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.

return to their rural communities and help boost the local economy by starting their

of the main

his monthly allowance was

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

speechless. Without hesitation, I messaged Alan. "Stop all of Dad's funding to him immediately.

"Understood, sir," Alan replied.

I

pocket money? No worries, business has

"five hundred" that Dad meant was five hundred

exact statement at the beginning of the semester, triggering the nightmare my life had

"Money's not an issue, Dad. It's about Joshua. It turns

students we've been supporting through the foundation. But his

If

competition. I've figured out the project, but I

your first year of college? Alright,

out, he immediately sent over profiles of some of his top employees to choose from. I didn't

as soon as I walked in. "You guys have no idea! Lina's

her. I've never been with a girl

but instead of stopping, he got

what the most shocking part is?"

and Louis played along eagerly. "What is

keep us

shocking part is that Lina told

been dating forever? Didn't they get together right

just can't perform! Look at him, he always

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

about Lina, but they still thought using her to get

felt that they were so

continued working on

glanced over at me and casually said, "Oh, by the way, I've got something to share. I've officially

I froze momentarily.

Wasn't that