Chapter 38 Shows Respect for Treasures in Mystical Sect
Olivia recalled how Nicole had haughtily suggested that Olivia harbored feelings for Scott when she first left Parker Villa.
Now, even Scott claimed Olivia had feelings for him.
Olivia couldn't discern who was spreading these rumors.
Scott's surprised expression upon hearing Olivia's denial quickly morphed into a gentle smile, as though indulging in the spectacle of Olivia's supposed bad temper.
"It's common knowledge. I don't need confirmation from anyone. Your feelings for me are evident," Scott confidently asserted, flashing a smile at Olivia. "You were always by my side, following me everywhere, buying me breakfast, attending my games... Even if you never said it outright, I could tell," he continued.
Olivia sneered upon hearing this. "The reason I never admitted to liking you is simple: I don't. And as for why I followed you, trust me, you wouldn't want to know," she retorted sharply, denying his claims with conviction that momentarily gave Scott pause. Yet, he remained steadfast in his belief.
"Why deny what's obvious? Is it because of Nicole? Or perhaps your family's disapproval?" Scott persisted, incredulous. Olivia was taken aback. She had never encountered such blatant self-absorption, refusing to heed others' words. Eager to cease this fruitless exchange, Olivia entered her car.
Scott gritted his teeth, pondering how to sway Olivia.
Suddenly, the back window rolled down. Scott seized the opportunity, smiling confidently at Olivia. But she met his gaze with icy indifference. "Did you spend two days thinking about that excuse just now?"
Olivia thought to herself, 'Scott agreed to be with Nicole for my sake? Does he think he's in a cliché romance script?'
Scott showed a hint of subtle embarrassment. He wanted to explain, but Olivia slowly raised the window and instructed the driver to start driving.
Watching the car drive away, Scott felt furious.
To him, there was no justification for Olivia's actions. He felt he had generously given her a chance, considering her apparent infatuation with him. In Scott's mind, Olivia should have eagerly seized the opportunity presented to her. Despite his current relationship with Nicole, Scott was willing to end it immediately if it meant reciprocating Olivia's feelings, considering Olivia’s current status.
However... Olivia rejected Scott.
Scott felt that Olivia had become snobbish upon returning to the Sinclair Villa.
Once the window closed, Olivia's focus shifted. The familiar ringtone on her phone brought a smile to her face. "Roy, let's postpone returning to Sinclair Villa. Take me somewhere else," she instructed, her anticipation evident.
Roy, her driver and protector, complied, navigating towards a suburban development park per Olivia's directions. Though desolate, it provided a sanctuary away from prying eyes.
Concern etched Roy's face. "Ms. Sinclair, why do you come to such an isolated place? Allow me to accompany you," he urged, mindful of his duty to ensure her safety.
"It's fine. Wait for me outside," Olivia reassured him, heading towards an unassuming." Olivia paused and said, "I won't come out quickly. You can find a place to rest or go back."
Roy said in a serious tone, "I'll wait for you outside."
Olivia didn't continue persuading Roy and walked into the development park.
Passing by two desolate buildings, Olivia walked directly into an ordinary small building in the middle of the park.
Descending through a long corridor, Olivia reached a door and opened it, stepping into a scene that transformed everything. Inside the basement lay a lavishly decorated underground auction hall, capable of accommodating only up to three hundred people.
A waiter approached politely and asked, "Miss, please show your invitation letter."
Olivia was about to respond when a pleasant male voice came from another exit, "She is my guest."
The waiter became even more respectful upon seeing the man. "Mr. Fisher."
The man, known as Mr. Fisher, was both mysterious and charming. His beautiful eyes seemed to reveal the spark of flirtation he always had with others. He was dressed in an exquisite deep purple suit. His slightly long hair was casually tied back. He looked mysterious.
As he looked at Olivia, he waved her over with a slight gesture. His gaze was mysteriously affectionate.
Olivia was already accustomed to his personality and followed him to a room behind the auction house.
The room, adorned in a classic and exquisite style, mirrored the demeanor of the man overseeing the proceedings. A folding screen partitioned the space, delineating a reception area on one side and showcasing a variety of items slated for auction on the other. This setup diverged from the typical layout of antique auction houses.
Jeremy Fisher dealt in peculiar merchandise, offering anything one desired, provided he possessed it, in exchange. If the desired item wasn't in his possession, he had the knack for arranging trades to procure it.
"What about the item you mentioned?" Olivia couldn't wait to ask as soon as they entered the room.
Seeing her eagerness, Jeremy smiled and then turned to search through the items. He muttered as he searched, "This? No.
"This one isn't it either.
"Ah! So, the human bones are here...
"This box? Oh! I found it."
Jeremy walked out of the room with a long box in his hand. Looking at Olivia, he put on a sly smile and asked, "I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for. Take a look first."
Jeremy opened the box to reveal a piece of dried branch, its surface completely blackened by lightning.
This lightning-struck peach wood, a recognized magical artifact in the Mystical Sect, had the power to ward off evil.
Good quality lightning-struck peach wood was scarce, let alone the millennium-old wood that Olivia sought. Such a rare artifact, imbued with the power of a millennium of lightning strikes, would be highly valued by the families of the Mystical Sect.
It was a rare stroke of luck that Jeremy had managed to find it. The aura of lightning emanating from the branch confirmed its extraordinary nature.
"This is not the wood I'm looking for."
A crack formed in Jeremy's confident expression. He stared at Olivia. "Do you know how difficult it is to find a millennium-old lightning-struck wood? Having this is already quite good."
Pushing the box towards her, Jeremy said, "Take a closer look. After all, branches all look similar."
Olivia pushed the box back without a second glance. Olivia said in a serious tone, "I'm sure this is different from the one I wanted. And I said from the beginning that I'm not looking for this thing to get a magical artifact."
Olivia searched fervently for the person in possession of the magical artifact, which turned out to be none other than her teacher, Diana Hayes.
Diana had made a promise to remain by Olivia's side until she turned eighteen, but to Olivia's dismay, Diana vanished without a trace. Despite Olivia's relentless efforts to divine her whereabouts, Diana seemed to have vanished from existence.
Left with no other leads, Olivia resorted to scouring the magical artifacts that Diana once carried, hoping they would offer clues to her sudden disappearance.
Because of Olivia's determination, Jeremy immediately threw the box he had just handled carefully. "My efforts were in vain."
When Olivia heard the box fall heavily on the table, she felt a little heartache. Although it wasn't the one Olivia was looking for, it was still a precious thousand-year-old lightning-struck wood!
Olivia felt that Jeremy didn't respect this treasure that was cherished in the Mystical Sect!
Olivia hoped Jeremy would apologize to it.