Abner released the man''s fist and directed his gaze towards Mark, who stood a short distance away.


    Mark couldn''t help but notice how effortlessly Abner carried himself. The struggling kid he once knew was long gone.


    Shirley had really taken good care of him, nurturing not just his confidence but also giving him that glowing skin.


    The more Mark thought about it, the more jealous he became. He had never felt this way about anyone before, but now he was tasting the bitter pill of jealousy.


    His jealousy was tangible, unabashedly directed at Abner. Their eyes met, sparking an invisible sh.


    Abner put down his cider, a drink as light as beer, knowing well that a few bottles wouldn''t get him drunk.


    Mark sneered, "Still ying kiddie games, I see."


    Abner shot back, "Better than being greasy like you old folks."


    Youth was an asset, not a reason for ridicule.


    Mark felt a lump in his throat, probably aggravated by the couple of beers he had drunk.


    "You think she''ll care about you for long? Give it six months and she''ll probably be marrying me. Then you can crawl back to wherever you came from."


    "Really? Shirley hasn''t mentioned you oncetely. Especially since she pped youst time. Weren''t you two over for good then?"


    Abner emphasized the p, stripping Mark of his dignity.


    Mark couldn''t understand why he always lost his cool around Abner. Yearster, he would realize, from the moment he saw him, he knew Abner would be his strongest rival, the one who could take away what he cherished the most.


    "Abner, who do you think you are?"


    "Right now, I''m the one Shirley cares about the most. Today''s my 17th birthday, and she''sing back from overseas just for me. I have to go pick her up soon."


    The ssmates sitting near Abner only then realized he wasn''t one to back down from a fight, especially if it involved Shirley.


    Mark held back his anger, a malicious glint shing briefly in his eyes.


    He helped his business partner up, offering a few grand words to calm the situation and prevent further embarrassment.


    As he and his partner left, Mark''s gaze lingered on Abner, who was still lounging on the sofa. Within minutes, two girls approached Abner, trying to strike up a conversation. Those aloof, charismatic types like Abner were always popr in ces like bars.


    Mark returned to his seat, but his mind was restless. His thoughts were consumed with Abner''s defiant look.


    Taking a deep breath, he gripped his drink tighter. Just then, Jessica called him, her voice soft and weak, asking when he would be done socializing.


    After breaking up with Shirley,


    Jessica had stopped pretending and


    went on the offensive. But the charm of ambiguity was always at its peak during the ambiguous stage. Once things became clear, the excitement plummeted.


    Now, Jessica had lost all her charm in his eyes, and he even began to see through her schemes.


    Irritated, he adjusted his necktie. Dressing up in a suit was a must for socializing, but for some reason, he suddenly remembered Abner in his high school uniform.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    It seemed the younger the y, the richer and more depraved the circle became. Whether it was college girls or high schoolers, wealth seemed to sink to new lows.


    He couldn''t help but question if


    human nature was inherently vile, feeling a thrill seeing those high-school girls cuddled up by businessmen. Simrly, he


    understood why women were attracted to men in that phase of life.


    Abner, in essence, was like walking pheromones. And those looks that should have been directed at Mark were now being stolen by Abner, especially since Shirley had cut off contact.