Jason smiled lightly.
"After acquiring the Piano Group, my network naturally expanded. I didn't need to look for anything—people came to me on their own."
"Through them, I heard about this piano. The original owner was actually willing to part with it."
"With a small premium, it came to twenty-two million dollars."
Ava froze.
Jason talked about twenty-two million as casually as if he had spent two hundred dollars.
She wasn't concerned about the transaction itself. What mattered was the result—
The legendary Steinway 'Pictures at an Exhibition' was standing right in front of her.
She thought to herself: If Jason had told me about this earlier, I wouldn't have cared about rebelling at all. I would've rushed over the moment I heard.
For a pianist, this piano was far more tempting than any novelty, luxury, or indulgence.
Her lips trembled slightly.
"Jason… can I touch it?"
Jason nodded without hesitation.
"Of course. A piano is meant to be played."
"And yes," he added with a faint smile,"you know Pictures at an Exhibition. Playing it on this piano should feel… different."
"I know it," Ava said softly, her fingers carefully tracing the exquisite casing."But it's extremely difficult. With my current level, I wouldn't dare say I can truly do it justice."
She sat down on the bench, took a deep breath, and gently placed her hands on the keys.
As the first notes rang out—
Simple rhythms, measured steps—
A vivid image unfolded naturally.
It felt as if the listener were strolling through an art gallery, pausing in front of one painting after another, savoring each piece in quiet contemplation.
This was the first movement—
"Promenade."
The core theme of the entire suite.
A thread that wove the work into a complete, living whole.
As the piece progressed, each movement shifted in style and mood—
As if colorful paintings were being unrolled one by one, carrying the listener through different spaces, different emotions, different worlds.
Thirty minutes later, Ava finished.
She exhaled slowly.
It wasn't perfect.
But it was the best she had ever played this piece in her life.
It felt as if the piano itself had lent her a soul—
As if her technique had undergone a quiet sublimation.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Jason, who had been reclining casually on the nearby sofa, applauded sincerely.
Ava turned to look at him.
Her eyes were filled with a warmth she hadn't noticed before.
She wondered—
Did Jason know that even when she rebelled, it wasn't because she hated the piano?
It was because she hated the pressure.
Deep down, she still wanted to play.
So he had prepared this piano long ago.
Not just any piano—
But this one.
A Steinway Pictures at an Exhibition.
Twenty million dollars.
And immeasurable meaning.
Whether he had planned it or not no longer mattered.
What mattered was—
This place wasn't just a refuge.
It was a dreamland.
Or rather—
It wasn't the place.
It was Jason.
As long as she was by his side, she had everything—
Relaxation.Comfort.Freedom.Dreams.Joy.Sweetness.
All of it.
Ava Summers: Favorability +3
She smiled gently.
"Jason, didn't we agree we'd play together?"
"Your turn," she said softly. "Let me see how much you've improved."
Jason didn't hesitate.
He walked over and sat beside her, then began to play.
Ava was once again surprised by his progress.
There were still flaws—of course—
But compared to before, his improvement was undeniable.
So she began to teach him.
Hand in hand.
Literally.
Her soft, slender fingers repeatedly guided his hands, placing them carefully on the keys.
Jason was equally unreserved.
At times, he took her hand in return.
Sometimes—intentionally—he brushed it lightly, lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
Ava's cheeks flushed faintly.
But she didn't pull away.
She felt comfortable.
Sweet.
The closer she was, the more at ease she felt—
Not just emotionally, but physically too.
Her heart beat faster as a thought crossed her mind.
Is this… the legendary physiological attraction?
Is it really this direct?
Ava Summers: Favorability +2
Under the warm lights of the piano room,music flowed—and something far more dangerous quietly took root.
Ava Summers' favorability has exceeded 90. Status updated. Please check.
Name: Ava SummersAge: 22Appearance: 8.9Height: 170 cmWeight: 53 kgFavorability: 80 → 90Ex-boyfriends: NoneSTDs: None
Special Trait — Opportunity Sense:Able to detect key opportunities around her and provide timely reminders, helping her avoid missing critical chances and build a more complete life.
After a long while, Ava suddenly felt a wave of warmth rush through her body.
She stood up abruptly, her cheeks flushed, and said a little hurriedly,"It's really late… I should head back."
Jason Carter smiled naturally."It's already this late. If you go back now, won't you disturb your parents?"
"Just stay here tonight. There are plenty of rooms—you can choose whichever one you like."
Ava's face turned even redder.
"Wouldn't that be… inappropriate?" she asked softly."Won't your girlfriend misunderstand?"
Jason replied calmly, without the slightest hesitation,"My girlfriends all knew from the beginning that I wouldn't be exclusive."
Ava stared at him, stunned.
Could someone really say something like that so casually?
And yet—
Strangely enough, she didn't feel disgusted.
Perhaps because Jason had never tried to hide it.He hadn't tricked her.He hadn't pressured her.
Everything was laid out plainly.
And truthfully, she hadn't sacrificed much for him—teaching him piano, asking friends about houses, driving him home. Those were all small things.
On the other hand, Jason had done far more.
He had spent hundreds of millions to clear a path for her music career.
He might be a playboy—
But he was also generous, gentle in his own way, and honest.
What he gave her was something even many so-called "exclusive" boyfriends could never offer.
Still, it would be a lie to say she felt nothing at all.
She had grown up believing relationships were one-to-one.If she had a choice, of course she wanted him only for herself.
Not being able to have him exclusively made her feel a little irritated.
She glared at him lightly.
"You're really shameless," she said."A playboy who's this self-righteous—how did your girlfriends even agree to that?"
Jason laughed."I don't know either. They just did."
Then he added casually,"If you're curious, you can try it yourself."
Ava shook her head, half amused, half annoyed."Try it? That sounds like walking straight into a trap."
"They weren't wrong when they said you're not just any bad guy."
Jason chuckled."Who's the wolf and who's the sheep—that's not so clear yet."
"I'm only asking you to stay one night, Senior. Are you overthinking it?"
He raised his hands slightly."Relax. I promise to behave."
"Hmph." Ava smiled faintly."I'd be crazy to believe you."
But after a moment of hesitation—
She stayed.
It was too late, and she didn't want to disturb Eric and Angela. She also didn't continue playing the piano.
Instead, she chose a suite next to Jason's room.
After showering, she changed into one of his shirts.
Lying on the bed, she tossed and turned.
She had heard people say that staying overnight at a man's place meant a tacit agreement to something more.
Thinking about it, she realized she didn't really resist the idea.
She even felt a faint sense of anticipation.
Jason made her feel unbelievably comfortable.
Her thoughts drifted uncontrollably, imagining closeness, warmth, and intimacy.
But when she calmed down, hesitation crept back in.
Wasn't this too fast?
And Jason had more than one girlfriend…
She wasn't guarding herself against him anymore—that much was clear.
But she still hoped things could progress more slowly, more naturally.
Yet now that she was already here, would refusing seem like pretending to be innocent?
Jason had already done so much for her.
What if she disappointed him?
What if he simply stopped caring?
Ava stared at the ceiling, heart restless.
For the first time in her life, she realized—
Being cherished could be just as terrifying as being controlled.
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