Mia walked lightly, like a guide leading the way.
She took Ethan and Jessica through the long hall of The River Garden.
Sandalwood incense wafted through the hall, and traditional music whispered softly, as if time had frozen here.
Immediately afterward.
A long corridor with ornate carved beams came into view, with exquisite lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Soft light illuminated the ink landscape paintings on the walls, creating a profound artistic mood.
At the end of the corridor, two heavy vermilion lacquered doors stood quietly.
Two graceful women stood by the doors, dressed in elegant style dresses with their hair gently pulled up.
Seeing the three of them approach, they smiled simultaneously, their voices as clear as bells:
"Welcome to The River Garden's Private Pavilion."
Then the two of them worked together to silently push open the doors. After allowing the three to enter, they quietly closed them again, their movements smooth and respectful, as if rehearsed thousands of times.
The doors isolated the hustle and bustle of the outside world, and the quiet, elegant interior of the private pavilion greeted them.
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly, observing this private space that was completely different from the open dining area outside.
A trace of curiosity flashed through his mind: There were clearly only four tables of guests outside, yet this huge River Garden still concealed such a secluded "private pavilion"?
Mia beside him turned at just the right moment and explained in a soft but clear voice:
"Mr. Miller, The River Garden adheres to the concept of ultimate privacy, serving only five tables per night. The outer hall seats four tables, and this private pavilion is the only independent courtyard. Once the five tables are full, no more guests are accepted until the next day. President William specifically reserved the Private Pavilion in advance, hoping to discuss important matters with you in an absolutely quiet, undisturbed environment."
Jessica's eyes widened—such a large establishment actually only served 5 tables of guests per night.
That was incredibly exclusive.
Ethan understood after hearing Mia's explanation.
The entire interior space of The River Garden was an immersive dining experience.
The walls featured tilework, the corridors were winding, and the walls were adorned with antique artwork from various periods. Even the carvings on the corridor pillars and the style of the window frames were extremely authentic.
The air was filled with a faint herbal fragrance that was refreshing.
Walking into the private pavilion.
An exquisite structure with traditional architecture appeared before them.
Antique and elegant.
There was a graceful woman wearing traditional dress, holding a stringed instrument in her hands, playing softly.
It was truly unique.
Moving forward, the space suddenly opened up.
In the center of a carefully arranged open-air courtyard, a large mahogany dining table was quietly placed.
At the table, a middle-aged man in a tailored black suit with a composed demeanor was concentrating on drinking.
Mia stepped forward quickly and bowed slightly with respect:
"President, Mr. Miller has arrived."
When the middle-aged man heard this, he immediately put down his teacup. His face instantly filled with a sincere, humble smile. He stood up and quickly stepped forward, extending both hands to Ethan across the dining table:
"Hello Mr. Miller! I've heard so much about you. I'm William Chen, and it's an honor to meet you today!"
His posture was very humble, and he even bowed slightly when shaking hands.
Ethan also smiled and extended his hand to shake it, his posture calm:
"You're too kind. I'm really sorry to keep you waiting."
"Not at all, not at all!"
William quickly waved his hand, smiling even more broadly:
"I took the liberty of inviting you on short notice. I was afraid of disrupting your plans, so I hope you'll forgive any inconvenience."
His attitude was almost deferential, and his words were impeccably polite.
After the two exchanged pleasantries, William also greeted Jessica, getting the tone just right.
He understood perfectly: any woman Ethan would bring to such a meeting must hold an extraordinary position.
He had to be comprehensive and impeccable.
This kind of social finesse, William had long since perfected, making people feel completely at ease.
Ethan pulled out the main seat opposite William and sat down calmly.
Jessica followed suit, carefully sitting down on the chair next to him. She placed her hands on her knees obediently, trying to make herself invisible, leaving only her curious eyes to quietly look around.
After they were all seated.
Waiters dressed in elegant modernized dresses presented dishes served in exquisite vessels.
A dazzling array of dishes was placed on the table: perfectly glazed steaks, warm soups, and beautifully crafted pastries...
Setting aside the taste of the dishes, under the warm lighting specially prepared in the courtyard, each dish exuded an attractive luster and aroma, whetting the appetite.
William smiled and said:
"Mr. Miller, at my age, I really don't know what you young people enjoy. I fully entrusted Mia with arranging the restaurant. I don't know if this environment and these dishes are to your liking?"
His tone was sincere, with a touch of self-deprecation.
Ethan nodded slightly.
This arrangement was expected.
It was normal for banks to have basic information like customers' ages, not to mention that he was now a "key priority client" worth hundreds of millions in their eyes.
William looked at Ethan, who was remarkably young yet carried himself with such composure, and couldn't help but sigh sincerely:
"Mr. Miller is truly a talent! You're young and academically excellent, admitted to NYU. This has spread throughout our banking system, and moreover... well, such impressive capital strength. This achievement is enough to put countless people like me, who've worked hard for half their lives, to shame."
"It's nothing worth mentioning."
William had just the right inquiring smile on his face, and his tone slowed:
"Forgive me for being presumptuous, but I wonder what Mr. Miller's family does...?"
He'd been wondering about this question for a long time and couldn't help but ask.
This was a huge question mark in almost everyone's mind.
Ethan put down the teacup, a vague, distant smile appearing on his face, his tone still flat:
"My father runs a small business, barely making ends meet. My mother works for the government and keeps a low profile."
Robert Miller ran a hardware store—it was indeed a small business, and he wasn't lying.
However, these words fell into William's ears and were instantly interpreted with completely different meanings.
Small business? Government position? This was clearly the standard low-key, humble rhetoric of children from top wealthy families!
A teenager who'd just graduated from high school had hundreds of millions in cash assets under his name?
The family power and wealth accumulation represented behind this were simply unfathomable!
Even many publicly traded corporations might not be able to mobilize such huge cash flow on their books at a moment's notice!
If he could truly befriend such a family, or even firmly secure part of their assets within his branch's system...
William's heart jumped several times involuntarily, as if he could see the golden avenue of his career stretching before him.
But professionalism immediately alerted him: for a wealth holder of this level, privacy protection must be the top priority!
His question just now was too direct and too reckless! He was practically testing the other party's boundaries!
If he'd met a young master with an arrogant temperament, the meeting would probably already be over!
Thinking of this, a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on William's back, and the humble smile on his face stiffened for a moment.
He reacted extremely quickly, immediately standing up and bowing slightly to Ethan, his tone full of apology:
"My apologies! Mr. Miller! That was presumptuous of me. Please forgive me!"
Ethan truly didn't care. He waved his hand casually and motioned for him to sit down:
"It's a small thing, no problem."
His composure calmed William's mind somewhat, while simultaneously making him feel the unfathomable depth of the young man before him.
There are 90 advance chapters ahead in my Patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
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