As the lunch went on, the atmosphere around the table grew much more relaxed.Now that Derek was sitting beside Jason, humbly serving him food, Lucas no longer dared to act smug or try to show off.
Regardless of gender, everyone's focus shifted naturally to Jason. His calm, confident bearing was impossible to ignore. He had become the center of attention — and pretending otherwise was pointless.
"You should eat your food. You don't have to serve me," Jason said, a bit uneasy seeing how deferential Derek was acting.
"It's my duty, Young Master Jason. Just let me know if you need anything," Derek replied quickly, catching himself a moment later. Realizing how over-the-top he sounded, he tried to tone it down — but still stayed alert, ready to pour Jason's tea or move a dish the moment he reached for it.
For him, the situation wasn't bad. Jason's voice had softened, no longer as distant as before — a clear sign that his sincerity was working. Still, Derek swore to himself that from now on, any time he went to a party or gathering, he'd make sure Jason wasn't there first.
If Jason was present, he'd leave immediately. Showing off around him was suicide. This city might be big, but running into Jason once was more than enough to learn that lesson.
"This classmate… why do you keep calling him 'Young Master Jason'?" Tanya finally asked.
Her question echoed the thoughts of nearly everyone at the table. People slowed their chewing and subtly leaned forward to listen. Lucas's face darkened when he noticed Tanya's curiosity had shifted entirely toward Jason.
"No particular reason," Derek replied smoothly. "It's a respectful title.
His words didn't explain anything — but they only made Jason seem even more mysterious.
After lunch, the group decided to head to the amusement park. Trying to reclaim some pride, Lucas said loudly, "Brother Bo, you brought a few luxury cars, right? I've got three myself. Let's see if that's enough for everyone."
Derek didn't even glance at him. Instead, he turned toward Jason and said, "They're not luxury cars, just three beat-up SUVs."
"One's mine, the other two are borrowed. I hired two drivers to bring them over. We just borrow them to look the part — they're nothing special."
Lucas's face went crimson. Two of his cars were borrowed as well, but did Derek really have to say that out loud? How was he supposed to show off now?
Of course, Derek understood the unspoken rule — you never ruin another man's performance. But flaunting cars in front of Jason Carter? He'd already learned that was the fastest way to dig your own grave. Jason didn't just have cars — he had fleets. Even a single one of Jason's cars could crush everyone else's.
Jason smiled faintly. "Do you always bring those three SUVs to every meetup?"
"Yeah," Derek said with an awkward chuckle. "It's all I can afford. SUVs are practical — good for city or off-road driving. My family just has a bit of money; I'm nothing like you, Young Master Jason. How many cars did you bring today? If you have several, mine aren't needed. Otherwise, they can give a few people a lift."
"I only brought one," Jason replied casually. "Let them take yours."
"Of course," Derek nodded immediately. "Alright, two people who can drive — come with me."
He quickly gathered two classmates and headed for the underground garage, eager to prove his loyalty.
Outside the restaurant, every surface spot was already filled — all by Lucas's cars. Jason's and Derek's vehicles were parked downstairs in the underground lot next door.
And though no one said it aloud, everyone was silently wondering what kind of car Jason Carter — the "ordinary guy" turned enigma — was about to pull up in.
Jason Carter headed down to the parking garage, with Ethan following close behind. Qi hadn't bought a car yet and figured he might as well hitch a ride with Jason.
Once they reached the underground lot, Jason pulled a sleek remote key from his pocket. With a soft click, the faint chirp of a car unlocking echoed through the garage. Everyone instinctively turned toward the sound.
What they saw made their jaws drop.
Parked there under the fluorescent lights was a gleaming Bugatti Chiron, its deep metallic blue paint reflecting like liquid glass.
"Holy crap… that's a supercar!" one of the classmates gasped.
"Not just any supercar," another stammered. "That's a Bugatti Chiron!"
"I can barely tell Lambos, Ferraris, and Maybachs apart… how high-end is that?"
Someone who knew a thing or two about cars swallowed hard before answering, "It's on another level. This one's worth at least… sixty million."
"Sixty… million?!"
The two classmates who had come along froze in disbelief. In their eyes, even a car worth a few hundred thousand dollars was a "luxury ride." Anything over a million was something they only saw in movies.
But a 600,000 car? That wasn't just wealth — that was a statement of power.
And to think, it belonged to their high school classmate.
Even Derek, who already knew Jason was rich, stood dumbfounded. He'd seen Rolls-Royces and Bentleys before — but a Bugatti Chiron? That was a car you only ever saw in headlines or private collections.
Ethan finally found his voice and blurted, "Bro… Jason, just be honest. How rich are you, exactly?"
Jason smirked. "I honestly couldn't tell you. Let's just say I couldn't spend it all — even if I tried."
"Damn." Ethan shook his head helplessly. It was the only word he could manage to describe the disbelief pounding in his chest.
Derek, meanwhile, straightened his back and hurried forward, rubbing his hands nervously on his jeans before carefully opening the driver's door. "Young Master Jason, please — after you."
Jason didn't stand on ceremony. He slid behind the wheel with effortless composure. Derek gently closed the door like he was handling priceless art, terrified that even the slightest scratch might bankrupt him.
Ethan slipped into the passenger seat, his movements just as cautious. Sitting inside, the interior's scent of fine leather and the quiet hum of power made his heart race. A sixty-million-dollar Bugatti… I'm actually sitting in one.
He turned to Jason, half-laughing. "Bro, maybe I should give up this seat for one of the girls?"
Jason chuckled. "Shouldn't you have said that before you got in?"
Ethan grinned sheepishly. "Guess I'll take the hit this time. You can pick up a beautiful girl later."
Jason smirked. "You can ride back too. I'll have plenty of chances."
Ethan laughed again but silently promised himself he wouldn't — this was Jason's world, not his.
Then Jason pressed the start button. The Chiron's engine came to life with a deep, thunderous roar, like a sleeping beast awakened. The sound shook the air — and Ethan's heart.
Outside the restaurant, Lucas was waiting beside his own car, his gaze fixed on the exit ramp. He couldn't wait to see what kind of car Jason drove.
Moments later, Derek's three SUVs rolled out first. Then, the low, guttural growl of an engine echoed through the air.
When the Bugatti emerged into the sunlight, Lucas froze.
"That… that's a Bugatti Chiron…" he whispered.
For a moment, he tried to convince himself it wasn't Jason's — maybe it was just another customer's car coming out at the same time. But then the car drew closer, and he clearly saw Jason behind the wheel, Ethan riding shotgun.
His mind went blank.
"Holy hell, Jason actually drives a supercar!" someone nearby shouted.
"Supercar? That word doesn't do it justice! That's the Bugatti Chiron!"
"I heard that thing costs over sixty million!"
"No way… maybe he rented it?"
"Rent it? You can't rent a car like that! There are maybe three of those in the entire country — one in Hong Kong, two on the mainland. No rental company could even get one!"
The classmates stared in stunned silence. The "simp" they used to mock now drove a car so rare and expensive it defied logic.
Tanya's eyes sparkled as she stared at the Bugatti, her heart racing uncontrollably.
Tanya Covell: Favorability +35.
Even Ava Summers, composed as ever, couldn't hide her intrigue. A faint glimmer lit up her eyes.
Ava Summers: Favorability +15.
The short-haired girl, trembling with excitement, snapped a photo and sent it immediately to her friend at New York University.
In her dorm room, the top student with the ponytail and glasses opened the image — and her pupils instantly constricted.
Her hands trembled. Her face went pale.
The Jason Carter she once dismissed as "ordinary" was sitting behind the wheel of a Bugatti Chiron, calm and self-assured — while another rich man bowed before him.
The realization hit her like a lightning bolt.
She hadn't just misjudged him.
She had thrown away the chance to ever stand beside him again.
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