CHAPTER 17: 17. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

"Riki, wake up! You said you had an appointment with someone, right?"

Faintly, Riki could hear Evan’s voice nearby. His brow furrowed in confusion—how could Evan be there? Oh, he hadn’t gone home last night.

Riki reluctantly got up.

He looked at the digital clock on the nightstand, which still showed 5 a.m.

"What are you doing? You woke me up this early!" Riki protested grumpily.

Evan just chuckled and rubbed his stomach, "I’m hungry."

Riki sighed lazily, then lay back down and pulled the blanket over himself.

But Evan pulled the blanket again to wake him up.

"Come on, Riki! Waking up early is good for your health!"

Riki, still annoyed because Evan hadn’t taken him seriously at all the night before when Riki had helped him look for a new business opportunity, now sat up and glared at Evan.

"It’s still very early, and besides, why don’t you just buy a house with all that money you have? Why are you still renting an apartment that’s shared by three people?"

"There are four people there," Evan corrected.

Riki rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Well, that’s even worse."

"Riki, even though that money seems like a lot, it still won’t be enough for business capital if I take some of it to buy a house. Renting an apartment is obviously much cheaper for me. Since it’s my parents’ inheritance, I can’t just spend it carelessly, can I?"

Evan’s words made sense.

Unlike Riki, who would get more money as long as he completed missions, Evan only had that money for himself.

He couldn’t just waste it carelessly.

"Alright, but come on... we can’t waste time relaxing, Evan. We need to find a business idea soon. What do you think you can do right now?"

Evan sat cross-legged in front of Riki, trying to think of an answer to Riki’s question.

"Well, I’m not really good at selling anything. But I can’t be a farmer like my parents either. I’m not good at growing vegetables, rice, or fruits. If it’s about planting something, I might be able to do it with flowers. Do you think I could sell flowers?"

Evan’s answer only frustrated Riki.

Moreover, the time was up.

Riki was doomed.

[Your mission has failed]

[You will spend the day with Anton and Hannah]

[Please enjoy your punishment, master]

Damn it.

"Riki? Why do you look more frustrated than me? This is something I have to figure out on my own," said Evan.

Evan’s innocent gaze made Riki even more annoyed. But Riki couldn’t get angry. Because back then, Evan was much more patient in dealing with Riki. In fact, Evan was one of the reasons Riki could cope with the ruin of his life.

Compared to losing Hannah, Riki was more depressed after losing Evan.

But Riki wouldn’t tell Evan that, so Evan wouldn’t get a big head.

"Of course I’m frustrated! I really want to help you, but you— ugh, never mind. Let’s go downstairs and have breakfast first. I have to leave in an hour and a half."

Riki got out of bed, washed his face first to get rid of his sleepiness, then went to the kitchen.

Evan just followed Riki like a chick following its mother. Back then, it was Riki who followed him like that. And Riki was still small and short back then.

Suddenly, he’s grown into a handsome, tall, and muscular young man.

Evan is about 183 cm tall, but Riki is taller than him.

"You’ve grown well, Riki," Evan suddenly remarked as Riki took the chicken out of the fridge.

Riki furrowed his brow in surprise, "Why did you suddenly say that?" he asked, then chuckled softly.

"Well, you’ve suddenly grown this tall after I’ve been away for so long. By the way, I took a day off from school yesterday, so now there might be some classes I have to take with you. That’s good, right?" Evan said.

Riki chuckled again at his friend’s silly remark.

"What’s good about repeating a class, Evan? You’re crazy."

Evan chuckled, then helped Riki prepare breakfast.

"Wait a minute, why are you bringing so many ingredients?" Evan asked.

Riki nodded, "Yeah, I’m going to make different kinds of sandwiches to take with us. We’re coming to Arcelia River, right? People usually have picnics there, it’ll be fun."

"Aren’t you going to exercise? I’m going to exercise, not picnic."

Riki gave an odd smile, which made Evan shudder in horror. Then he heard Riki’s shocking words.

"My girlfriend, Angeline Harland, will definitely be picnicking there. She’s a sweet and lovely girl. She’ll definitely love the strawberry sandwiches I made for her."

Angeline Harland and... Riki?

"You’re joking, right, Riki?"

"Unfortunately not."

***

Evan was speechless when they arrived at the Arcelia River. Angeline was really there, wearing a cute baby pink chiffon dress and carrying a wicker basket that obviously contained picnic supplies.

"Are you sure you’ll wait here while we jogging, Angel?" Liz asked.

Angeline was already sitting prettily on the ivory-colored carpet Riki had prepared.

"Of course. I did pilates yesterday, so I don’t need to exercise anymore. Enjoying the beauty of the river is what I want to do this morning. While reading a book." Angeline said, then she showed off her fashion magazine.

"Let her stay here with me; I need to play a game, so the three of you go ahead," said Kaivan. He was already sitting on the grass, leaning against a mango tree, engrossed in a game on his smartphone.

Evan still couldn’t believe it when Angeline kissed Riki’s cheek before Riki, Liz, and Evan went jogging around there.

"The air is so fresh!" said Liz. The girl looked so enthusiastic this morning. She looked fresh in a white short-sleeved T-shirt and black sports pants. She looked beautiful with her hair tied in a ponytail.

"Evan, don’t just stand there, let’s go over there!"

Evan, who was thinking about unnecessary things, was startled when Riki and Liz suddenly ran quite far ahead of him.

Though it was called jogging, Riki and Liz looked like they were in a race.

"Hey, wait for me!" Evan complained.

Riki and Liz slowed down after seeing something, and Evan almost collided with Riki’s back if he hadn’t had good balance.

"What’s going on?" Riki asked one of the employees at Little Heaven, the large flower shop Liz had wanted to visit earlier.

"Today we’re having a massive sale because our boss is closing the business."

[Your first mission today is to buy Little Heaven]

[The reward you will receive is a magical shop system and one million dollars]

[If you refuse, you’ll lose a great business opportunity]

Riki smiled widely.

That meant if he took over Little Heaven, there would be a profitable business opportunity there.

Riki turned to Evan and dramatically patted his shoulder.

"I’ve got the answer to your doubts, buddy. Let’s buy this store and start a business together."

Evan stared at Riki as if Riki had said the most ridiculous thing in the world.

"Did you take the wrong medicine this morning, Riki?" Evan reached out to touch Riki’s forehead, but Riki quickly pushed his hand away.