Chapter 165 - 164: Noblesse Oblige
Rex gave a casual shrug, his tone light. "Honestly, it’s not some top-tier luxury ride like everyone’s saying. It just looks a bit sharp, that’s all. Clean lines, decent finish — but underneath, it’s just a regular car. People love to exaggerate. It looks flashier than it is. You can do a lot with a decent budget and someone who owes you a favor, and boom! suddenly everyone thinks you’re driving a million-dollar car."
A few of them frowned, still processing, but most slowly nodded, seemingly convinced—for now. After all, they’d known Rex for nearly three years. He’d never been one to draw attention to himself. Distant at times? Absolutely. A little hard to read? No doubt.But never the flex-and-flaunt type that flashes wealth or chases attention. If anything, Rex had always carried himself with a quiet kind of confidence, the kind that didn’t need brand names or bold statements to stand out.
And they all knew—at least in vague terms—that he didn’t come from extravagant wealth. Upper-middle class, maybe. Comfortable, sure. But not the type of background that casually dropped thousands on designer wardrobes or imported sports cars.
So yeah, the whole "secret millionaire" thing? It didn’t really add up. Not to them, anyway. Not yet.
"So what you’re saying is," one guy said, still eyeing the shoes, "even if they look like they belong in a Paris runway show..."
"They’re street specials," Rex finished, "stitched with hope and deception."
That drew a round of laughter.
Sam elbowed him. "Still, man. I don’t know whether to applaud you or file a report. You walk around here looking like a brand ambassador for secrets."
"Can’t a guy look decent without being interrogated by the Fashion Police?" Rex asked, palms up. "Besides, you all know me. If I actually had that kind of money, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be on a beach somewhere. Or hiding in a cabin in the Alps."
The joke finally broke the invisible tension.
"Alright, alright," one guy said, clapping him on the shoulder. "You’re off the hook—for now."