Jason was enjoying the crab cakes and barbecue lamb Olivia had sent over while scrolling through his phone.
He hadn't bothered staying in the dorm that night. Ever since he bought the villa, there was no point in wasting it. A drive from campus to the villa in his Lamborghini was just a couple hours round trip—not a big deal.
And since he was back, why not enjoy the hot spring?
Of course, hot springs were only really fun if you brought a beautiful woman along. Besides, it was always a good way to build favorability.
Opening up his messages, Jason noticed something. Megan, Quinn, and Holly—girls who had been reaching out to him regularly—hadn't messaged at all these past two or three days, not since they all happened to sit together in the cafeteria.
Jason didn't overthink it. He wasn't about to explain himself to anyone. His attention shifted instead to two other women: Grace and Alice, both professional models he'd met at a recent auto show.
Alice had sent him a stream of messages:
Alice:"Jason, look at this new designer bag. Isn't it gorgeous? And this skincare set too…"
Grace's texts, on the other hand, had a different vibe:
Grace:"Jason, the auto show is just about wrapped up. You still haven't come by. I've also been practicing cooking—learned a few new dishes. Want to try them sometime?"
The contrast was clear.
At the auto show, both women had been stunning, but their personalities couldn't have been more different.
When they'd gone shopping, Alice had blown through over $40,000 on handbags and still wasn't satisfied. The sugary messages she'd sent him since then were nothing but veiled demands for more gifts. And when Jason hadn't indulged, her texts dwindled. Instead, her social media filled with photos of expensive presents she was getting from other men. Clearly, she'd already moved on to new targets.
Grace was different. When Alice had insisted on buying more that day, Grace had actually told her to dial it back. Her recent texts had all been warm, considerate, and—most importantly—comfortable.
Jason wasn't naïve. He knew Grace wanted something too. But at least her approach made the game pleasant.
But he really don't care much, anyway already enjoy what he should.
He shot her a reply.
Jason:"Been busy with school these days. Still have to remind myself I'm a student, after all."
Her response came within seconds:
Grace:"Haha, that's true. Jason's still in college—of course studies come first."
Jason smirked, then typed back:
Jason:"Heading to the hot springs tonight. You free to join?"
Grace:"Of course. I'm free now."
Jason:"Want me to pick you up?"
Grace:"No need—it's too much trouble for you. Just send me the address. I'll come over."
[Grace: Favorability +2]
Jason nodded to himself. She knew how to play the game—making things easy while increasing her appeal. A good choice.
Afterward, he skimmed through messages from his car enthusiast group, the Prestige Auto Club.
Some members were pushing high-end watches. Others wanted to sell cars. A few were pitching media investment opportunities.
Then he noticed that two real estate sharks who'd been bugging him for capital, had joined the group too. The chat was buzzing with the news of Jason's recent $5.5 million all-cash purchase of a mansion. Naturally, people now saw him as an investment magnet.
Jason just browsed, filing away contacts and possibilities. He had no shortage of money right now. And if these connections could be turned into resources, why not?
A short drive later, Jason pulled up to his hot spring villa in the Lamborghini. Parking the car, he walked to the entrance.
He spotted Grace waving. She had arrived ahead of him, dressed simply in white spaghetti-strap top and cutoff denim shorts. Nothing extravagant—yet her toned, curvy figure was impossible to miss.
Many men passing through the lobby couldn't take their eyes off Grace. A few even circled past three times just to sneak another look.
"I've heard this hot spring resort is incredible," Grace said with bright enthusiasm, slipping her arm through Jason's and pressing herself softly against him. "I've always wanted to come, but work's been keeping me busy."
The sight instantly drew waves of jealousy. Several guys who had been watching clenched their teeth—first at Grace's bold intimacy, then at Jason's effortless confidence. And when they noticed that Jason had just pulled up in a Lamborghini, most gave up entirely, resigning themselves with bitter sighs.
Jason chuckled. "I came here once before and liked it so much, I figured I'd bring you along to try it yourself."
The two checked in and headed for the locker rooms. When Grace stepped out in her swimsuit, her curves were revealed in full—lush where Holly Larson's figure was more slim, with soft fullness that drew every gaze in the room.
Jason, meanwhile, drew a very different kind of attention. As soon as he emerged shirtless, Grace's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected his physique to be that refined—broad shoulders, tight waist, and muscles that looked like they were carved by an artist.
Even strangers couldn't help but stare. Some women actually whispered in admiration; some men silently vowed to hit the gym starting tomorrow (though whether they'd stick with it was another matter entirely).
"Jason… your body is ridiculous," Grace murmured, unable to resist reaching out and running her hand across his abs.
[Grace: Favorability +5]
Jason leaned close, whispering with a sly grin, "Just wait. You'll get to feel more of it later."
Grace gave him a playful side glance, then pressed herself even tighter against him. Together they made their way into the steaming pools, choosing a more secluded corner.
Grace naturally nestled into Jason's arms, and he wrapped his arm around her without hesitation. After only a short while, his body gave an undeniable reaction. Grace glanced down, cheeks flushing, then giggled softly. "Guess you're not just good-looking—you're strong too."
Jason smirked, but kept his composure. After all, this was a shared bath. No matter the temptation, he'd have to wait until they were back at his villa before things could really escalate. He smoothly changed the subject, steering the conversation elsewhere.
Before long, Grace shifted into gossip—something girls never failed to deliver.
She mentioned Alice and Ally, saying both of them had recently joined an exclusive influencer circle called The Brilliant Club. According to her, Mia had already found a couple of high-roller backers through live streaming, and her popularity was climbing fast.
Jason's interest was piqued. Alice and Ally had both given him favorability before, and this Mia in particular… he hadn't actually met her yet.
A thought formed in his mind: where did the most beautiful women gather? The modeling industry, the entertainment world, and the streaming scene. Conveniently, some of the people pitching him investments lately were in media. That overlap was promising.
"Sam, you ever thought about streaming yourself?" Jason asked casually.
"Of course," she said with a sigh. "Auto shows only happen once in a while, and the salary barely covers things. Streaming could be an extra income source. Plus, it would raise my rate at shows. The problem is, I tried for a bit but hardly got any views. It's hard to get traction."
Jason tilted his head. "Why not join a management club? Wouldn't they boost your exposure?"
Grace shook her head. "It's not that simple. Clubs have tons of restrictions. Even if they sign you, they'll probably just stick you in a newcomer program, let you grind for years. And if you ever want to break the contract, the penalty fees are brutal."
Jason smiled faintly. "But what if someone backed you directly?"
Grace froze for a second, then her eyes lit up. Hugging his neck tightly, she pressed her lips against his cheek and whispered with a sweet, playful lilt, "Jason… do you mean you'd back me?"
[Grace: Favorability +5]
Jason grinned. "Don't get too excited yet—it's not decided."
He waved over a staff member, asked them to bring his phone, and then scrolled through his contacts before making a call.
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