678 Chapter 677
Jake instinctively moved to shield Keira from the oncoming milk tea. But as soon as he stepped in front of her, someone yanked his arm, and the next thing he knew, Keira was the one standing in front of him.
Thud!
Before the drink could reach her, Keira kicked it away. Still, since it was a liquid, some of it splashed out, landing on her arm.
Jake froze, then chuckled to himself.
Heâd done it againâforgotten that Keira wasnât just any ordinary girlâŠ
Most girls in a situation like this would look for protection, but Keira never needed that.
She was strong and confident.
Even back in college, she was often the subject of gossip, but she never cared.
She never punished herself for other peopleâs mistakes.
Suddenly, Jake realized it wasnât that she was too strong; it was that he wasnât good enough, not worthy to stand in front of her.
For Keira, it was just about keeping things even. Business was businessâshe genuinely believed in Jakeâs potential. But personally? She didnât want anything more to do with him.
Keira felt a bit grossed out as the sticky liquid rolled down her arm. She had a mild case of OCD, so she immediately frowned and turned to look at the girl who had thrown the drink.
The culprit was a young woman, and she glared back at Keira with righteous indignation. The moment Keira looked at her, she yelled, âWhatâre you looking at? Yeah, I threw it! If youâve got guts, call the cops on me! Go ahead! My parents were scientists who died at the hands of foreign spies. I despise traitors more than anything!â
The girlâs eyes were bloodshot, and tears welled up as she spoke.
Nearby, others pulled out their phones, recording the scene.
âServes you right for helping people you shouldnât. You deserve it! Donât worry, sweetie; if you go to the police, weâll all go with you! Weâre backing you up!â
âWhatâs she got to complain about? Even if she calls the cops, no oneâs gonna care, believe me!â
The girl then addressed the crowd. âThank you all for your support, but Iâll take responsibility. I threw it, so if she calls the cops, they can arrest me. A few days in jail wonât change my mindâI still think sheâs trash!â
âShe doesnât even deserve milk tea! Next time, someone should throw something nastier at her!â
âGarbage! A disgrace to society!â
âLooks decent enough, but who knew sheâd be such a lowlife!â
ââŠâ
In the middle of all the insults, Keira glanced at the girl who threw the tea. Even with everyone backing her up, the girl still looked like sheâd go down fighting. Shaking off the milk tea from her arm, Keira took a deep breath and turned to walk away.
What good would calling the cops do?
At most, theyâd lock this poor girl up for a few days and give her a lectureâŠ
Lowering her gaze, Keira spotted a nearby convenience store and walked in. She grabbed a pack of tissues and handed them to the cashier. âHow much?â
âSorry, we donât sell to traitors.â
The cashierâs voice was cold and flat.
Keira froze mid-scan, frowning. âExcuse me?â
âI said weâre not selling anything to you!â
The cashier stared her down. âWe may be a small business, but even I know better than to sell to traitors like you!â
Keira clenched her jaw.
She frowned and said, âArenât you worried Iâll report you to customer protection?â
âGo ahead! Even if they shut us down or revoke our business license, Iâm still not selling to you!â The cashier sneered. âAnyone in bed with a traitor like that scumbag isnât any better. I may just be an ordinary citizen, but I know that a strong country is the only way to protect the life we enjoy. People like you donât deserve to live here!â
Keira was stunned.
Sheâd heard that this generation was increasingly patriotic.
She knew it was something people had been talking about, but facing it firsthand? It was almost amusing.
Part of her admired their courage to stand up to what they saw as evil forces, and she appreciated their love for their country. If someone else were in her shoes, she mightâve even applauded them.
Keira pursed her lips and walked out of the store.
As she stepped outside, she heard a reporter nearby saying, âA concerned citizen just tipped us off that Miss Olsen, who supports a known traitor, was refused service when trying to buy tissues. This incident has stirred up strong patriotic feelings across the community. Letâs interview the cashier and get their perspective.â
Keira paused, then walked on.
âDonât run, you traitor!â
A group of people began following her, seemingly ready to take things further.
Keira frowned and picked up the pace.
She didnât want to get into a confrontation with ordinary people or hurt anyone, but her patience had its limits. If these people pushed her any further, she wouldnât just stand there and take it!