The acquisition of HarmonyStar Piano Corporation wrapped up faster than anyone had expected.
Ava Summers, Lily, Grace, and Professor Walter Lee were still staring blankly at the conference room table, their minds struggling to reboot.
A corporation worth $110 million USD…acquired just like that…
It was beyond shocking.
Even TV drama CEOs didn't throw money around like this.
Lily swallowed hard."Is this real life? He just… bought HarmonyStar Piano?"
Grace looked at Ava, her voice trembling somewhere between awe and disbelief."And he obviously made that decision after hearing how your piano career was being blocked. But if he really spent a hundred ten million because of you… my tiny heart cannot handle this. This would be the most romantic thing in existence."
Ava stared at Jason Carter, completely dazed.
Her heartbeat was a confused, frantic flutter—like a deer in headlights.
Because she could tell.
He hadn't considered acquiring HarmonyStar until the moment he heard she was being unfairly held back by her university's corrupt system.
Jason had said it was just business, but—
What kind of business deal is decided in ten minutes?
What kind of businessman buys a hundred-million-dollar corporation on impulse?
Everything about it felt like he'd done it… for her.
But that made no sense.
They had only known each other for two days.
Yes, Ava defended him yesterday when others mocked him.And yes, Jason took her to the amusement park afterward.And yes, he booked her a luxury suite at the Grand Meridian Hotel last night.
And today, she was teaching him piano out of pure kindness.
But that small chain of friendly gestures—how could any of that be worth a $110 million acquisition?
Did Jason Carter fall in love with her at first sight?
It didn't feel like it.Jason was far too calm, too composed, too indifferent-looking for a lovestruck billionaire.
He had acquired HarmonyStar Piano with the same casualness as buying a new sofa.As if $110 million truly meant nothing to him.
Ava couldn't understand it.
But she felt something deep in her chest shift—like a spark igniting.
She had never read billionaire-romance novels, but she was living one now.
Her heart thumped harder.Ava Summers: Favorability +10
Jason turned to his assistant."Olivia, make sure they arrange a spot for Senior Ava Summers."
Olivia nodded sharply and stepped aside to execute the order.
Barely three minutes passed before Ava's phone rang.
She froze.
Her hands shook slightly as she answered.
"Hello?" she said.
A bright, enthusiastic voice came through."Hello, Miss Ava Summers! This is Professor Daniel Zhang from the New York Conservatory of Music. We understand you applied for our masterclass and academic exchange program…"
Ava's breath caught.Originally, she needed a professor's recommendation—one that she was denied due to campus politics and bribes.
She tried to explain, voice small,"Yes, it… it was supposed to be submitted by my professor…"
The professor on the line laughed kindly."Oh, don't worry about that. Entry spots are determined by our faculty, not your university. We've reviewed your performance recordings—your technique and musicality are exceptional, even by conservatory standards. We would be thrilled to welcome you here. We believe you'll grow tremendously and inspire our other students as well."
Ava blinked rapidly, her voice trembling."…Thank you, Professor Zhang. Truly."
As she hung up, she looked at Jason—
And finally realized:
This wasn't the world bending for him.
This was Jason bending the world… for her.
After Ava Summers hung up the call, she stood frozen in place.
The opportunity she had chased for months—the one blocked by petty politics at her university—had just been handed to her effortlessly.
They even told her not to worry about her professor.The "mountain" that once crushed her dreams had vanished like dust.
Before she could breathe properly, her phone buzzed again. And again.
"Hello, Miss Ava Summers, this is the organizing committee of the StarSea National Piano Competition. We'd like to formally invite you—"
"Miss Summers, this is the Vice President of the American Piano Teachers' Guild. We understand you're seeking a spot for the Chopin International Piano Competition…"
Ava's head spun.
Opportunities she had begged for—Rejections she had swallowed—Doors that stayed shut for years—
Now poured into her phone like cheap spam notifications.
Beside her, Lily and Grace were stunned silent.
They had thought Walter Lee's recommendation was already impressive…But seeing what happened after Jason Carter bought an entire corporation?
This was beyond impressive. This was incomprehensible.
Ava looked up at Jason, her eyes wide, her heart trembling.Tears gathered along her lashes—emotion, disbelief, and something dangerously warm all mingling.
It was now painfully clear.
Jason didn't buy HarmonyStar Piano Corporation for himself.
He bought it for her.
To clear every obstacle.To brighten every path.To lift her from a dead-end struggle onto a golden road.
Throughout her life, many boys had tried to impress her—flowers, chocolates, rehearsed speeches.
But she never felt anything.Most efforts felt like pressure or obligation.
Yet everything Jason did slipped past her defenses and struck directly at her heart.
Why would a boy she'd known for barely two days do all this?
Love rarely needed a reason.
Her pulse raced out of control.Ava Summers: Favorability +15
A soft notification blinked in Jason's interface.
Ava Summers — Favorability: 80Status updated.
Name: Ava SummersAge: 22Looks: 8.9Height: 5'7"Weight: 117 lbsFavorability: 0 → 80Ex-boyfriend: NoneSTD: None
Jason nodded in satisfaction.
Two days, and Ava's bar was already nearly maxed.Money was truly brutal and efficient.
He was in a great mood, so he said casually,"Olivia, also arrange a few opportunities for Senior Grace and Senior Lily."
Olivia immediately understood.Ava's path needed to be fully paved—Grace and Lily just needed a little boost.
Even so, both girls nearly cried from gratitude.
"Jason, thank you so much!" Lily exclaimed.
"Junior Jason," Grace gushed, clutching Ava's arm, "you're literally the perfect man! TV drama CEOs can't compare to you at all. Ava—what are you waiting for? Go get him!"
Lily nodded vigorously."Now we're sure—he bought HarmonyStar for you. One hundred ten million dollars, for you. That's not romance—that's the greatest love story ever told. Compared to him, every guy who ever gave a girl jewelry or designer bags is… insignificant."
Both girls were already shipping them harder than Amazon Prime.
Usually, girls nitpicked their friends' crushes.But this time?
Jason Carter was too perfect to complain about.
Ava panicked, her cheeks burning.She had focused only on piano her entire life; she had no experience with romance.
She opened her mouth—her mind blank—
"If you… want to keep learning piano… um… you can always come find me."
Grace and Lily smacked their foreheads.
That's what you came up with?!
Ava realized it sounded awkward and insufficient, so she added softly, face red:
"I mean… anytime."
Her voice trembled slightly.
Jason simply smiled.
And Ava's heart flipped again.
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