I took a deep breath and pushed her aside.

She could keep her lofty principles this time around. I wanted to earn more money!

I straightened my clothes and hair before walking up to Bella.

“Bella, it would be an honor to be your beloved’s substitute. You have my word. I’ll do everything I can to please you.”

“Y-You really look like him,” Bella murmured. She stared at my face as if lost in a memory.

After she snapped back to reality, she pulled out her phone, transferred 50,000 dollars to me, and said haughtily, “This is your allowance for the month. I expect you to be available whenever I call. Can you handle that?”

“Of course, Ms. White! You can count on me. My line is always open. I’ll be ready whenever you call.”

I stood straight. Though my words were subservient, my posture remained composed and steady.

I knew Bella would not appreciate an excessively groveling attitude.

Tears welled up in Bella’s eyes. She turned and walked quickly away.

Seeing that I had actually agreed to be the substitute for Bella’s boyfriend, Eliana hurriedly grabbed my arm.

“Are you deaf? I told you she has ill intentions! Why are you still throwing yourself at her?”

I stared at the balance in my bank account on my phone and wished I could withdraw the cash and kiss every single bill.

I answered indifferently, “What’s wrong with being a substitute? Others would kill for this opportunity!”

She looked at me with deep disappointment. “She’s one of those wicked rich people. We are decent, principled folks. How can you bow to her corrupt influence?

“I once heard about a rich guy who also hired a substitute. He ended up forcing the person to drop out of school. You’d better be careful, or you’ll end up just like that.”

I rolled my eyes at her and opened an online shopping platform to buy clothes.

I then said in a flat tone, “You sound like you were there. Get real. Money matters most.

“Besides, Bella’s gorgeous. I would be her devoted substitute and simp for her for free!”

Eliana’s eyes widened as she stared at me as if I were a spineless coward.

“Have you got no pride and dignity at all?”

Just then, Bella turned back and tossed me a VIP card.

“Tomorrow, you’re going to this private stylist for a full makeover.

“Here’s an extra 3,000 dollars.”

Then she swept a cold glance toward Eliana. With her commanding presence, she looked stunning yet intimidating. Her sharp gaze was hard to meet. Eliana timidly lowered her head.

“You’re smart, unlike your foolish sister.

“Also, I’m not part of the underworld. I’m just rich.

“After the styling tomorrow, accompany me to dinner.”

Amidst the envious looks of the classmates surrounding us, I saw Bella off with a bright smile.

“Alright, Ms. White. I’ll be on time.”

Holding the VIP card in my hand and seeing the money in my phone, I hummed a light tune. In the past, I could hardly earn 50,000 dollars even after a full year of hard work.

Eliana’s eyes seemed to turn red with envy as she stared at my VIP card.

She tugged urgently at my sleeve. “You’re seriously going to have dinner with her, aren’t you?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I already took the deal to be her boyfriend’s substitute.

“It’s 50,000 dollars a month! If I play my cards right and keep her happy, I can get even more money from her.”

Eliana’s eyes were truly burning with envy. I simply smiled back at her with genuine delight.

Swallowing her envy, she mustered a righteous expression and began to scold me. She exclaimed, “How can you be okay with money that costs you your dignity? Mom and Dad raised you better than this!

“You should return the money to her immediately and say you won’t take the deal.

“Hurry up. Don’t let me down!”

I looked at her as if she were a fool and rolled my eyes.

“Oh, get off your high horse. If you’re so principled, why didn’t you pay my rent and groceries for four years?

“You’d better not forget that I went without a living allowance for four whole years just to buy you the latest phone and laptop!”

Upon hearing my words, Eliana grew furious with shame.

“Are you really that impressed by a few crumbs she threw your way? Fine! Go then. Don’t come crying to me when she’s done with you!”

After saying this, she stormed off in a rage.

Early the next morning, I went to the private styling studio. After three hours of effort, I looked like a completely different person.

When I came out of that studio, Bella became very excited and circled me several times.

“You look even more like him now! Smile for me.”

I gave her my brightest and most radiant smile.

Bella instantly transferred another 10,000 dollars to me.

I felt intense satisfaction when I received the payment notification. Earning ten thousand so easily made my gaze toward Bella grow even more covetous.

After the styling session, Bella took me to a restaurant for a meal. She ordered many delicacies that I had only ever seen on television.

Throughout the entire dinner, I attended to Bella with meticulous care. I maintained a gentle and handsome smile.

Bella thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

Halfway through, she suddenly stood up. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

I simply nodded in agreement without asking anything and waited quietly.

“Goodness, Ethan. Why are you sitting all by yourself? Where’s your sugar mommy?”

I looked up and saw Eliana. She was with several of her classmates. That was when I recalled that our class’s back-to-school dinner was also being held at this restaurant.

“She just stepped out for a minute,” I answered plainly as I wiped the grease from my fingers.

“Or did she go to call her friends to share you?” a girl said with malice.

Quite a few classmates were jealous that I had earned tens of thousands of dollars in a single day, and she was one of them.

“See? I knew that trust-fund princess Bella was up to no good!”

“Well, did she even pay? They’re going to stick you with the bill. If you can’t cover it, in the best-case scenario, you’ll get thrown out. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll end up being sent to jail.”

“Look at him. What a sellout. He traded his dignity for a few stacks, and now he’s just the punchline of her joke.”

“Exactly!”

A few other classmates laughed loudly, “Totally. He’s licking her boots for scraps, and for what? He won’t get much money and will have ruined his own future.”

“A person should be down-to-earth and live an honest life.”

After listening to their taunts, I fired back directly. “You guys don’t need to worry about me.

“The money Ms. White gave me is more than enough to cover this bill myself, with plenty left over.

“That alone is enough for my living expenses.”

At that moment, a server approached me. “Sir, your 100,000-dollar bottle of wine has arrived from our headquarters. Would you like us to decant it for you?”

Hearing the amount, Eliana’s face momentarily twisted in envy. She said with a sour tone, “You can put that wine back. There’s no need to open it. He’s a paid entertainer. His sugar mommy just walked out. He can’t afford it.”

“Yeah, you should run the check for this table now. Get payment upfront, before someone here decides to dine and dash.

“Otherwise, you’ll be the one held responsible.”

Just as the group hurled insults at me freely and other guests in the hall began to look over, Bella returned carrying gifts. She saw the mocking expressions on their faces. Her entire demeanor immediately turned hostile.

“What kind of lowlife came to cause a ruckus while I was away? Who gave you the nerve to mess with my man?!”