On an autumn night, the city's lights flickered, illuminating the exterior walls of a luxurious club. This renowned club catered to the entertainment needs of wealthy heirs and business elites. Tonight, Wayne's friends had invited him for a small gathering here. The attendees included his three close friends—John, Michael, and Thomas—as well as their childhood friend, Georgia.
The club's interior was lavishly decorated, buzzing with a vibrant and opulent atmosphere. Wayne entered the private room to find his friends John and Michael already waiting, with an array of expensive drinks and snacks laid out on the table. Georgia sat between them, her radiant smile making her look particularly charming. Thomas, seated next to Georgia, had a hint of hidden emotions in his eyes.
Thomas had always secretly loved Georgia, offering her unwavering care and support. However, Georgia's heart was set on Wayne, and she deemed Thomas unworthy of her. She enjoyed Thomas's pursuit but never took him seriously.
"Wayne, finally you're here!" John stood up to greet him. "What have you been busy with lately? You seem more mysterious than usual."
Wayne smiled, shook John's hand, and sat on the sofa. "Nothing special, just been busy with work."
Michael handed Wayne a drink, teasing, "Busy with work or busy chasing girls?"
Wayne was momentarily taken aback, then shook his head with a smile. "What are you guys talking about?"
John chuckled and continued, "We've heard you've been particularly attentive to a female college student recently. Is that true?"
Georgia's attention was piqued by this, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, but she quickly regained her composure and interjected, "Wayne, what are they talking about? I don't understand."
Michael laughed heartily and said mysteriously, "We heard Wayne has been especially caring towards a poor college girl at the company, even taking her to an amusement park. Unbelievable, right?"
At this point, Thomas, noticing Georgia's hostility towards Hailey, sought to gain her favor by disdainfully remarking, "Wayne, you can't be serious about that Hailey, can you? She's just a poor student with no background."
Wayne's expression gradually turned serious. He disliked hearing his friends speak so condescendingly about Hailey. Putting down his drink, he coldly said, "Don't talk about Hailey like that. She is a talented and hardworking girl, and my respect and admiration for her don't need your approval."
Georgia feigned a helpless smile, "Wayne, I'm just worried you might get deceived. You know, girls like her might approach you for money and status."
Anger flashed in Wayne's eyes, but he controlled his emotions and replied coldly, "I trust my judgment. Hailey is not that kind of person."
To support Georgia, Thomas sarcastically added, "Wayne, you believe in her so much, just don't regret it when you're left with nothing."
Wayne's patience reached its limit. He stood up, sternly looking at Thomas and the others. "I don't want to hear any more degrading remarks about Hailey. If you're my friends, you should respect my choices."
John and Michael, realizing the tension, quickly tried to diffuse the situation. "Wayne, we were just joking. Don't get angry."
Although Georgia outwardly agreed, her dislike for Hailey remained unchanged. Thomas's infatuation with Georgia led him to support her decisions, even if it meant belittling Hailey.
The gathering continued in an awkward atmosphere, with Wayne remaining sullen, drinking silently. Although he knew his friends' remarks were baseless, he felt conflicted. His feelings for Hailey were growing stronger, and he wanted to protect her. However, he was uncertain whether his family would accept someone with Hailey's background and worried that being with him might cause her undue pain.
A few days later, the company hosted a major business conference, attracting elites from various industries. Wayne and Hailey both attended the event. During the conference, Wayne noticed Georgia and Thomas in attendance, seemingly plotting something.
After the conference, Wayne found an opportunity to speak privately with Hailey. "Hailey, I need to tell you something. Recently, some people have had biased and misunderstood views about you. I hope you can stand firm and not let them affect you."
Hailey was momentarily stunned but then nodded. "Thank you, Wayne. I will. I know some people don't like me, but I'll prove my worth through my efforts."
Wayne smiled with relief. "I'm glad you think that way. No matter what happens, I'll stand by you."
Just then, Georgia and Thomas approached, pretending to unintentionally interrupt their conversation. "Wayne, Hailey, what are you two talking about? You look happy," Georgia said with a smile.
Wayne glanced at them coldly. "We were discussing work."
Georgia smiled, feigning concern. "Hailey, work must be stressful. Let me know if you need any help."
Hailey politely smiled back. "Thank you, Georgia. I'll do my best."
Thomas sarcastically added, "Hailey, you really should work hard. It's not easy to stay here."
Hailey sensed the hostility in his words but chose to ignore it, maintaining her composure and politeness. She nodded slightly and walked away.
Watching Hailey leave, Georgia felt a surge of jealousy. She couldn't understand why Wayne favored Hailey, an ordinary student, over her. She let out a heavy sigh and turned to leave.