"Thank you to all the esteemed guests and old friends who have traveled all the way to Lone Star City to attend this fundraising gala. I am Matthew, the event organizer. Since moving here, I fear you may have forgotten just how worn-out I look..."

Flashes from camera lights filled the air.

“Damn it, Matt! You still look ridiculously amazing!” someone yelled from the audience, followed by continuous female laughter.

“Alright, alright! This isn’t New York, gentlemen. We need to maintain some decorum.” Matthew waved his hand with practiced ease, clearly familiar with many of the people in the audience.

“I’d like to share a little story, a miracle about how Matthew Grimm’s life was once again saved. Although I’d love to introduce my savior to you all, unfortunately, he’s far too shy. But I can give you a little hint—he’s here with us tonight. I’m sure some of you will be able to recognize him, so I won’t say much more.”

As soon as the golden-eyed man finished speaking, many eyes immediately turned toward Nemo.

Nemo couldn’t help but cross his arms and subtly extend his right hand under his suit jacket to give the speaker the finger.

“He, like me, is a new resident of this city. Because my hero is so humble and low-key, I can only express my gratitude by helping those around him. But in doing so, I discovered something surprising…” Matthew paused, scanning the crowd. Everyone instinctively held their breath.

“Just one health check result from a Chinese restaurant employee revealed to me America’s Achilles’ heel. While the Second Amendment may protect personal life and property, it cannot protect our health or that of our loved ones. To avoid revealing patient privacy, I’ll put it this way—each link in the chain was hit.” The billionaire clenched his fist and shook his head.

“I will settle down in Lone Star City, and till my death, I’ll take pride in this city. It is younger than many places in America and full of untapped potential. It gathers diverse races and cultures, and people are doing their best to stand firm in this perilous era. Westlake Restaurant is the best example of this. Its workers are honest, hardworking, kind, and generous—all brave immigrants, just like our ancestors and parents. I hope that all Americans will help make Lone Star City a home and a place of belonging for more people, where its citizens, regardless of class or profession, will never suffer from want…”

The speech ended with thunderous applause, and some people even had tears in their eyes.

Standing next to Tolya, an elderly lady with a hooked nose was crying uncontrollably, murmuring about missing her hometown. Tolya noticed she was speaking in Russian, and instinctively bent down to comfort her in her native language. He handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears, but the old lady grabbed his wrist in excitement and began a rapid-fire series of blurry questions in Russian, asking about Tolya’s background, why he came to America, and what illness was found during his health check, among other things.

Tolya helplessly looked at Nemo. The old lady’s son tried to approach and communicate with his mother in English, but was hit in the shin by her cane, showing a stubborn resolve to not let go of Tolya.

Nemo said, “It’s rare to meet a fellow countryman like this. You should spend some time talking to this lady; I’ll be fine on my own. Besides, Matthew is introducing his new girlfriend to me, and she’s Taiwanese too.”

With Nemo's permission, the middle-aged businessman, who couldn’t speak Russian, eagerly asked Tolya to chat with his mother about their homeland… He made a subtle hint that he would be donating a very large check to Lone Star City, hoping Tolya would ease the old lady’s homesickness. The old lady continued to whack her son’s feet with her cane, signaling for him to stay out of sight.

Tolya reluctantly helped the old lady to a nearby table and sat down to chat with her.

Nemo, who now looked like a well-dressed young man rather than his usual curly-haired self, took a glass of champagne and stood at the edge of the crowd, blending in as wallflower.

He waved off a few curious guests with a restaurant business card—this tactic was quite effective—and soon, those eager to chat with him gave up when they found that there wasn’t much more to his story than what had already been reported in the news. They quickly shifted their attention back to their original target: Matthew Grimm.

Sipping his champagne, Nemo watched as Matthew was like a turkey during WoW's Harvest Festival, being chased by everyone with rifles. Nemo thought him would be lucky if his feathers didn't get plucked tonight.

Suddenly, someone tapped Nemo on the shoulder. He turned around and had to look up. He realized, up close, that the woman standing before him was nearly as tall as Matthew. No wonder she was one of the most beloved Taiwanese supermodels by major fashion houses this year. Standing at 182 cm tall, and with 3-inch heels, she walked with the grace of a cat, so quiet that Nemo didn’t even notice she had approached him from behind.

Her cat-like poise was almost supernatural.

“Hello, it seems that man won't be able to introduce us for now. My name is An Qi, from Nantou, Taiwan, but everyone here calls me Angel or Angie.” Her Taiwanese accent was unmistakable.

“Nemo Captain.”

The two Taiwanese also exchanged handshakes.

“I’ve seen your introduction online as Angel, but I didn’t expect your real name to be An Qi. I thought Matthew was just calling you his angel.”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The supermodel didn’t ask about his Chinese name, avoiding any awkward questions that could lead to more uncomfortable topics. Nemo finally appreciated Matthew’s preemptive move in warning his girlfriend about him—it had proven useful.

“Did I just startle you?” Angie asked Jokingly.

“Your height is truly enviable.”

“I used to hear Taiwanese men say that, and it never sounded like a compliment. But when you say it, it feels different.”

Perhaps it was the unmasked admiration in Nemo’s gaze, but Angie’s usually proud features softened a little.

“I think excellence is excellence. Your achievements are admirable, though it sounds a bit embarrassing to say it out loud. As a fellow Taiwanese, I feel very proud that someone from our country can be this tall and beautiful.” Nemo had already done his homework on Angie online. The media had widely reported various details about Matthew’s new girlfriend.

“I’m honored. Can I call you Nemo?”

“Of course, please do.”

“I usually wouldn’t ask someone directly about this, but in these extraordinary times, I don’t often meet fellow countrymen I want to interact with. I’d rather not dislike you right after meeting, so may I ask about your political stance? What color are you? Don’t tell me you’re neutral and rational; those people often like to criticize specific political parties. I don’t like double standards or people without strong beliefs.”

Angie’s tone carried the weight of someone who would easily eliminate others if they didn’t meet her standards.

“I just forgot some personal details, but my values haven’t changed. I’m a supporter of an independent nation founded on legal principles. I don’t like Greater Taiwanism. The ideal name for the country would be the 'Republic of the Formosa Islands,' more fitting for the geographical characteristics. Taiwan is popular now, but Formosa has a rich historical presence. ”

While Angie was stunned, Nemo continued speaking:“Perhaps we could adopt a model similar to the United Kingdom, where the external translation is ‘Britain.’ I’m open to that. Men and women serve in the military to defend against foreign invaders. We’d need to rewrite the constitution with nationwide consensus. The national anthem should sound impressive, the flag should be simple but aesthetically designed, and I’d prefer the national flower to be the wild lily—native, beautiful, and resilient.” Nemo hadn’t mentioned China at all, and certainly not the Republic of China.

“But Taiwan is part of China now,” Angie said with a sarcastic smile, her long, intricately braided hair hanging down to her waist.

“That’s just ‘now.’ I hope to visit my hometown at the right time,” Nemo said meaningfully.

The supermodel stared at him for a full ten seconds before speaking slowly. “I need a moment to process what you just said.”

“No need to force it. Everyone has different inclinations. I’m just part of the minority,” Nemo said frankly. He knew that, even if Angie didn’t agree with his views, at least as a Taiwanese, she would likely feel more personally connected to the issue than most Americans.

Perhaps Nemo’s declaration of independence was too bold for Angie, so she abruptly shifted the topic.

“Your lips are chapped. You should apply some lip balm, especially in the spring and summer. I heard from Matt that you like to hike, but don’t you know this basic self-care?” She called Matthew by his nickname while scolding Nemo, as if they were all in the same circle.

“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind,” Nemo responded politely.

“Come on, you think lip balm makes guys look too feminine?”

“Not at all. I just get lazy after shaving and don’t want to bother with anything else.” Nemo said seriously. “Next time I’m at the supermarket, I’ll pick up a cheap but good lip balm. Thanks for the suggestion.”

“Buy it at the supermarket?” She looked at him like he’d just done something unforgivable in public.

“I thought supermarkets sell cosmetics?”

“Come here,” Angie said, pulling Nemo into a more secluded corner and taking out a crystal-clear lip balm.

“Lip balm can be transparent?” Nemo was once again introduced to a mysterious women's product.

Angie pretended to apply the balm, and Nemo immediately turned his head away. “I don’t share personal items. Also, it’s better to avoid misunderstandings.”

“Tch, you’re shorter than me, little cutie. No one would misunderstand,” Angie teased, her height almost matching Matthew’s. At the charity gala, she stood out among the crowd. “Don’t worry, it’s unopened. I don’t like the ones others give me, so I’ll give this to you. I have so many.”

Angie pulled out a large handful of lip balms, lipsticks, lip glosses, and eyebrow pencils from her bag to demonstrate how excessive her collection of cosmetics was. The supermodel’s hands were larger than most women’s, and she managed to retrieve a considerable amount—at least a dozen seasonal high-end brands, all displayed in front of Nemo. Each makeup and skincare item was exquisitely designed, so dreamy it could make any girl's heart break.

“Girls should pick their own makeup colors. Keeping shades they don’t like is just a waste, and having to look at them is annoying.” She shrugged.

Suddenly, Angie threw out a remark. “They all say I became famous because of political correctness. Since the U.S. couldn’t save Taiwan from being annexed by China, they had to give Taiwanese people some ‘compensation.’”

“That’s not true.”

“Little cutie, I don’t need comfort. But the truth is, that’s exactly what happened. The fashion industry is full of people pretending to be gay or left-wing environmentalists just to grab attention and climb the ladder. They’re all jealous of me.” Angie seized Nemo’s chin, and he didn’t resist.

Feeling the soft touch of the balm on his lips, Nemo could only think: what a perfect match—Matthew’s new girlfriend was just as eccentric as he was.

After finishing applying the balm, Angie slipped the unused crystal lip balm into Nemo’s suit pocket, the motion teasing and playful.

She winked at him and, with her graceful steps, returned to her celebrity circle to continue socializing.

Nemo noticed that Tolya was still caught up in the Russian grandmother situation. It seemed like he wouldn’t be able to move until after the event, but his Russian roommate was lively and engaging in conversation now, much better than the dead-eyed expression he’d had when he first entered. For now, Nemo judged that there was no need for rescue.

Matthew Grimm walked straight towards Nemo, his eyes slightly weary after being circulated around by the guests over and over. Finally, he remembered that he had a savior who could act as a shield.

"It seems like I don’t need to introduce you two anymore," Matthew said. " Angie got impatient waiting and took the initiative to approach you. Looks like you’re having a great conversation."

"Indeed."

"I’ve also closed a few deals," Matthew reported, sharing his progress.

"Congratulations. Being the world’s richest man is truly no small feat." Nemo spoke with genuine desire to leave the battlefield; even just standing there, he felt his energy depleting. Matthew must have an incredible HP bar to keep playing this game every few days.

" Angie tricked you," Matthew said, raising his champagne glass. Nemo saw his own bright red lips reflected in the glass.

"It’s color-changing lip balm that reacts to body temperature. Over time, the color will darken even more," Matthew pointed out.

"Got careless," Nemo sighed.

Matthew gazed at the slightly parted, hydrated red lips, his thoughts getting a bit tangled. He pulled out a handkerchief and offered it to Nemo.

"Better wipe it off!"

Unexpectedly, Nemo waved his hand dismissively. "If I don’t wipe it off, I get to make a new friend. Your choice in girlfriends isn’t bad. Besides, I just emphasized to Angie that men don't look effeminate when applying lip balm. It’s a matter of pride, at least I’d wait until after leaving the party to do it."

The golden-eyed man whistled.

"So, what do you do with the leftover lip balm?" Matthew asked.

"Well, it’s a high-end lip balm from a supermodel, a shame I can’t pass it on after using it, but I’ll keep it as a souvenir!" Nemo thought the whole thing was quite amusing.

"You really have a high tolerance for women," Matthew’s tone turned a bit sour.

Taiwanese women wouldn’t play tricks on a man they didn’t trust or have a certain rapport with. Nemo was clear on this; since Angie took the initiative to be friendly, he naturally reciprocated.

"That’s because she’s your girlfriend and my fellow countrywoman. Is it so hard to show some respect?" Nemo said with a smirk.

" Why are you willing to respect my girlfriend but not me?"

"Why should I show you respect?" Nemo looked at him with confusion.

"Of course, because..." Matthew stammered, "We’ve known each other longer. I’ve treated you better. You’re being biased! Gender discrimination!"

" Right, but you've known me long enough to understand how I am," Nemo said with a chuckle.

While Matthew was left speechless, Nemo grabbed another glass of champagne from the server’s tray. He had barely drunk a third of his last glass before Angie interrupted him, and he had placed it on the table and forgotten to take it.

"Hello, we were just asking Angie what she was doing in the corner with a stranger," one of the three glamorous women said, smiling at Nemo, though their eyes kept darting toward the tall, handsome world’s richest man. " Angie told us she was applying lip balm to Matthew’s hero. We couldn’t resist coming over to see, and it does look much better."

Nemo’s gaze darkened slightly as he lowered his eyes to sip the champagne, deliberately avoiding the conversation. Let Matthew Grimm deal with the Harpies; after all, it was his charm that had drawn them in.

Just as Matthew was about to say something, a scream echoed from the hallway, followed by gunshots ringing out in rapid succession, along with an increasingly ominous buzzing sound growing closer.