Jesse Johnson stood beside a flashy sports car, holding a muddy piece of paper in one hand and a broken photo frame in the other, looking fiercely animated, not to mention excited.
Standing in front of him was a young man of a similar age, handsome in appearance and dressed rather lightly. At this moment, he scratched his head, his eyes clear and bright, revealing a hint of innocence and cluelessness.
Nora Scott looked closely at what Jesse called the "God Z's TO autograph" paper, her eyebrow raised unconsciously.
Barlow's design and her handwriting were imitated almost perfectly, about eighty to ninety percent alike.
Nora had no intention to meddle in such trivial matters, but as she turned her head, she saw Butler Loxley walking towards them. She paused and followed along.
"What's happening here?"
Approaching closer, Butler Loxley asked with his usual gentle smile.
The young man with an innocent face brightened his eyes upon seeing him, then moved two steps towards him, saying helplessly, "Loxley, he's trying to scam me."
"What do you mean, scamming?!"
Jesse Johnson widened his eyes at that, almost jumping three feet high. Shaking the muddy TO autograph, he was emotionally charged, his eyes bloodshot, "Do you know how precious God Z's TO autograph is?! It's priceless! Priceless! It cannot be measured by price!"
The young man wasn't intimidated by his fierce demeanor, slowly scratching his chin, saying, "God Z never shows up, how could he possibly give people TO autographs..."
Before the young man finished speaking, Jesse exploded, pointing angrily, "You country bumpkin! Just because you don't know doesn't mean it doesn't exist! I have a friend who knows God Z and specially got the autograph for me!"
"Since that's the case, can't you ask your friend to get another autograph?" Butler Loxley mediated, his voice calm and steady, "Master Johnson, there's no need to be so agitated."
"You don't know a damn—"
The last word "shit" was swallowed back hard by Jesse when he realized the person he was about to admonish was Butler Loxley.
It was only at that moment that the angry Jesse realized both Butler Loxley and Nora were present, suppressing his rage.
"Loxley," Jesse called out reluctantly.
Butler Loxley smiled, but his eyes were somewhat chilly, "It seems Second Shaw is indeed angry."
Remembering the foul word he was about to utter, Jesse felt a chill in his heart, pausing for a moment and noticed the young man and Butler Loxley seemed to have a close relationship, raising his alarm.
"Who is he?" Jesse asked tremblingly.
"He's also a young friend of mine, named Jack Carter," Butler Loxley introduced with a smile.
Jesse: "…"
Young friend, young friend!
You shameless old fool, why do you have so many young friends?!
Darn, refusing to admit your age, pretending to be young, that's disrespectful to the elderly!
Butler Loxley chuckled and turned to Jack, "What's going on, tell us."
At these words, Jesse was unwilling, "Why should he tell it?"
"If Master Johnson can organize his words, you could tell it too."
"…"
Bullying him as he's too angry to speak coherently, huh?!
"Here's how it went..." Jack started to speak voluntarily.
Simply put, he also liked Zero, especially cherished the "Death Legend". Seeing how many Zero-related items were in Jesse's sports car, he was curious. Later, out of curiosity about God Z's TO autograph, he couldn't resist taking it out to examine it, and then Jesse rushed up to grab it.
In the end, the TO autograph preserved inside the photo frame smashed to the ground, the frame broke, and the paper got dirty.
After hearing the story, Butler Loxley pondered deeply, nodded, and advised Jack, "You were in the wrong here, you should apologize."
Without even a second of thought, Jack promptly bowed his head, sincerely offering Jesse a half-bow.
"I'm sorry."
Jesse: "…"
Are you wearing sandbags on your waist, that you bend over so easily?!
Apologizing so swiftly, aren't you suited for a career as a professional apologist on Taobao?!
"May I ask, what friend did Second Shaw get the autograph from?" Butler Loxley asked pleasantly, "If it's inconvenient for Master Johnson to ask, I can help."
This kind attitude startled Jesse, who had a psychological shadow.
He couldn't recover for a moment.
At this time, Lily Turner, who had just finished filming and heard the news, upon hearing Butler Loxley's words as she approached, her expression froze a little, and her steps quickened slightly.
"It's no big deal, just an autograph," Lily said graciously, and after she took a stand beside Jesse, lightly remarked, "I can ask someone to get another one from God Z for me."
Jesse was stunned, eyes gleaming, asked excitedly, "Really?"
His exuberant joy caused Lily's eyes to flash with a hint of guilt, but after a brief moment, she smiled and nodded, "Really."
Nora Scott, observing all the while, caught Lily's expression, smiled knowingly.
Lily indeed was painstaking to hold onto Jesse.
"Then," Butler Loxley hinted with amusement.
Lily commented, "It's no big deal, let's just leave it at that. Just be more careful in the future."
Jesse had no objection, nodded, "Since Lily said so, let's call it settled."
Jack Carter pouted.
With the matter resolved, Butler Loxley reminded Jesse to close his car window next time, then left with Jack, Nora walked a few steps, seeing them to the car.
Watching this, Lily narrowed her eyes slightly, seemingly casually asked Jesse, "Jesse, this older man, who is he?"
Still upset, Jesse answered carelessly, "Just a housekeeper for a relative's family."
Lowering her eyelids slightly, Lily breathed a small sigh of relief inwardly.
Merely a housekeeper, even if he gets along well with Nora, wouldn't stir up any trouble...
*
Jack drove, Butler Loxley sat in the passenger seat.
The car slowly left the secluded suburbs.
"Is this unintentional?"
With the car window slowly closing, Butler Loxley asked with a genial smile.
"Hehe..." Jack laughed directly at him, frankly admitted, "Master Pedro said, 'Find the thing Master Johnson values most and ruin it.'"
Hello, I know this comic well; I've been following it for three years. Seeing Jesse's sports car, I realized he was a hardcore God Z fan, and for fans of this level, a luxury sports car is less important than that TO autograph.
So, I took action.
Besides, God Z's TO autograph has too much fake component. Although the signature looks quite like it, the sense of freedom and boldness can't be imitated.
Anyway, it's counterfeit, even if it's damaged, doesn't make me feel distressed.
Taking out a flip phone slowly, Butler Loxley reminded in a slightly deep voice, "Next time be careful."
"Huh?"
Jack was startled, thought he did something wrong.
However, in his tension, Butler Loxley suddenly raised his head to look at him, brows smilingly advised, "Be smart, don't get caught."
"...Oh!"
*
The night fell, filming continued.
Lily Turner injured herself slightly filming a fight scene, Jesse Johnson stayed by her side the whole time, not having the mind to seek trouble with Nora anymore.
But—
Come dinner time, after being repeatedly wronged, Jesse inevitably thought of Nora's presence, thus couldn't resist stirring up trouble again.
"I'm here to collect my boxed meal."
Nora, not having received the notification, sought the crew for her boxed meal a step late.
The crew member glanced at him coldly, waved, and indifferently said, "You're late, nothing left."
Nora raised an eyebrow.