How do people treat someone they believe is nothing?
A black car rolled quietly toward him and stopped. A man in a clean suit stepped out and approached him with visible respect.
“Chairman,” the man said.
Daniel did not look surprised. He only nodded.
“The begging period is complete,” the assistant said. “One full month, just as you instructed. One hundred people donated during that time.”
Daniel narrowed his eyes slightly. “Only one hundred?”
“Yes, chairman. Their identities have all been verified.”
Daniel tapped his fingers against his knee. “Pull out their full details—names, contacts, struggles, family background. I want to know who they are.”
“Yes, chairman.”
“Prepare the support plan,” Daniel added.
“How much should each receive, sir?”
“Enough to change their destiny,” Daniel said without hesitation. “Not token help. Real support.”
The assistant nodded.
Daniel’s voice grew heavier. “Good people deserve good rewards. Anyone who can show kindness to someone they think is useless has something rare inside them. Those are the people we invest in.”
The assistant nodded again, moved by the words.
“Also,” Daniel said, “the annual wealth summit has already started, and the guests are waiting for you.”
“You go first,” Daniel said. “I’ll come later.”
The assistant returned to the car.
Daniel stood slowly, carrying the little bowl. He had not gone far when a soft female voice called his name.
“Daniel.”
He turned.
A young woman stood a few steps away, holding her bag close to her side. Her eyes moved from his face to his clothes, confused and pained.
It was Felicia Ademi.
They had gone to the same school, though they were never close. Still, Daniel remembered her. She had always been quiet, graceful, and difficult to ignore.
“What are you doing here?” she asked softly. “Why are you like this?”
Daniel studied her for a moment.
“I was called to work at Dreamchasing Group,” Felicia continued. “They told me to report immediately. Then I saw you, and I couldn’t believe it. Daniel… why are you begging? People said you were doing business.”
Daniel met her eyes and answered simply, “My business failed.”
Felicia stared at him, then at the bowl. Pain entered her face in a way Daniel did not expect.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I wish you didn’t have to go through this.”