Noah knew that Finn had a very long blacklist; once he discovered someone violating the rules he had laid out at a party, he would hesitate not to add them to the blacklist. Moreover, at almost every party, someone would suffer the fate of being "blacklisted."
Noah often felt that Finn was contradictory; the young man appeared warm and approachable to everyone, but when encountering something that violated his rules, he would decisively kick the person out of his social circle.
After many instances, Noah finally found an appropriate description—Finn was like a "hollow little sun."
He is warm toward everyone; he can shine upon anyone.
Even with a stranger met for the first time, he can engage you in lively conversation with witty and heartwarming words.
Above his bottom line, you could do anything, making you mistakenly believe that the word "refusal" did not exist in his world.
But once that line is crossed—just like Paul did today..
The kind of indifference and sharpness that Finn displayed was enough to startle even Noah, who knew the young man best.
But on second thought, it seemed only natural.
After all, he was indeed Harry Osborn's younger brother.
"Then I won't drink it." Upon hearing Noah say that, Peter didn't dare to drink it anymore, hurriedly returned the wine to Elias.
Maybe not?" Noah continued to encourage him with a smile, "Considering your friendship, I think Young Master Finn might turn a blind eye to it. Give it a try.
Peter: ".."
"Peter must feel right now that you're a wicked witch trying to trick him into eating a poisoned apple." Blake added a precise finishing blow from the side, perfectly voicing the thoughts Peter didn't dare to say.
Noah glared fiercely at Blake in anger.
Even though Finn has his own biological brother, if you want, you could also be my brother," Blake said, approaching with a playful smirk. "I might not be able to paint for you, but I could add a special character for a mental patient just for you in my game.
"Thanks. With a brother like you, my life expectancy might drop by a few years," Noah said through gritted teeth.
"Is Anthony there?" Peter quickly changed the subject.
No, he's busy running around because of the hamster," Blake said with a shake of his head and a sigh. "He is a human whose life is completely dominated by hamsters, now he's even trying to use hamsters to dominate other humans.
Peter couldn't help but laugh, thinking that he would likely also have a long time ahead of him to be entangled with hamsters.
Peter felt a sense of anticipation at the thought of Finn bouncing around in a furry hamster mascot suit.
"Peter! You're here!" Immediately after, as expected, Peter was met by a bouncing Finn.
"Where is Harry?" Peter instinctively glanced at Finn's arm first, wondering if Finn was still in pain.
"He is still discussing the cooperation with Malton. I thought it was too boring, so I came down first." After all, Finn could clearly see the movement downstairs from the second floor, as soon as he saw Peter, he couldn't help but run down.
Just as Harry and Malton's conversation on the second floor had come to an end and they were about to head downstairs, a voice was heard from the stairs—
Mr. Osborn, do you know that Finn has said many bad things about you in front of his friends?
Most of the people at this party have likely heard those words.
He loathes your very existence.
He also said that you were the one who took all the inheritance left by your father.
Finn, Noah, those others have been secretly discussing how to sue you for the inheritance.
Now Finn has already squandered all of his money, to the point where he even has to rely on selling things just to cover his living expenses.
The more Paul thought about it, the angrier he became. He simply could not suppress the anger and humiliation he had just felt, especially since Finn had left him no room to maneuver and only defended Andrew. Paul had waited until now just to say these things to Harry. Of course, everything he said was the truth; all Finn had ever shown was jealousy and hatred toward his brother, yet he squandered the Osborn Group's assets at will.
Harry just stared at Paul calmly, his gaze like the surface of a frozen lake.
"If you're going to slander my brother in front of me, you'd better have the confidence to state your own name," Harry said in a cold voice.
I'm not defaming him." Paul naturally didn't dare say his own name. "These are all facts; you can ask anyone else.
He is Paul Cross." Malton suddenly let out a light laugh and spoke leisurely, the mockery in his eyes blatant, "He even instigated Young Master Finn to invest in a project with his friends before, so far, it seems as though there has been no progress at all.
Human nature is always this despicable." Malton turned his gaze toward Paul, whose face had suddenly gone pale, asked with a half-smile, "Once you've coaxed enough benefits from someone, the moment they simply and reasonably refuse a single request of yours, you instead harbor resentment and turn around to blame them. Tell me, isn't that how it works?
Paul glared at Malton with a face of ashen gray, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked.
"I'll remember that," Harry nodded, his tone so cold that not a single ripple could be detected.
Harry said nothing more; he had always disdained dealing with such people, merely casting a faint glance at Paul before sweeping past him.
Malton Soxs gave an enigmatic smile.
Paul froze in place, his face turning deathly pale in an instant.
To be remembered by the Osborn CEO in such a manner was truly terrifying.
Running up to someone's brother to badmouth his younger brother?" At that moment, a mocking voice rang out from behind Paul, like a slap to his face. "Do you have a brain?
Paul turned toward the voice, the fury in his eyes nearly erupting—
It was actually Andrew! That guy who had been publicly mocked by him not long ago!
It turned out this person had been hiding in the shadows all along, laughing at his jokes from beginning to end!
"Who do you think you are?" Paul angrily grabbed Andrew by the collar and slammed him hard against the wall.
"I won't get into a fight with you at the party," Andrew said calmly, without struggling even a little.
Finn has a three-minute passion for everything; how long do you think he can keep you around for?" Paul sneered, his contempt undisguised. "You feel high and mighty following him now, but can you ever go back to your life in the gutter? Besides barking and following at Finn's heels like a dog, what else can you even do?
"Since I'm wearing a dog tag, isn't it essential to protect my master?" Andrew looked up and asked in return.
—You're comparing him to a dog? That's fine.
Andrew does not mind being a stray dog without any bottom line.
Andrew had now become extreme in a different way; he calmly accepted and admitted the inferiority and gloominess in his bones. Therefore, there was no one in this world who could use humiliation as a means to attack him.
I am indeed not like the others around Finn; I am inferior, poor, pathetic, gloomy," Andrew spoke unhurriedly, every word dissecting his darkest side, yet a nearly pathological and provocative smile rose on his face. "So, you know what? I will do things that they would despise and would never do.
Paul suddenly felt a sense of inner dread, for the darkness in Andrew's eyes was as morbidly gloomy as a whirlpool.
—Just what in the world.. where did Finn dig these people up from?
Paul knew very well that if he fell out with Finn, at most, Finn would just put him on the party's blacklist.
But regarding this sinister fellow behind Finn, Paul truly felt a terrifying sense of threat. You knew Andrew was serious, this fear stemmed from not knowing what someone who already had nothing might actually do.
Paul subconsciously let go and recoiled two steps in fright.
"There's no need for this, Finn is just giving you some money, isn't he?" Paul's momentum collapsed instantly, he spoke dryly.
Paul grew increasingly panicked, even as he fled in a disarray, he felt as if those gloomy eyes were still staring fixedly at his back.
When Andrew returned to the party, Finn had already found him.
Andrew, I'm leaving first," Finn said somewhat reluctantly. Both Noah and Harry wanted him, who had just been discharged from the hospital, to go back and rest early. "Go back with Matt and the others later.
"Alright." Andrew nodded; he naturally agreed that Young Master Finn needed more rest.
By the way, don't take what Paul said at the party to heart," Finn said, remembering something. "You are my friend.
Those pure green eyes were sincere and candid.
Especially at parties, Finn did not hesitate to speak up in his defense.
I know." Andrew curled his lips slightly. "I don't care about those words.
Andrew only cared that those who sought benefits from Young Master Finn would still do the disgusting thing of maliciously slandering Finn in return. Finn could tolerate it, but he could not.
The night seeped through the car windows, veiling those unknown thoughts lurking in the shadows.
Finn was driving the silver-gray convertible that Harry Osborn had sent today.
Max, the bodyguard, was currently acting as the driver, holding the steering wheel steadily. Peter sat in the passenger seat; he planned to discuss the hamster costume matter with Finn again when they returned home later. After arriving at the party, Harry had deliberately sent the driver away earlier; now, he was sitting side by side with Finn in the back seat. Naturally, Finn instructed Max to take a detour to drop Harry Osborn off at home first.
I've transferred some money to you.
Harry naturally didn't listen to what Paul said, but he did listen to one thing: that Finn was out of money.
Harry didn't want to care right now about where exactly Finn had squandered his money; anyway—the Osborn Group could afford to support him.
"Why?" Finn asked in surprise, then looked at the transfer on his phone and raised an eyebrow in astonishment.
".. Pocket money." Harry's voice was lowered slightly, making it difficult to discern much emotion.
"As expected of the Osborn Group CEO, how extravagant," Finn said with a sigh.
Harry: ".." I'm your brother.
"You were so hesitant when you gave me fifty thousand before," Finn thought suddenly again.
Harry: ".." Every time he thought about it at night, he felt so guilty that he couldn't sleep.
However, Finn generally felt no psychological burden regarding receiving or spending money.
[It's fine; I didn't know how much research funding the Scholar with Seven Doctorates actually needed anyway.]
Peter: ".." Who is this Scholar with Seven Doctorates?
"Finn, you're moving in with me." After all that buildup, Harry had prepared for a long time before finally saying these words; his characteristically cold and hard voice carried a hint of tension that even he himself had not noticed.
What?" Finn suddenly turned his head to look at Harry, his emerald-clear eyes widening in shock as he asked with complete incomprehension, "Why?
No, I'm not going.
The young man frowned almost subconsciously, refusing decisively and without a hint of hesitation.
[I worked so hard to make my little nest exactly the way I like it.]
I love my little home so much; I don't want to move.
As expected..
Hearing Finn's immediate refusal, Harry's brow furrowed instantly, a wave of helplessness surged through his heart.
I've been locked up in the hospital for so long! Harry actually wants to lock me up in his home too!" Finn looked at Harry with a wary gaze, "Harry's home must be cold and empty, with nothing there at all.
Meeting the vigilance in Finn Osborn's eyes, Harry Osborn felt a heaviness in his chest.
He had even specifically chosen a time when Finn seemed to be in the best of moods, but he hadn't expected that Finn would still react with such a subconscious, stress-induced resistance, showing such blatant rejection of living with him.
Harry certainly knew that it was too late for him to say this now.
How could he think that after he had rejected Finn so coldly and indifferently back then, a casual "come live here" now could smooth over the pain and grievance Finn had endured, which was enough to crush his spirit?
All the previous attempts and efforts seemed to reveal their most primal, broken state at this very moment.
Harry pursed his lips and remained silent; he did not dare to continue probing, fearing that further provocation would affect Finn's condition.