Jason Carter and Holly Larson had stayed at the seaview villa for three days, wrapped in a haze of passion and newness that felt almost unreal.
After all, once you tasted the forbidden fruit, it was hard to restrain yourself. Jason's original plan—to quietly siphon off the fifth "dog-licker's" gold—had been put on hold.
That morning, he was stretched out on a lounge chair, sunbathing on the private beach, when his phone buzzed with a message in the dorm group.
Mike: "Where the hell have you been? You've been gone for days. No classes, no roll calls, no professors breathing down your neck? It's like you don't even exist anymore!"
Jason smirked. With six hundred credits already "donated," no one dared mark him absent or dock him for missed assignments. Degrees in this world didn't require sweat or sacrifice—they were simply delivered with a smile, as if by magic.
With his current level of mental power, Jason could easily handle the coursework anyway. But studying wasn't even on his radar right now.
He snapped a photo of himself with Holly wrapped around his arm and sent it back.
Jason: "Out enjoying life. Why? What's up?"
The replies came instantly.
Mike: "Damn!"
Eathan: "Damn!"
If before there had only been rumors that Jason and Holly were getting closer, this photo was the iron-clad confirmation. Their hearts soured instantly.
After all, Holly wasn't just anyone. She was the Holly Larson—the dance department's star, one of the five legendary campus queens. Her beauty, her figure, the way she moved on stage—every guy dreamed of her.
And now Jason had her.
It was unthinkable. A month ago, he'd been pathetically orbiting Emma, the least attractive of the five. He couldn't even win her over. Now he had flipped his life upside down—turned into a wealthy heir, and snatched Holly out of everyone's reach.
"Guess money really can buy anything," one of them thought bitterly.
From another angle, though, there was a silver lining. If Jason had locked down Holly, that meant Quinn and Megan—two of the other campus queens—were safe from him.
Just then, Mike typed again:
"Bro, our university town is hosting a talent showcase tomorrow night. Big sponsors, fat prizes, and tons of beautiful women. Even our school's flower, Mia, is performing. And girls from other schools too—Olivia, Grace, Alice… it's loaded. I can get us a spot; one of my high school buddies is on the student union. He's helping run the event."
Jason thought it over. Holly's favorability was maxed out for now—there was no grinding points off her at the moment. If he kept hiding away, things would stagnate. It was time to push Mission Five forward and rob the next gold.
Jason: "I'm in. I want to see the beauties in this university town for myself."
The group chat exploded.
Mike: "Wait, you already have Holly, and you still want to look?"
Eathan: "That's just greedy, man."
mike: "Third brother, aren't you afraid Holly might see you typing this?"
Jason glanced at Holly beside him, smiled, and typed:
"Why would she see it accidentally? She's sitting right next to me."
The three roommates were stunned into silence.
What kind of monster says that in front of his girlfriend?
But that was Jason Carter. He couldn't be bound, not even by Holly Larson herself.
Holly Larson only gave Jason Carter a sidelong glance when he teased her about going to the showcase to see other beauties. She didn't get angry—in truth, she had accepted this part of him from the beginning. The only thing she had ever worried about was whether she would be shortchanged in the relationship.
But with Jason? That concern didn't exist.
A motorboat worth over $200,000, a luxury sailboat over $2 million, and a seaview villa valued at nearly $18 million—each gift from him had already catapulted her and her father's status within the Larson family to heights she'd never imagined.
With a wealthy boyfriend like Jason, what more could she demand?
"How about it? Want to go together and admire the talent?" Jason asked, raising an eyebrow.
Holly smiled slyly. "Don't tempt me. I'd love to see all those beautiful girls perform, but I can't come this time. My dad asked me to come home. With my status climbing so fast, I want to enjoy the feeling of making my stuck-up relatives choke on their own words."
Jason nodded. "Fair enough. I'll go on my own then."
Holly leaned close, nibbling his ear. "I won't stop you from letting loose, but if you play, be careful. Don't touch anyone… unclean."
Jason chuckled. "Relax. You know I won't."
For an ordinary guy, such a promise might sound hollow. But Jason, backed by his system's appraisal function, could tell a woman's purity at a glance. His words weren't just bravado—they were guaranteed.
Still, Jason wasn't about to stroll into the showcase like an ordinary student. He didn't even bother contacting Mike's high school classmate who was on the student union board.
Instead, he gestured for his secretary, to come over. After a short, whispered order, she instantly understood. His efficiency saved Jason from countless trivial details.
She pulled out his phone and dialed Lweis, the manager of Vision Media. The man answered in seconds, his tone dripping with respect. Everyone knew she was Jason's personal secretary—in other words, Jason's voice.
"What are Mr Carter's instructions?" Lweis asked eagerly.
"We're expanding our entertainment division, aren't we? Have you considered recruiting some college town talent?" She asked.
"We've already brought in a few, but if the Mr wishes, we can recruit more," Lweis replied quickly.
"There's a talent showcase tomorrow night," she said smoothly. "Let's go check it out."
"Understood. Should we prepare a judge's seat or VIP seating for the Mr?"
"VIP," she ordered. "And arrange three front-row seats as well."
"It will be done," Lweis answered without hesitation.
That night, perhaps because they would soon part ways for a few days, Jason and Holly indulged in each other twice before sleeping.
The following morning, Holly went home, while Jason returned to campus. By evening, he set out for the university town's central square with Mike and eathan. Since the venue was nearby, they walked.
On the way, they ran into Adam, a member of the Piano Society. That wasn't surprising—Adam had always been interested in talent showcases.
"Adam! Heading to the talent party too?" Mike asked, greeting him warmly.
"Yeah, you guys as well?" Adam replied politely. But when his eyes landed on Jason, his expression stiffened for a moment.
Not long ago, Emma had sent Adam two photos. One was of Jason holding Holly's hand. The other was Holly clinging to Jason on the back of his sleek motorbike. Adam had been crushed when he saw them.
He had forced himself to accept reality—that Holly had chosen Jason. But facing Jason in person was another story. Even if Jason had never wronged him directly, even if Adam had once enjoyed riding Jason's expensive motorboat, seeing him now still made Adam's chest tighten with resentment.
Forget it, Adam told himself bitterly. I'll just shift my attention to Mia. At least she hasn't been touched by him. The thought gave him a fragile sense of relief.
Soon they arrived at the square. The place was alive with music and voices. The central plaza was packed, the glow of magical lanterns and enchanted banners lighting up the night like a festival. The stage at the center pulsed with energy, promising beauty, talent, and drama.
The showcase was about to begin.
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