"Mabel, if you know anyone in the business world who can meet President Jun, could you please put in a good word for my boyfriend? I’m willing to be utterly indebted in return," Katie said.
Mabel Quinn noticed that Katie had even used the expression "utterly indebted," showing how desperate she was. But before she could respond, another familiar voice chimed in.
"Seems like bad luck, how do I keep running into annoying people everywhere?"
Mabel Quinn looked up to see that the speaker was Lyra Grant, with Soren standing beside her.
Katie awkwardly stood up, "What a coincidence. Are you two here for a meal as well?"
"We originally planned to eat here, but seeing certain people killed my appetite," Lyra Grant said pointedly, looking at Katie with mockery, "I mean, Katie, you can still have the leisure to dine with Mabel Quinn here? Weren’t you just crying your eyes out to me over your boyfriend’s issues, saying you couldn’t eat?"
Katie felt more embarrassed, "I... I came to ask Mabel for help, maybe she..."
"Really, you asked Mabel Quinn for that favor?" Lyra Grant exclaimed in surprise, then unreservedly mocked her, "Katie, have you gone mad trying to save your boyfriend, to the point you’d ask Mabel Quinn? Even my father said, in all of J City, you could count on one hand those who can speak up for your boyfriend!"
Katie’s face turned crimson red, momentarily unsure of what to say.
"Or are you saying Mabel Quinn lied to you promising she could help, and is actually just looking for some benefit from you? I always knew she was like that."
"No, Mabel didn’t lie to me."
"Didn’t lie to you? Then how is it you came to ask her? What can she help you with?" Lyra Grant queried.
"I..." Katie felt anxious, realizing that hoping Mabel Quinn could assist was somewhat wishful thinking, but none of this related to Mabel.
Mabel Quinn stood up at this point, "Lyra Grant, whether I can help Katie or not is between her and me, doesn’t seem to concern you, does it?"
Lyra Grant feigned an aggrieved look, "I just don’t want Katie to be deceived. Her boyfriend’s in trouble; it’s already tragic. Some people might use pleading as an excuse, seizing the chance to ask for money and benefits, making things worse for others."
"If you care so much about Katie, then why don’t you ask your father to intercede for her boyfriend? Isn’t your father an executive? Even if he isn’t qualified to speak in front of President Jun, couldn’t he ask the big boss behind him? I remember back in high school, didn’t you say your father and his boss were very close?" Mabel Quinn said.
Lyra Grant’s face instantly flushed, "The boss is so busy, how could my father bother him for such a trivial matter?"
"A trivial matter?" Mabel Quinn scoffed coldly.
Katie also showed a look of disappointment and self-mockery. No matter how nice Lyra spoke, to her, Katie’s issue was simply a trivial matter.
She even understood that Lyra might never have asked her executive father for help with this issue, perhaps only mentioning it casually as a topic of conversation.
Lyra Grant bit her lip as if she couldn’t stand the grievance of being wronged.