Chapter 4

Mary quickly helped. "Right, she really hates guys who are too pushy on the first meeting."

"Last time a guy accidentally bumped into her and she just stormed out." Sara embellished the story.

Looked like they were afraid of being exposed, so they specifically told Tony to talk less.

I pushed open the door. The private room instantly went quiet.

Tony looked up at me. His expression changed from confusion to shock. Disregarding what the three had just advised, he blurted out:

"Why aren't you wearing the dress I bought?"

The three roommates panicked. Mira quickly stood up and pulled me outside, while the other two stayed inside to calm Tony down.

"Why didn't you wear that dress? Why did you change back into those ratty jeans?" Mira lowered her voice to question me, her face pale.

I feigned confusion. "I couldn't wear a dress for the club activity, so I changed back. Then the activity ran too late and I was afraid you'd be waiting, so I didn't change the dress. Why are you so nervous?"

"And why did Tony ask that?"

Mira bit her lip and said nothing.

"If you won't tell me, I'm going in. I'm hungry." I moved to push the door.

"Wait!" She grabbed me. "I used your photos to have an online relationship with Tony. That dress was actually bought by Tony for you. He wanted you to wear it when you came to meet him today."

"What?" I deliberately raised my voice. "How could you do something like that? Aren't you afraid of being exposed?"

"Please, Margaret," she was nearly in tears. "Just help me this once. I don't want to lose face in front of them. I promise I'll come clean to Tony later!"

I shook off her hand. "You used my photos to scam people, and you want me to cooperate?"

"Please!" Mira was about to cry. "Just this once!"

I fell silent for a moment, then showed a reluctant expression. "Fine, I'll help this one time. But you must tell him the truth soon."

"I will, I will!" She nodded repeatedly.

I secretly paused the recording.

Back in the private room, Tony was still asking about the dress.

I smiled. "That dress was being washed and wasn't dry yet. Sorry about that."

Only then did Tony relax.

Throughout the meal, he kept attentively serving me food, completely ignoring Mira's darkening expression.

"This limited edition bag is for you." He suddenly pulled out a gift box.

"It's too expensive, I can't accept it." I declined.

"Take it, consider it a meeting gift." He insisted.

Mira stared at the bag, her eyes wide. "Tony, this..."

"What?" Tony looked at her, confused.

"Nothing." She forced a smile.

In the end, I returned the bag to Tony.

I didn't want any financial entanglement with him.

Over the next few days, Tony started pursuing me obsessively.

On the third day at noon, I cornered Mira in the cafeteria.

"When are you coming clean to Tony?" I asked directly.

Her eyes shifted. "Give it a bit more time..."

"Time for what?"

"He likes you so much right now. If I tell him, he'll be even angrier." She stammered.

I sneered. "So you're just going to let me continue being your stand-in?"

She couldn't bear to give up the gifts and transfers Tony sent.

"It's not that!" She quickly defended herself. "Just... wait until his enthusiasm dies down a bit..."

Her phone suddenly chimed with a notification from Tony.

She glanced at it, and her face grew even more ashen.

"He transferred you money again." I glimpsed at it. "Fifty thousand. You can't accept it. If you do, accept it under your own name."