?


    On the other end of the phone, Duke stayed silent for a long moment before finally speaking up, "... You guys are seriously nning to start your ownb?"


    "Absolutely!"


    "This isn''t some whimsical idea that just popped into your heads?"


    Mamie replied eagerly, "Of course not! We''re dead serious about this!"


    "Alright then, ten million, right? I''ll transfer it to your ount at the bank in a bit!"


    "Wow-thank you, Duke! Love you, xoxo~"


    Duke chuckled with a hint of affection, the kind only a doting father could muster.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    That very evening, Mamie shared a screenshot of the transaction in their group chat.


    Bright and bold were the seven zeroes in her ount, impossible to miss.


    Mamie: [All set-】


    ...


    Scales couldn''t help but smile upon seeing that "~", almost able to picture how smug Mamie must have been while sending that message.


    It seemed he had to step up his game too.


    He put away his phone and walked over to the couch, "Grandpa, it''s been a while since we yed chess. How about a game?"


    "Of course! It''s been ages since someone actually sat down for a proper game with me."


    The old man, leaning on his cane, got up from the couch and settled in front of the chessboard.


    They yed two rounds, each more thrilling than thest!


    Scales intentionally lost a few games, much to his grandfather''s delight.


    "Scales, you lost again. You seem off today, what''s up?"


    Sighing, Scales feigned frustration, "Honestly, it''s your chess skills. They''ve improved. Have you been practicing behind my back?"


    ttery gets you everywhere.


    Sure enough, his grandfather burst intoughter, "Hahaha..."


    Scales insisted, "No, no, let''s y another round!"


    This time, Scales didn''t hold back and naturally won.


    The old man, pouting in a childishly sullen manner, said, "You said I practiced, but it looks like you were the one who did! No more, this isn''t fun!"


    After a pause, he continued, "What''s


    gotten into you today,ing home out of the blue and even offering to ychess? Out with it, what''s the matter?"


    "Cough!"


    Scales knew he couldn''t hide anything from his grandfather''s keen eyes.


    Without holding back, he shared everything about the academic bullying and malicious suppression he faced at school.


    "...Instead of enduring it silently,


    decided it''s better to start anew. We''ve got the money and the


    location, only the bureaucratel


    paperwork is left..." Content belongs


    He paused, stealing nces at his grandfather, almost pleading with his eyes.


    Yet, the old man remained silent, his gaze deep and contemtive.


    Scales dared not rush him, instead busying himself with tidying up the chessboard, the tension palpable.


    After what felt like an eternity, his grandfather finally sighed, "I didn''t think the academic world had


    be so toxic... If what you''re


    kids in starting from


    saying is true, then I support


    "As for the paperwork... just go for it, don''t worry about the rest."


    "Thank you, Grandpa!"


    "Remember-do it well. Don''t start something you can''t finish, giving others a reason tough!"


    "Got it! You can count on us!"


    Though Scales faced some hurdles, everything eventually fell into ce.


    That night, he too posted in the group chat, following Mamie''s lead: 【All sorted~】


    But Roseanne, expected to have the smoothest journey, surprisingly encountered some bumps...