Arthur raised an eyebrow. Stanley Young seemed like a man who could at least tell right from wrong. Without wasting any time, Arthur stepped forward and held up his phone for Stanley to see. “Mr. Young, I’m here with a sincere offer to acquire your company. This is my account balance. If you agree, I can transfer a portion as a deposit right now.” Stanley had been skeptical at first. What kind of high school student would even have money worth showing him? Even though his company was struggling, he was still a CEO. There was no way a teenager’s bank account could hold anything impressive. But the moment his eyes landed on the screen, his expression froze. Stanley rubbed his eyes vigorously, then looked again, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. When he lifted his gaze back to Arthur, his entire demeanor had changed. The indifference in his expression disappeared, replaced by something far more serious. His tone was no longer casual. “Sir, are you serious?” Sir? His sudden shift in attitude, along with the respectful way he now addressed Arthur, left Zion, Cindy, and the entire office staff utterly dumbfounded. What is happening? Even their CEO looked shaken. And now he was calling Arthur sir? A high school kid—someone they had been mocking just moments ago—was suddenly being treated with such respect? Zion and Cindy couldn’t help but crane their necks, trying to get a glimpse of Arthur’s phone. But Arthur had already put it away, not sparing them a glance. He looked Stanley in the eye and said firmly, “Mr. Young, this is money I earned myself. I have full control over it.” At that moment, all traces of boyish immaturity seemed to vanish from Arthur’s face. His entire presence exuded the composure and sharpness of someone who had already navigated the professional world.The calm determination in his voice, the unwavering confidence in his stance—it all left Stanley momentarily stunned. He found himself staring into Arthur’s eyes. There was something in them—an unfathomable wisdom, as if this young man had seen through all the complexities of life. For a brief moment, Stanley felt as though he was standing before a true strategist, a seasoned businessman whose presence couldn’t be hidden even beneath a school uniform. An inexplicable sense of respect suddenly welled up inside him. Adjusting his posture, Stanley did something that shocked everyone—he extended his right hand as if greeting an equal. “Nice to meet you. I’m Stanley Young. Sir, may I ask your name?” The office fell into stunned silence. A moment ago, Arthur had been treated like a troublemaker. Now, their CEO was personally offering him a handshake? Zion couldn’t believe his eyes. He rubbed them furiously, as if trying to wake up from a bizarre dream. This was Stanley Young, the notoriously arrogant CEO who refused to play nice with other businessmen. He never attended those high-society networking events, nor did he flatter the powerful. In fact, Stanley’s unwillingness to bow to others was one of the reasons why the company had been struggling—he had too much pride. Yet now, that same man was showing such respect to a high schooler? Arthur smiled slightly and extended his hand, clasping Stanley’s in a firm shake. “I’m Arthur Gray.” The moment their hands met, there was an unspoken understanding between them—like two kindred spirits meeting for the first time. Despite their age difference—despite Stanley being only a few years younger than John Gray—there was a strange sense of connection. After releasing the handshake, Stanley gave a slight nod and said apologetically, “I must sincerely apologize, Mr. Gray. It seems my lack of discipline led to these two offending you.” Then, without hesitation, he turned to Zion and Cindy, his expression cold. “What are you waiting for? Apologize to Mr. Gray.” His voice was calm but carried an undeniable weight, making the entire office hold its breath. Zion and Cindy froze. Their CEO was actually telling them to apologize to this kid? Even though they feared Stanley’s wrath, neither of them wanted to lose face by bowing to some teenager in front of their colleagues. Zion clenched his teeth and protested, “Mr. Young, you haven’t even heard our side of the story. Why should we be the ones apologizing?” Cindy quickly chimed in, eager to defend herself. “That’s right, Mr. Young. This boy mocked me earlier! He called me ma’am instead of miss! Isn’t that completely disrespectful?” She stopped herself just in time from calling Arthur a scumbag—the look in Stanley’s eyes was too terrifying. But to her horror, Stanley scoffed. “Hmph. At your age, Mr. Gray calling you ma’am is a sign of respect. And you have the nerve to be offended?” The entire office erupted into muffled laughter. It was the most satisfying thing they had ever heard. Cindy stood frozen, mouth agape. Everyone in the company knew she was obsessed with her age. The one thing she couldn’t stand was being called old.