After giving the bike thief a well-deserved beating, John stared at the now-soiled seat of his beloved bicycle, his expression darkening.
He fell into deep thought for a moment.
Then, gritting his teeth, he made a firm decision:
The cushion had to go. He was replacing it with a new one—and buying a better lock while he was at it.
At the bike repair shop, John explained what he needed and waited outside while the repairs were done.
Just then, a neatly dressed young man in a suit approached and asked hesitantly, "Excuse me… Are you John?"
John turned and gave the man a puzzled look. "Yeah, I'm John. And you are?"
"Oh, it is you!" The man broke into a grin. "I'm Lester. Don't you remember me? We lived at the same welfare center when we were kids."
Lester?
John's mind clicked.
Yes—Lester. Same age as Queenie. They used to play together back at the welfare center.
"I visited the old director a few days ago," Lester continued. "He told me you survived that fire. When I saw you just now, you looked a little familiar, so I thought I'd ask. I can't believe it's really you."
The fire back then had devastated the welfare center. Most people had believed John had died in it. Even among the older kids, the memory of that loss lingered.
John smiled faintly. "I was lucky. Someone saved me."
The two chatted for a while, sharing updates after so many years apart. When John asked what Lester was doing now, his friend let out a bitter chuckle.
"I'm a live-in son-in-law with the Branton family in Rochester."
John blinked. "A live-in son-in-law?"
"Yeah, the Brantons are rich. They said marrying me into the family would bring them good fortune. I was young and desperate at the time, so I agreed."
John's eyes lit up, his expression changing in an instant.
A live-in son-in-law?
To bring good luck?
There was no mistaking it—he was one of those urban novel protagonists!
John couldn't help but say, "You don't even know it, Lester… You're a hidden big shot in the making. You're the hero of a whole genre!"
Lester looked completely confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, I read it in a… novel. A friend likes that kind of thing."
"What?"
"Never mind," John said quickly. "Forget I said anything."
Lester laughed and waved it off. "It's fine. But I don't think I'm going to be some big shot. You don't understand how tough it is being a live-in son-in-law. I can't do anything without my wife's approval... It's miserable."
John looked at him sympathetically. Maybe those novels were lying after all.
They exchanged contact information, and Lester smiled warmly. "Let's catch up properly soon. I'll treat you to dinner. We haven't seen each other in years."
"Sounds good," John nodded, then rode off on his newly repaired bike.
Watching John disappear into the distance, Lester sighed.
Poor guy… still riding a bike. My position might not be great, but at least I live in a mansion and drive a luxury car. Guess I can't complain.
But then he frowned slightly.
Didn't John have a sworn sister named Queenie?
Wasn't she setting up a branch office in the provincial capital?
Why would she let him ride a bike if they were still close?
Lester shook his head.
Maybe they were just childhood friends. People grow apart. It's normal.
Meanwhile, in the Yeats family's house…
Queenie was glowing with joy. She had just heard everything John had done for her at the charity auction from Yelena.
Her beautiful face sparkled with happiness.
"So this was the surprise you planned for me, John?" she whispered with a bright smile. "I love it…"
She couldn't stop smiling.
So when Marcia and Nick walked through the door, they were greeted by Queenie's unmistakable expression of pride.
See? her eyes seemed to say. This is what John can do. He's far more capable than you ever imagined.
Marcia didn't say a word. She simply walked to her room and closed the door, sulking.
Nick, however, lingered and sat down with a conflicted look on his face. "Queenie… did you already know that John was the Master of Clouds?"
"Yes," Queenie said, matter-of-fact.
Nick looked stunned. "Then… why didn't you tell us?"
Queenie stared back at him. "Did you ever give me the chance?"
Nick opened his mouth… then closed it again, silent.
She was right.
They never gave her a chance to explain anything. From the beginning, Marcia had shown only disgust and disdain whenever John's name came up. There was no room for explanations—no room for truth.
If it hadn't been for today's charity auction, even if Queenie had told them who John was, they never would've believed her.
Seeing the guilt in Nick's eyes, Queenie said proudly, "Let me tell you something else. My little John isn't just the Master of Clouds—he's also the teacher of the Master of Traditional Medicine."
Nick stared at her, dumbfounded. "You mean… that famous doctor in New York… is John?"
"Yes," Queenie said with a nod.
Nick was speechless.
How is that possible?
Everything they thought they knew… had been wrong from the very beginning.
Back when they found Queenie, joy had overwhelmed them. They didn't think to investigate the people around her.
But if they had just looked a little closer, paid even a shred of attention—they would have discovered the truth.
The man they dismissed as a poor, unworthy boy…
Was a genius, a master, and a legend in the making.