Lee goes with Suhan to an area with inflatables, hover play cars, and other activities for children to entertain themselves.

  Just before the cutting of the cake, Suhan has to go and change outfits; a group of rich kids from school approach Lee and start mocking him. Lee ignores them, but his brain still captures and logs all of the insults.

  “Look at him; just because my cousin invited him, he thinks that he is Mr Important,” says a girl.

  “I know, right? Did he even bring a gift?” asks a boy.

  “A gift? How? Look at his clothes,” says a different boy. “What could he have bought?”

  Just then, an older boy gets behind the three of them, pulls his hand back, and in a single swing slaps the back of the head of them all. The two boys and girl look behind them.

  “What right do you have to be humiliating a friend of my sister, a friend of your cousin?” the boy says; then looking at Lee, he adds, “Sure, he might be dressed a bit shabby, but even so, my family, if not for the lucky fortune of my great-grandfather, we could be like him or even worse.”

  Shortly after, Suhan re-enters the party in a fancy dress and approaches the centre stage where a single chair has been placed.

  “Thank you all for having come to my fifth birthday party,” Suhan says, taking a soft bow in gratitude. “Soon we will be cutting the cake, but first, as is a tradition in my family, I will be opening your gifts.” Suhan then takes a step back and sits on the chair, and Lee notices that the boy that scolded the kids making fun of Lee gives her a thumbs up.

  “How long did she practice that speech?” Lee asks the boy while clapping and smiling.

  The boy is temporarily taken aback, then says, “She spent the whole evening yesterday rehearsing it.”

  “That’s a surprise,” Lee says looking sideways at the boy. “Knowing her, I would have thought she spent the whole week.” He then turns to face the boy and extends his hand. “Thank you for interfering on my behalf just now.”

  The boy shakes his head and accepts Lee’s extended hand. “No problem; I noticed that you were friends with my sister. She is the princess of the family.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “This one is from Lee Watson,” Lee hears a voice say as a man passes Lee’s gift to Suhan; the latter looks around and smiles as Lee waves at her.

  As Suhan undoes the wrap, a plain box is visible. “Look at that; no money even to get a proper box,” says Suhan’s cousin.

  As she opens one side of the box, two objects come out; when Suhan sees the phone pendant, a radiant smile appears on her face; then looking at the keychain, she examines it and looks at the stone inside the keychain. A laughter comes from the younger generation, but in contrast, a gasp is heard from the older generation.

  A man dressed in a three-piece suit steps next to Suhan and takes the keychain to examine it; then he notices the phone pendant with the identical intricate pattern of strings.

  Looking around, he calls out, “May Master Rasten come here, please?” An elderly man approaches. “May you please take a look at my daughter's gifts?” the man says, and by his words, Lee figures out that he is Mr Grassphin, Suhan’s father.

  “Oh my, for all the stars in the galaxy!” the elderly man exclaims. “This is a fine art work, a true relic from the past, and your daughter receives two? Whoever gave her this probably wasn't aware of the true value.”

  Suhan’s father asks tentatively, “I thought so, but how much are we talking about?”

  “This one alone,” the elderly man says lifting the phone pendant, “I would say is at a value of ten thousand yen.” At this, the whole venue turns silent, to the point that a pin could be heard if someone dropped it.

  “Are you sure?” Suhan’s father asks, and the old man nods. Then Suhan’s father looks around. “Is Lee Watson still here?”

  Lee takes one step forward. “That would be me, sir.” Suhan’s father waves him forward and Lee approaches.

  “Did you know the value of these antiques?” Suhan’s father asks.

  Lee shakes his head. “They are not antiques, sir; I made them myself,” Lee says and shows the pendant that he too has on his phone. “This one here is a beast crystal; in my opinion, it is the most expensive I could give.”

  At Lee’s words, someone else approaches the stage; looking up, Lee sees that it is Wren, Suhan’s older brother. He then removes an odd rod-like object and waves it over the keychain; then his watch beeps and an hologram of the Spragly Rabbit is visible, alongside with the indication that it’s a level four beast stone.

  “He is right; it is a beast stone, and it’s at the value of two hundred and fifty yen,” Wren says, then looking at Lee adds, “And until yesterday, it was registered under someone named Zurc.”

  “May I please take a look at it?” says a woman approaching, and Suhan passes the keychain; she starts to examine it closely; then with her phone she scans it; finally, she says looking at Suhan’s father, “This indeed was made recently, which only makes it even more expensive, and as it has an intact beast gem, it adds to the value.” She then looks around the crowd and announces, “Brother, this keychain alone is expensive enough to buy your company twice.”

  Everyone takes in a sharp breath, and somewhere a thump of a body landing on the ground is heard.

  “Lee, young man, are you sure you would like to give my daughter these gifts?” asks Suhan’s father.

  “Why not?” Lee says with a shrug. “I made them for her, so why would I take them back? Besides, I can always make more of them.”

  Suhan steps off the chair and hugs Lee. “Thank you, Lee; they are beautiful and I love them.”

  “No problem; you are a good friend,” Lee says stroking her back.