Riches in Disguise

Chapter 4

"No need for it, thanks, Mr. Hopkins." Joshua said as he grabbed the recommendation letter, then swaggered over to me with a smirk.

"William, you didn't have startup capital, and now you don't have a mentor's recommendation either. How exactly do you plan to compete with me? Or are you just waiting for a miracle to fall from the sky? Honestly, you're such a failure at life. What's even the point of you being here?"

With that, Joshua and his crew strutted out of the office, leaving behind his smug words.

I had no interest in engaging with him. Instead, I turned to Roger and asked, "Mr. Hopkins, you mentioned earlier that I have poor character. You heard what Joshua said to me just now. How would you judge that?"

Roger barely glanced up from what he was doing, and his tone was icy. "William, if one person looks down on you, it might be their problem. But if everyone does, shouldn't you start reflecting on yourself?"

He continued, "Why do you think Joshua singles you out? He doesn't treat anyone else this way. He seems to get along just fine with others."

I laughed dryly. "So that's how you see it. Well, Mr. Hopkins, you certainly live up to the ripple of a teacher. I've learned a lot."

Roger suddenly spun around and glared at me. "What do you mean by that?

William, it's exactly because of your attitude that people find you annoying. Let me tell you—"

Only an idiot would stick around and let Roger finish ranting. I walked out of the office, not bothering to listen to the clatter of whatever he was throwing in frustration behind me.

On the way back, I got a message from Alan.

"Mr. Wilson, I've gathered the information on Joshua. Would you like me to send it

to you now? Interestingly, there's quite a connection between the two of you."

A connection between us?

I immediately replied to Alan's request to send it over. Finding a bench, I sat down

to read, and what I saw left me completely stunned.

It turned out Joshua was the one of the beneficiaries of a charitable foundation my dad had set up in my name.

The foundation supported students, focusing on those with good grades and strong character and grooming them to join our family business and eventually become key figures.

was for these students to return to their rural communities and help boost the local economy by

was one of the main

why his monthly allowance was higher than that of

was that Joshua had been taking the money meant to support him, blowing it on parties and girls, and having a

"Stop all of Dad's funding to him immediately. I'll

"Understood, sir," Alan replied.

that, I called

money? No worries, business has been

Dad meant was five hundred thousand

the beginning of the semester,

was speechless. "Money's not an issue, Dad. It's

been supporting through the foundation. But his behavior's terrible, and

foundation money's basically your allowance. If

entering an entrepreneurship competition. I've figured out the project, but I

of college? Alright, tell me about the project first.

the idea to Dad, and after hearing me out, he immediately sent over profiles of some of his top employees to choose from. I didn't hold back and picked three of the

to the dorm, only to hear Johsua loudly boasting as soon as I walked in. "You

held her. I've never been

me walking in, but instead of stopping, he got even

the most shocking

and Louis played along eagerly.

keep us hanging,

smiled smugly. "The most shocking part is that Lina told me

way! Haven't Lina and William been dating forever? Didn't they get together right when the semester started? And still, nothing happened between

Look at him, he always looks so drained and seems

with her looks, a cute face and a killer body; she's destined to be a social media star. There's no way she'd stick around with a poor guy whose family

but they still thought using her to get

that they were so

continued working

said, "Oh, by the way, I've got something to share. I've

I froze momentarily.

Wasn't that Dad's