Chapter 29: Curiosity and connections

(Curiosity and connections)

Alex's car arrived at their destination, and Mr. Sang Alex's secretary saw his boss watching intently something on his phone. "We've arrived," Mr. Sang said to his boss.

"Hmmm," Alex answered. He stopped watching, put his phone in his pocket, and went out to the car. He looked at the house where he grew up. Its his parents house; his parents are nagging him to come back home today.

Meanwhile, Emily was surprised to receive a text message from Alex after several days since the event. She smiled and replied to Alex's message, saying, "I know."

After sending the message, Emily couldn't help but wonder what prompted Alex to reach out after all this time. She pondered whether he had watched the live stream and noticed her there, or if something else had caught his attention. Despite her curiosity, she decided to keep her reply simple, waiting to see how Alex would respond.

Emily received another message, this time from her grandpa, informing her that the Sy family would be attending his close friend's birthday party. He reminded her that all family members must attend. Emily's lip twitched as she read the message. Despite her reluctance, she replied to her grandpa, confirming her attendance. She didn't particularly enjoy spending time with her cousin and their family, but she couldn't refuse her grandpa's request, especially since the party was for his good friend.

"Emily." Josh called her name, then approached her with a smile.

Emily turned to him and replied, "What's up?"

"Thank you for all the help. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have been able to launch this game. You even helped us promote it," Josh sincerely said to Emily. He was truly grateful for meeting her that night; without her, they wouldn't have had such good security for the game. Emily had even invested in his company. She was incredibly generous; Emily was truly his savior, he thought to himself.

"No worries, I'm always ready to help you," Emily replied warmly, extending her hand to Josh. They shook hands, symbolizing their successful launch, their partnership, and the friendship they had forged.

The gamers beside Emily overheard their conversation, surprised by the genuine gratitude expressed by the CEO and the game's creator towards Emily. They couldn't help but be curious about the nature of their relationship.

Michael whispered to Andrew's ear, "Why is he thanking Emily? She just played the game like us." Andrew chose to ignore his friend's comment, but inwardly, he grew more curious about Emily.

After Josh thanked Emily, Anna approached her eagerly. She admired Emily and was keen to play with her. "Emily, if you're not busy sometime, let's play together. We can livestream our game," Anna suggested, extending the invitation.

Emily, charmed by the girl's enthusiasm, was happy to accept. "Sure, here's my contact. You can message me anytime," she replied, handing Anna her calling card.

Anna took the card and read Emily's name aloud. "Emily Sy?" she questioned, a hint of surprise in her voice.

"Are you from the Sy family?" Anna inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Emily smiled warmly. "Yep, that's me!" she confirmed.

As Emily and Anna continued their conversation, Anna's eyes widened in disbelief, and she paused for a moment, processing the information. Suddenly, her demeanor shifted, and she looked at Emily with a mixture of surprise and reverence.

"Wait, you're from the Sy family?" Anna exclaimed, unable to conceal her astonishment. Emily nodded, a warm smile playing on her lips as she observed Anna's reaction.

Anna struggled to contain her excitement, her mind racing with thoughts about the renowned Sy family. Growing up, she had heard stories about their influence and success in various industries, including real estate and finance. To discover that she was conversing with a member of such a prestigious family left her speechless.

"Wow, I had no idea! Your family is legendary," Anna gushed, her admiration evident in her voice. She felt honored to be speaking with someone from such a distinguished background and couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of respect and awe towards Emily.

As Andrew's team overheard the conversation between Emily and Anna, a sense of dread washed over them. The realization that they had argued with a member of the prestigious Sy family left them feeling uneasy. They exchanged nervous glances, contemplating the potential consequences of their actions.

Despite their initial apprehension, they couldn't help but admire Emily's demeanor. Despite her wealthy background, she remained approachable and kind, engaging in conversation and smiling warmly at those around her. Her humility and down-to-earth nature stood in stark contrast to their preconceived notions about affluent individuals.

As they observed Emily interacting with others, they gained a newfound appreciation for her character. Not only was she a skilled gamer, but she also possessed admirable qualities of kindness and humility. Their respect for Emily grew even more, realizing that she didn't let her status define her interactions with others.

Feeling grateful for the opportunity to reconcile with Emily after the game, Andrew's team vowed to treat others with the same level of respect and kindness that Emily had shown them. They understood the importance of humility and empathy, traits exemplified by Emily, and they were determined to embody these values in their future interactions.

As the event wrapped up, Emily exchanged pleasantries with Josh and bid him farewell. She noticed the curious glances from the gamers nearby, particularly Michael and Andrew, but paid them no mind as she made her way out of the venue. However, their whispers lingered in her mind, and she couldn't help but wonder about their sudden interest in her.

As Emily returned home, exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders from the day's events. Sighing, she sank onto her couch, longing for a moment of respite. Pulling out her phone, she checked Alex's message once more, only to find no reply. A pang of disappointment washed over her as she wondered why he hadn't responded.

Thoughts of their previous encounter flooded her mind, leaving her feeling conflicted. While she yearned to see Alex again, she couldn't shake the embarrassment of their last meeting. Unsure of his true intentions and personality, she couldn't help but label him as distant and aloof.

Despite her mixed feelings, Emily knew she needed to put the thoughts of Alex aside and focus on getting some much-needed rest. With a weary sigh, she set her phone aside and closed her eyes, allowing the weariness of the day to wash over her as she drifted into a peaceful slumber.