Chapter 17 An Unexpected Encounter

• As soon as Celeste left, Dylan's curiosity got the better of him, and he turned to Summer. "Jenny, can I ask you something? How did you meet Mr. Night? Are you two close?"
• He had wanted to ask this question for a while but hesitated. He was afraid she might misinterpret his intentions. However, seeing that her innocent nature was different from her mother's, he decided to go for it.
• To his relief, she answered without suspicion, "I don't really know Mr. Night. I ran into him on my way back during a shipwreck. He was injured, so I treated his wounds with some herbs I found. Later, his men came and gave me a ride back."
• Summer left out the part about how she had saved Frederick's life. She only mentioned treating his wounds.
• Dylan felt a mix of disappointment and happiness upon hearing that. He was disappointed that Summer wasn't romantically involved with Frederick, but he was thrilled that she had assisted him. This meant Frederick now owed their family a favor, something Dylan valued more than the rarest gem.
• "Good job! That's my Jenny!" Dylan grinned proudly at Summer as if looking at the most precious treasure in the world.
• She just smiled innocently and focused on her meal.
• The following day, the four of them departed from Nearon for Southvale.
• Summer and Janice sat together in the backseat.
• Janice wore the Royal Coffee Academy uniform. Her flawless makeup highlighted her as the epitome of a noble lady.
• In contrast, Celeste had prepared casual clothes for Summer, who wore minimal makeup with her hair tied back in a simple bun. She resembled a high school student.
• Yet, Summer's striking features captivated everyone's attention. She exuded a natural, pure beauty akin to a blooming lily. She looked so beautiful that it begged admiration from afar rather than possession up close.
• True beauty didn't make men want to possess her. Instead, it made them question if they were worthy.
• Janice, feeling flawless in her six-figure makeup, couldn't shake the feeling of being outshone by Summer's natural beauty. Frustrated, she clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
• "Ahem." Celeste, sitting in the front passenger seat, cleared her throat.
• Janice snapped out of her annoyance as if awakening from a trance. What good was Summer's beauty anyway? She was merely a decorative vase, whereas Janice saw herself as a woman of substance—someone people wanted to marry, not just admire.
• The journey to Southvale required a flight, and Dylan had booked economy-class tickets.
• As per the rules, first-class passengers boarded first. Summer walked behind him and headed toward the gate.
• Suddenly, he stopped and looked in one direction with surprise. "Mr. Night?"
• Janice was also surprised to see Frederick at the airport. She tried to catch his attention by coughing demurely.
• Frederick, engrossed in a conversation with his assistant, looked up. He was annoyed by the interruption. Seeing Dylan and Janice, his expression was one of irritation and confusion, as if to ask, "Who are you?"
• Dylan nervously rubbed his nose when he noticed Frederick didn't seem to recognize him.
• On the contrary, Janice was even more frustrated. How many times had this happened? Frederick still didn't remember her. Was his memory that bad?
• In truth, Frederick had a sharp memory, but he only remembered things and people that mattered. He didn't bother with the rest.
• Summer also spotted Frederick but had no interest in greeting him. Their meeting was a mere coincidence, so she saw no reason to disturb him.
• Noticing Summer's indifference, Dylan felt compelled to introduce himself. "I'm Dylan Steiner. Mr. Night, you attended my daughter's birthday party a few days ago."
• Frederick pondered for a moment. He had attended four birthday parties that week and still couldn't match the face with the event.
• Seeing his confusion, Dylan anxiously pushed Janice aside and pulled Summer forward. "Mr. Night, do you remember my daughter?"
• Previously obscured by Celeste, Summer now came into Frederick's view. Her simple student look set her apart from her family's opulence, as if she belonged to a different world.
• Frederick raised an eyebrow to gauge her reaction. "I'm sorry. My memory fails me. Miss, who are you?"
• Summer was surprised that he didn't remember her. Then, she quickly regained her composure. "It's normal for someone as important as Mr. Night to forget me. We won't bother you. Dad, let's go."
• With that, Dylan, unable to linger, moodily headed to the departure gate. He was annoyed at Summer's failure to seize the opportunity, so he picked up his pace.
• Celeste and Janice, seeing Dylan's irritation, secretly rejoiced. They hoped Dylan wouldn't cherish Summer as much anymore.
• Celeste followed Dylan, while Janice, feeling smug, couldn't resist taunting Summer as they walked, "Oh, Summer. I thought you and Mr. Night were close, but he doesn't even remember you. Don't be sad. As you've said, it's typical for someone as important as him to forget someone from the countryside."