Chapter 2Bound to the Green Tea Upgrade System

Seeing the newcomer, Arthur instantly reined in his fiery temper.

“Vivian, what are you doing here?”

Vivian Caldwell, heels clicking, approached.

“If I hadn’t come, how would I have known you’re so domineering out here?”

“I wasn’t!”

Arthur immediately retorted.

“She’s staging it all herself!”

Before he could finish, I had already flung myself into Vivian’s arms, sobbing softly.

“Sister, it’s true, I just tripped and fell. It’s not Mr. Caldwell’s fault. He… he didn’t bully me.”

Vivian looked down at me. My eyes and nose were red, tears glistening but not yet falling, and though clearly scared, I was still defending Arthur. A soft spot in her heart gently melted.

【Target Vivian Caldwell affinity score: 30.】

“Don’t be afraid.” Vivian patted my hand, then turned to Arthur and said coldly,

“Apologize.”

Arthur was absolutely furious. He reached out to grab me.

“You manipulative fraud, get out of my sister’s arms!”

“You dare bully someone right in front of me?” Vivian shielded me, her face hardening.

I quickly stepped between them.

“Sister, please don’t argue with Mr. Caldwell because of me. It’s okay if I suffer a little.”

【Target affinity score: 40.】

Vivian’s gaze lingered on my face. The more she looked, the more she found this girl well-behaved and sensible, utterly unlike her rogue younger brother.

Just then, Audrey Windsor, who had been ignored, finally spoke, carrying an air of holier-than-thou arrogance.

“Ms. Caldwell, you’ve come in and immediately taken sides, jumping to conclusions without understanding the full situation.”

“No wonder Arthur always says he doesn’t like you as a sister.”

Vivian’s brow furrowed abruptly.

Seeing that she seemed about to press further, I quickly interjected:

“That’s not true! Sister is clearly so kind, how can you try to drive a wedge between her and Mr. Caldwell?”

Vivian’s heart suddenly warmed.

She looked back at Audrey, her gaze now scrutinizing.

“Who are you? Our Caldwell family matters are none of your business to dictate.”

Arthur quickly stepped forward.

“Vivian, Audrey is my girlfriend. While she might speak her mind, she’s very innocent, unlike some gold-diggers full of schemes.”

He pointedly glanced at me.

“Don’t let her trick you.”

Vivian scoffed.

Her gaze critically swept over Audrey. Dressed in the season’s latest limited edition, carrying a bag that could equal an average person’s annual salary – all likely gifts from her foolish brother. And she had the nerve to call someone else a gold-digger?

“This girlfriend you’ve brought back,” Vivian said, her voice laced with sarcasm,

“doesn’t seem like a simple character either.”

Audrey’s face instantly went ashen, as if she had suffered a profound humiliation.

“I knew it! You rich people all look down on me!”

With that, she turned and ran.

“Audrey!”

Arthur anxiously chased after her, casting a furious glare at Vivian before he left.

“Vivian, this is all your doing!”

Vivian watched her brother’s unhesitating retreat, a flicker of melancholy in her eyes.

“This brother of mine, he’s really becoming less and less close to me.”

I stood quietly beside her.

I’d long heard that Vivian Caldwell possessed exceptional abilities, and there was an intention to groom her as the family’s successor.

My voice was soft.

“Mr. Caldwell is still young and foolish. He doesn’t see how much effort Sister has poured into this family, and into him.”

“The fact that Sister is still willing to guide and teach him now already makes her the best sister in the world.”

I lifted my face, revealing undisguised admiration.

“If I had such a wonderful sister, I’d wake up smiling every day. I’d constantly be by Sister’s side. If Sister told me to go east, I’d never even glance west.”

Vivian paused, then laughed aloud, much of her earlier irritation dissipating.

Her gaze towards me visibly softened.

“You can stay with me at the gala today. It’ll save you from being bullied by that rascal again.”

I nodded obediently, following close by Vivian’s side, my affinity score rising to 70.

Just as I was about to press my advantage, the system alert chimed urgently again.

【Attention, target two and target three have appeared.】

I immediately looked up.

Vivian by my side had already quickened her pace, respectfully greeting the distinguished middle-aged couple ahead.

“Dad, Mom, you’re here.”