Library

Search

Home / System / The Intelligence Edge: From Zero to Billionaire / Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

All Chapters of The Intelligence Edge: From Zero to Billionaire: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

100 Chapters

Chapter 81

Joyce watched George's hurried retreat, and the false smile on her face faded, stiffened, and finally curdled into open disdain.With a sharp shove, she stuffed her phone back into her pocket and spat on the ground loudly.Then, catching the eager, gossip-hungry neighbors who had been eavesdropping nearby, she rolled her eyes theatrically and sneered in a shrill, mocking tone."Tch. What's the big deal? So what if they've got a little money now? Nothing to strut about!"The Carters' old security door slammed shut, sealing out the sour air of nosy curiosity and malicious whispers.The moment the door closed, George deflated like a balloon losing air. He leaned against it, patting his chest with lingering dread."Good heavens... Thank goodness you spoke up when you did, Chris!" he said with palpable relief, turning to Chris with gratitude written all over his face. "Otherwise, I'd have had no idea how to deal with her."The thought of Joyce's relentless interrogation made his scal

Chapter 82

George was left speechless. He could only clutch his cup of water and nod repeatedly.His son was right.Sensing the heaviness in the room, Chris softened his tone."But take Samson who lives downstairs, for example. Hasn't he always been good to us? Back when our family was struggling, he helped us more than once, and he never spread gossip. Now that life has turned around for us, he still treats us with the same courtesy, never fawning, never clinging. That kind of neighborly bond is worth keeping."If his family ever needs help in the future, we shouldn't turn away. If we can lend a hand, we must."His words carried both weight and balance. They cut away the useless entanglements while pointing toward the ties worth cherishing.Hearing this, the older couple felt as though a stone had been lifted from their chests. The tension and unease that had plagued them dissolved in an instant. They exchanged a glance, and in each other's eyes saw the same flicker of relief.Laura let o

Chapter 83

"Alright, let's hurry up and pack our things," Chris said. "If we work fast, we can move in today."At his word, the three of them sprang into action.But before long, a new problem arose.Laura picked up a chipped enamel basin, turning it over in her hands again and again."This one... it's still usable. Wouldn't it be a pity to throw it out?"She pointed to a battered old cabinet with peeling paint."And this… it can still hold things."Chris walked over and gave it a quick glance."Mom, a brand-new basin only costs two dollars."Laura fell silent.Chris rapped his knuckles against the cabinet. The wood groaned in protest."This thing? You'd be lucky if a junk collector gave you 30 cents for it.""Pfft!"His words left Laura half-laughing, half-exasperated. She shot her son a glare. "You and that mouth of yours!"Still, she slipped the enamel basin into the discard pile.What followed turned into Chris's one-man comedy show."These utensils are rusty. Planning to pass

Chapter 84

George's chest warmed instantly. He gave a firm nod. "Yes! Of course!"Handing the box in his arms to his son, he turned and headed toward Samson's door.…Meanwhile, in Samson Owen's house, the living room light was still on.The family of three had just finished washing up and were about to head to bed.Samson's son, Randy Owen, lounged on the sofa in a tank top, one leg crossed over the other. He tapped on his phone, lips curled in a smirk."Dad, stop harping on it," he muttered without looking up. "George and his family's rich now. You think he still remembers neighbors as poor as us?"Two years younger than Chris, Randy had just graduated from university. With no decent job in hand, he had settled for helping his parents at the wet market. That restless bitterness of youth lingered in his heart, fueling his cynicism.At his words, Samson slammed the rag he was using onto the table with a sharp smack."What nonsense are you spouting?" he barked, glaring furiously at his so

Chapter 85

George recited his phone number once, watching as Samson saved it into his phone."If anything comes up, just call me on this one."Lowering his voice, George leaned in closer."Samson, this number... I'm only giving it to you. Don't tell anyone else in the building, especially those who love to gossip. You know how it is. And my relatives... if they get wind of it, they'll blow up my phone day and night. I just want some peace and quiet."The words came from the heart—an explanation for the change, and a gesture of trust meant for Samson alone.The last knot of doubt in Samson's chest unraveled in an instant. Warmth flooded through him as he nodded vigorously."I understand! Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."After saving the number, he couldn't help but glance up at the pitch-black stairwell."So... will you ever come back to live here again?"His tone carried a faint trace of reluctance.George burst into laughter. He clapped Samson on the shoulder, half-joking as he said,

Chapter 86

"Yes," George agreed, cradling the treasured quartz clock in his arms. "With air this fresh, a person could live a few extra years."Chris locked the car and lifted the heaviest two suitcases as if they weighed nothing."Dad, Mom, in a couple of days, I'll take you to the clubhouse. They've got a gym, a swimming pool, card rooms… everything you could want.""That sounds wonderful!"As they spoke, the crisp rhythm of high heels clicked against the stone path, almost startling in the stillness of the night.All three turned their heads at once.The gate of the neighboring villa opened, and a figure stepped out.It was a woman.A strikingly beautiful woman.She looked to be in her early thirties, tall and elegant, with chestnut waves cascading loosely over her shoulders, adding a languid allure to her poise. A perfectly cut black evening dress hugged her curves, outlining every graceful line of her figure. Her makeup was light yet exquisite, and under the glow of the garden lamps

Chapter 87

Ruby's graceful silhouette finally vanished from their sight.The night breeze drifted past, carrying with it the cool scent of the lake.George still clutched the old quartz clock, his expression dazed as though he hadn't yet processed what had just happened. Laura, on the other hand, lit up as if she had stumbled upon a brand-new discovery.She quickened her pace, sidling up to Chris and tugging discreetly at his sleeve. "Hey, Chris," she whispered, her voice low and brimming with both secrecy and excitement."What is it, Mom?" Chris turned his head toward her."I think she's perfect!"Laura tilted her chin toward Villa A-02 next door, lowering her voice even further. "Polite, beautiful, a pleasant voice... she has it all."Her tone carried the same appraising weight as if she were inspecting a fine piece of treasure, all the while nodding in approval."If you're going to find yourself a wife, it has to be someone like her!"Chris couldn't help but laugh, both amused and exa

Chapter 88

The system would periodically scan the surroundings and the people nearby, then project the most valuable information directly into his mind in the form of pop-up prompts.It was like having a god-level cheat code unlocked, granting him full-map vision.Over the past few days, the system's scans had focused mainly on the neighbors within the villa compound.[Nearby resident information detected...][Owner of Villa B-05: Roger Schwall, 45, Vice President of a listed company. Slick, duplicitous. System evaluation: Keep your distance. No value in forming ties.][Owner of Villa C-11: Cindy Adams, 39, housewife. Gossip enthusiast, obsessed with comparisons. System evaluation: Ignore. Pure waste of time.]Chris received over a dozen such notifications, peeling back the private lives of nearly every resident in the community. The revelations gave him a sobering perspective on this so-called "upper-class neighborhood."Among the wealthy, there was no shortage of rotten apples.But toda

Chapter 89

Chris watched his parents and understood their thoughts without needing to ask.After a moment's hesitation, he spoke."Dad, Mom... how about I hire a housekeeper for you? Someone to handle the cleaning and cooking, so you two can just relax—watch some TV, take walks, enjoy yourselves."The words had barely left his mouth when the rag in Laura's hand landed on the table with a sharp smack. She spun around, eyes wide with indignation."A housekeeper? For what?"Her tone was sharp, firm, and utterly uncompromising."Are your dad and I missing arms or legs that we need someone to wait on us? Look at this house! It's quiet as a grave all day long. If I don't at least do a little housework, what am I supposed to do, sit around like a useless lump?"When people have nothing to do, their minds start wandering. That's when you feel the most miserable!"Beside her, George nodded repeatedly, clearly in agreement."Your mom's right. Our bodies are still strong. Doing chores, keeping acti

Chapter 90

The moment Chris stepped out, the youthful energy he carried with him seemed to drain away as well. The vast villa fell back into its suffocating silence.Laura lasted less than five minutes on the sofa before she felt restless, as if ants were crawling all over her body. She rose, paced the living room twice, then pushed open the glass door leading to the backyard.George sighed and followed her out.The afternoon sun was warm, spilling across the courtyard. It was a large yard, carefully landscaped by a professional designer.An expanse of emerald-green grass stretched across the ground—an imported species flown in from overseas, lush and flawless. Several meticulously sculpted ornamental trees stood scattered about, each one clearly expensive.Yet to Laura, all of it reeked of waste.Hands clasped behind her back, she strolled across the lawn, her frown deepening with every step."George, come look at this."She waved him over.George joined her and followed her gaze. "What

PREV

...

NEXT

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP

DMCA.com Protection Status