Chapter 449 - 445: What Do You Want Me to Do?

Lorcain U.

On the stone path along the Northgate River, Victor Tucker used the camera Ethan Sterling had lent him to take many beautiful photos of the girl he liked.

"A dedicated camera is really something else. The quality is so much better than what you get from a phone."

The girl smiled in satisfaction as she looked at the photos, then turned to Victor Tucker and asked, "Can you take more photos for me next time?"

’Next time?’

Victor Tucker’s eyes lit up, and he quickly nodded. "Sure! We can go somewhere else next time."

"And where would that be?"

A mocking voice suddenly came from behind them, startling them both. They quickly spun around and retreated several steps.

When he saw it was Owen Griffin, a flicker of fear and panic flashed in Victor Tucker’s eyes.

Owen Griffin’s leering gaze swept over Victor Tucker and the girl beside him. Then, he smirked. "Victor Tucker, school’s only been in session a few days and you’re already in a relationship?"

"You should head back first." Though nervous, Victor Tucker still spoke up and told the girl to leave.

The girl was timid herself and could clearly sense that something was wrong with the atmosphere. She nodded, turned, and quickly ran off.

Owen Griffin watched her leave without trying to stop her. In the end, he just sneered at Victor Tucker. "Vince, that girl’s nothing special. Your taste is garbage. How about I set you up with someone?"

"No thanks. Do you need something?" Victor Tucker watched Owen Griffin warily, his hands clutching the camera hanging on his chest.

The two of them were classmates and hadn’t interacted much before, but ever since Owen found out he was Ethan Sterling’s roommate, he had started pestering him.

Victor Tucker could tell the two of them had beef, but ’what did that have to do with him?’

But intimidated by Owen and being from out of town, Victor Tucker didn’t dare fight back.

"Look at you. We’re classmates. I’m just trying to be nice," Owen Griffin said with a malicious grin, taking two steps forward. Victor Tucker instinctively took two steps back.

He glanced left and right. The path along the Backwater River was only busy at night. During the day, the heat kept most people away.

"If that’s all, I’m going to head out. I have a class this afternoon," Victor Tucker said, turning to run.

But with a single look from Owen Griffin, the guys with him rushed forward and blocked his path.

"Owen Griffin, what the hell do you want?" Victor Tucker asked, turning back to face him and trying to suppress his fear.

Owen Griffin walked right up to him and raised an eyebrow. "Not much. Why are you hugging that camera so tight? Is it expensive?"

As he spoke, Owen Griffin’s hand was already reaching for it.

Victor Tucker recoiled in fear, clutching the camera even tighter.

Seeing this, Owen Griffin laughed. "Wow, you’re really protecting that thing like it’s a treasure. Is it borrowed?"

Victor Tucker tried to back away again, but someone blocked him from behind. As Owen Griffin approached, Victor couldn’t help but plead, "Owen Griffin, I’ve never done anything to you. Can you please just stop?"

"This camera is really expensive. I can’t afford to replace it if it gets broken."

"Fuck, enough with the chatter!" one of the guys snapped impatiently, lashing out with a kick that landed squarely on Victor Tucker’s side.

The force of the kick sent Victor Tucker staggering to the side. As he fell, he twisted to land on his back, still clutching the camera tightly to protect it.

"Tsk, hey, no rough stuff!" Owen Griffin feigned annoyance, glaring at the guy who had thrown the kick. He then walked over and insincerely offered a hand to Victor Tucker on the ground.

Victor Tucker glanced at his hand but got up from the ground on his own.

Owen Griffin didn’t get angry. He just leaned in and whispered, "How about you help me mess with Ethan Sterling again?"

Seething but too afraid to speak, Victor Tucker looked at him and instinctively shook his head.

"Last time, I already dumped everything from his trash can onto the floor, and I even emptied my trash can in his space..."

Seeing his pathetic state, Owen Griffin felt a wave of contempt, but he just laughed. "You call that messing with him? What is this, are we kids playing house?"

"I... I’m not going to help you again, anyway."

A pang of guilt hit Victor Tucker as he thought about how Ethan Sterling had lent him such an expensive camera.

"Help me out one more time, and I’ll buy you a camera. How about it?"

Those words made Victor Tucker freeze. Though his head was bowed, his reaction didn’t escape Owen Griffin’s notice.

He might have been a spoiled brat, but he was smart. He knew exactly what people like Victor Tucker wanted.

The smile on his face widened. "I’ll get you one that’s even more expensive than that one!"

Victor Tucker didn’t dare look at Owen Griffin, but inwardly, his resolve was already wavering.

’A camera even more expensive than Ethan Sterling’s model... wouldn’t that cost tens of thousands?’

"Wh-what do you want me to do?"

Owen Griffin thought for a moment. "I won’t make it hard for you. You don’t have to do anything physical. Just... keep tabs on everything Ethan Sterling does and report back to me regularly. How about it? Simple, right?"

Hearing that he wouldn’t have to do anything to physically harm Ethan Sterling, Victor Tucker breathed a sigh of relief, though he was still hesitant. "Really? All I have to do is tell you what he’s up to?"

Owen Griffin nodded. "As long as you give me information I find valuable, you’ll get a new camera."

Hearing this, Victor Tucker only wrestled with his conscience for a moment before nodding. "All right, then. You have to keep your word."

"Of course. We’re classmates, after all. You’re counting on that camera to woo your girlfriend, and I’d never get in the way of that." Owen Griffin patted Victor Tucker’s shoulder, his gaze falling on the scrape on his joint from the fall. "Go put some iodine on that when you get back. Don’t want it to get infected."

With that, he and his friends walked past Victor Tucker, laughing and joking as they went.

The tension instantly drained from Victor Tucker’s body. He waited until they were out of sight before heading back to the university, a look of utter defeat on his face.

Back in the dorm room, his other three roommates were there.

Seeing Victor Tucker, Wayne immediately called out, "Hey, the only guy in this dorm with any real-world experience is back! Vince, get over here!"

Victor Tucker had no idea what was going on. The first thing he did was hand the camera back to Ethan Sterling. "Ethan, here’s your camera. Thanks."

The camera was in perfect condition, but Victor Tucker had scrapes on him.

"What happened to you? Did you fall?" Ethan Sterling noticed immediately, his voice filled with concern.

Rabbit pulled out a small first-aid kit from his desk. "I’ve got some iodine. Come on, let’s clean that up."

"It’s nothing. I wasn’t watching where I was going while taking pictures and scraped myself. Good thing the camera is okay," Victor Tucker said, making up an excuse. He seemed fine otherwise.

Wayne, however, eagerly pressed him for details and then said, "You should give Ethan some pointers. He has a crush on a girl too."

"Huh?" Victor Tucker looked completely baffled.

Ethan Sterling scratched his head, embarrassed. "I’ve never pursued a girl before. I don’t even know how to say hello to her."

"Who is it?"

Ethan Sterling said, "I’ve only seen her a few times, really. I just know her name is Seraphina. That’s it."

"Ethan says she’s gorgeous. It was love at first sight at a spicy skewer shop."

Hearing this, Victor Tucker looked at Ethan Sterling. "If she’s really that beautiful, you have to make a move. Otherwise, someone else will beat you to it."

"How do I make a move?" Ethan Sterling frowned. "Just walk up and say hi? Wouldn’t that be too forward?"