There Are Always Scoundrels Plotting Against Me

Early the next morning, after breakfast, Ryan took Annie to New York's World Trade Center.

As a famous New York landmark, the building housed nearly every high-end luxury brand in the world and was the ideal shopping destination.

"It really is spectacular!"

Standing in World Trade Plaza, Ryan looked up at the towering building disappearing into the clouds and could not help but marvel.

Standing beneath a skyscraper over four hundred meters tall, one could clearly feel just how small they were.

But he wondered whether the 9/11 attacks would happen in this world. His previous life's Marvel movies seemed to have mentioned Bin Laden several times, so that world-shaking event would probably happen here too.

Thinking of that, Ryan could not help looking at the building with a hint of sympathy.

"Ryan, what are you spacing out for?"

Annie, dressed in a Santa outfit today, pushed Ryan with dissatisfaction in her voice.

"Ha, sorry, sorry. I was just thinking of something unfortunate. Let's go in now."

Ryan rubbed Annie's head, took her little hand, and headed into the building.

The World Trade Center consisted of seven buildings, each with a different focus. However, the World Trade Mall could be entered from any one of them because it had been built underground and connected to all seven buildings.

Vacheron Constantin watch boutique.

Led by a pretty female attendant, Ryan and Annie looked around the store.

Honestly, after receiving a two-million-dollar inheritance, Ryan had always thought he was fairly wealthy.

But after seeing watches priced in the hundreds of thousands, even millions, he realized he was still poor.

"Ahem, miss, could you show me some that are a little cheaper? Ahem, just a little cheaper."

Thinking about how he had boldly declared before entering that he wanted to see the best watches, Ryan could not help blushing.

"Certainly, sir. This way, please."

The attendant showed no unusual reaction. She naturally turned and walked toward another display counter, and Ryan let out a quiet sigh of relief before following her.

"You're so embarrassing!"

Annie, whose little hand Ryan was holding, said softly with a red face.

"How was I supposed to know a watch could cost this much?!"

Ryan gritted out in the same low voice.

Damn it. In his previous life, he had heard that some luxury goods were outrageously expensive, but he had never paid much attention to that sort of information. Today, he had truly seen it for himself.

"I'm starting to regret coming with you." Annie sighed.

"Enough. I'm embarrassed enough already, so stop kicking me while I'm down, okay?"

Hearing Annie's words, the veins on Ryan's forehead throbbed. He took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.

"Fine..."

Just as Annie was about to say something else, she suddenly stopped walking and stared blankly at a mirror beside them.

"What's wrong?" Sensing something was off, Ryan lowered his head to look.

"Two people outside the store are watching us, and this is already the fourth time I've seen them."

Annie sounded uneasy. Ryan's expression hardened when he heard that. He glanced in the direction she was looking, squeezed her hand, and said, "Don't worry."

Outside the store, a middle-aged man looked greedily inside.

"Hey, looks like that guy really didn't lie to us. Anyone shopping in a place like this must be loaded."

"No matter how rich he is, it'll all become ours soon enough."

The other man beside him chuckled.

"True enough... Hey, that kid's about to come out!"

The middle-aged man, who had been about to agree, saw Ryan heading for the register and instantly perked up.

"They really are following me!"

After paying and walking out of the store with the bag in hand, Ryan noticed the two men slowly trailing behind him.

A worried thought rose in his heart. Ever since crossing into this world, he had never made enemies with anyone. By all rights, no one should have any reason to target him.

Were they after his money?

But that did not quite add up either. From what Annie had said, these two had clearly been following him for a while. Their target was very specific. They were definitely not low-level thugs casually looking for some rich person to extort.

"Ryan, what should we do? Should we call the police?"

Annie's palms were slick with sweat, and her heart pounded wildly.

Suddenly encountering something she had only ever seen on television made the little girl afraid, but it also gave her a strong sense of excitement.

"Call the police? Annie, you have to understand, they haven't made a move against us yet. If we call the police now, they can simply deny following us."

"Besides, calling the police would only solve this for the moment. I need to find out why they targeted me and who sent them. Otherwise, even if we solve it now, trouble will come knocking again later. And next time, we might not be as lucky as we were today and notice them in advance!"

A vicious glint flashed through Ryan's eyes as he spoke. He absolutely could not tolerate someone plotting against him behind his back. He had too many secrets, and they were too important. He had to drag out whoever was behind this and settle everything completely before crossing worlds again.

"What are you going to do, then?" Feeling Ryan's calmness, Annie calmed down as well and asked.

"No rush. I'll make a call first."

Ryan took a deep breath, pulled out his phone from his pocket, found someone in his contacts, and dialed the number.

"John, I need to ask you for a favor!"

Grrrrumble.

The two men following them had their stomachs growling.

It was already two in the afternoon. They had not eaten since morning and were starving. What made it even worse was that their target was feasting in a high-end restaurant while they could only watch from the side.

"I swear, when the time comes, I'll make that bastard pay!"

Feeling his empty stomach, one of them said viciously.

"Why don't we go eat too? We can call it a celebration in advance?"

The other man spoke hesitantly. Being hungry enough for his stomach to growl while watching someone else enjoy a feast was truly an awful feeling.

"Forget it!" The first man hesitated for a long time before ultimately rejecting the idea.

There was not much money in their wallets. He seriously doubted whether the two of them would be left behind to wash dishes after eating.

"That bastard!"

Feeling his stomach growl again, the man glared at Ryan and cursed under his breath.

"They've arrived already?... All right, thanks a lot this time, John!"

Inside the restaurant, Ryan slipped the disconnected phone into his pocket. Looking at Annie, who had eaten and drunk her fill beside him, he stood up.

"Everything's arranged?" Annie could not help asking, thinking of the faint sounds she had heard over the phone earlier.

"Of course. We're going to Uncle Mocha's house tonight. We can't let these two bastards hold us up."

Ryan glanced at the two men who thought they were hiding well, a cold gleam appearing in his eyes.