CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: THE GAP BETWEEN GENIUSES AND ORDINARY PEOPLE

Yvonne Jennings started searching through the names in her phone’s contacts, thinking she had to use whatever resources she had to bring down Iris Crawford in one fell swoop.

"Three days to move out?" Yvonne Jennings tightly grasped Jordan Jacobs’ hand, "Jordan, I’m going to be with you for life, wherever you go, I go... I won’t leave you!"

Jordan Jacobs looked at Yvonne Jennings’ face, filled with deep love for him, and was moved for a moment. Yet, amidst this emotion, there was a hint of concern, as another woman’s face appeared in his mind— Iris Crawford...

Perceiving Jordan Jacobs’ distraction, Yvonne Jennings said hurriedly, "You wouldn’t... feel something for Iris Crawford again, would you?"

How could that be? Jordan Jacobs denied it outright, "No, Yvonne, didn’t I say we’re getting our marriage license soon? Trust me."

Clenching her fingers, the hatred in Yvonne Jennings’ eyes intensified. She leaned against Jordan Jacobs’ chest, concealing the deceitfulness on her face.

Iris Crawford, from now on, not just your husband, everything you have, I will take away!

******

That night, Iris Crawford gathered with a few friends at the base for a round of hacker attack and defense competition. When James Chesterton pressed down the final letter, everything concluded.

Unwilling to concede, Iris Crawford grabbed her hair and said, "Why can’t I win yet!"

"James Chesterton’s score this month has already surpassed us, ranking first."

Sarah Shaw pointed to an electronic screen on the base wall and said, "Look, our scores are posted up every month, and now James Chesterton is at the top again..."

James Chesterton casually ran a hand through his hair and said, "Can’t help it, handsome and smart..."

Iris Crawford ranked second, which wasn’t low, but she pouted, full of discontent, "I thought I had gotten a handle on James Chesterton’s abilities!"

"You think you have gotten a handle on me?"

James Chesterton pointed at himself before going over to lift Iris Crawford, "Remember, I’ve taught you what I can; what’s left is my own way out. Never try to figure out a man completely."

As he said this, James Chesterton’s features remained gentle and refined, speaking with poise, it’s hard to imagine what he’s like when launching destructive attacks in the unseen virtual world.

Lachlan Wyatt said that James Chesterton is too clever, a high-IQ computer genius, famous from a young age, finding everything else too boring.

Back when he was grabbed to come to work, he was at an internet cafe, dark circles under his eyes, playing team battles with others, sneaking out from home, standing out among a room full of adults.

He reeked of smoke, his hair greasy, uncut bangs parted by the grease hanging over his face.

The young man chewed on a toothpick, a half-eaten cup of instant noodles beside him— Lachlan Wyatt asked him what he’s doing, he said he was just halfway through slurping noodles when the guild called him for team battles.

James Chesterton also excelled at gaming, after a wave he typed on the public screen with two fingers saying he’d log off, then continued eating his noodles, which hadn’t gone cold, showing just how efficient he was at team battles.

Iris Crawford laughed, how does an expert hide out in a dark internet cafe?

James Chesterton got so worked up his nostrils could almost spit fire, "Proper internet cafes don’t let underage use computers, besides my mom at home won’t let me play games!"

The then-underage computer expert now sits before Iris Crawford, auburn hair under the light emanating a stable and reliable glow, maintaining composure at all times like a smoothly running electronic system.

James Chesterton’s brain can process and operate so much, til today he’s never experienced a crash or bug, Lachlan Wyatt thinks whatever he does will make big money, yet somehow James Chesterton seems to have an unspeakable secret, so here he is, searching for answers with everyone.

Iris Crawford tapped on James Chesterton’s forehead, "Jordan Jacobs slapped me once, I asked for fifty million, if I slapped your brain, it might be worth billions."

James Chesterton laughed heartily, "Glad you know, there’s a gap between genius and mortal."

Lachlan Wyatt sneered from the side, "Both end up in a box when dead."

James Chesterton instantly pulled a long face, "Birdie praising me is enough to make you angry, huh?"

Lachlan Wyatt said, "Angry? What for, angry she can praise you, huh, how rare!"

"..."

"You guys banter on, I’m stepping out."

Patrick Pierce, who hadn’t spoken much, stood up. He was a new member who had recently joined, accustomed to being alone, Iris Crawford always felt despite being a favored celebrity, he was far lonelier than others.

Out of concern for the members, Iris Crawford asked in passing, "Where to?"

"There’s an ad shoot that came up."

Patrick Pierce’s phone dinged, he impatiently opened it, a voice message from his assistant— "My big star, hurry, if you’re late being all high-and-mighty, how will you explain to the brand?"

"High-and-mighty where?" Patrick Pierce snapped, "You called me last minute five minutes ago, not exactly a prior arrangement. Is there a case for being late?"

"Ah... did you know, the other female artist in the shoot is Miss Vera, and the Jacobs Family has investments! She unexpectedly said to shoot, summoned us, hence I had to notify you urgently..."

The assistant quickly replied, slightly helpless, "Midnight trouble indeed, Miss Vera’s temper is impulsive, let alone the Jacobs Family being powerful, we dare not offend them."

Dare not offend.

Initially playing rock-paper-scissors with James Chesterton, Iris Crawford’s eyes suddenly lit up.

She raised her hands, "Dare to offend, dare to offend!"

"..." Patrick Pierce glanced at Iris Crawford, she perked up at the mention of the Jacobs Family, surely up to no good. He turned off his phone, the handsome celebrity smirking, "What, you got a last-minute idea too?"

Iris Crawford cheerfully slapped Patrick Pierce’s shoulder in friendliness, "What if the driver goes slow alone! I’ll send you!"

Clearly wanting to poke trouble with the Jacobs Family.

Lachlan Wyatt’s gaze flickered, said nothing, Iris Crawford pulled Patrick Pierce’s hand to head outside the base, inside Sarah Shaw and Peach exchanged glances, shaking their heads.

Iris Crawford’s nature doesn’t leave a shred related to the Jacobs Family alone.

Indeed, a half-hour journey, Iris Crawford hit the highway and reached within ten minutes, the brash sports car stopped outside the studio, she stepped out from the driver’s seat, uninformed people might even mistake her for the dazzling female star, trailing behind was Patrick Pierce, for once being overshadowed, he coldly said, "Position yourself behind me."

"Oh right, you’re the lead tonight."

Iris Crawford immediately slowed her steps, trailing after Patrick Pierce, "Thanks for bringing me to the studio for exposure, Best Actor Pierce."

Patrick Pierce sneered, due to his handsome looks, even sneering resembled those wicked yet charming protagonists in domineering CEO stories, as he appeared, someone rushed out from the studio to welcome him—

"Oh my! Young Master Pierce, so considerate coming all the way out late at night to accommodate our work..."

"Indeed, if not for Young Master Pierce, we wouldn’t know what to do."

"Thank you, Young Master Pierce for coming, we’re all ready, you can come and synchronize with Miss Vera, we can start shooting!"

This group of workers was helpless, after all, they were hired hands, woken up late at night by the diva, could hardly refuse, presumably Young Master Pierce’s unpleasant expression was also because he was summoned at this hour, could only speak nicely to appease Young Master Pierce, after all it’s hard to hit a smiling face.

The workers were overly accommodating, even as unruly as he was, Patrick Pierce wouldn’t lose his temper directly, he snorted, leading Iris Crawford inside, she followed trying to watch the fun but was stopped, "Who is this young lady?"

"Driver," Patrick Pierce said without hesitation.