[ Star City ] [ Few Days Later ]
Tommy had been unusually happy these days without Thea's constant presence. He and Laurel had made rapid progress, and their physical relationship was now slowly evolving into something emotional. This, after all, was the Western worldview: first comes physical intimacy, and then, gradually, feelings. It was a bit like buying a computer—check the hardware first, the software can always be upgraded later. If the hardware doesn't pass the test, well, there's no saving it.
But life wasn't always a party. Master Tommy had his share of troubles too. For some reason, his father had been unusually clingy. Malcolm kept dropping by every few days, calling relentlessly, and even texting him. Yesterday, he actually texted saying, "Come work at Merlyn Global!"
Compete with Thea? Compete in what way? If Tommy had joined Queen Consolidated or Thea came over to Merlyn Global, that would make sense. But now? They were in completely different companies. How could there be any competition?
After reading the message, Tommy was even more convinced that his father's paranoia was approaching its final stage. The man couldn't even grasp basic logic anymore.
That night, after dinner with Laurel, Tommy—ever the gentleman—flashed his credit card with his signature grin, only for the waiter to bow apologetically and say, "Sir, you'd better pay in cash."
"Why? I've been eating here regularly. Why cash now?" Tommy kept his cool, even with Laurel watching curiously.
"Your card has been blocked, sir. Perhaps try another one?"
Three cards later, it was clear: his financial lifeline had been cut. Malcolm's doing, no doubt.
Embarrassed but composed, Tommy promised to pay next time, and after dropping Laurel at her apartment, told her to enjoy some solo yoga. He wasn't in the mood for... healthy exercise.
...
[ Merlyn Mansion, Star City ]
He stormed home, for the first time in a month. Malcolm was waiting, seated on the floor like some ancient warrior-monk. A teapot and two cups sat on the low table, with a bold character "禅" (Zen) hanging on the wall behind him. Malcolm hoped the atmosphere would calm Tommy and open him to discussion.
But he was clearly overestimating Tommy's cultural depth. This was a man who, alongside Oliver, had ditched school to compete in who could party harder. Recognizing complicated Chinese characters was never on his resume.
Seeing his father sitting there, silent and eyes closed, Tommy panicked. Was he dead? He bent down to check for breathing, wondering whether to call a doctor—or a lawyer.
Malcolm, realizing Tommy's intent, was too furious to proceed with his planned speech. He simply barked, "You're starting work at Merlyn Global tomorrow!" and left the room, ignoring Tommy's protests.
Tommy, though unsuccessful in the negotiation, knew he couldn't win this round. Laurel's career was heating up—she was preparing to launch her own law firm. Money was the only meaningful contribution he could offer. So, if working for his father got him that, so be it.
Still, his internal rebellion persisted. He overslept the next morning and showed up at Merlyn Global at 10 AM. Nightlife didn't mix well with a morning schedule.
...
[ Merlyn Global HQ, Star City ]
Malcolm didn't push. He gave Tommy a role as the president's assistant. A same rank as Thea's, which seemed fair enough—Tommy was six years older and still a man, after all. But Malcolm will not take care of him anymore.
Within three days, Thea had shaken up Queen Consolidated's mid and senior management. She could recall everyone's name, hometown, alma mater, and even chat casually about their favorite topics. Yesterday, she sent birthday greetings to a middle manager. Today, she proposed a humanized office plan.
No one objected. Not only was it thoughtful, but it was also strategically flawless. Even the real-time video sent from Malcolm's operatives inside Queen Consolidated have positive reactions of her plan. His human resource experts, unaware of her background, rated her performance highly.
Thea Queen was described as smart, adaptable, charismatic, and strategically shrewd. Her only "flaw" was her youth. Her education didn't matter much—after all, this was a world where entrepreneurs often dropped out of college. Compared to Tommy, who didn't even finish his college, Thea's high school credentials looked like a PhD.
Malcolm was torn between pride and concern. His daughter was thriving. His son? Not so much.
He flipped through the surveillance feeds in Merlyn Global, looking for Tommy. After ten minutes, he found him—flirting with the receptionist.
Enraged, Malcolm's veins popped on his forehead and cursed Oliver Queen under his breath. That boy may have been dead, but his legacy of laziness clearly lived on. Tommy had once been a sweet child—but somewhere along the way, Oliver had dragged him into the gutter.
...
[ Queen Consolidated HQ, Star City ]
Moira Queen, meanwhile, had her own network. Tommy's performance at Merlyn Global landed on her desk by noon. Watching the surveillance footage of him lounging outside the president's office while Thea worked circles around seasoned executives, Moira felt a sense of triumph.
As a mother, she instinctively blamed Tommy for corrupting Oliver. After all, wasn't her son always well-behaved before?
...
[ Purgatory Island, North China Sea ]
At that moment, thousands of miles away, Oliver Queen sneezed violently on Purgatory Island in North China Sea, entirely unaware that someone back home was thinking about him.
"Focus! You have to learn to survive. Understand?" barked Yao Fei, dragging Oliver through thick jungle foliage. His long beard and wild appearance made him look more like a mountain hermit than a mentor.
It had been over a month since they met. Yao Fei had taken it upon himself to break Oliver's bad habits and train him into something useful. His methods were... primal. If Oliver didn't listen, he got hit. Hard. Most of Green Arrow's combat skills were learned through beatings—bound to a chair, tied to a post, smacked repeatedly until instincts took over.
This morning's breakfast had been a freshly caught bird. Archery practice followed. But Oliver couldn't shake the feeling that it was all a bit absurd. Who in the modern world learned archery?
Though he didn't openly refuse, his body language screamed resistance. His progress was dismal.
Yao Fei, who had never encountered such a stubborn student, was at a loss. For now, he did the only thing he knew: he picked up a stick and went back to teaching.
To Be Continued...
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[POWER STONES AND REVIEWS PLS]