Jason blinked in surprise when the system prompt appeared before his eyes.
[Shenna's Favorability +13][Total Favorability: 83]
He stared at the numbers for a few seconds, slightly taken aback. How did this girl's favorability rise so suddenly?
Still, when Jason glanced at the details on Shenna's profile, he wasn't exactly shocked. A well-bred girl from a strict, prestigious family having no ex-boyfriend was hardly surprising.
Even so, a faint warmth stirred in his chest as he confirmed it. If the system could detect his feelings toward girls, it would have easily registered an increase in favorability right then.
There was no helping it — most men, whether they admitted it or not, had a soft spot for innocence. It wasn't about judgment; it was about rarity. A blank slate sought another blank slate. Even those who had experience often carried an unspoken preference for someone pure, untouched by complicated relationships.
Jason smiled slightly and turned toward her."Let's go. Why are you just standing there?"
Shenna, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to reality. She quickly caught up, her steps light and cheerful — almost like she was skipping.
With her hands clasped behind her back, she looked up at Jason with a faint, playful smile, her eyes shining like reflected starlight. She didn't say anything — she didn't need to. The simple act of standing next to him felt warm enough.
Jason couldn't help but laugh. "What's making you so happy? Tell me."
He could see her favorability rising again through the system, yet he didn't realize why. He didn't know she had already discovered that he had bought both the amusement park and the entire Astronomical Observatory Building — all just to make her smile.
"It's nothing," she said softly, smiling up at him. "I'm just happy because today was… really fun."
The two reached the elevator lobby. A suited manager immediately stepped forward to press the button for them. When the doors opened, Jason and Shenna stepped in first, followed by President Reeve and General Manager Ivan.
The elevator was large and silent, the hum of the machinery filling the air. Yet despite the open space, Shenna instinctively stood close to Jason — so close their shoulders brushed.
At her height of five-foot-seven, her ear aligned perfectly with Jason's lips. The faint fragrance of her perfume, something like white tea and vanilla, drifted up toward him. Her porcelain skin looked almost luminous under the soft elevator light.
The doors slid shut with a faint hiss. A small draft swirled through the cabin, gently blowing a few strands of Shenna's hair into the air. One brushed against Jason's cheek — feather-light, but enough to stir something deep inside him.
Jason's heartbeat picked up. He wasn't inexperienced. He'd been with women before — Grace, Holly Larson, and even Mia. They were all beautiful, confident, and exciting in their own ways. But none of them affected him like Shenna did.
Maybe it was her innocence. Maybe it was her honesty. Or maybe it was the quiet warmth in her eyes when she looked at him — not lust, not admiration, just trust.
For the first time in a long while, Jason felt an unfamiliar urge — not to conquer, but to cherish.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a faint blush bloom across Shenna's cheeks. Her reflection in the metallic elevator door gave her away.
Jason blinked, slightly startled. Did she notice me looking at her?
The reflection confirmed it — she had. Shenna had caught him watching her through the elevator door. But instead of stepping back or turning away, she stood still. Her eyes dropped slightly, a shy smile ghosting her lips, but she didn't move.
The elevator continued to rise, silent except for the hum of the machinery.
Two heartbeats, two reflections — and a distance of less than a breath between them.
Jason and Shenna stayed close as the elevator descended, neither speaking, yet both feeling the quiet pull between them. When the doors opened, the cool night air rushed in — along with the gleam of headlights waiting outside.
At the entrance of the observatory, a sleek black sedan stood idling. A uniformed driver stepped forward, accompanied by a neatly dressed maid.
"Miss Shenna," the driver said respectfully, bowing slightly. "We're here to take you home."
Jason raised an eyebrow. He wasn't surprised — it was well past midnight, after all. Even if her parents, Mr. Reeve and Amanda Reeve, trusted him enough to let their daughter go out with him, they were still protective.
This was their precious daughter — the heart of the Reeve family empire. No matter how charming, capable, or absurdly wealthy Jason Carter was, no parent would want their daughter staying out all night with a man she'd just met.
Jason smiled faintly and nodded toward her. "It's late. Go on home and get some rest."
Shenna took a small step back, hesitating. Then she turned, hurried to the car, and opened the back door. The driver looked confused but said nothing as she reached inside, rummaging through a shopping bag.
A moment later, she jogged back toward Jason, holding two scarves — one black, one gray — in her hands. Her cheeks were a little pink from the cold, but her eyes gleamed with playful warmth.
"These two scarves," she said, tilting her head with a mischievous grin. "Do you want black or gray?"
Jason opened his mouth, instinctively replying, "Black—"
But halfway through, he froze. Wait a second…
This scene felt way too familiar. It was almost exactly how he had once teased her — when he'd asked whether she preferred piano music or pop songs, already knowing the answer he wanted.
Seeing the spark in her eyes, Jason instantly knew — Shenna was doing this on purpose. She was using his own trick back on him.
Her smile widened as if she could read his thoughts. "Assumption of closing, right?" she said, quoting the negotiation term perfectly. "I didn't realize it at first, but it came to me later. So… the black one's yours. The gray one's mine."
She giggled softly, her crescent-shaped eyes full of mischief. The playfulness and wit in her expression were completely different from the polite, elegant smile she wore when they first met. Now, she looked alive — radiant, almost glowing.
Jason couldn't help but laugh. He'd fallen for the trick, but he didn't mind one bit. In fact, he was glad she'd done it.
Shenna took a step closer, her breath visible in the cool night air. She rose slightly on her toes and gently wrapped the black scarf around Jason's neck. Her fingers brushed against his skin — light, warm, and fleeting. Then, with a little laugh, she wrapped the gray scarf around her own.
The two scarves were identical in design — clearly a couple's set.
Shenna's cheeks flushed deeper, and before Jason could say anything, she jogged back toward the car. The driver quickly opened the door for her, and she slipped inside.
As the car engine started, Shenna rolled down the window, waved at him with a bright smile, and called softly, "Goodnight, Jason!"
Then the car sped away, taillights glowing like red fireflies in the distance.
Jason stood there for a long moment, his fingers brushing over the soft wool of the black scarf around his neck. It was warm — too warm, maybe — because his chest felt strangely full.
He hadn't felt this kind of warmth.
His past flings — Grace, Holly Larson, even Mia — had been fun, passionate, and fleeting. But with Shenna… it felt real.
A thought crept into his mind, unbidden. Maybe it's time to settle down.
Jason immediately shook his head, chuckling to himself."Get a grip, man," he muttered. "You're planning to siphon off trillions in simp gold. You don't give up a whole forest for one tree."
But even as he said it, his hand lingered on the scarf a little longer — and for the first time in a while, the great Jason Carter felt something he couldn't quite quantify.
Not victory. Not desire.
Something dangerously close to affection.
There are 100 chapters ahead in my Patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
patreon.com/B_A_3439