Kevin was the first person who got to know Ethan. He always considered Ethan on a similar level — well-off, with some pocket money, and at most just a small bar to play around with.
For investment companies that can easily mobilize hundreds of millions, he instinctively felt that Ethan's family elders had only considered it after graduation.
Ethan raised his eyebrows, his expression still calm.
He picked up the crystal-clear glass in front of him and leisurely took a sip of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Maddie, who was very perceptive, obediently picked up the juice and refilled it for him again, her movements gentle and her gaze focused.
Putting down his cup, Ethan said calmly, "Yeah, I do have some cash on hand. Besides, I've already set up an investment company, right over in Midtown. If you find any projects you think are reliable, you can invite me in to take a look."
As soon as he finished speaking, the private room instantly fell into an eerie silence.
Click.
The lighter Kevin was playing with fell onto the table.
The dish Brandon had just picked up was suspended in midair.
Tony, Logan, Preston, and the others looked as if they had been frozen in place. Their mouths were slightly open, eyes wide, and faces full of "Who am I? Where am I? What did I hear?" shock.
Eighteen, a freshman, starting his own investment company?
"I!!"
Kevin was the first to break free from his shock, slamming the table and nearly jumping up: "Ethan! How many more surprises do you have left that we don't know about? An investment company already up and running? You went to college just to experience life, right?"
His voice changed slightly from excitement.
Brandon was also shocked, unable to recover for a long time. It was just too unbelievable — an 18-year-old freshman with so many resources? Who exactly is in his family?
Brandon finally found his voice. He put down his chopsticks, took a deep breath, and locked his gaze on Ethan like a searchlight. His voice carried unprecedented gravity and curiosity: "Ethan, can you let us in on a secret? How much cash do you actually have to use... How much?"
Ethan's sense of mystery reached its peak at this moment; his level of strength became a huge mystery.
They had always been convinced that Ethan was very capable, but the exact level he was at remained unclear.
Kevin slapped his thigh from the side, adding with both envy and emotion, "Damn it! I should have thought of it long ago! You're already a Chase Bank ultra-high-end private banking user, and you even have a dedicated private banking secretary! I know the threshold — personal financial assets must be at least over a hundred million! I guess... there must be at least five or six hundred million, right? Haha!"
He tried to ease his inner shock with a joke, but when he said that number, even his own heart raced.
$500 to $600 million! This was already an enormous fortune beyond ordinary people's imagination.
If Ethan told them that his personal cash available far exceeded that amount, reaching a staggering $600 million... Everyone present would probably be petrified on the spot.
Ethan looked at everyone's shocked yet expectant eyes, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth. He softly replied, "Kevin's guess is pretty right, probably around $600 million."
Kevin and Brandon's expressions froze slightly.
"Damn!!"
"Damn it!!"
Kevin and Brandon almost simultaneously bounced up from their chairs! The chair legs scraped against the floor, producing a harsh sound.
The expressions on their faces instantly changed from "Has this world gone mad?" to ultimate shock.
Six hundred million US dollars?
This is completely beyond the cash flow level that their "second-generation" circle can easily access!
This was practically a humanoid gold mine sitting right beside them!
Tony, Logan, and Preston were completely stunned! Their minds went blank, unable even to cry out in surprise.
Their assets couldn't compare to Kevin or Brandon's; in this circle, they were just juniors.
Kevin and Brandon were already enough to inspire their admiration, but they never expected that such a super boss was still hiding by their side.
If he personally holds such terrifying cash flow, then the family behind him must... what kind of terrifying colossal force must he be?
Brandon stared intently at Ethan, his gaze extremely complex — shock, disbelief, scrutiny, and even a barely noticeable trace of awe.
Ethan is just an eighteen-year-old freshman, yet his family can actually give him $600 million in cash flow. That means the family behind him must be incredibly powerful!
He did not doubt the truth of Ethan's words.
At their level, especially Ethan's recent lavish throw of over three and a half million in front of them, that was already a form of endorsement of strength. Making up such easily exposed lies was pointless and would only destroy the Great Wall.
In this circle, true strength is the passport; bragging only becomes a laughingstock.
They care more about the benefits their asset background can bring them.
Ethan dared to say it out loud, which meant he truly had the confidence, or at least, he believed everyone present "deserved" to know this information.
In the private room, only the suppressed breathing and heartbeat remained.
Ethan's casual remark of "six hundred million US dollars" completely reshaped his image and status in everyone's hearts.
Brandon believed that although his family's total assets were vast, the cash they could mobilize at any time probably wasn't as much as Ethan's.
Although there are tens of billions in assets, many of them cannot be cashed out.
A net worth of tens of billions isn't considered rare in the tri-state area business district; he knows several people.
But to casually come up with five to six hundred million US dollars in cash flow — he had never seen it before.
Kevin was still in the excited state after the crash and reboot. He suddenly took a big gulp of alcohol to try to calm his nerves, but ended up coughing violently. After finally catching his breath, he shouted at Ethan, "Ethan! Be honest — does your family run a money printing factory? And even set up a production line just for you? LA actually has a true god like you hiding? I must have been blind — I can't recognize greatness when I see it!"
His tone was exaggerated, but the shock was genuine.
Brandon also gave a self-deprecating smile, rubbing his brow: "Me too. Today was truly eye-opening."
Ethan's "family background" was truly a heavy blow to them.
Kevin suddenly put on a wary and frightened expression, leaned in close to Ethan, lowered his voice, and asked seriously, "Hey, Ethan, be honest! Are you playing dumb to outsmart the devil here? It's just like those satisfying novels — waiting for a fool like me to provoke you, then you slap your trump card, slap my face all over, and take up all my family's assets?"
There are 130 advance chapters ahead in my Patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
patreon.com/B_A_3439