His gaze was scorching, his voice magnetic. Tiffany, initially eating quietly, dropped her fork with a clatter; her hand trembled. Their eyes met, silencing the surrounding noise. Her head buzzed with the echo of his melodious, prolonged words. He appeared serious, but she sensed a teasing undercurrent.

Tiffany's face flushed. She wanted to ignore him, but Richard's gaze, mischievous despite its coolness, held her captive. He clearly wasn't letting her off. She looked to her father and Thalia for guidance. Thalia reacted swiftly, patting Tiffany's hand. "You should call him by his name," she smiled. "Tiffany, why aren't you saying hello?"

Tiffany, bracing herself, said, "Hello, Richard."

"Good girl," Richard smiled, his mood seemingly improved. His inexplicable seniority rise clearly dissatisfied him; he preferred a junior status to Charlie's respectful address.

Charlie laughed, full of admiration. "As expected of a young genius! He's completely different from his rumored personality—humble and polite. Not bad."

The assistant's eyes twitched. So, Mr. Hampton bought this street to please his future father-in-law? Love me, love my dog.

After a while, Richard left, giving Eric an exquisitely wrapped, heavy gift box. Eric, sensing something, his eyes lit up, called out, "Richard!" Then, whispering, he added, "You might be my brother-in-law, right?"

"Clever," Richard chuckled, touching his head. "Will you help me then?"

"Yes!"

"Deal," Richard agreed. A few words forged an alliance between them, cemented by Tiffany.

Later, Tiffany whispered to Eric, "What were you two whispering about?"

Eric, with an indescribable expression, declared heroically, "A secret between men."

Tiffany, unable to resist, playfully scolded, "Rascal."

Richard's brief stay left many sighing, yet curiously questioning Charlie about their interaction. Charlie readily revealed the contract: he'd personally oversee the old alley's renovation.

Envy erupted. "You hid your strength well! Getting Mr. Hampton to sign personally—unbelievable!"

Even Charlie found it astonishing. "This is negligible for Richard. Why wouldn't he just send an assistant? It must be a coincidence we met at the wedding." He humbly accepted the praise. "You flatter me."

Laughter filled the air. Thalia shook her head, whispering, "You remind me of your younger self."

"Am I not young?" Charlie laughed.

The wedding banquet concluded. As Tiffany left, she felt a burning gaze. Turning, she saw Mia, watching from the villa's upper floor. Who cares about a clown? Tiffany laughed and entered the car.

At home, Eric excitedly opened the gift: a high-tech, custom-modified computer.

"It's real!" he cried. "A hacker's dream!"

Tiffany, touched, planned to thank Richard. Returning to her room, she found him lounging on her bed, reading her book.

"Used to jumping through windows already?" Tiffany teased.

Richard, without looking up, scolded gently, "How rude. Show some respect."

Tiffany, amused, retorted, "Thank you for the collaboration and the computer. So generous and charming!" (Who doesn't know how to suck up?)

The final two sentences, which are incomplete and appear to be from another section of the text entirely, have been omitted. The phrase "Search the FindNovel.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality" is also website promotion and has been removed.