"Jessica!"
I lowered my head and called out.
"You're here!" Jessica Jones leaned against the door, looking at me, suddenly furrowing her brows, a hint of confusion flickering in her eyes.
After not seeing him for several days, why did it feel like this young man was so different from her impression, especially with that air about him, which seemed to have changed remarkably?
"Thompson, it's only been a few days, and you've become much more handsome!" she said with a playful tone, smiling.
I scratched my head awkwardly, "Jessica, please don't tease me."
"I'm serious; it seems like you've even become fairer."
Jessica Jones approached, bringing a rich fragrance with her. She leaned in closer, staring intently at me.
Her charming face was so near that I could feel the aromatic breath escaping from her slightly parted red lips, warm and slightly intoxicating.
"Indeed, you have become fairer. Could Hannah really be telling the truth?"
"What truth?" I was taken aback.
"The beauty cream! Yesterday, Hannah told me she bought a box of beauty cream from you, said to be a family formula. At first, I didn't believe it, but looking at you now, I'm starting to believe it."
I expressed understanding with an "Oh," only then realizing.
That Hannah surely referred to Sarah Garcia. It was not surprising they knew each other since they lived in the same neighborhood.
"Yes, there's such a thing. Hannah just bought ten boxes!" I said, "But, it seems you have such great skin, Jessica, you don't really need this beauty cream."
Jessica giggled, "Thompson, I didn't expect you to be such a smooth talker, a little rascal."
After a pause, she was surprised, "Hannah bought ten boxes? It must be really effective! Do you have more? I'd like to try a box."
"Sure! I'll deliver it this afternoon."
"How much for a box?"
"Well..." I hesitated a bit, "Five thousand, but the first box is free. If you want more, I can give you a discount, Jessica."
"Five thousand?"
Jessica's eyes widened in disbelief, her beautiful eyes round with astonishment.
At that moment, she felt it was absurd, almost thinking Charlie was joking. A handmade beauty cream intending to sell for five thousand was simply preposterous.
Was she out of her mind, or was this young man?
"Did Hannah really...buy it? For five thousand?" Her tone was somewhat strained.
"Yes! If you don't believe it, you can ask Garcia."
Staring at me for a long time, Jessica let out a wry smile, "I believe you. Afternoon, bring me a box. I want to see what miraculous effects this beauty cream has."
"Alright!" I agreed.
After delivering the packages, I went to buy some cigarettes and liquor for Uncle Brown, telling him I met someone useful and earned some money.
Then I returned home and started making the beauty cream, delivering a box to Jessica.
The very next morning, I received a call from Jessica, praising the miraculous effects of the beauty cream and ordering several more boxes. Jessica, who owned a factory and was quite wealthy, certainly didn't lack money.
For the next few days, I delivered parcels during the day, made medicine, and practiced some cultivation at night.
With two doses of Nourishing Spirit Liquid each day, my cultivation advanced steadily yet rapidly. However, cultivating like this was costly, as the materials for one dose of Nourishing Spirit Liquid were roughly about fifteen thousand, totaling thirty thousand for two doses.
It was basically burning money!
And by making medicine every day, I accumulated quite a bit of three types of medicine. I also thought up ways to improve the packaging, making it look more aesthetic and grand.
About five to six days later, I received a call from Mr. Jay.
"Thompson, do you have more medicine to deliver? Those who've tried it are pushing me like crazy, driving me insane, especially the demand for aphrodisiacs."
After the call, I went to Azure Vista Pavilion, delivering ten bottles of aphrodisiacs, twenty bottles of weight-loss pills, and ten boxes of beauty cream, earning another 410,000.
"Thompson, my friends, after hearing about you, are eager to meet you and get acquainted. What do you think?"
"Well..." I was a bit hesitant.
"Aw, what are you hesitating for? My friends have some status, and getting to know them would be beneficial for you."
I thought it over and agreed.
"Great! It's settled then. Tomorrow night, I'll take you to meet them."
"By the way, remember to dress well. Thompson, you've earned so much. Why not buy yourself some nice clothes? As they say, clothes make the man. You can't be going around in shabby attire."
"Alright!"
I scratched my head and agreed.
Leaving Azure Vista Pavilion, I felt a bit dazed, as I never bought myself nice clothes before. Thinking it over, I rode my tricycle to the city center and arrived at Summit Plaza.
This Summit Plaza was the most upscale shopping venue in the city, hosting numerous brands, with clothes that cost thousands to tens of thousands, beyond the reach of ordinary consumers.
As I stepped through the doors of the plaza, I drew numerous peculiar glances, some even disdainful, full of contempt.
At that moment, I wore a wrinkled white shirt, faded, somewhat ripped jeans, and worn-out shoes; even my hair was messy.
With such attire, I looked exceedingly poor, while the passing pedestrians dressed fashionably or luxuriously. I seemed quite out of place among them.
"Look, where does this poor guy come from!"
"Hey! A pauper dares to show up in Summit Plaza. Does he even know what kind of place this is? A piece of clothing here would cost him a month's work."
People around whispered to each other, gossiping.
I frowned but said nothing, continuing to walk inside. Looking around, I entered a store.
The salesgirl inside took one look at me and immediately frowned, showing some disdain.
She even seemed a bit derisive, finding it amusing.
With such an obvious air of poverty, how could someone like this have the audacity to enter Summit Plaza, having such thick skin?
As I reached out to touch a suit, she immediately shouted, "Don't touch it carelessly. You can't afford that suit."
I frowned, my face immediately turned cold.
My hand didn't stop, clutching the suit and feeling the fabric.
"Hey! Are you deaf? I told you not to touch it. Didn't you hear me? This suit is expensive. If you get it dirty, can you afford to pay for it?" the salesgirl shrieked, angrily approaching.
I glanced at the tag and sneered, "It's just nine thousand. What's unaffordable about it?"
"Hah! You? That's hilarious. Looking at you, I can tell you're dirt poor. Are you a migrant worker? Still dreaming of buying a nine-thousand suit? Keep dreaming!"
The salesgirl mocked me with a face full of scorn, snatching the suit away.
I squinted my eyes, my expression darkening even more, speaking coldly, "What's wrong with being a migrant worker? Does it bother you?"
"Migrant workers are not welcome here!" the salesgirl snapped, lifting her chin, looking down at me with an attitude of superiority.
I felt a surge of anger building inside me and was about to speak when I suddenly noticed two people entering the store.
A young man and woman, both about seventeen or eighteen, the woman pretty, dressed in a pure white dress with smooth black hair. The man stood tall, handsome, and upright.
The two were holding each other as they walked into the store.
My expression changed instantly. The man was Jason Martinez, and the young woman was Tiffany Wilson, my first love.