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"Interesting, this is the first time someone’s rented the place out and asked me to leave," Noland said as Sherman draped a coat over his shoulders.

The man behind Sherman, who was the park’s manager, felt a layer of sweat bead on his forehead, despite the cool autumn breeze. As the park’s manager, he wasn’t really aware of Noland’s exact identity. All he knew was that his superior’s superior’s superior had repeatedly emphasized that he must treat this man with the utmost respect. If not, he’d be out of a job.

When he received the news that morning, he had prepared for the evacuation of visitors. However, Sherman, Noland’s assistant, assured him that they didn’t need to do that—Noland only wanted to experience a normal day at the park, to be treated like an ordinary guest. No one expected that, tonight, someone would come to rent the park out for a private event.

The manager should have turned this person down right away, but while he was in the surveillance room, Sherman suggested, "Why not check with Mr. Harris first?"

For some reason, the manager had agreed. Now, he regretted it immensely, wishing he could somehow punish his past self for being so foolish. He had actually thought that perhaps making a good impression on this person might benefit him.

But now, in front of this imposing man, he just wanted to curl up like a groundhog and dig a hole to hide in.

However, Noland’s gaze had already locked onto him, and the park manager could only force himself to approach.

"Well, half an hour ago, Mr. Bai Yongyan called and offered two million yuan to rent out the park after the fireworks show tonight," the manager explained.

This news had nothing to do with Jin Shiya, but the moment she heard the name, she was stunned.

Bai Yongyan was the person she had been secretly in love with for many years, her childhood friend—the one she had cherished in her heart for more than a decade.

Completely stunned, Jin Shiya didn't notice the subtle shift in Noland's demeanor. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her reaction, the mix of amusement and bitterness evident in his gaze. Sherman, who had been closely watching his boss, was surprised by the complexity in Noland’s expression.

Noland spoke, his voice calm and as usual, unaffected: "This is interesting. I’ll offer five million and tell him he can't rent the place tonight. But I don’t intend to rent it. Just announce to the visitors that the park will be staying open later tonight."

Noland's boldness and arrogance were things Sherman knew very well, but what really caught his attention was that Noland was doing this without any apparent personal gain. Noland had never done anything without a purpose. He wasn’t the kind of person to do favors for women, or even his own mother, let alone compete with another man like this.

And yet, here Noland was, spending five million just to prevent someone from renting the park for a private event.

Honestly, this wasn’t typical of Noland. Normally, Noland would have been perfectly fine with someone else having the park to themselves, especially since he had already spent an entire day enjoying the park. But this situation was different. It was clear that he didn’t like this particular person.

Who was Bai Yongyan? Sherman knew the answer to that question. Noland and Bai Yongyan had never interacted before, and they’d never even met. The only person present who had any connection to Bai Yongyan was Jin Shiya.

"So, you are pursuing her?" Sherman silently mused as he adjusted his glasses, thinking he had finally figured it all out.