At this moment, Kevin nodded and said, "Live streaming? Just relying on those trendy influencers who strike poses? Ethan, I'm not trying to throw cold water on it, but this thing looks lively — how much real money can it really accumulate? Something that can't be taken seriously can cause a huge stir. Even if you have money, you can't just burn it like this!"
He took a swig of wine and continued, "The film and television industry is worth considering. It's a legitimate industry, after all. But livestreaming was just too muddy. I know a few people in it, and they've spent a lot of money. Now they're so regretful that they pour out their frustrations to me all day."
Ethan simply smiled calmly, not rushing to argue.
With their current limited understanding, how could they have predicted that in the coming years, even the influencers they considered unremarkable would unleash incredible commercial power once TikTok emerged?
The livestream sales frenzy will sweep everything, reshaping consumption patterns and creating countless wealth legends.
Even ordinary agencies will make a fortune.
The tides of the times surged fiercely; only by adapting to the trend could one soar upward.
As someone said, standing right in front of the wind, even pigs can fly.
But few mention that if you miss the right moment, even a pig that flies up will be smashed to pieces.
And those who can keenly seize those fleeting opportunities are extremely rare.
If they found out that Ethan had already made his moves, they would be even more shocked. But he would never say something like this — at least not now.
Brandon then asked several more questions about investment directions and specific strategies, all of which Ethan handled with his skillful bullshit technique, effortlessly defusing them.
This kind of subtle and hidden attitude made Brandon's heart feel like it was being scratched by a cat's paw — itchy, yet helpless.
In the end, he could only sigh and said helplessly, "Alright then... If you need any help, just let us know. Brothers, if you have any other needs, in this small patch of NYC, we can help you save some effort."
Ethan smiled and nodded, "Thanks. If I need anything, I'll definitely reach out."
Brandon immediately added, "If there's any reliable path ahead, I'll join in and bring the brothers along for a piece of it. You probably won't mind, right?"
Ethan burst out laughing at these words, his tone cheerful and generous: "Of course I have no problem. If there's money, we can earn it together. The money is endless. As long as you're willing, just don't look down on my makeshift troupe later."
This statement instantly put Brandon, Kevin, and the others at ease, and a relaxed smile appeared on their faces.
The atmosphere at the table reached its peak, and then gradually came to an end.
...
Inside the parking lot, the night breeze was slightly cool.
Ethan had already become the absolute core of this temporary small circle.
Kevin and Brandon naturally stood on either side of him. When speaking or making suggestions, their eyes would instinctively glance at Ethan first, seeking his opinion.
This subtle shift in status was vividly reflected in every gesture.
Kevin hugged the fashionably dressed young model beside him, yawned, and asked, "Should we continue to the next round, or?"
Ethan glanced at the time, shook his head, and said, "Forget it, I'll go rest first. I have class tomorrow, so we'll meet up next time."
A hint of student fatigue appeared on his face.
Brandon chimed in, "Yeah, I still have some things to handle tonight. Kevin, that rare drink at the bar — let's go have it another day. It's about time for me to go."
Kevin naturally had no objections and agreed with a smile.
Ethan led Maddie toward his car.
When the understated black Audi A4 appeared before her, Maddie, sitting in the passenger seat, felt a trace of surprise flash through her heart.
Why would such a top-tier guy drive an Audi A4? It's not that the A4 is bad, but the gap feels too great.
She couldn't help but sneak a glance at the unfathomable young man beside her.
"What's wrong? What are you thinking?" Ethan keenly noticed her slight distraction and asked casually.
Maddie's heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked away and shook her head in a bit of panic: "No... it's fine!"
She was a bit annoyed by her loss of composure.
Ethan started the car and casually asked, "Where are you staying? I'll take you back."
"NYU Tisch, thank you, Ethan." Maddie quickly gave the address.
"Oh?"
His hand paused slightly while turning the steering wheel, then he turned his head to glance at her, his eyes clearly surprised. "You're still a student?"
Maddie nodded, her voice gentle: "Yes, I just started my senior year this September."
Ethan's inner thoughts: Whoa, great, good, good, Kevin is awesome! He actually brought an art student along?
He hadn't known about Maddie's student status before, but considering the special nature of the arts school and the yacht party's "screening mechanism," it wasn't hard to understand.
Ethan snapped out of his thoughts and said, "Alright!"
The car drove smoothly toward NYU Tisch.
The car finally stopped at a relatively secluded side entrance of the school, away from the noise of the main road.
The streetlight's light filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows inside the car.
"We've arrived." Ethan stopped the car.
"Thank you, Ethan, for bringing me back." Maddie unbuckled her seatbelt and prepared to get out of the car, feeling a strange sense of loss and uncertainty.
Is this adventure really coming to an end?
"Wait a moment." Ethan's voice made her pause in her movements.
He took out his phone and, looking natural, pulled up his iMessage contact: "Add me on iMessage. Contact me if you need anything."
Maddie's heart was instantly filled with immense joy, and she quickly took out her phone to save his number.
Her fingertips trembled slightly with excitement.
Ethan took her phone and smoothly operated it a few times, as if checking something.
After a moment, he handed her the phone back, his tone calm and unruffled: "Alright."
As soon as Maddie took the phone, the screen lit up. It was a bank app deposit notification: [Chase Bank] Your account ending in XXXX received a deposit of $150,000 at X:XX on XX/XX. Available balance...
The long string of zeros that followed instantly left Maddie's mind blank!
She stared wide-eyed in disbelief, staring at the screen and repeatedly checking the number of zeros.
A hundred and fifty thousand? A full $150,000?
The tremendous impact left her completely stunned. After several seconds, a wave of joy swept through her like a tsunami!
She bet right!
This choice completely changed the course of her life!
She knew she would graduate next year and was filled with confusion and anxiety about the future.
Only after a senior in the student council who "has a wide network" strongly persuaded her did she join the yacht party with a hopeless and anxious heart.
The struggle between going and not nearly exhausted all her courage.
And now, that courage was rewarded beyond imagination!
There are 130 advance chapters ahead in my Patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
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