When Jason Carter left the private piano studio, Ava's affectionate gaze practically melted him on the spot.
Of course, Ava was still a "new car" in system terms, so even with her favorability past 80, she wasn't going to pounce on him immediately.
But she did more than enough—besides adding him in the group chat, she personally added Jason's phone number and WhatsApp, almost like she was afraid the universe would somehow erase his contact info.
Jason looked at her elegance and the cultured aura she carried, feeling temptation stir—But he respected the "new car's" sense of reserve.He wouldn't push her or mention hotels.
And as always—Jason refused to lie or hide the fact that he had other women.Everything would depend on the other party's willingness.
On the drive out, Jason opened the system.
Total Favorability: 818 — Completed.
Raise 8 beauties with an 8+ rating to 80 Favorability (9/8):Emma, Quinn, Alice, Agela, Shenna, Julia, Victoria, Tanya Covell, Ava Summers.→ Completed.
Raise 3 beauties with an 8+ rating to 90 (3/3):Holly Larson, Mia, Ava.→ Completed.
Raise 1 beauty with an 8+ rating to 100 (0/1).
Jason rubbed his chin.
"All I need now is one 100-point beauty.Either push one of the three 90+ girls to 100 and then raise one of the 80+ girls to 90…Or push an 80+ girl straight to 100."
The second option was far harder.
He smirked.
"Holly Larson should be back in Houston by now. I haven't seen her since she returned from home.And her birthday is coming up…I'll start with her."
At Villa, he searched around until he finally found Holly Larson in the yoga studio.
She was practicing dance in front of a floor-to-ceiling mirror.For sessions requiring an instructor she rehearsed at school, but for solo practice, this room was far better.
Jason leaned casually against the doorway, admiring her for a long moment before she finally noticed him.
Holly lit up like a spark catching fire and ran straight into him.
"You bad guy—you finally remembered to come home."
Jason laughed."Didn't you just get back from visiting your family too?How was it? Did you have fun?"
"No way! I've been back for days already," Holly pouted. Then she giggled, eyes bright."But this trip home was the happiest I've ever had.
The entire Larson family treated me and Dad with respect.Those cousins who used to bully me were pouring tea and offering seats."
She grinned up at him."It's all because of you, babe. You're incredible."
She kissed him on the cheek and clung to him like a koala.
Holly Larson: Favorability +1
Jason raised a brow—after 90, the favorability bar moved slowly, so even +1 was rare.
He assumed it was a combination of her trip home, pride, gratitude, and now the reunion.The system only displayed whole numbers, not decimals, so everything accumulated and popped at once.
Jason pulled her closer, appreciating her warmth and sweat-soaked energy.
He kissed her—and she kissed back before pulling away with a laugh, breathless.
"I was dancing—I'm sweaty all over.Let me shower first.Want to join me?"
Jason grinned."We can shower later.I want to watch you dance… or maybe dance in the shower."
"You're impossible."Holly shot him a playful glare, but didn't refuse.
She leaned to his ear, whispering,"I learned a chest-roll routine. You'll probably love it."
She hadn't even finished her first dance set before—
After their passionate time together, Holly Larson lay curled softly in Jason Carter's arms, her voice weak and sweet.
"Let me tell you something," she murmured."Because of you, the JadeCreek Rare Metals Separation Plant wants to deepen their partnership with my family.They're proposing a more serious investment cooperation.
Do you think it's a good idea?
If not, don't worry at all.You've already done so much for us.It's better to keep extra money for ourselves—for our little family."
Her last words made Jason smile.She was already siding with him completely.
He kissed her forehead, amused and touched.
"Rare-earth separation is a specialized field. Outsiders might still—"
He didn't finish.
A crisp, mechanical chime echoed in his mind.
DING — System Notification"Opportunity detected near Holly Larson.Assist Holly's family in seizing this opportunity.Allow the Larson family's industry to rise significantly, increasing Holly's status and strengthening her security."
Jason's eyes brightened.
Another opportunity.
His affection for Holly was deeper than for Quinn or the others, and while he didn't need to keep this opportunity for himself…
Well, they were family already.Better he handle it than let the Larson relatives scheme and skim from her.
He continued reading the system details.
SYSTEM — Hidden Opportunity
**"In two weeks, a massive ion-adsorption rare earth deposit will be discovered in the Red River Basin of south Texas.Estimated reserve: 1.1 million tons.Includes over 470,000 tons of strategic elements such as praseodymium, neodymium, dysprosium, and terbium.
It will become the largest mid-to-heavy rare-earth deposit in the United States, critical for new-energy technology, aerospace, and national defense.
Investing in the nearby JadeCreek Rare Metals Separation Plant in advance will produce astronomical profits."**
Jason inhaled sharply.
"Good lord…"
He hadn't expected that helping Holly's family the first time—even just to raise favorability—would uncover a world-shaking opportunity.
Rare-earth mining wasn't small business.It was a global power-industry pipeline divided into three stages:
Stage 1: Mining (Upstream)
Controlled almost entirely by federal-approved conglomerates.Private companies have no access.
Stage 2: Separation & Refining (Midstream)
Where raw ores are decomposed into individual elements.Only a handful of private companies are licensed.JadeCreek is one of them.
Stage 3: Magnet & Alloy Production (Downstream)
Where rare-earth elements become high-tech components for EVs, wind turbines, robotics, defense tech, and electronics.
Holly's family business wasn't even in Stage 3.They were doing a tiny branch of Stage 2—recycling magnets from old e-bikes, packaging boxes, bag clasps, etc., and selling the sorted materials to separation plants.
But when a massive new rare-earth mine appears?
The entire industrial chain in the area explodes with potential.
And Stage 2—the separation plants—would earn the biggest profits of all.
Jason smirked.
"Invest in JadeCreek?Why stop there?"
A bold, thrilling idea surged through him.
"Why don't I just acquire JadeCreek?Then buy out the other separation facilities around it and integrate the whole sector?"
Yes.
That was it.
He immediately grabbed his phone and called Olivia.
Olivia was confused—rare-earth investments weren't her field—but she didn't question Jason.She simply said:
"Understood. I'll begin immediately."
Jason hung up.
Holly, now relaxed and content, didn't pry.She snuggled against his chest, trusting him completely.
Within minutes, she fell asleep.
Jason stroked her hair lightly, already planning the next empire he would build—for both her sake and his own.
There are 150 chapters ahead in my Patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
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