“It’s been so long since we’ve spent time together. Let’s go shopping,” XL suggested with a relaxed smile. The trio walked into the mall and headed straight for a high-end women’s boutique. However, XL’s phone buzzed with an urgent call. He excused himself, gesturing for Liza to browse and pick out a few items while he stepped aside to take it. As Liza looked through the racks, she overheard a conversation nearby. “Sister, there are two tickets to XL’s art exhibition. Who are you planning to go with?” The familiar voice made Liza pause for a moment. She turned her head slightly, curious. Another voice chimed in—a soft, refined tone laced with feigned helplessness. “I was planning to go with Brother. But since he’s refusing the tickets, I don’t really have a choice.”Liza’s expression tightened. That voice sounded all too familiar. Then came the sharp, mocking voice of Rita, ringing out with unrestrained disdain. “Sister! Do you really think someone like Liza knows anything about art? She’s nothing but a countryside bumpkin. After the Sinclair family abandoned her, she was stuck in the middle of nowhere. Someone like her wouldn’t know the first thing about an art exhibition. Even if she went, she’d be as clueless as a caveman stumbling across treasure.” Liza froze, her grip tightening around the fabric of the dress she was holding. So, we meet again. She sighed inwardly. It seemed fate loved to throw her into encounters with her enemies. Nearby, Teacher Ewan’s brows furrowed deeply. Little Liza doesn’t know about art? He found the claim laughable. Liza had grown up surrounded by XL’s paintings to the point of being thoroughly bored with them. What need did she have for an art exhibition? Rita wasn’t finished. Her voice grew louder, dripping with mockery. “Sister, why are you even friends with someone like her? Talking to her is already doing her a favor. She’s completely unworthy of your attention. Honestly, being around her lowers your standards.” She let out a condescending laugh before continuing. “A wild girl who grew up in the countryside should just stay there. Someone like her doesn’t belong here. And you’re still trying to apologize to her? Is she even worth it? You’re the daughter of the Clint family!” Teacher Ewan’s face darkened. For years, he and XL had treated Liza like family, always showering her with warmth and encouragement. Hearing these women hurl insults at her so brazenly infuriated him. The Clint sisters seemed to hold XL’s art exhibition in high regard, but they had no idea just how close Liza was to XL. If he caught wind of their comments, he’d undoubtedly show them the door without hesitation. Teacher Ewan clenched his fists and looked at Liza. “Little Liza , these women—” Before he could finish, he took a step forward, ready to confront the sisters. However, Liza reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks. “Teacher, don’t,” she said calmly but firmly. “If we confront them now, they’ll just deny everything. Worse, they might twist the story to make us look bad. Let’s not lose our dignity over them.” Teacher Ewan hesitated, considering her words. After a moment, he exhaled, trying to rein in his frustration. But just as he nodded, a glint of mischief appeared in his eyes. With a quick flick of his wrist, a slender silver needle materialized between his fingers. A sharp sound sliced through the air. “Ah! My back!” Rita cried out in pain, instinctively leaping to her feet. Her eyes darted around, but she couldn’t find anyone suspicious nearby. Frustration mixed with confusion as she rubbed her aching back. Not far away, Alora’s gaze landed on Liza. A glimmer of calculation flickered in her eyes as she put on a friendly facade and approached.“Well, isn’t this a coincidence, Liza?” Alora said, her tone feigning warmth. “Is Gavin here with you today?” Before Liza could respond, Rita, still clutching her back and fuming from the pain, noticed the exchange. Her expression soured further when she realized who Liza was. “So, this is Liza?” Rita’s voice sharpened with irritation. “Sister, isn’t this the so-called ‘country bumpkin’ who doesn’t care for XL’s art exhibition?” Her voice was deliberately loud, drawing curious glances from those nearby. The words ‘country bumpkin’ and ‘disrespect for art’ rippled through the crowd, sparking whispers and judgmental looks directed at Liza. Alora immediately put on an expression of concern, lightly tugging at her sister’s arm. “Riri, don’t say such things!” she chided, though her words lacked conviction. Turning to the growing audience, she continued in a softer tone, “Liza probably doesn’t dislike XL’s art. She might just not be familiar with the art world.”Liza remained silent, her expression indifferent, though a flicker of annoyance passed through her eyes. Nearby, Teacher Ewan casually flexed his wrist, his movements subtle but precise. Alora let out a startled yelp, her hand flying to her side where a sudden sharp sting had appeared. Her face paled as she looked around, confused and alarmed. If Teacher Ewan hadn’t been mindful of their location in Li City, he might have exacted a harsher punishment for their disrespect toward Liza, whom he affectionately called Little Lza. For now, a few harmless pricks were enough to let them know he wasn’t to be trifled with. “Little Liza,” Teacher Ewan said with a faint smile, “let’s leave. I’ll get you something nice.” Liza’s lips curved into a small smile as she nodded, ignoring the scene behind her. As they turned to leave, Alora recovered from her shock and called out, her voice dripping with fake politeness. “Wait a moment, Liza. Aren’t you going to introduce this gentleman to us? Why is he buying you gifts? What’s your relationship with him?” The tone of her question, paired with the sly glances she cast at the people nearby, was enough to spark murmurs among the onlookers. Rita, emboldened by her sister’s insinuations, sneered loudly. “Wow, so bold! She’s cozying up to someone so much older just for money. Look at her—completely shameless! She even managed to seduce this man!” Alora sighed, shaking her head as if resigned. “Let’s not jump to conclusions, Ri Ri . They might just be relatives.” The crowd’s murmurs grew louder, filled with disdainful remarks and judgmental glances directed at Liza. Unbothered by the scene, Teacher Ewan escorted Liza into a nearby boutique. As they browsed through the racks, he took note of the items she liked and, without hesitation, instructed the sales assistant to pack them up.The sales assistant, startled by his generosity, quickly complied. She couldn’t help but steal glances at Teacher Ewan, noting his composed demeanor. Despite his age, there was an air of dignity and charm about him. It was easy to imagine he had been strikingly handsome in his youth. Once the items were ready, the cashier tallied the purchase with a polite smile. “Sir, there are 15 outfits in total. The total comes to 320,000 . Would you like to pay by scanning the QR code or swiping your card?” Teacher Ewan froze momentarily, an amused yet baffled expression crossing his face. “QR code? Card swipe?”