Jason was tempted by the idea of swimming at the beach on this warm summer day. The cool water would feel refreshing against his skin. However, he quickly reconsidered when he learned that Lin's parents would be there. To make matters more complicated, Jiang Chuchu would also be tagging along as an awkward third wheel. This knowledge was enough to make Jason politely decline the invitation.
He carefully typed a message to Lin: "I'd love to swim with you at the beach, but since you're spending time with your parents, I should probably stay out of the way. It might be uncomfortable for everyone." He paused before adding, "If it was just you and Jiang Chuchu though, I'd race over from Devil's Gate without thinking twice."
Jason smiled to himself as he sent the message. In his mind, Jiang Chuchu was harmless and easy to ignore. She couldn't compare to Lin in terms of beauty, charm, or presence. True, Jiang was taller, and perhaps her figure was more noticeable, but aside from that, Jason didn't see her as competition for Lin's attention or his affection.
After sending the message, Jason's thoughts drifted. He suddenly realized he'd been comparing the two women's physical appearances, which made him feel a bit ashamed. Still, he couldn't help but notice the differences. Lin had a modest, slender figure, while Jiang was more curvaceous.
This observation led Jason down an unexpected path of thinking. Most of the beautiful women he'd encountered—including Lin and Su Qiqi—shared similar features: they were gorgeous, fair-skinned, had long legs, slim waists, and delicate lips. Yet many of them had smaller chests. He wondered if this was some kind of cosmic pattern he'd never noticed before.
"Is this how life works?" he pondered. "When the gods open one door, they close another? Perhaps perfect beauty doesn't exist in every dimension." He shook his head at these shallow musings, grateful that Lin couldn't read his thoughts. If she knew what was going through his mind, she would surely be offended and probably give him a well-deserved smack on the head.
Despite his occasionally inappropriate thoughts, Lin somehow trusted Jason. She wasn't entirely sure why she had so much faith in someone who could be so clueless about proper behavior, but there was something about him that felt reliable beneath his flawed exterior.
Back in reality, Lin read Jason's message and stuck out her tongue playfully at her phone. "Maybe it's better if Jason doesn't come after all," she thought to herself. Having him around her parents would create an awkward situation. Her father might drink too much wine with Jason again, leading to embarrassing stories and questions that Lin would rather avoid. Family gatherings were complicated enough without adding a male friend to the mix.
While still messaging Lin, Jason's phone buzzed with a notification. It was a text from Qiqi. Now caught between two conversations, Jason hurried to the bathroom, looked at himself in the mirror, and muttered, "Have I somehow become more handsome recently?"
He studied his reflection, wondering why two beautiful women were suddenly messaging him so frequently. Not long ago, he felt invisible to everyone. He was just another single guy, sitting alone in his rented room after work, with no social life to speak of.
Jason touched his face, examining his features. His skin did look clearer lately, and perhaps there was more confidence in his eyes. Maybe his luck in relationships was finally changing for the better.
"Who am I kidding?" he laughed to himself. "I'm not suddenly handsome enough for these amazing women to be chasing after me."
The reality, Jason knew, was much more practical. His financial situation had improved significantly. He had money now, and with it came status and a certain kind of power. That's what truly made a man attractive in this world. Without those things, physical appearance hardly mattered.
With this humbling realization, Jason decided to close his chat with Lin for the moment and focus on responding to Qiqi. His typing skills weren't great, and he couldn't manage multiple conversations simultaneously like people who were good at time management.
Besides, there was another practical concern: if he accidentally sent the wrong message to the wrong person, especially if Lin discovered he was chatting with another woman at the same time, it could lead to serious misunderstandings. Better to be careful and handle one conversation at a time. "Let's keep Lin's ship sailing smoothly," he thought.
Jason felt clever for this approach, though deep down, he recognized that he was becoming the type of person he used to criticize. But how could he resist? Having the attention of two beautiful women was too exciting to pass up.
If Qiqi could hear his thoughts, she would probably roll her eyes dramatically. "Don't flatter yourself," she might say. "I'm only seeing if you're worth using as a connection in the entertainment industry. Whether you become something more depends on if you can grow into someone important—a person with real influence who can provide meaningful support."
In a city where wealthy men were common, standing out required truly exceptional status and wealth. Only the elite made a lasting impression in this competitive environment.
Later that evening, Qiqi messaged Jason again: "Is the auction finished? What are your plans for tomorrow?"
Jason had already seen many of the major attractions in the city and was starting to feel bored. He was seriously considering heading back to Zheng City, where he felt more comfortable and familiar with his surroundings.
Qiqi replied quickly: "Jason, you still have six days of vacation left! Why would you leave so soon? There's so much more to experience! We haven't visited Yuyuan Garden, Disneyland, Sinan Road, Binjiang Avenue, or Mahler Villa yet. You've barely seen anything!"
Jason responded hesitantly: "That sounds like a lot of places... and honestly, quite exhausting."
Qiqi stared at her phone in disbelief. "You're exploring with a young, beautiful woman like me, and you're complaining about being tired? Is he even a real man?" she thought to herself.
She sighed and typed: "It's not tiring at all. We can walk slowly, take breaks, and find nice places to sit and rest between sights. Wouldn't that be perfect? I've been with you all day, and I'm not tired. How can you be?"
Jason felt embarrassed. She had a valid point. How could he be more tired than her? The truth was simpler: he was just naturally lazy and preferred relaxing.
However, Qiqi's enthusiasm was contagious. Her presence energized him, and he found himself agreeing to stay in the city for a few more days. He didn't want to disappoint her, and truthfully, he looked forward to spending more time in her company.
The next morning, when she arrived wearing a stylish black outfit, Jason's energy was instantly restored. Suddenly, his fatigue disappeared—no aching back, no sore legs. He was ready to walk all day if it meant being by her side.
In the end, the man who had planned to leave the next morning ended up staying for four more days, exploring the city thoroughly.
And honestly? Despite his initial reluctance, Jason didn't regret a single moment of the extended stay.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse