Suddenly, I Am Rich

Gray leaned against the door the moment it shut behind him. He let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding and rubbed the back of his neck in exhaustion.

The condo’s familiar quietness greeted him. Lily was still in class. Now, Lily was just taking YouBear to class and back home. He was worried about it at first, but Lily assured him that she was fine, and that was enough for her.

It has been a few months since then, and so far, it has been great, so he wasn’t worried by now.

”I’m so exhausted...”

Gray removed his blazer and dropped it onto the couch before loosening his tie and sinking down onto the sofa with a heavy sigh. His shoulders were slumped, and his eyes were already half-lidded as he stared up at the ceiling.

Gray dragged a hand down his face.

Exhaustion clung to him, but it wasn’t just from the food or the long conversations that he had. Most of it was due to the spotlight itself. He didn’t know that talking to the press and reporters would require him to act.

He had to act calm and maintain composure even in uncertain and hard questions. He had to know how to dodge questions and answer in a way that wouldn’t make him look bad or too good.

”But I guess, in the end, all that exhaustion was worth it.”

He tilted his head toward the window. He took out all the calling cards in his pocket and held them in front of his eyes.

”After all, I had this many calling cards now. I have to keep this in case I need it.”

Gray flipped the stack of calling cards between his fingers. For him, every card carried weight. They were from editors, columnists, and well-known industry reporters.

They were people whose words could either build him up or drag him through the mud.

He stared at them, a smile tugging at his lips.

”Oh well, this is... actually a good opportunity,” he muttered.

Gray leaned back against the sofa cushions, exhaustion beginning to make him feel sleepy. His eyes fluttered half-shut open when, suddenly, his phone beeped sharply on the coffee table.

”Ugh...” He frowned and reached for it. The screen immediately lit up with Mara’s name.

Mara: Everett Holdings just published the picture from today’s signing. Some of the reporters you met today have already pushed their articles too. You should check them out.

Gray’s heart gave a sudden, hard thump. He sat up straight, every hint of rest gone from his body.

”Already?” he whispered.

”Fuck...” His thumb trembled slightly as he unlocked his phone fully. He immediately checked his socials, swiping into his feed.

The official Everett Holdings post sat at the top of it. The posting was polished and professional.

A banner image showed him seated beside Conrad, answering with the microphone, his posture composed. Another was candid with Selina laughing beside him while he responded with a small smile at the lunch table.

The lighting was flattering and the framing was perfect. Overall, it was a good photo.

Gray’s pulse quickened. He braced himself for the worst. He wanted to see the caption. His throat felt dry as he forced his eyes to the very top of the post.

But the words that greeted him weren’t daggers.

”Everett Holdings Announces New Partnership: A Young Visionary Steps Into the Spotlight”

”Hah...” Gray swallowed the lump on his throat.

However, he decided to scroll more to his feed and see more posts with his face on it.

”Meet Gray Adams: The Fresh Face Behind Conrad Everett’s Newest Venture”

”Conrad’s Surprising Choice for Investment”

He even saw the pictures that the reporters posted on their own.

”Mr. Gray Adams was seen here with Chairman Conrad Everett. He answered questions gracefully during the official signing and press lunch.”

”Industry watchers are curious: Who really is Gray?”

Gray blinked. Relief washed over him so suddenly that it left him dizzy.

He hadn’t realized how tightly he’d been holding his breath until now. His shoulders relaxed, and a short and shaky laugh slipped past his lips.

He scrolled further, almost afraid to tap the comments. But he did anyway. He was curious about how people see it, especially in the official picture from Everett Holdings. In just a short time, people reacted and commented on it.

”Wow, he looks composed. Didn’t expect that from someone new.”

”Fresh blood in the business scene. Honestly, it’s good to see it.”

”There’s something approachable about him. I can see that he’s not stiff like the usual guys we see.”

”Call me crazy, but he could pass for a lead in a drama. Someone cast him already.”

”Damn, he looks good.”

”Does anyone has his social?”

”Lol.”

”If he handles business like he handled those questions, I’m intrigued.”

Gray’s lips parted in disbelief, then curved upward slowly. He leaned back against the couch, with his phone still in his hand.

”Pft...” He couldn’t help but let out a quiet chuckle.

”This is... kind of funny,” he murmured.

Gray had braced himself for ridicule or mean comments. Maybe people on the internet would question his worth, his background, his right to stand beside someone like Conrad Everett.

But instead, strangers behind their screens were complimenting him. It felt unreal and really funny.

For a long while, Gray had only known criticism. It was the kind of life he had back then. Full of hate and negativity, especially from people who considered themselves above him.

Now, reading comments like ”He looks good” or ”He could pass for a lead in a drama” made something stir in his chest.

He didn’t know if it was pride, amusement, or relief. Or maybe all three.

Before he couldn’t stop himself, his thumb hovered over the reply option on one comment.

”Does anyone have his social?”

Gray smirked faintly and typed a reply for it.

”It’s still private for now. But thanks for the interest.”

”Woah! It’s my first time seeing this guy! Congrats!”

Gray also replied to it.

”Appreciate the kind words. I’ll do my best not to disappoint.”

Then one more caught his eye.

”Damn. He looks quite good, isn’t it? Is he an actor or something?”

Gray laughed softly, shaking his head. His fingers moved before his brain caught up.

”That’s definitely a first for me. I’ll take it as a compliment.”

He sat there afterward, staring at his own replies, lips quirking in disbelief.

’Did I really just do that?’ Normally, he would avoid attention. But right now, sitting alone in his condo, it felt... safe.

Then—

[Ding!]

A translucent blue notification blinked before his eyes. His good mood faltered, his brows frowning.

”Of course... the system couldn’t let me enjoy this moment quietly, huh?”

[New Mission Alert!]

[Mission: Make A Name To The Public.]

[Objective: Set your social accounts to Public and gain 1,000 followers.]

[Reward: +1 Influence | Unlock new Social Feature]

Gray froze. He let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.

”What the hell...” he muttered under his breath.

Gray dropped his phone onto his lap and stared blankly at the glowing system screen in front of him.

”Set my socials to public?” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

”I don’t even have anything inside here! I don’t have curated pictures, no posts, nothing. It’s literally just me following random accounts and saving dog videos...”

He dragged a hand down his face, groaning. The thought of reporters, investors, and random people scrolling through his profile and stalking him made his skin crawl.

He wasn’t prepared for this kind of exposure! He didn’t prepare himself for this!

His eyes flicked toward the corner of the phone where the little app icon sat.

”What does the system expect people to follow? My blank timeline?”

Still, the mission window remained stubbornly floating in front of his eyes.

[Objective: Set your social accounts to Public and gain 1,000 followers.]

”System, you’ve got to be kidding me.” Gray narrowed his eyes at it.

”Hey, I’m serious here,” he said louder, half-angry and half-pleading. ”I can’t just flip it open and let everyone see nothing. That’s embarrassing. That’s worse than getting hate comments.”

[That is your mission, Host. I can’t do anything about it.]

”...”

[Good luck.]

”...That’s it?!” Gray sat up straighter on the couch, glaring at the invisible words floating in front of him.

”That’s all you’re going to say?”

The message slowly faded, leaving only the interior of his condo staring at him.

Gray slumped back on the couch. He repeatedly shook his head.

”Setting up my account...” Gray stared at his account.

It barely has 50 followers and most of it were people he knew from high school. Then his eyes glanced at his profile picture. It was just a simple picture of him with trees in the background.

It was even an old photo that he just selected because he looked young and good on it!

”Damn... I’m doomed.”