Ellie stared at him blankly, wondering if she'd misheard. "Junior… did you get addicted to bragging or something?"
Still, she dutifully led Jason Carter inside.
Jason didn't linger. He moved through the villa—examining the courtyard, the layout, the natural lighting, structural lines, and decor. Everything was excellent.
After a single lap, he nodded calmly. "Alright. Let's sign the contract."
"…What?"
For a moment, Ellie genuinely suspected he was joking. Buying a ten-million-dollar villa wasn't something you could brag your way through—signing meant actually paying.
"Jason," she asked, voice trembling, "you're… serious?"
Jason looked at her like she'd asked whether water was wet. "Of course. Why? Does it look like I'm here to waste time? I'll take this one first. After that, we can look at more."
Ellie began questioning her entire worldview.
But she still led him back to the sales office.
Then she watched—with her own two eyes—as Jason Carter signed the contract and wired ten million dollars in full.
No mortgage. No hesitation. Not a single question.
Just swiped—done.
Her pupils trembled.
She had originally taken him around because Ava personally asked her to help. She thought she was just giving a tour to a nice, handsome kid from a modest family.
She did not expect—not even in her wildest fantasies—that he would buy the most expensive villa in this town in full cash without blinking.
Her phone vibrated. Her hands shook as she typed:
"Ava… WHAT does your Jason actually DO?? When I saw his old house in the village, I thought his family was normal. Then he told me a ten-million-dollar villa was 'cheap,' and I almost complained to you that he was a sweet kid but an absolute bragger.
I DID NOT EXPECT HIM TO PAY IN FULL. WHO BUYS A TEN-MILLION-DOLLAR HOUSE LIKE IT'S A CUP OF COFFEE!?
His family is so rich—why didn't you tell me earlier!?"
Ava almost burst into laughter when she read the messages.
Ava: "I didn't want to tell you because if you knew he was rich, you wouldn't have treated him naturally. I wanted him to feel like he had a genuine friend helping him—not a salesperson chasing his wallet."
Ellie: "Fair. If I'd known… I would've lost my cool. And trying too hard would've scared him away! But this? THIS is PERFECT. I accidentally sold a ten-million-dollar villa! Fifty thousand in commission—in one morning! When you come back tomorrow, I'm treating you. Unless, of course… you'll be having a romantic night with Jason~"
Ava: "I told you, it's not like that. Say nonsense again and I'll smack you."
Jason folded the contract neatly, tucked it under his arm, and turned to Ellie. "Let's go. I want to look at the apartments around Lake Bay Park too. You should have listings, right?"
"Of course! Everything around here is under our agency." Ellie nodded quickly, though internally she thought: He just bought a ten-million-dollar villa… Why would he need more property?
But the world of the wealthy was not hers to understand.
As the two walked out of the sales office, Jason halted for a moment.
At the community entrance stood two familiar figures: Tanya Covell and Lucas.
Tanya was in a beige coat, hair curled neatly, makeup flawless. She looked every part the elegant campus belle of old. She walked beside Lucas, laughing politely at something he said. She seemed relaxed—almost relieved.
Jason wasn't surprised.
Last time, Tanya found Lucas annoying. But that had been before the fake bankruptcy rumor spread. Now that she believed Jason was washed up and going bankrupt, of course she'd go back to Lucas.
People like Tanya always walked toward whichever future looked brighter.
Jason's expression remained calm. He didn't slow down. He didn't speed up. He simply walked forward as Ellie chattered beside him, blissfully unaware of the incoming collision of social worlds.
But Tanya Covell—when she turned her head and recognized Jason Carter—her entire body visibly jolted.
Tanya and Lucas were just about to walk into Lake Bay Park One Residence when they froze.
Jason Carter and a woman in a professional suit walked out of the sales office.
Tanya stiffened instantly. She had just told the class group she wasn't even in town. And yet here she was—bumping straight into him.
For three full seconds, she looked guilty.
Then—true to her nature—she straightened her back, lifted her chin, and forced her usual arrogance back onto her face.
So what if he saw her?
She could walk with whomever she pleased. If Jason didn't appreciate her back, if he ignored her subtle hints, then fine—she'd let him see that she was no longer someone he could reach.
Lucas, meanwhile, had a look of triumph plastered across his face.
Back at the alumni gathering, Jason overshadowed him completely. But now? Now, Jason was supposedly bankrupt, his downfall plastered on every gossip thread. And Tanya—the campus belle—was back on Lucas's arm.
He felt like the universe had restored balance.
"Jason Carter," Tanya said, arms crossed, voice sweet but sharp. "My parents really do work in real estate, but they're extremely busy. They honestly didn't have time to show you houses. And I had something to do, so I may have exaggerated earlier when I said I wasn't back in town."
Her tone implied this was all perfectly justified—that she owed him nothing.
Jason didn't even glance at her. "You don't owe me an explanation," he said coolly. "You're not important enough for me to care. If you're busy, you're busy. Nothing wrong with that."
Tanya's expression froze.
Lucas quickly jumped in, eager to assert dominance. "Well, if there's nothing else, Tanya and I are going inside to check out my villa." He pointed at the gate, voice dripping with pride.
Then he added, mockingly, "Jason, why don't you tag along? Buying a villa here isn't as easy as it looks—especially for someone who's… financially restricted."
Jason lifted the contract in his hand and said casually, "It's not hard at all. I already bought one."
Both Tanya and Lucas blinked, stunned.
Lucas recovered first—with a laugh. "Avoiding bankruptcy liquidation by buying property won't work, bro. You're probably under high-spending restrictions right now. You can't even buy plane tickets, and yet you're bragging about villas?"
Before Jason could respond, Ellie spoke up, smiling politely but with a hint of pride. "He's not bragging. Jason bought the best villa here—full payment—ten million dollars."
Silence.
A long, painful silence.
Tanya felt her heart stop. Lucas's smile froze halfway.
"Full… payment?" Tanya whispered.
How? How could someone supposedly bankrupt still casually buy a multimillion-dollar villa?
Jason didn't bother wasting breath. He simply nodded at Ellie, then walked deeper with her—continuing his spiritual energy search as if the two behind him didn't exist at all.
Tanya found herself staring at Jason's back, mind swirling.
Lucas noticed and felt irritated. "He's lying," Lucas insisted quickly. "Has to be. That news was everywhere. Someone like him can't afford this place. Let's just go ask the sales office."
Tanya didn't argue. She needed to know.
Together, they walked into the sales office.
When they asked about the ten-million-dollar villa, the staff recognized the address immediately. "Yes," the salesperson said. "Jason Carter bought it this morning. Full payment. He's not under any spending restrictions."
Tanya's heart plummeted.
The rumor might actually be fake?
Tanya Covell: Favorability +10
Lucas scrambled to save face. "No, no, that news must be true. He probably just found a loophole. Once he goes bankrupt, the court will seize everything anyway. You'll see."
The salesperson, who had overheard them, couldn't help commenting gently. "Sir, even if wealthy people 'go bankrupt,' it's not the same as normal folks. Their companies can go under, but personally they may still have assets you can't even imagine."
Neither Tanya nor Lucas replied.
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