Chapter 15 Are You Zanker?
Chapter 15 Are You Zanker?
Sharon waited for a while, but there was still no reply from Zanker.
She typed back: [Hello?]
Zanker: [I don’t really know either. Just heard House of Obsidian is super secretive. Maybe they’re studying those creatures. I’m just an unemployed nobody. How can I know that? I’m broke, remember?]
Sharon: [Broke? But you have a VIP card at Atlantis Hotel.]
Zanker: [That was from a client. He couldn’t pay in cash, so he gave me the card instead. You believe me, right?]
Of course Sharon didn’t. But she didn’t press. She simply closed the app.
She and Zanker met through the black market. He helped her screen jobs, and he sometimes even sent backup. They were at most partners.
Sharon thought everyone’s got their own secrets. Zanker never asked why she came to Aerions, so she wasn’t about to ask how a stingy guy like him got his hands on a luxury hotel VIP card.
Meanwhile, in the male dorm of the House of Obsidian, Zanker ran a hand through his unwashed hair and gasped, “Holy crap, my idol is in Aerions. I’m finally gonna meet her in real life. I’m freaking out.”
One of his roommates teased him, “Justin, don’t make me laugh. Such a stingy guy like you actually managed to have a cyber love? Unbelievable.”
Another roommate added, ‘What if she turns out to be some greasy middle–aged dude or a frumpy catfish?”
Zanker, whose real name was Justin Walton, snorted, “You ignorant guys will never know how pretty my idol is, and she’s tough as nails. She’s the real deal.”
His roommate replied, “Dream on. Girls like that only exist in movies. In real life? It’s either the rich girls from House of Ivory, or the tough girls from House of Obsidian. You really think you can handle any of them?”
Justin waved him off. “Man, if only my idol could enroll in House of Obsidian, she’d be the undisputed queen of campus. I don’t accept any arguments.”
A buzz–cut guy looked up and asked, “So you actually gave her that Atlantis Hotel’s VIP card you won off Caesar in that bet?”
Justin nodded. “Yup. She never asks for help, but she did this time. She said she
needed a fancy hotel room near the airport. Atlantis Hotel is the only one that fits the
1/4
Chapter 15 Are You Zanker?
bill.”
The truth was, Justin couldn’t afford to stay there himself. He won that VIP card in a bet with Caesar because he wanted to look cool. He’d never even set foot in the place.
A red–haired roommate sneered, “Justin, you’re totally getting played. That girl’s probably a gold digger. The second she finds out that card came from Caesar, she’s not even gonna remember your name.”
Justin froze for a moment, his excitement dimming.
He was clear that Caesar Duncan wasn’t just anyone–he was the heir to an ultra–rich family in Scandivia and a true campus prince.
Still, Justin mumbled, “You guys don’t get it. She’s my idol. I’ll protect her for the rest of my life.”
His roommate shot back, “Man, that’s textbook simp behavior. You’re gonna end up with nothing but heartbreak.”
Justin thought, ‘Damn, that hit deep. But if it weren’t for Zero, I’d be dead.‘
In the presidential suite of Atlantis Hotel, a waiter brought in a spread of exquisite food
Alyssa was devouring it with her children, barely pausing to breathe. As she stuffed her mouth, she thought; ‘Geeze, this is life. Staying here is way better than staying in Graceville Manor. At least I don’t have to tiptoe around anyone.‘
Watching Alyssa eat like it was her last meal, Martin couldn’t help but frown. Martin thought she had zero decorum in front of Sharon. Then again, this had been their normal for years now.
“Shari, try this coffee,” Gloria said, holding out a cup with a beaming smile. “I’ve never had anything so good.”
Sharon took it without comment and had a sip. It was really good, and it tasted like freshly ground.
Sharon looked up and asked bluntly, “What do you want?”
She knew Gloria and her younger brother weren’t suddenly this respectful out of
nowhere.
Gloria chuckled and said, “Shari, I know I was a jerk before, but we used to be close, right? I’ll go to college here, and now that you’re back with the Vance family, don’t forget about me, okay?”
Hearing that, Sharon gave a small smirk. “Well, try not to talk back to Dad so much.”
“Got it.” A smile flickered in Gloria’s eyes.
Gloria wondered, “If she’s still calling him Dad, then they’re still on good terms. That’s a
2/4
Chapter 15 Are You Zanker? relief.‘
She went back to bickering with her brother over food, and the noise filled the room. Sharon sipped her coffee quietly, tuning out the noise. Martin’s scolding echoed from behind, but she barely paid it any mind.
Then, suddenly, the door made a clicking sound, like someone swiping a keycard from the outside. Judging by the footsteps, it was a grown man, and it was someone with serious training.
Sharon put down her coffee and walked straight to the door. She opened it and found a tall, handsome blond guy with piercing blue eyes standing there.
Their eyes met, and both of them were surprised.
Sharon glanced at the card in his hand and said, “You’ve got the wrong room.” Her voice was calm, her gaze cool.
“Uh… maybe,” the man said. “It’s been a while since I stayed here. Guess the hotel adjusted my room.”
He looked Sharon up and down and studied her sweet face and soft features. But the tone when she spoke was cold.
‘Oops, does she think I’m some kind of creep?‘ he thought.
“Hi, beautiful young lady. Sorry for the mix–up. I’m Caesar Duncan. You can just call me Caesar. Any chance I could make it up to you with dinner?” said the man.
He waited, expecting her to look ‘surprised, blush, and then say yes.
However, Sharon didn’t even blink but said firmly, “No thanks. You can go now.”
Sharon was still deadpan when she spoke to him.
It was the first time for Caesar. No girl had ever turned him down before. He even thought, ‘Weren’t girls like her supposed to be into rich, charming guys like me?‘ He then thought of something and asked, “By the way, is this your first visit to Aerions?
He believed that everyone in this city could recognize him.
“Yeah,” Sharon replied, a flicker of impatience showing in her eyes.
Caesar Duncan, king of charm and undefeated in the dating scene, had just taken his first failure. The air was getting awkward fast.
Just then, a beautiful hotel clerk walked up and said respectfully, “Mr. Duncan, welcome back.”
Caesar replied, “Hey, can you check if my room was rearranged?”
Caesar showed his signature charming smile, with a dimple on his cheek.
Sharon was just about to shut the door when the clerk replied, “Your suite hasn’t
3/4
Chapter 15 Are You Zanker?
changed, sir. It’s still 808.”
That number rang a bell. Sharon glanced up and saw the number on the door read:
- 808.
‘Wait a sec. What’s going on?‘ she thought.
Caesar looked just as confused.
The clerk turned to Sharon and asked, “Madam, may I ask how your room was booked?
“Through a VIP card,” Sharon replied, though her confidence wavered slightly.
“Is it a card like this?” asked Caesar.
He fumbled in his wallet for a long while and suddenly remembered that he lost that card before summer break. Some shameless idiot hustled it off him in a bet, with a
one–year usage term.
Sharon narrowed her eyes and asked, “Hold on, are you Zanker?”
