesses in recent years don’t even come close to what I’ve made from a single project. So what gives you the right to act so high and mighty?
The girls’s faces kept turning from red to pale.
Melissa tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and said, “My friend lives better than you could ever dream of. And tell your boss to start saving up unless she wants to starve someday.”
“Oh, by the way.” Melissa turned to me with a radiant smile. “Your brother Dennis said he’s treating us to dinner. Let’s go.”
Melissa deliberately stressed the words “brother“-just as I’d expected. Camila’s face instantly drained of color, and the look she shot me still burned with resentment.
Meeting her glare, I arched my brows as a silent challenge.
I couldn’t shake off the feeling that Camila was seriously the worst.
The shuttle bus jolted its way into the gardens. In stark contrast to the desolation elsewhere in the northern district, before us stood simple architecture, radiating a natural vibe.
1/4
Someone sighed, “Wow, this place is gorgeous.”
“Beverllie has never seen a Farm Stay venue like this before,” another added.
A faint smile escaped my lips. Being recognized indeed felt different.
“What’s with that
I arched
my
smug look on
your face?” Melissa walked over, took off her sunglasses, and looked around.
brows smugly and said, “This place is mine. You can try anything here, free of charge.”
Melissa paused and shot me a skeptical look. “Babe, enough daydreaming.”
I was left speechless.
She nudged my arm and suggested, “Come
on,
let’s
‘s go. We’re sharing a room. I can’t stand staying with anyone else.”
My first wealth flex failed.
Melissa didn’t want to do the sightseeing, so I walked alone along the meticulously laid pebble path, with elegant plants lining both sides. At the end stood the colorful guesthouse. I couldn’t help but admire my masterpiece.
Camila strolled over, her trademark plastic smile plastered on her face. “Hey, you’d better take in the view these next couple of days. Who knows if you’ll ever get another chance.”
It was just the two of us on the walking path, and she didn’t bother to hide her loathing for me.
I nodded and changed the subject. “How was lunch?”
She paused briefly and let out a mocking laugh. “Of course, it was excellent–far better than anything in the Hunter family.”
I nodded. “Good to know.”
I walked past her and kept going. I needed to pick up the admission pass for the entertainment area in the afternoon.
Camila called out, “Ashley.”
I turned around and asked, “What?”
Before I could react, her figure suddenly swayed and collapsed to the ground, her pristine white dress instantly smeared with dirt.
With a sudden whoosh, Shane stormed over and roared, “Ashley, are you insane?”
A triumphant glint flashed through Camila’s eyes.
I sighed inwardly. Why did she always have to target me? Couldn’t she go after someone else for a change?
“Sorry, Ash, I only meant well,” Camila said, putting on her fragile act with a choked voice.”
Shane was practically seeing red, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel. He snapped, “Ashley, that’s enough. Just because Kane and Zane dote on you doesn’t mean you can act like you own the place.”
I didn’t know how to react. Pointing to the corner, I said, “Camila, there are hidden cameras here–the kind with 360–degree coverage, no blind spots.”
The air froze for a split second, and Camila’s expression stiffened.
Shane, now fully riled up, scooped Camila into his arms. “Fine. Let’s check the security footage.”
“No, please…” Camila protested weakly.
Of course, neither Shane nor I paid any attention to Camila’s protests. We just headed straight for the service station together.
Right next to the service station was an outdoor café, where people gathered in small groups, chatting and playing board games. Of course, there were some familiar faces among them.
Melissa raised an eyebrow at Camila and sneered, “Oh, did our heroine just take a dramatic tumble out of nowhere?”
I shrugged and said, “Camila accused me of pushing her. To clear my name, I’m checking the surveillance footage.”
2/4
Shane let out a cold snort and snapped, “When we see the evidence, you should apologize to Mila properly.”
Camila tugged at Shane’s sleeve and whispered, “Let’s just drop it. The surveillance footage isn’t that easy to access…”
Smirking, I snapped my fingers. “Drop it? No. We can’t possibly wrong Ms. Dyson, can we?”
“Ms. Hunter.” A man in a suit emerged from the service station’s office building–the manager I had personally assigned here.
He approached respectfully blue folder in hand and asked, “He
a
may I assist you?”
“Pull up
the surveillance footage from the walking path just now and show it to them,” I said as I leisurely settled into the chair nearby. Gesturing toward the open space, I added, “Oh, bring out a display screen and set it to loop playback.”
“Right away,” the manager replied.
A deathly silence fell over the crowd–even Shane was struck speechless.
“Wait, y–you’re actually the owner here?” Melissa gaped at me, utterly shocked.
I blinked. “Told you so, but you just wouldn’t believe
Camila stared over in utter bewilderment, murmuring under her breath, “H–How could this be…”
“Oh, you really didn’t know?” I covered my mouth in mock surprise. “All these hills belong to the Hunters, and the sheep up there too. After all these years, you seriously never heard of it?“/
Camila followed the direction of my finger, her gaze landing on the rolling hills dotted with countless white sheep. It was a truly breathtaking sight.
ces
Her lips quivered uncontrollably, betraying just how shaken she was.
“Ashley.” Shane scowled.
Melissa looked even more excited than he did. She grabbed my arm and exclaimed, “Wait, you mean the legendary ultra–low–key Hunter family? The one with the insanely comprehensive supply chain? That ridiculously wealthy family business? And it’s actually based in the northern district?”
I nodded calmly.
The air went deathly still as multiple pairs of eyes darted toward me, brimming with shock and disbelief.
Compared to everyone else, Dennis remained perfectly composed. Watching the farce unfold, he let out a chuckle and said, “Well then, since we’ve got the surveillance footage, let’s take a look together.”
exchanging curious glances.
The staff wheeled out a massive display screen,
Its
power cord trailing behind. People began to gather in small clusters, murmuring and
“N–No, that’s not necessary,” Camila stammered.
Camila’s face turned deathly pale as she struggled free from Shane’s arms, her fingers trembling. With a sudden shove, she pushed Shane away and bolted down a side path.
“Mila,” Shane called out worriedly.
Melissa folded her arms and let out a cold snort. “Got a guilty conscience, huh?”
Shane shot a fierce glare around and bellowed at the crowd, “What the hell are you all gawking at?”
All those stares were instantly withdrawn.
A satisfied smile played on my lips as I checked the time. Clapping my hands, I announced, “I’m in a great mood today. Why don’t you try some interesting facilities here? Everything is on me today.”
