The Story of Spring Queen City

Ryan hesitated for a moment, then finally said what was on his mind. "That's not actually what I wanted to ask!"

Evelyn took a deep breath and steadied herself. She gave him a sultry look. "Then why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I wanted to!" Ryan said honestly. "But you were so caught up in it, I didn't want to interrupt such a wonderful performance!"

So I've been talking my head off for nothing?

Evelyn understood Ryan less and less. She had thought all her efforts had greatly improved her chances of winning him over, but he refused to play by the rules.

With that one remark, Ryan had completely thrown her off her rhythm.

A thought surfaced in her mind: Could he be a master negotiator too?

"Then what do you want to know?" Evelyn asked.

"How should I put it? I want to understand how things work here."

"For example, why aren't the tea girls discriminated against here? And why did they all come forward to speak up for you?"

Evelyn visibly froze. Once again, Ryan had caught her off guard.

"Why do you want to know that? Normally, shouldn't you be focused on things that affect your own interests? I'm genuinely curious," Evelyn said.

"Maybe because I'm not normal," Ryan said with a smile.

Evelyn was right. Most people would probably focus on money or something else they stood to gain.

But Ryan hadn't lied to her. Compared with others in the Pirate World, he really was different. He had little need for money, power, or beautiful women—not because he was especially noble or pure, but because, at his current level, he could have any of those things whenever he wanted.

People rarely yearned for things they already had, or could reach out and take.

That was