Chapter 74: Chapter 74 The Girl Who Sold Stars
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Driving through the affluent area of Marietta, the black BMW 7 Series didn't stand out. Martin spotted the community center ahead and parked in a space at the roadside.
Lily on the passenger seat was gathering her things.
Martin asked, "Can you handle it?"
Lily nodded vigorously, without the usual bluster, "The client for our first deal, I chose him specially."
She pulled out a photo and placed it on the dashboard, pointing to the black boy in it, "His name is Cam, he went to the same public middle school as me. A year ago his parents overdosed, and he was adopted by a wealthy white family who sent him to a private school."
Martin couldn't help but say, "The kid's got some luck."
Lily revealed the truth behind it, "Because he has a very outstanding talent for football, maybe in a few years, he'll be in the NFL."
"Use the pitches I taught you, don't recite them mechanically, adapt them flexibly." Martin glanced at the black skin in the photo, and cautioned, "Don't say anything racist."
Lily nodded, "My brain hasn't shrunk."
Martin said, "Go on, I'll cover for you here. If there's any trouble, I'll be right over."
Lily picked up her handbag and approached the community center, standing in the shade of the trees to make a call. A not-so-dark-skinned big boy quickly ran out.
Cam asked, "Lily, what's up with the sudden call?"
"You helped me out before you transferred schools, I'm here to repay the favor." Lily stated righteously, "I know you've never given up on Amy from the cheerleading squad. Her birthday is in a week, and apparently, she's going to have a backyard party to celebrate."
Cam scratched his head, "I'm worried about what to get her for her birthday."
Lily picked up where he left off, "So, I'm here to help you." She pulled out the prepared items, placing them on the trunk of a nearby car, "Take a look at these."
Cam saw several beautifully packaged gift boxes.
"I don't like being in debt, better to settle it early." Lily opened a card-like package; it was a beautiful star chart with one star printed particularly bright, "This is a star from the Andromeda Galaxy's M31 cluster."
Seeing Cam's puzzled face, Lily decided to cut to the chase, "The Atlantic Astronomical Association is selling the naming rights to this star. It can be named after a person or anything else. Amy is a member of the school's astronomy club. Give her a star, and at that moment you'll harvest love..."
As people passed by, Lily coughed softly, showing Cam the certificate, ID, and documentation from the Atlantic Astronomical Association, "This is the Atlantic Astronomical Association, one of the largest astronomical organizations in the US! Cam, think about it, what can you give her that's more stylish and classy than a star? A diamond? Is it more timeless than a star?"
Cam was tempted, a star in the sky named after Amy would definitely move her.
Lily upped the ante, "I'm volunteering at the Atlantic Astronomical Association this summer. I came across this amazing opportunity and thought of you first. If you don't want it, I'll give it to Amy myself."
"I want it, I want it!" Cam quickly agreed, "How much?"
Lily replied, "Just give me 200 dollars; I'll make sure the association sends the certificate and star chart to you as soon as possible."
Cam's adoptive parents were good to him, but he only found a few tens of dollars after searching through his pockets. He said, "Wait for me, don't leave, make sure you wait for me to come back."
Lily nodded, "Go ahead."
Cam ran back to the community center and hurriedly borrowed some money to come back.
Lily took the cash, noted down the mailbox of Cam's adoptive parents, left the place, and got into the BMW.
Martin asked, "Did it work?"
Lily pulled the money from her pocket, slapping it onto her hand, "200 dollars."
Martin offhandedly remarked, "You're charging quite a high price."
He remembered that a guy had only spent a little over 100 RMB in the past.
"Hey, get it straight!" Lily emphasized, "What we sold him is a star! A star, you hear!"
Martin asked, "Next target?"
Lily flipped through her notebook and glanced at it, "Let's head to the Margaret Memorial Hall, the son of the caretaker there once took lessons with Harris, he's an astronomy enthusiast, I bet he'd be willing to pay for a star's naming rights."
She continued flipping, "Another one is the daughter of a Methodist Association member; Elena used to volunteer at the Methodist Association, she's mentioned it many times..."
Martin understood, "You're using all the resources you've gathered in the past."
Lily smiled, "No need to waste any more."
In the late afternoon, Andrew called Martin who happened to be in the west of the city, so he went to the Freedom Association to pick up the social investigator materials.
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Martin said to the following Lily, "Don't swear, and don't lose your temper."
Lily replied, "Okay."
Martin was still not reassured, "You'd better not talk at all."
When they arrived at the social worker's office, only Andrew was there.
Andrew handed Martin a document and suddenly became mysterious, lowering his voice, "I've prepared a gift for Kelly's assistant, Ella."
As he spoke, he produced a tote bag emblazoned with the Atlantic Astronomical Association logo, from which he took out beautifully packaged star charts, glass stars, certificates, and other items, "I've always wanted to give Ella a gift, and something ordinary just seemed too mundane, so I bought her a star—a star named after Ella."
Martin could not be mistaken, the items in his hand were exactly the same as the ones Lily had left in the car.
Lily's mouth opened, and Martin understood: Harris.
Andrew was quite pleased with himself, "Not bad, right? It's a professional certification from the Atlantic Astronomical Association!"
What could Martin say? He could only express admiration, "High-end, impressive, and classy."
After leaving, Lily made another sale, and Martin, checking the time, pulled her back to Clayton.
As the sun set, Martin drove past the north side of the community and noticed Scott standing at the roadside.
Scott saw Martin and Lily through the open window and waved at them repeatedly.
Lily said, "I don't want to talk to him."
Martin parked on the other side of the road, walked over, and asked, "What's up?"
Scott spat out his cigarette butt and crushed it with his foot, "A few weeks ago, you said Harris applied for college?"
Martin nodded, "He received an offer from Georgia University."
Scott didn't pursue the subject, glanced at Lily in the car, and warned, "You better keep it together, kid."
"Shut up," Martin pointed to his own chest, "I'm a man of principles and boundaries."
There was no point in an unpleasant conversation, so Martin went back to the car.
Scott flipped him off from across the way.
Martin responded with his own middle finger.
As the car turned the corner at the intersection, Martin looked back and saw a black minivan stop beside Scott, who bent down and got into the vehicle.
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That night, in an apartment in the midtown area, Sophia wore a tank top and shorts, revealing her muscular physique.
Across from her, Scott twisted his body, continuously stripping off and discarding his clothes.
Next to muscular Sophia, his slender and coquettish figure was like willow in the wind.
When Scott was down to just his shorts, Sophia beckoned with her finger, and Scott swayed closer to her.
Sophia rolled up several $20 bills and stuffed them into Scott's shorts.
"You old bunny should go to House of Beast and learn how to dance properly!" Sophia wiped her mouth, "Where's my drink? Bring it here."
Scott brought her the drink as she demanded, and Sophia drank it down just as boldly as her appearance suggested, in one gulp.
Sophia beckoned with her finger, "Come with me!"
A pleasing smile spread across Scott's face, "I've learned some new tricks, hoping to earn more tips."
Sophia, excited, sat back comfortably, "Let's see."
Who was Scott, after all? He got right on the floor, opened his mouth, and started barking, "Woof! Woof..."
Sophia took out more $20 bills and tossed them onto the floor, "You're only allowed to pick them up with your mouth!"
One played the fool, the other threw money; they were having a grand time.
Among the barks, Scott kept picking up the dollar bills with his mouth.
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