Chapter 85 - Dainasty Entertainment : Avah Zhang

"Dev, don't you remember me? It's me, Avah! We're classmates in middle school."

Devon just studied her, and she could immediately tell this woman wasn't as pleased as she sounded. She was perceptive and dealt with the emperor's harem, so this was child's play for her.

"Oh? Were we?" Devon sported a faint smile. "My apologies. I've been suffering from memory loss, so I couldn't recognize you."

"Really? Is it that bad?" Avah asked worriedly, but deep down, she assumed it was Devon's cunning way to pretend not to recognize her.

"No, it's fine. It's not something to be concerned about." 

"Ahh…" Avah nodded, getting more awkward as Devon's response was purposely leaving her no room for a conversation. 

"I would love to catch up with you, but I'm with the company of Mister Huang." Devon glanced at Mike, who smiled brightly at her. "So…" 

Mike snapped, chiming in, as he wanted to make a better impression on Devon. "Oh, I don't mind, Miss Lin! If you two are friends, she can join us!"

'What a dense man.' Unlike what Mike wanted, Devon's impression of him pummeled to the ground.

"Really?" Avah's eyes brimmed with excitement but immediately concealed it. "I mean, that would be so kind of you, Senior Mike, but I don't want Devon to feel burdened with my presence."

"No. If it's fine with Mister Huang, I would be delighted to take up his offer." Devon quickly replied with a calm tone. 

If Devon refused this, she would be the one who would be a snob. She didn't want to trouble Dion because of that, as this was his workplace. 

"I'm alright with it!" Mike's grin grew broader and his aura almost sparkled, thinking Devon would not forget his kindness, ever. "Also, you can just call me Mike!"

"I will try."

And so, the three of them ordered food first and then found a spot where they could eat and talk comfortably. Devon sat beside Avah while Mike sat across from them. 

"Senior, it's already late but I want to congratulate the success of your album." Avah was the first to break the ice, smiling sweetly at Mike.

"Thank you." Mike smiled back and immediately turned his attention to Devon. "Miss Lin, do you listen to hip-hop?" 

Devon went silent for a second as she remembered Dion, mentioning that genre. So, she nodded as a response.

"I see. Did you, perhaps, hear any of my songs?" Mike enthusiastically asked, but felt dejected when Devon tilted her head to the side.

"I have a terrible memory recalling titles and the artist, but I can listen to any of your songs," Devon replied out of politeness. "It would be my honor and I will forever remember it." 

Her response made Mike happy despite her sentence. "Really?!" 

"Yes." Devon nodded and then offered a smile.

Mike's breath hitched, momentarily stunned by her adorable smile. All the smiles she had shown him until now were just faint smiles, so this took him by surprise.

'Damn that Dion! Just where were his hunting grounds?!' Mike grumbled internally, feeling a little envious of Dion.

Who wouldn't? Devon's aura when she was just standing made her look unapproachable and already challenging for a man. Although her manner of speaking was a bit formal, it didn't sound weird, but more like noble. Not to mention, her little gestures like right now, made her look cute, and she wasn't even trying!

While Mike wept internally for meeting Devon later than Dion, Avah hung her head low. Although she was there, Mike barely bats her an eye while obviously showing a lot of interest in Devon.

'This slut… she's seriously seducing him by playing ignorant.' Avah ground her teeth as she stared at her food. 'Did she purposely invite me here just so she can make me feel like I'm out of place?'

This feeling of envy and aggravation brought back memories of the bitter past. Back then, even though Avah Zhang was hailed as the campus Belle, all the men she had her eyes on only looked in Devon's direction, and yet, Devon rejected them all without batting an eye.

It was a misery of her adolescent days, having an empty title as the campus Belle, but still have to live in Devon's shadows. To have lived in the shadow of someone who was the complete opposite of her immaculate and innocent image had taken a toll on her self-esteem. 

'Never again, Lin Devon.' 

A glint flickered across Avah's eyes as she slowly raised her head and sported a sweet smile. She would never let Devon trample on her again. 

"By the way, if you don't mind me asking, are you a model?" asked Mike, out of plain curiosity. 

"I am not." 

"Then…" Mike trailed off, hesitant to ask what she did for a living, as it may sound rude.

"Right! I heard Sis Dev is an aspiring writer!" Avah chimed in. "She even gave up on her inheritance just to pursue her passion! Isn't she amazing?"

"Oh, wow? Really?" Mike's eyes marveled, and Avah bit her tongue, as that wasn't the reaction she expected.

"This may sound banal, but I follow my heart's desire," Devon replied while gazing down, thinking that that passionate person was a ghost now.

"Wow…" Mike clapped his hand slowly, as Devon just became his ultimate crush. "I wish I have a bit of your confidence." 

Mike let out a shallow sigh, as it was truly a waste that Dion already called 'dibs' on her. He also came from a prominent family, and although he was successful in his career as an artist, Mike always knew there would be a time he had to choose between his passion and responsibilities in their family business.

Devon stared at Mike's dejected expression and smiled faintly. "Pursuing what you want requires painful and huge sacrifices, so no rush. I will put my hand in my heart and say, you can also make a choice with confidence when the time comes, Mike."

Her words made him raise his head ever so slowly, seeing an angel smiling at him. The beating of his heart sounded loud in his burning ears as his face heated up. 

'Please, marry me. I don't care about bro codes anymore.' were the words that he failed to utter as this woman mesmerized and captivated his heart in a brief span of time. 

Meanwhile, Avah ground her teeth as her cutlery trembled under her grip. 'This.... no way.'