A doctor came in, poking and prodding.
Grandpa walked in.
The doctor called him “Mr. Chen” all
respectful–like.
I tugged on Grandpa’s sleeve.
“Grandpa, it’s just a scratch, no need for this
fancy place…” I whispered.
Grandpa frowned.
<
“My granddaughter deserves the best!” he
snapped.
Soon, the business man showed up, with gifts.
He smiled all greasy, not at all the arrogant jerk
he was around Mr. Henderson.
“Mr. Chen’s granddaughter! No wonder you’re
so smart!” he gushed.
Grandpa glared.
“Didn’t I get an invite to one of your auctions?”
he asked.
He nodded.
“I sent one, but you didn’t RSVP…” he
stammered.
The next day, Grandpa took me to a glitzy
auction house.
<
9:35
100
“Look who it is! Thought you were too good for auctions?” she sneered.
She called over the security guards, telling them
to kick us out.
Grandpa stood tall in his old clothes.
The guards hesitated, then looked at me.
As one of them reached for me, the auction
organizer, Mr. Hu, rushed over.
He slapped the guard.
“What are you doing to my guests?!” he yelled.
Mr. Hu kicked the guard.
I looked at Grandpa, surprised.
I thought they were just friends, but Mr. Hu
treated him like royalty.
9:35
People gathered, curious.
Mr. Henderson looked shocked.
“Mr. Hu, are you sure? My daughter just met
you once…” he said.
His eyes darted between me and Mr. Hu.
100
The people who had been so eager to exploit
me were now focused on Grandpa.
The people Mr. Henderson had set Ashley up to please now all wanted a piece of Grandpa.
Grandpa pulled me forward.
“This is my granddaughter, and my only heir,”
he declared.
The social climbers fawned over me, handing
me business cards.
9:35
く
“Miss Chen, call me anytime…”
100
“Miss Chen, you go to A High? My nephew goes there…”
The Hendersons looked like they’d swallowed poison.
They were sucking up to the wrong people.
Grandpa’s identity was no longer a mystery.
The rumors were true.
Mr. Hu ushered us into a private box, with a
view of the whole auction.
There were fancy fruits and teas.
Mr. Hu gave Grandpa a catalog of items up for
auction and handed me a paddle.
“Buy whatever you want. Outbid anyone you
1
want. My granddaughter deserves it all!” he
said.
Then he left us.
