Comparison between Relatives

Upon learning that their wealthy uncle was treating them to a meal at a high-end restaurant, Diana immediately got up to doll herself up and put on a new dress. "Didn't Valentina buy you new clothes? Why are you still wearing these old ones?" Diana cast a glance at the shabby-looking Augus, wrinkling her nose in disdain. "They're being washed," Augus replied. "You would be better off wearing your school uniform than this. Do you know which restaurant our uncle is taking us to? The Grand Sky Hotel - the best five-star restaurant in the entire Mapleville. If you dress like this, it'll be a laughingstock if they don’t let you in." Upon hearing the name of the restaurant and looking at Diana's excited expression, Augus didn't bother to argue with her. George also changed into his best clothes and even splurged on renting a six-seater cab. On the way there, Diana incessantly checked her makeup in her compact mirror and chatted non-stop with Selena about how luxurious the restaurant was. Diana also looked up the restaurant online and showed her mother. “Mom, according to the internet, this restaurant charges several hundred dollars for a single vegetable. Look at these abalones and lobsters.” "What kind of vegetable is so expensive!" George, who was sitting in the passenger seat, turned his head back, thinking that what they were going to eat was not vegetables, but literally gold. Valentina and Augus were seated in the back row. Augus accidentally came across a video of Valentina’s interview and the unfriendly comments in the comments section, along with various expositions by self-proclaimed insiders. Augus nudged Valentina with his elbow. Valentina pulled out her earphones and looked at the mobile phone screen Augus held up in front of her. In a low voice, Augus said to her, "Val, how about you delete these videos when we get home tonight?" For Valentina, hacking into these devices to delete a few videos were definitely not a challenge. "Why bother wasting time with them?" Valentina didn't care at all. Seeing Valentina like this, Augus didn't say anything more. Upon arriving at the place, not even alighting from the car, Selena stuck her head out to look at this luxurious hotel, letting out an exclamation. Diana, on the other hand, tidied up her dress as she exited the car, holding back her excitement as she took out her phone to snap pictures, preparing to share them on her social media after the meal. The doorman recognized Valentina and Augus, immediately bowed, and enthusiastically asked, "May I ask if you have a reservation?" “Ah, um, I'm looking for my third brother. He's the one treating us to this meal.” George was very restrained, stammering nervously. "Alright, may I ask for the name of your brother?" "Johnson Ricardo," George said with his authentic Mapleville accent, seemed to be at a loss. "Please follow me this way." The waiter led the group inside. Diana was snapping pictures nonstop with her phone, even taking a few group photos of her mother with the hotel's beautiful decorations at her mother's request. Valentina, on the other hand, strolled in leisurely, hands in her pockets, following Augus. Just as they entered the hotel, a luxury car pulled up at the entrance, out of which stepped Byron and his father, James. Following closely, another luxury car, worth a million dollars, drove in. Alighting was Eudora and her father, Saxon. Eudora, after meticulously grooming herself, looked even prettier than she did in school. With a bag in her hand, she looked every bit the rich young lady. She gave Byron a smile upon getting out of her car. Byron seemed to not have noticed her at all. Saxon went straight towards James, stretching out his hands with an almost fawning smile. "Mr. Augustine, you're here so early." "Just arrived." James briefly shook hands with Saxon. "It hasn't been long, and Byron has grown taller. He's still so handsome." Saxon then looked towards Byron. "Hello, Mr. Katrine." Byron greeted politely. "Hi." Saxon nodded in agreement. "Mr. Howard has a temporary matter to attend to and will be a bit late. Let's go up first. Everyone else has arrived." After finishing speaking, James said to the approaching waiter, "Reserved the top floor, room 101." Everyone then entered the hotel. "Byron, how did you do on your exam?" Eudora found an opportunity to approach Byron. "Decent." Byron replied, indifferent. "Everyone says it was hard, and I didn't do well, either. Which university are you planning to attend?" "Biddeford University." Upon hearing that Byron was going to Biddeford University, Eudora bit her lip. She wished she could flay Valentina a thousand times inside her heart. If it weren't for Valentina bringing those gangsters to the school and causing trouble, her score wouldn't have plummeted like this, and she would have had a chance to go to Biddeford University with Byron. It was all that fatty Valentina's fault! The location booked by Johnson was in the first-floor lobby. There was a large crystal round table that could accommodate more than thirty people. By the time the family of five from the Ricardo family was brought there by the waiter, most of the people had almost arrived. "Am I late?" George quickly walked over to greet his three brothers. "Oh, George has arrived." George sat in the master seat, holding up his big belly, calling George and saying welcome. However, he didn't move his butt even a bit and pointed to the remaining few seats to George's family, saying, "Sit down. The food will be served soon." "Selena, you are quite fashionable today. It seems that you earned a lot of money this year." Pena Ricardo was the wife of George's second brother, Frank Ricardo. She swept Selena from top to toe several times with her elongated eyeliner. "Oh, where can my small fixed salary compare to your business?" Selena responded like this but mentally cursed, "So, you're just rich, aren't you? My daughter was recommended by the Biddeford University. Where is your son going to read at some third-rate college?" Diana, with her sweet tongue, called out to the relatives at the big table one by one and successfully received the elders' praise. "Look at your cousin. She's so polite. You only know about hugging your cell phone and computer all day." Pena turned her head and scolded her son. "Who is this?" Johnson's wife, Stella Ricardo, pointed to Valentina who was seated. "This is Val," George said. "Val? How did you lose so much weight? I barely recognized you. You look so pretty after losing weight, even prettier than Diana." Upon hearing this, Diana's smile stiffened on her face. "Augus seems to have grown taller again. Why didn't you greet us?" Pena then looked towards Augus. "Val, Augus, quickly say hello," George said to the two. "Hello, Aunt Pena," Augus politely greeted. Valentina looked at Pena who was quite far from her, her lips moved slightly, but the next second, she turned her gaze away. "When will we eat?" Pena's expression changed instantly, "Ungracious child, how have you been brought up? Acting like you've never had a meal before." "Understand a little, it's not like we're unaware that George's condition isn't good. This is their first time eating in such a fancy restaurant. Val has never had good food, so it's understandable," Frank said. It could be seen that none of the younger brothers had any reverence for George, their big brother. George's face turned beet red from embarrassment. He was a simple person who had no idea how to retort, so he could only lower his head, hands supporting his thighs as he rubbed them together, letting out a few dry, embarrassed laughs. Seeing his father humiliated, Augus felt uncomfortable, comforting him with a few words, "Dad, it's okay." George lifted his head to look at his sensible son, immediately feeling a lot better, nodding, "Yes, I'm fine." In the past, Selena would have only rebuked in her mind, but not this time. She didn't swallow her anger. Instead, she glanced at Pena's son, "How did Greg do in his SAT? Your grades have always been top-notch. You should have done quite well, yes? You could even go to Biddeford University, right?" Frank's family turned pale. Greg, who was initially playing with his phone, looked up. Influenced by his parents, as a junior, he had no respect at all for Selena, an impoverished relative, and retorted unhappily, "Biddeford University isn't a toilet where anyone who wants to can just go in. Aunt Selena, by asking this, do you mean Valentina has been accepted to Biddeford University?" Pena chuckled upon hearing this. Everyone present was aware of Valentina's grades. As for Biddeford University, it was a blessing she could even attend high school in the first place. Her grades weren't good and her family didn't have money. It was estimated that once these exams were over, Valentina would probably start working directly in a factory.