Chapter 11: The Loudmouthed Kid

Jada Thubron stared at the distant villa with open envy. "Ugh, the view up there has to be gorgeous. If we could live in that place someday, that'd be amazing." Pauline Luet shot her a look and laughed. "Enough. Stop daydreaming. Worry about how you're going to get into a good university first." Reid Quinny followed Jada's gaze toward Cloudtop Mountain Villa. Cloudtop Mountain wasn't very tall. Nestled among green hills and clear water, a traditional Chinese garden-style estate could be seen through the trees. Living up there really would have been a rare kind of pleasure. "If aunt Pauline likes it," Reid said casually, "I'll buy it someday and give it to you." Pauline didn't take it seriously. She treated it as a joke and smiled warmly. "It's the thought that counts, Reid. I'll take the sentiment." Then she added with a chuckle, "Besides, it's too high up. I'm not sure I'd get used to living there." Jada pursed her lips, muttering to herself, *Didn't see that coming. This guy actually likes to brag.* *A broke kid from some tiny county, and he doesn't even know his own limits. A hundred-million villa, and he talks like he can buy it whenever he feels like it. What a mouth.* "All right," Pauline said, cutting her off. "Go take a look at your room, put your luggage away, and then come to my place for dinner. Your uncle Richard is waiting at home." "Okay." Pauline went upstairs with Reid and helped him set his luggage in his room. After that, Reid followed her into the car, and they drove to the Thubron family home. The Thubron family lived in Forest Brook Estate, about three miles away. It was a high-end complex too, though it fell short of Cloud Lake Estate. The apartment Pauline had rented for Reid was better than her own place. That alone said how much effort she'd put into him. The car rolled into the complex and stopped in front of their building. "We're here," Pauline said. "Jada, you take Reid upstairs first. I'll park and come right up." "Okay!" Jada got out and jerked her chin at Reid. "Come on. I'll show you up." "Sure." Reid answered lightly and followed. The Thubron family lived in a three-bedroom apartment with a living room. The decor was simple but tasteful, the kind that didn't try too hard and still looked expensive. Reid stepped inside behind Jada. In the living room, a middle-aged man in a black suit sat upright on a beige sofa, reading the newspaper. Even at home, his posture stayed impeccable. The kind of discipline you couldn't fake. "Dad," Jada called out. "I brought him back." She swung her long legs over the sofa with a bounce, grabbed a tangerine, and started peeling it. Reid walked over with a polite smile. "Hello, uncle Richard. I'm Reid Quinny." Richard Thubron set the paper down and looked him over. His gaze stayed calm, without a hint of condescension just because Reid came from a small county. "So you're Reid." Richard nodded. "I heard about you from aunt Pauline. Not bad. You look sharp." He gestured to the sofa. "Come, sit." Reid took the seat across from him. Richard studied him quietly. The kid's face was steady, no awkwardness at all for someone in an unfamiliar home. Either he was genuinely composed, or he was clueless in a way that bordered on fearless. *Snowhua wants to match him with Jada,* Richard thought. *Let's see what he's made of.* He picked the newspaper back up, tapped a piece of municipal news, and asked with a faint smile, "Your father is a deputy in the county, and he's done quite a bit in urban development. I read his remarks. They were solid." "What do you think about Greenveil's future planning?" Reid didn't know a thing about city planning. He answered honestly. "Uncle Richard, I don't really understand that stuff." The smile on Richard's face thinned. "No problem," he said, voice cooler. "Seems your ambitions aren't in politics. Then you should know something about business management, right?" Reid shook his head. "I'm not interested in business." Richard's expression hardened. He tossed the newspaper onto the coffee table, and the temperature in his voice dropped. "Since you want to transfer to Eastown First High, your grades over there must be excellent." Reid shook his head again. "I haven't been to school in three years." Richard didn't ask anything else. His face fell into a heavy scowl. "At your age, you don't want politics, you don't want business, and you haven't even been in school. How do you plan to survive in society?" As he spoke, his eyes flicked to Jada, bright-eyed and pretty as a picture, sitting nearby. In his heart, he made a quiet decision. His precious daughter was never going to be handed to some useless rich-kid-in-the-making with no skills and no prospects. Reid smiled faintly. "You don't need to worry about that, uncle Richard. I have my own way of getting by." He could already tell Richard didn't think much of him. Just then, Pauline opened the door and came in. "Reid," she asked brightly, "how did it go with your uncle Richard?" Reid kept his smile. "It went great." "Heh." Richard let out a cold laugh, stood up, and walked into the study. "Hey, Reid's here. Aren't you going to at least-" Pauline called after him, confused and annoyed. "I have something urgent to handle," Richard said without turning around. "You host." Bang! The study door slammed shut. "You really are something," Pauline muttered, seeing clearly that he was giving them the cold shoulder. She turned back to Reid, softening. "Reid, don't take it to heart. Your uncle Richard's just busy. Jada, stop stuffing your face. I'm going to cook. Keep Reid company." Jada answered without looking up. "Yeah, yeah." "Aunt Pauline, go ahead," Reid said. "Don't worry about me." "Okay. Sit for a bit. I'll start dinner." Pauline tied on an apron and went into the kitchen. Jada crossed her smooth, pale legs and scrolled her phone. "Remote's on the coffee table. If you want TV, turn it on yourself. Don't be shy." Reid glanced at her and understood. This proud girl didn't think he was worth her time. He smiled, unbothered, leaned back, and closed his eyes to rest. Richard didn't come out of the study until the dishes were on the table. During dinner, he didn't say a single word. Pauline carried the whole meal on her own, constantly checking on Reid, serving him food, keeping the conversation alive. It left Reid quietly moved. After they finished eating, Reid prepared to leave. Pauline wanted to keep him longer, but she'd noticed her husband's and daughter's attitudes. After a couple of polite words, she called to Jada, "Drive Reid back." Jada grumbled under her breath. "He can just get a cab. Why do I have to take him?" Reid smiled. "Aunt Pauline, it's fine. I can get back myself." "How could that be fine?" Pauline insisted. "You just came to Eastown. You don't even know the roads. Jada, do it for me." With Pauline refusing to budge, Jada had no choice. She grabbed her keys, then looked back at Reid with helpless annoyance. "Come on." As soon as they stepped out of the Thubron family home, Reid heard Pauline and Richard arguing in low voices behind them. "You can look after him if you want," Richard said, clipped and firm, "but I absolutely oppose you trying to set him up with Jada." "He's nowhere near Jensen Casson." Pauline shot back, "I think Reid's a good kid. Honest and quiet. That Alejandro Casson is too calculating. I don't like him." Reid shook his head and walked on. Jada was pretty, but she still didn't catch his eye. To him, Earth was only a stop along the way. Sooner or later, he would return to the Celestial Realm. *It's a shame Earth's Spiritual Energy is so thin,* he thought. *If I could find some Heavenly Treasures, or a High-grade Spirit Stone, that would be perfect.* Then he could speed up his cultivation. "Move it," Jada called from ahead, impatience creeping into her voice. "Quit dragging your feet!" Reid looked at her and said evenly, "You can go back. I know the way." "Don't," she snapped. "If my mom finds out, she'll nag me to death. Come on already."