Ethan looked at the huge surprise and disbelief welling up in the girl's eyes, his expression still calm.
The reason he was so "generous" was simple: during those more than two hours in the yacht room, he saw the glaring yet unmistakable red stains on the bedsheets.
This surprised him at the time.
He had always thought Kevin was just arranging "fast-food" social companions, but unexpectedly, this was her first time.
This unexpected discovery made him feel that spending this $150,000 might not be too much of a loss.
At the very least, it was worthy of this sense of 'purity.'
Of course, only he knew the deeper thoughts.
"Go back and get some good rest." Ethan's voice pulled her back to reality from her overwhelming surprise.
"Hmm... Hmm! Thank you, Ethan!" Maddie's voice was choked with emotion. She looked deeply at Ethan, her gaze full of complexity — gratitude, reverence, and perhaps a budding feeling she herself hadn't fully understood.
She pushed open the car door, her steps unsteady as she walked toward the school gate, unable to help but glance back at the Audi A4 blending into the night.
Inside the car, Ethan only nodded slightly to her before driving away without a trace of attachment.
Maddie stood at the school gate, the night breeze brushing against her slightly flushed cheeks.
The notification message about $150,000 on the phone screen was like a giant stone thrown into the lake of the heart, stirring up waves.
The future seemed to be completely rewritten at this moment.
...
The next day.
With no classes in the morning, he spread out a detailed map of Manhattan on his desk.
He held a red pen, his gaze focused, the tip gliding across the map.
Accompanied by the faint rustling sound, memories recall areas with huge potential for appreciation in the coming years: the core business district radial belt, prime school districts, planned subway lines, and emerging technology parks.
Each one was precisely outlined with red circles.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting soft shadows on his focused profile.
Although holding hundreds of millions in cash was enough to keep him secure for several lifetimes, Ethan's desire to "remain vigilant in times of peace" never faded.
But he never gave up. The idea of buying property wasn't to live for himself — it was the last line of defense he had planned for himself.
Because housing will peak in the next seven or eight years, no matter how great the risks your business faces, there will always be a property you can convert into cash as your last safety net.
Even if the company ends up destroyed, he can still live peacefully as a landlord and live a carefree life.
This wasn't unfounded worry, but a security ingrained in his bones.
It wasn't until noon that Kevin finally took a shower, his hair half-dried, changed into clean and neat clothes, and even sprayed some refreshing cologne.
He personally went downstairs to buy food and brought it back.
Ethan lifted his head from the map, looking at the newly refreshed Kevin, and raised his eyebrows in surprise: "Oh? Is the sun rising in the west? What are you..."
Although Kevin was short, eccentric, and selfish, you had to admit he really looked good, and his fashion sense was pretty sharp.
Kevin said calmly, "Class this afternoon! Today is Ms. Carter's class! I heard from a sophomore that no one dares skip her class. She fails you without even being called up, and make-up exams can't save you either!"
His tone carried a hint of lingering fear and rare seriousness.
Ethan chuckled inwardly: Wow, Kevin is addicted to games all day long, yet still has the energy to dig up these rumors. That's rare.
Kevin leaned in, curiously looking at the map on Ethan's desk covered in red circles: "Huh? What are you drawing? The Manhattan Treasure Map?"
He pointed to those red circles.
Ethan didn't even look up and said calmly, "If you remember all the circles I drew, it might help you in the future."
His tone carried a barely perceptible certainty.
Kevin sneered and glanced at the map: "Forget it! Is it mine now? Nonsense! Just drawing a circle and you can get rich — then the streets will be full of billionaires!"
He didn't take it seriously at all, only thinking Ethan was just playing tricks.
Ethan smiled and didn't explain further.
It was like placing a gold mine in front of him, yet he treated it like dirt.
Everyone has their own ambitions; forcing them cannot obtain them.
"Let's go, time for class." Ethan put away the map.
"Wait a moment, I need a key." After finishing training, Kevin had gritted his teeth and used a semester's living expenses to buy a bike. This was the perfect time to show off.
In 2014, riding a brand-new little motorcycle around campus was, for him, a small form of vanity satisfaction.
Afternoon class.
The two slipped into the classroom right on time, heading straight for the last row.
Marcus and Derek arrived early and reserved seats for Ethan.
As soon as he sat down, Marcus excitedly pulled Ethan aside and started chatting about everything under the sun.
Ethan responded absentmindedly, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
The entire afternoon quietly slipped away amid the banter.
...
School dismissed in the afternoon.
At the entrance of the teaching building.
Amid the bustling crowd, Ethan accurately spotted Nora, who was about to leave alone.
"Nora, wait a moment."
The girl turned around at the sound and saw it was Ethan, saying, "Ethan? What's wrong?"
"You don't have to cook for me today. I'll take you somewhere." Ethan's tone was natural, leaving no room for refusal.
Nora was a bit confused, but still quietly followed behind Ethan.
Ethan brought her to a newly opened ramen shop she had happened to see yesterday while driving back to school.
The entrance was filled with the rich and tempting aroma of slow-cooked broth.
Lifting the curtain and stepping inside, Ethan called out to the busy owner, "Hey, two bowls of Southern noodles, please! Add three servings of toppings — mushrooms, chicken, and pork! Extra pickled vegetables!"
Nora stared in surprise and blurted out, "You want to eat here?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a clear rumbling sound came from her stomach.
Her face instantly flushed red, she hurriedly clutched her stomach, her eyes darting around, but she couldn't help but secretly swallow her saliva.
The aroma in the shop was simply irresistible — it was the taste of her hometown etched deep in her bones.
Soon, two steaming bowls piled high with toppings were served.
The rich dark broth and snow-white noodles piled with glossy mushrooms, crispy chicken, soft pork, garnished with vibrant green scallions and a drizzle of chili oil. The most eye-catching feature was the tangy pickled vegetables, full of color, aroma, and flavor, making your mouth water.
Ethan pushed one of the bowls in front of her, his voice very soft: "Go ahead... Specially ordered for you. It's my treat."
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