The Ultimate Billionaire Check-In System : 2
BillMax
The Ultimate Billionaire Check-In System Vol.2
Chapter 51
Lila Patterson stood there for a long time, cursing under her breath.
“Damn it… my name is Lila, not some cheap tramp.”
But the regret hit her harder than the anger. She had just let a golden opportunity slip through her fingers.
That ridiculously handsome guy driving the Aston Martin was clearly loaded — the quiet, low-key kind of rich. Good-looking and wealthy. Where the hell was she supposed to find another man like that?
“Ah— handsome! Come back! Call me whatever you want, I don’t care!”
She stared at the spot where Ethan had disappeared, her eyes stinging with frustration.
She should have been bolder. She shouldn’t have just stood there hoping he would support her — she should have made it obvious she was available to be supported.
If she could become his girlfriend… or even just his mistress… that would have been more than enough.
“Handsome, I really don’t want to keep grinding like this anymore…”
Her voice was barely a whisper, almost tearful.
The task for today was over. All Ethan had to do was deliver food for one more day, and The Xylon Grand Hotel would be his.
He had just gotten home when his phone suddenly rang.
“Zack? You came to Manhattan?”
Ethan was delighted. His childhood friend was in town, and they hadn’t seen each other in ages.
“Tell me where you are. We’re gonna party till we drop tonight.”
Knowing the location, Ethan left immediately on his Citi Bike without even bothering to change clothes. Since they were going to drink later, he decided not to drive.
Twenty minutes later, he arrived at the agreed spot — The Corner Bistro.
“Ethan!”
His buddy, Zack Everett, waved from a distance. He was standing in line at that moment. The place was quite affordable, the food was good, and it was always packed. Because Ethan arrived a bit late, Zack found himself near the end of the line.
Ethan walked over and Zack gave him a big bear hug.
“You’re still as handsome as ever. Damn, standing next to you makes the originally handsome me feel pressured.”
Zack hadn’t changed much — he was still the same as before.
“Of course. When it comes to drinking, you’re still just a little brother,” Zack said disdainfully.
“Just wait, I’m gonna drink you under the table today,” Ethan shot back, not to be outdone.
The two queued up, chatting easily like old times. They had known each other since childhood, so there was never much formality between them.
A young couple lined up behind them. The woman took one look at Ethan wearing a delivery uniform and immediately took a step back, covering her nose as if he smelled bad.
After waiting outside for a while, she clearly grew impatient. She didn’t want to stand behind a delivery guy, and she didn’t want to keep waiting. She gave her boyfriend a look, and he understood immediately.
“You two — go to the back of the line,” the man said, stepping forward with a commanding tone.
Ethan and Zack turned around, stunned.
They were just standing there chatting. Suddenly some random customer was ordering them to move to the back?
“Why? We were clearly here first!” Zack retorted.
“You’re not the owner of this restaurant, are you?”
“Why? Because I’m a professional. I have money. And you two are just lower-class folks.”
The man wore a smug expression.
“I knew people like you are unreasonable. Here — I’ll give you a hundred bucks to stand at the back. Don’t affect our appetite.”
He took out a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet and held it out condescendingly.
When neither of them took it, he pulled out another one.
“I’m telling you, two hundred is my limit. Don’t push it.”
“We refuse,” Zack replied coldly and ignored him.
The man’s face showed helplessness.
“If you’re unwilling, I’ll show you what it means when money is everything.”
There were four groups in line. Ethan and Zack were third. The man at the back stepped forward and approached the first group.
“I’ll give you a hundred bucks. Let us cut in front of you.”
“And you guys, here’s another hundred.”
To keep the second group from getting upset, he also gave them a hundred dollars.
“So generous?”
“Sure, why not?”
Hearing they could get a hundred bucks for nothing, both groups nodded happily. They took the money and let the young couple move to the front.
Now Ethan and Zack were last in line. By moving back one spot, they would have to wait another ten or twenty minutes.
“Kid, did you see that?” the man said arrogantly. “That’s what it means when money is everything. The same two hundred bucks I offered you only put us in third. Now we’re first. You penniless bums.”
“You two just wait behind us. We’ll go in first.”
The woman also snorted coldly at Ethan before moving to the front.
Seeing this, Zack was furious.
Ethan patted him on the shoulder and spoke calmly.
“Things that can be solved with money are just small matters.”
“You’re right. Money is everything.”
Ethan called out to the owner of the bistro.
“I’ve booked the entire place for today. Except for us, you don’t need to serve any other customers afterward.”
Everyone was stunned.
What?
Book the whole place?
Was there even such a move?
At this moment, everyone looked at Ethan with awe.
Truly, money speaks.
“Okay,” the owner nodded excitedly, agreeing immediately.
It was the first time he had encountered such a wealthy patron wanting to book the entire place. Booking it like this, he would make a sure profit. Besides, the gentleman had made it clear he didn’t need to kick out the customers already inside — just not serve anyone new afterward. That was much easier.
“I’m sorry, folks,” the owner turned and told the three groups. “This gentleman has booked the place. Today, except for this gentleman, we won’t be serving anyone else.”
The three groups were dumbfounded, especially the young couple.
What the hell?
“Can they even do that?”
“We waited for nothing.”
Those two groups complained a little and left — after all, they had gotten a hundred bucks for nothing. They could just switch restaurants.
Only the young couple stood there, completely stunned.
How could this happen?
Now they had not only waited for nothing, but also wasted two hundred dollars. They took a big loss!
At this time, a few customers left, freeing up some seats.
“This way, sir.” The owner politely invited Ethan inside.
Ethan turned to the arrogant couple and spoke calmly.
“You were right earlier. Money indeed is everything. It’s just a pity that you two are the ones without it.”
“Penniless bums,” Zack chimed in with satisfaction, throwing the man’s own words back at him.
“Honey, you book the place too! Pay more than they did!” the spoiled woman retorted.
“Hmph, you guys are the penniless ones. My husband is the richest.”
Hearing this, the owner’s eyes lit up as he looked at the man.
“More money, my ass. Do you even know how much it costs to book the entire place?”
“Dumb woman!” the man shouted angrily at her.
The restaurant owner looked at the man with extreme disdain, almost saying out loud, “You’re really poor.”
“You dare have thoughts about my sister?”
The woman’s mind worked in strange ways.
Huh?
When did I ever say that? Although I once had some unrealistic thoughts, I hid them well…
“I’ve known all along that you’re just a jerk.”
The woman was incredibly angry.
“I’m gonna kill you.”
With that, she fiercely grabbed at the man, her long nails leaving a mark on his face.
“You’re crazy.”
The man was furious and began to fight back.
Ethan and Zack didn’t want to waste any more time here. They walked into the restaurant.
The two ate and chatted.
“You’re getting married?” Ethan was surprised.
“Yeah.” Zack nodded happily. “I want to ask you to be my best man to help me stand out with your looks. Don’t say no, okay?”
“Nonsense. How could I refuse? If you hadn’t asked me, I’d have blamed you.”
Ethan was happy for his friend.
“But there’s one more thing… quite troublesome.”
Ethan looked troubled.
“What’s up?” Zack asked.
“If I’m the best man and all the bridesmaids confess to me, what should I do?” Ethan spoke seriously. “And the other groomsmen standing with me will feel a lot of pressure.”
He said it sincerely.
If that really happened on the day and he stole Zack’s thunder, it wouldn’t be good. He had to think about it.
“You’re a jerk,” Zack couldn’t help but complain.
He wondered what the problem was. But having known Ethan for a long time, he had seen plenty of situations where Ethan was chased by countless girls because he was too handsome. Because of this, Ethan didn’t have many close friends — they all had to bear his “invisible pressure” every day.
At first Zack was very envious, but over time he got used to it.
As they drank, Zack got a bit tipsy. Facing his brother, he no longer hid anything and spoke from the heart.
“Ah, Ethan… you have no idea how much money it costs to get married now.”
Zack had troubles in his heart that he couldn’t tell his parents or girlfriend. He could only confide in his brother.
Anyway, after a drink, life had to go on.
“Bride price, house, booking the wedding banquet at a hotel… My girlfriend’s okay, but her parents are really snobbish.”
Zack drank and continued.
“To show face and brag in front of relatives and neighbors, they insisted the banquet be booked at a five-star hotel with at least sixteen tables, and that we use a convoy of luxury cars for the wedding party.”
“I checked, and even at the most basic five-star hotel, it all adds up to a minimum of two hundred thousand. This is Manhattan, not some small city — otherwise it would be even more expensive.”
“The wedding convoy should have eight luxury cars, with the cheapest being over a million each. That adds up to several thousand more on top.”
“Where would I get that kind of money?”
Zack’s family wasn’t wealthy. For his wedding, his parents had already used up their life savings to pay the bride price and the down payment for the house. There was no more money left.
He didn’t have a high diploma, his income was average, and he had only saved a few thousand dollars. He was still short by two hundred thousand.
Zack was already desperate.
“Luckily, my girlfriend comforted me, saying a simple wedding would be fine. She even had a big fight with her parents over this and threatened to cut off relations.”
Hearing this, Ethan nodded.
Hearing Zack say that, it was clear his girlfriend truly loved him.
“As a man, how can I let my girlfriend take all the heat like that?” Zack said.
Needless to say, he must be in a lot of pain alongside his parents and girlfriend.
“After all, they are her parents. If we only have a simple wedding, there’s bound to be countless troubles after marriage.”
Saying this, Zack drained his glass.
“Isn’t it just booking a hotel and a convoy?” Ethan spoke up.
“Leave it to me. It’s a small thing.”
By delivering one more day of food tomorrow, The Xylon Grand Hotel would be his.
This was one of Manhattan’s most renowned luxury hotels — a true top-tier five-star, far exceeding the demands of Zack’s snobbish in-laws.
With a single call, it wasn’t just one banquet hall — even all the hotel’s banquet halls would be easily available.
As for the car convoy, that was even easier.
The few cars in his garage were all worth over twenty million each.
That Rolls-Royce Phantom would be perfect as the lead car — majestic and imposing.
And he could just pull a few more cars from Vanguard Dynamics. The convoy would be sorted.
By then, it would absolutely bring Zack face. He wanted to see what Zack’s snobbish in-laws would say.
Hearing Ethan’s words, Zack — who was a little drunk — was stunned.
“Ethan, I accept your kind offer.”
“Delivering food isn’t easy for you either.”
Zack refused.
“You think I deliver food for a living? I’m just experiencing life,” Ethan explained.
“Ethan…” Zack still wanted to refuse.
“Are you a brother or not? Leave this small matter to me.”
Ethan spoke firmly.
In the end, Zack didn’t continue refusing. He knew Ethan’s character.
“Brother… thanks.”
He would consider it a loan and be sure to repay it several times over when he earned enough.
After drinking for a while longer, Ethan and Zack left.
Ethan didn’t have much to do, but Zack was a bit tipsy.
Ethan supported him to the roadside, ready to hail a cab and send him home.
However, instead of a cab, a middle-aged couple who had just finished shopping appeared.
“Zack Everett?”
Seeing Zack, the middle-aged man frowned.
“What are you doing here, drinking when you should be preparing for the wedding? Zack Everett, you’ve got some nerve.”
The middle-aged woman was even more sarcastic.
“Dad, Mom.”
Upon seeing the couple, Zack immediately greeted them courteously.
“Don’t call me Dad,” the middle-aged man retorted.
“Right. If you can’t do what we said, don’t think about marrying our daughter.”
The middle-aged woman agreed.
They had originally wanted their daughter to marry a rich man. Who knew their daughter would be so foolish and find a poor guy instead?
This made them very angry and extremely dissatisfied with Zack, so they deliberately made things difficult for him.
If he managed to do everything, fine. If he didn’t… ha!
“So, have you booked the five-star hotel?”
“And sorted out the luxury car convoy?”
“Uh…”
Zack sighed and hung his head.
“What, not booked yet?”
At this, the middle-aged woman was instantly furious, shouting at Zack,
“You’re getting married in a few days and you haven’t booked the hotel or the wedding convoy yet? You useless bum!!!”
Hearing the middle-aged woman’s voice, onlookers couldn’t help but turn to stare.
“Who said we don’t have a convoy?”
A calm voice came through.
Chapter 52
Hearing this, Zack Everett’s future in-laws turned their eyes toward Ethan.
They saw a young man wearing a food delivery uniform.
“Who are you?” Mrs. Patricia Bennett asked, her face full of open disgust.
“A friend of Zack’s.”
The middle-aged couple exchanged a disdainful smirk.
It was obvious now — even Zack’s friends were just delivery boys. How pathetic.
“What exactly did you mean by what you just said?” Mr. Richard Bennett asked skeptically. “You said Zack already arranged the motorcade?”
“Naturally,” Ethan replied with a calm nod.
“Eight luxury cars, each worth no less than a million?”
“Yes. And nothing less — each one no less than five million.”
Ethan’s answer was steady.
Mainly because I only have four luxury cars right now. Otherwise, I’d make the minimum twenty million each.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were stunned.
Nothing less than five million… and that was the cheapest car in the entire fleet?
They had only demanded that the lead car be worth five million. But according to this kid, five million was the bottom of the barrel?
The onlookers nearby were equally shocked.
Was this for real? A whole fleet where the worst car started at five million? Then how much were the better ones worth? Six million? Eight? More?
It was terrifying just to imagine.
“The fleet is settled,” Mr. Bennett continued, still doubtful. “But what about the wedding hotel? Even if the cars exceed our requirements, the hotel can’t be cheap. A proper five-star, at least eighteen tables.”
“Top-tier five-star hotel. Thirty tables.”
Ethan’s reply was casual, almost bored.
He was already annoyed by these snobbish future in-laws. It was normal for parents to have demands for their daughter’s wedding, but they were being excessive. Even for a well-off family, spending several hundred thousand on a five-star banquet plus a luxury fleet was ridiculous. He was genuinely looking forward to seeing their faces when they actually saw the fleet and The Xylon Grand Hotel.
That was exactly why he hadn’t told them the specific name of the hotel or the exact cars yet.
Thirty tables at a top five-star hotel?
Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were speechless. This completely surpassed their expectations.
Hosting thirty tables at a five-star hotel, plus all the extra costs, would easily run four or five hundred thousand. And if every car in the fleet was at least five million, even renting something like that for a day would cost over a hundred thousand. Altogether they were looking at around six hundred thousand dollars minimum.
Was Zack’s friend actually capable of this?
“Impressive!”
“Thirty tables at a five-star hotel… that’s really something.”
“Truly extravagant.”
The crowd murmured in admiration.
“Old Zack…”
Not just the Bennetts — even Zack looked completely stunned.
How much was all of this going to cost?
“Not much,” Ethan told him quietly.
What he really wanted to say was that it wouldn’t cost a single cent. The hotel and the cars were already his. But he knew if he said that, Zack would feel even more indebted, so he kept it simple.
Not much?
The onlookers who had been shocked moments ago suddenly remembered Ethan was wearing a delivery uniform. Their expressions shifted.
Could a delivery guy really spend that kind of money?
It didn’t add up.
The Bennetts realized the same thing.
A delivery boy throwing around numbers like that? He could claim he was hosting the wedding at a seven-star hotel with cars worth three million each and it wouldn’t matter. Anyone could brag.
But where was the proof?
It was like some average elementary school kid claiming he could breeze through high school exams.
Complete nonsense.
“Heh. You’re quite the talker. Almost had me convinced for a second.”
Mr. Bennett’s voice dripped with mockery.
“I’m over fifty years old, and you actually managed to fool me, you little brat.”
Mrs. Bennett’s tone was even sharper. “You’ve bragged so high. Aren’t you worried about falling and breaking your neck?”
She turned and scolded Zack directly.
“In a few days, if this wedding doesn’t meet our standards, we won’t let our daughter marry you even if we die. Let’s go. We’ll find her someone young and promising instead.”
The couple walked off, already discussing finding a better match for their daughter.
Zack’s face turned green.
“Old Zack, don’t get worked up,” Ethan said, patting his shoulder. “In a few days, let them see for themselves.”
The higher they fly, the harder they fall.
Now that the Bennetts didn’t believe him, the wedding day was going to be the perfect moment for them to be completely humiliated.
“Old Zack…”
“You still don’t believe me?” Ethan smiled. “Leave it to me. It’s nothing.”
After putting Zack into a cab, Ethan rode off on his bike.
Tomorrow, once the hotel was officially his, a single phone call would handle everything. No big deal.
The next morning, Ethan was back on his bike doing deliveries.
Time passed quickly. With only twenty minutes left on his final delivery, he would finally complete the five-day task.
After picking up the order, he stepped outside.
“Ethan?”
A familiar voice called out.
He turned and saw a beautiful woman about five-foot-seven, wearing glasses and carrying herself with quiet confidence.
“It’s you?”
They both looked surprised.
This was Ethan’s ex-girlfriend — the Tsinghua-level scholar, the elegant Emma Reilly.
They hadn’t seen each other since the breakup right after college entrance exam results came out. An old classmate had mentioned seeing her before, but Ethan hadn’t thought much of it. Manhattan was huge. The chances of running into her again were slim.
He hadn’t expected it to happen the very next day.
Facing her now, Ethan — who had long since moved on — was perfectly calm.
“How have you been?” Emma asked.
“Since the breakup, I’ve been doing better every single day.”
“Um…”
Emma looked awkward, unsure how to respond.
“It was complicated back then,” she tried to explain. “I got into a top school, and you only got into a regular university…”
“The past is gone,” Ethan interrupted gently. “No point dwelling on it.”
Emma sighed softly and didn’t push further.
A second later, her eyes landed on his delivery uniform and she froze.
“You’re not studying anymore? You’re delivering food?” she asked, clearly shocked.
“Yeah.” Ethan nodded.
Disappointment flashed across Emma’s face.
He was still the same as before — no ambition at all.
She had thought that after all these years he might have changed, but apparently not. He was still content with the status quo.
She had overthought things.
Emma mocked herself internally.
Did she really believe Ethan could change?
She had always been ambitious and decisive. That was why she broke up with him right after the exam results. Her partner could never be ordinary. He had to be someone with real achievements, real power, someone who stood above others.
She wanted to be part of the kind of couple everyone envied.
At first she thought Ethan could be that person — his looks were more than enough — but over time she realized she might have been wrong.
So when she got into a top school and was set to rise while Ethan was headed to an ordinary university, becoming just another average person, she made the clean break.
After the breakup, she hadn’t dated anyone new. It wasn’t because of Ethan. She simply had extremely high standards and hadn’t found the right person yet.
If everything went according to plan, after graduation she would become an executive at a major company. A few years in, a ten-million-dollar annual salary wouldn’t be out of reach.
But that wasn’t enough for her. Her ambitions were bigger. A monthly salary of ten million — that was the goal.
Seeing Ethan now, she had felt a small pang of guilt at first.
But the moment she realized he was delivering food, that guilt disappeared completely.
She and Ethan were never going to be the same kind of people. He was shortsighted and lacked drive.
“Goodbye.”
Ethan glanced at the time. He had already wasted two or three minutes. Millions were slipping away with every second.
He nodded to Emma, got back on his bike, and rode off.
Watching him leave, Emma spoke softly to herself.
“You and I were always destined to be strangers.”
There was no regret in her heart. Only relief.
She was relieved she had made that decision back then. Relieved she had separated from Ethan before it was too late.
If she hadn’t been decisive and cold-hearted, maybe she would be in his position right now — delivering food, struggling, living a small life while looking up at people far above her.
Her boyfriend, at minimum, had to be the CEO of a listed company worth billions.
“Emma Reilly, keep going. Work harder now that you’ve seen your idol.”
She muttered the words like a mantra.
Her idol, Elena Kane, had been her senior in the same department.
Elena Kane was stunningly beautiful, incredibly talented — a true goddess and a standout figure at her university.
After graduating last year, Elena had turned down a million-dollar job offer and stepped into the entertainment industry as a singer. Now she was a red-hot celebrity.
It was said her annual income was close to a hundred million.
Unfortunately, Emma wasn’t qualified to actually know her senior. She could only look up to her from afar as an idol.
[Ding]
[Task Progress: Experience delivery work for 5 days (5/5)]
[Task Completed]
[Congratulations on acquiring The Xylon Grand Hotel valued at 3.5 billion]
As the final delivery was completed, the familiar system voice echoed in Ethan’s mind.
From today onward, The Xylon Grand Hotel — the most renowned top luxury hotel in the city — belonged to him.
His net worth had increased by another 3.5 billion.
“This kind of life is really plain and simple,” Ethan said with a small smile.
Five days. 3.5 billion. Felt pretty good.
If only he could earn another 3.5 billion today.
Rounding up, making ten billion in a single day would be pretty damn cool.
“Ahem.”
Ethan cleared his throat and shook his head at himself.
He was getting carried away. He needed to stay grounded.
With The Xylon Grand Hotel now in his hands, his delivery days were temporarily over.
In high spirits, he started humming as he rode home.
[Ding]
[Task Issued: Check-in Task at The Hudson Art Museum. Task Time: 3 hours]
[Task Reward: Master-level Piano Skills]
Ethan blinked.
Not even ten minutes had passed and he already had a new task?
“Second time, huh.”
So far, almost all of his system rewards had been shares or entire industries. Aside from the initial “Experienced Driver” skill, this was only the second time he was being given an actual ability.
Master-level piano skills sounded impressive.
For the second ability reward, it was actually something artistic. Perfect.
Ethan felt genuinely excited. Now he could show off even more confidently.
In terms of looks, he had already reached the peak. In terms of wealth, he was still climbing and needed to keep working hard.
Now he was developing depth as well.
“I knew I was versatile,” he muttered with a grin, turning his bike toward The Hudson Art Museum.
On the way, he happened to pass by the train station.
A beautiful woman wearing a beret, most of her face hidden behind a mask, suddenly stepped in front of him.
“Hey… can you take me away from here?”
Her voice was soft, almost pleading.
“Beauty, I do deliveries. Not ride-hailing,” Ethan replied.
“There are people chasing me. Please, help me get out of here. I can pay you,” she said quickly, sounding anxious.
Before Ethan could answer, the system voice appeared again.
[Ding]
[Special Task Issued: Help Elena Kane escape and get rid of the men in black.]
[Task Reward: 18% shares of Angel Entertainment Group (Current market value: 28 billion)]
Ethan’s eyes widened.
Eighteen percent of Angel Entertainment Group?
The company’s market value was twenty-eight billion. Eighteen percent of that was…
Five billion.
Just like that.
Such a generous reward this time — five billion?
Ethan was stunned.
Just moments ago he had been daydreaming about the system giving him another 3.5-billion task today. He thought he was just getting carried away.
But less than half an hour later, the system had actually given him a task worth five billion — plus the check-in task for master-level piano skills.
Two massive rewards at once.
The system was really good to him.
“The system is awesome!”
“The system is mighty!”
Ethan’s heart was practically singing praises.
“Hey?”
Elena Kane saw him zoning out and urged him anxiously.
“Are you really going to pay?”
Afraid she might overthink and he would lose the five-billion reward, Ethan deliberately acted a little greedy before agreeing.
“Yes. Definitely,” she nodded firmly.
“Beauty, hop on. I’ll get you out of here.”
Without overthinking his words, Elena assumed he was just motivated by the money. She quickly climbed onto the back of his bike.
“Hurry!”
Ethan pedaled hard and rode away.
Seconds later, four or five men in black suits rushed out of the train station, looking around frantically.
Elena pressed her face against Ethan’s back, hiding.
Chapter 53
Elena Kane was incredibly nervous.
She instinctively hugged Ethan from behind, pretending they were a close couple. She prayed silently, hoping they wouldn’t be discovered.
She hoped this change in strategy would work.
According to common sense, when being chased, most people would want to escape as fast as possible. A car would be the obvious choice, while a slow bicycle would be the first thing the pursuers would ignore.
Elena Kane had changed her approach. She stopped a bicycle and had already changed her clothes, wrapping herself up tightly. She hoped they wouldn’t be found.
Standing in front of the train station, several burly men in black suits looked around carefully.
“Check all the nearby cars,” the leader ordered.
They immediately split into groups and began inspecting the vehicles parked nearby.
As for Ethan’s bicycle, they completely overlooked it.
Watching the train station gradually disappear behind them, Elena Kane finally let out a long breath of relief. Her judgment had been correct.
“Hey… what kind of bicycle is this?” she asked curiously. “Why does it feel faster than the others?”
“Of course it is. It costs over four million. If it couldn’t even keep up with a regular bike, that would be a real waste.”
Ethan answered honestly.
“What?”
“You said this bike costs over four million?”
Sitting behind him, Elena Kane was completely shocked.
“Hah, there’s no such thing as a four-million-dollar bicycle in the world.”
She had seen plenty of big scenes and all kinds of top-tier supercars, but she had never heard of a bicycle being worth that much.
Even though they were already far from the train station, Elena Kane was still afraid of unexpected trouble and didn’t dare get off. She stayed on the bike.
About ten minutes later, they arrived at The Hudson Art Museum.
“Art museum?”
Elena Kane got off the bike, looking a little surprised.
“What’s wrong?” Ethan turned his head, puzzled.
“So handsome…”
Because she had been so tense earlier, Elena Kane hadn’t really paid attention to Ethan’s appearance. She had only been focused on escaping.
Now, for the first time, she truly looked at him.
Compared to him, all the young idols and macho male gods in the entertainment industry completely faded into the background.
“Let’s go.”
With that, Ethan headed toward the entrance of The Hudson Art Museum.
“Oh.”
Elena Kane nodded subconsciously and followed him inside.
Before they even stepped fully into the exhibition hall, elegant piano music drifted out to greet them.
In the vast space, there were only two pianos.
The first one stood proudly in the center of the hall. The second was placed in a corner on the left side.
No one was near the first piano.
However, six or seven girls were gathered around the second piano, watching the man playing with faces full of admiration and adoration.
The piano music was coming from there.
Sitting at the piano was a man with fair skin, a tall figure, long brown hair, and the look of a melancholic prince.
“So handsome…”
“With this aura and the melancholic tune, I’m in love.”
“Is he a god born for music?”
The girls surrounding him kept whispering excitedly among themselves.
As the piece ended, the melancholic man stood up and bowed gracefully.
“So handsome!”
The girls grew even more excited.
When he stood up, the melancholic man noticed Ethan and Elena Kane walking in.
Even though Elena Kane was wearing a mask and beret, he immediately noticed her.
With his years of experience charming women and navigating countless romantic encounters, he could tell just from her eyes that she was an absolute beauty — far surpassing the few girls currently surrounding him.
Hmm?
However, when his gaze landed on Ethan, he felt a strong sense of threat.
How could this guy look even more handsome than him? Even if it was only by a little.
“Next, I will dedicate a piece to this beautiful lady — ‘Für Elise.’”
The melancholic man spoke to Elena Kane in a gentlemanly tone.
He might not be able to compete with the man beside her in terms of looks for now, but in terms of depth, aura, and piano skills, he was confident he wouldn’t lose.
Following the direction of his gaze, a few of the girls also noticed Elena Kane.
“Wow, she’s really lucky!”
“To have a man willingly play for her… I’m so jealous.”
The girls looked at Elena Kane with a mix of envy and jealousy.
The melancholic man began playing “Für Elise.”
“Für Elise,” composed by Beethoven, was a world-famous piece.
Yet the moment he started playing, Elena Kane shook her head slightly.
This melancholic guy couldn’t even fool little girls who knew nothing about music.
As a singer and a big star, she had seen many great musicians, including numerous famous pianists.
Compared to those masters, even she could play better than this guy.
Thinking this, she glanced at Ethan.
She was curious why he had come here. Could he play the piano too?
[Check-in at The Hudson Art Museum?]
The system’s voice appeared in Ethan’s mind.
Check in.
[Ding]
[Check-in successful]
[Congratulations on acquiring Master-level piano skills]
With the system’s reward, Ethan’s mind was suddenly flooded with countless musical knowledge, as if he had studied the piano seriously for many years.
He closed his eyes for a moment, digesting the influx of skill.
At this point, the melancholic man finished playing and stood up slowly.
He was ready to receive adoring and appreciative gazes from Elena Kane.
With that thought, a faint smile appeared on his face.
He stood up and looked toward her.
The next second, he froze.
This was not how he had imagined things would go.
Elena Kane wasn’t paying any attention to him at all. Instead, she was curiously staring at Ethan beside her.
Failed to charm her?
How was that possible?
With all his years of experience charming women…
Even if this beauty wasn’t completely smitten, she should at least have been impressed.
The melancholic man refused to believe he had failed so easily.
Thinking this, he walked over to Ethan.
Since direct seduction hadn’t worked, he decided to try a different approach.
“Hey buddy, do you play piano too?” he asked curiously.
“Just recently learned,” Ethan answered.
Before completing the task and receiving the reward, he really couldn’t play. So yes — he had only just learned.
“Is that so?”
Realizing Ethan’s piano skills were supposedly average, the melancholic man smirked inwardly.
Good. Not too skilled.
“The piano is a highly esteemed art,” he began lecturing. “It requires constant learning and heeding others’ advice to keep progressing.”
“The ‘Für Elise’ I just played was also guided by a master. I have profound feelings for this piece.”
He offered his advice generously.
“You just learned, so why not try playing something? It doesn’t matter if it’s not perfect. I can give you some pointers.”
As soon as he spoke, his little fangirls eagerly chimed in.
“The master is going to give advice — how exciting!”
“Our idol is a genuine piano master. You’re so lucky! You should feel incredibly honored to receive his guidance.”
“This experience, you’ll cherish it forever.”
The girls were extremely excited, constantly urging Ethan.
Elena Kane also glanced at him, very curious about how well he could actually play.
Was he low-key… or was he just like this melancholic guy — all talk and no action?
After waiting a minute and seeing that Ethan still hadn’t spoken, the melancholic man shook his head and turned to walk toward the second piano.
“Forget it. Let me give you all a rendition of ‘Air on the G String’…”
But before he could reach the second piano, there was suddenly the sound of a chair being moved.
The melancholic man whipped around, stunned.
Not only him — the fangirls and Elena Kane all turned to look at Ethan.
He had moved the chair in front of the first piano and was preparing to play.
Why was this kid going to play the first piano?
Was he crazy?
Didn’t he know the first piano was placed there to be admired, not played?
This was a black polished Steinway A-188, priced at $889,800!
It was the Rolls-Royce of pianos.
This instrument was displayed here purely for people to gaze at in awe.
Because of its terrifying price, no one had dared to touch the Steinway A-188.
To be honest, the melancholic man had coveted this piano for a long time but had never dared to lay a finger on it.
He couldn’t believe that today, some guy who hadn’t been playing piano for long was actually going to play it.
If you’re asking for trouble, you can’t blame anyone else when it finds you.
With that thought, he discreetly pulled out his phone and sent a message to the manager of the art museum.
“Someone is causing trouble and trying to damage the Steinway A-188. Come stop him quickly.”
After sending it, a sinister smile appeared on his face.
Kid, you’re doomed.
“Play. Why aren’t you playing?”
“If you don’t play, how can I give you pointers?”
Arms crossed, the melancholic man spoke with clear mockery.
“Can you even play the piano?”
“Are you just bluffing?”
“If not, then let my idol play.”
The fangirls spoke disdainfully.
But Elena Kane, watching Ethan seriously, grew serious herself.
At this moment, she seemed to see the shadow of a true piano master in him.
Was she imagining things?
Logically, piano masters usually dedicated two or three decades of their lives to reach that level.
But Ethan was so young. How could he possibly be at a master’s level?
Elena Kane felt deeply conflicted.
Ethan closed his eyes and touched the piano keys.
This was his first time playing, yet it felt like reuniting with a long-lost friend.
Ding.
The first note he played was quite ordinary — not particularly impressive.
“Could I really be hallucinating?”
Elena Kane couldn’t help mumbling, doubt creeping in.
“Tch. Just as mediocre as expected.”
The melancholic man shook his head, full of contempt.
This guy was simply not up to it.
“Forget it. You better step down.”
“Can’t compare to my idol at all.”
All the fangirls spoke up disdainfully, their faces full of scorn.
Ding ding ding…
Gradually, Ethan found his rhythm.
Earlier he had been a bit rusty, but now he truly blended with the Piano Master level.
Soothing, beautiful music began to fill the entire hall.
Everyone was involuntarily drawn into a fascinating atmosphere, unable to pull themselves away.
At first, Ethan had only wanted to show off a little. But gradually, he became serious and truly performed.
With the system’s reward, he had gained not only the technical skill of a Piano Master but also the passion and dedication to music that came with it.
At this moment, he wasn’t just showing off — he was genuinely playing from the heart.
Everyone looked at him in disbelief.
Was this what a true master looked like?
Extreme modesty. The legendary “hidden in plain sight.”
That was what everyone was thinking.
“He…”
Elena Kane stared straight at Ethan, completely stunned.
He was truly a piano master!
And he wasn’t the least bit weaker than the few master-level pianists she had been fortunate enough to see in their forties and fifties.
He was so young — probably even a year or two younger than her — yet he had already reached this level?
Unbelievable!
Not only was he incredibly good-looking, but he also had real depth. He completely outshone all the boy idols in the entertainment industry.
Completely entranced by his music, Elena Kane unwittingly became a loyal fan on the spot.
“Wow!”
“This…”
“Is this what a real master sounds like?”
“The same piece in different people’s hands… it’s literally the difference between heaven and earth.”
“In the past, I was shallow and mistook my idol. Now this guy is my idol!”
“Me too! I’m in awe of him… and I find him incredibly handsome. Infinitely more handsome than the last one.”
The girls who had previously worshipped the melancholic man had now completely abandoned him. They were looking at Ethan with boundless admiration and affection.
This was a true master!
This was a true idol.
Unintentionally, Ethan had gained a whole new batch of fangirls.
“How is this possible?”
“How could his piano skills be this high?”
The melancholic man was utterly shocked, unable to believe what he was hearing.
Was this the level a twenty-year-old should have?
No. It was absolutely impossible!
This was the level only true master pianists could achieve.
How could some kid in his twenties possibly be at that level?
He began questioning reality.
Hearing the girls’ comments, the melancholic man grew even more furious, his whole body trembling.
The difference between heaven and earth?
Wouldn’t the one on the ground be him ?
Handsome by a margin unknown over the last idol?
This was not what they were saying earlier.
He was clearly more handsome than Ethan… well… a little more handsome…
Watching his former fangirls now looking at Ethan with such admiration and affection, the melancholic man felt extreme jealousy, as if he had swallowed ten lemons at once.
When he noticed Elena Kane gazing at Ethan with open admiration, he became even more distraught.
No. This development wasn’t right at all.
He should be the one being admired by the beauties. The one being despised and looked down on should be this delivery guy!
Suddenly thinking of something, one of the girls quickly pulled out her phone and started recording Ethan.
With her new idol performing right in front of her, she had to document this unforgettable moment.
But because of her position, she only captured Ethan’s back.
Moreover, his performance was already nearing its end — she only managed to record about twenty seconds.
As the piece concluded, Ethan slowly stood up.
“What a pity…”
“I only recorded this much.”
The girl lowered her phone regretfully.
Hearing her words, the other fangirls came back to their senses.
It was over.
They had been so captivated by their idol’s music that they had completely forgotten to record it.
At this moment, a middle-aged man wearing a suit walked in with several security guards.
“Manager Reynolds.”
Seeing him, the melancholic man immediately perked up.
His message had worked.
This kid was doomed!
Chapter 54
To Manager Reynolds, this Steinway A-188 was his most cherished possession.
Even he couldn’t bear to touch it casually. It had been placed here purely for people who truly loved the piano to admire.
And now, some young punk had dared to lay hands on it.
Wasn’t he courting death?
“Manager Reynolds, it’s him.”
Sebastian Holt hurried over and pointed accusingly at Ethan.
“Quickly, catch him and take him to the police station!”
“People like him deserve the most severe punishment!”
After saying this, he smugly and arrogantly looked at Ethan, as if to say: You’re done for, kid.
“Get lost.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Manager Reynolds suddenly pushed him aside.
He walked straight toward Ethan with an excited expression.
“Master, your performance was incredible. That was the most beautiful piece I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Manager Reynolds eagerly grabbed Ethan’s hand, his face flushed with excitement.
“To be honest, I’m also deeply into music. I’ve met many great musicians and piano masters over the years, but compared to you, they’re nothing.”
“You’re so young and have already achieved this level… it’s truly astonishing.”
He kept shaking Ethan’s hand, continuously praising him.
Sebastian Holt stood there completely dumbfounded.
What the hell was happening?
“Manager Reynolds, he’s the one who touched your Steinway A-188!” he couldn’t help but blurt out.
“So what if he touched it?”
“This Steinway A-188 is meant for masters like him. It’s an honor for the piano to be played by someone of his caliber.”
Manager Reynolds immediately shot back.
Sebastian Holt was utterly shocked.
How could this be?!
“Thank you,” Ethan said, gently pulling his hand back.
“No, no, no — you’re far too modest.”
“I’m truly fortunate to have met you in this lifetime,” Manager Reynolds said sincerely.
After chatting with Ethan for a while and obtaining his contact information, Manager Reynolds wisely took his leave.
Before leaving, he politely handed Ethan his business card.
“Deputy Secretary General of the New York Music Guild?”
Ethan murmured as he looked at the card.
Elena Kane, standing nearby, was stunned.
The New York Music Guild?
That manager was the Deputy Secretary General of the New York Music Guild?
She knew that the New York Music Guild was one of the most prestigious music associations in the country, ranking among the top three nationally.
Its members were all renowned musicians — true master-level figures.
The fact that Ethan had received such admiration from the Deputy Secretary General was more than enough to prove that his piano skills had reached a terrifying level.
“Let’s go.”
Having completed the check-in task, Ethan said to Elena Kane and headed outside.
She immediately followed.
Previously, she might have parted ways with him right after escaping. But now that she knew he was an incredibly low-key piano master — and had become a devoted fan — she had no intention of leaving.
Moreover, a bold idea had already formed in her mind.
As Ethan left, the few fangirls also drifted out one after another.
In the enormous exhibition hall, only the foolish Sebastian Holt remained.
At this moment, three or four beautiful girls ran inside.
They had heard the piano music by chance, been instantly captivated, and after searching for a while, had finally found their way here.
“Hey, was it you playing the piano just now?”
One of the girls asked Sebastian Holt curiously.
He was momentarily stunned.
Such pretty girls.
He looked around and saw that everyone else had already left, so he nodded gracefully.
“It was me.”
“Wow!”
“So amazing!”
“The piece was played so beautifully — definitely master-level.”
These girls were all students from the Music Academy and particularly sensitive to music.
After hearing his words, they looked at him with open admiration.
Sebastian Holt allowed a small smile to appear on his face.
The previous gloom vanished instantly, replaced by pride.
Even though he had missed out on the masked beauty, gaining a few beautiful female fans wasn’t a total loss.
Hearing their praises, his ego swelled.
“Not at all. My playing is just average.”
“Master, you’re too modest.”
“And you call that average?”
The girls retorted.
Just as Sebastian Holt was about to make further advances and ask for their contact information, a voice cut through the air.
“Don’t be fooled by this fraud. He wasn’t the one who played the piano just now!”
The girl who had recorded the video earlier walked back in.
She had forgotten something and returned to retrieve it — only to catch this scumbag deceiving people.
How could she allow her idol to be impersonated?
The moment she entered, she exposed Sebastian Holt’s lie without hesitation.
He still tried to argue, but before he could speak, she directly pulled out the video she had recorded earlier.
The moment the Music Academy girls saw the footage, they understood.
The delivery guy was the real master.
Even just his back view looked incredibly handsome.
“Fraud!”
“You’re a fraud!”
“Scumbag — no, a complete lowlife!”
Realizing they had been deceived, the girls immediately started scolding him.
“Everyone, quickly record a video and expose this fraud!”
“Don’t let other girls be deceived!”
They quickly pulled out their phones.
Seeing this, Sebastian Holt hurriedly covered his face and ran out.
But it was too late — his face had already been recorded.
After uploading the videos, the girls posted them on X and other short video platforms, as well as their personal circles.
Very quickly, the clips received countless likes and shares.
Sebastian Holt was thoroughly labeled a fraud and a scumbag.
In the future, he would probably find it very difficult to flirt with girls anywhere.
“Hey!”
Watching the girls upload the videos, the girl who had recorded Ethan’s performance earlier had a sudden idea.
She uploaded the clip of Ethan’s back view as well.
The moment it went live, it exploded.
In no time, “Backview God” and “Music Master” became Ethan’s new nicknames.
Within just ten minutes, the video views exceeded 100,000.
In half an hour, it passed 1,000,000.
A few hours later, the view count reached tens of millions.
“Backview God, we love you!”
“God, I’ve become your fan. Just your back view is this handsome — I’m scared to see your face!”
“God, I’m in love. You have to take responsibility!”
“What a pity there’s only a back view and not the god’s face!”
“God, I want to see your face.”
As Ethan became famous, he also gained countless devoted female fans, quickly surpassing many younger idols in fan count.
In an apartment in Manhattan, Emma Reilly was bored and opened X.
She happened to see the video.
The moment she clicked on it, Ethan’s ex-girlfriend was stunned.
She had some understanding of music — after all, her idol was Elena Kane.
After watching the clip, she was completely shocked.
This was definitely a master-level performance.
Even though the video was only twenty or thirty seconds long, the impact on her was immense.
“Such a young master-level figure… he’s amazing.”
Emma Reilly spoke sincerely.
“If my future boyfriend were him, that would be wonderful.”
She fell into a brief fantasy.
The kind of partner she hoped for was someone with real ability, depth, and ambition.
In an instant, she became a fan of this mysterious figure.
“I wonder if the idol has a girlfriend?”
She posted a comment.
Afterward, she watched the video several more times.
“Huh?”
Finally, she was suddenly surprised to notice that the figure’s silhouette seemed somewhat similar to Ethan.
“No… I must be overthinking this.”
But in the next second, she dismissed the terrifying thought.
How could someone like Ethan — who lacked ambition and was content with the status quo — possibly be such a master?
Besides, this young genius must have studied piano from a very young age. Having spent time with Ethan before, she was certain he didn’t play the piano or any other instrument.
“Even as a fellow delivery guy, Ethan, look at others — how talented and cultured they are. And you…”
Emma Reilly couldn’t help but shake her head.
“Hopeless.”
In front of the art museum, Ethan looked slightly surprised.
Even now, he still hadn’t received any notification from the system that the special task of helping Elena Kane had been completed.
It seemed something was still missing.
Just as he was thinking about how to persuade her to stay by his side so he could finish the task, Elena Kane came out.
“Idol, wait for me!”
She called out the moment she stepped outside, leaving Ethan confused.
Idol?
Wasn’t he supposed to be the charismatic one? How had he suddenly become the idol?
“I never thought you’d be such a low-key piano master,” Elena Kane said with deep emotion.
As a singer, she deeply loved music too.
Just now, while watching him play, she had also seen his genuine passion for it.
So she had made a bold decision.
“Idol, take me as your disciple,” she said excitedly.
She also loved the piano. Having encountered a true master like him, she definitely couldn’t let the opportunity slip away.
Take her as a disciple?
Ethan couldn’t help but cough a few times.
“Why should I take you as a disciple?”
Elena Kane glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then took off her mask, revealing her flawlessly beautiful face.
She had expected Ethan to be surprised that she was a big celebrity.
He remained completely indifferent.
“You don’t recognize me?”
Elena Kane was very surprised.
“No. I don’t.”
Ethan answered straightforwardly.
Apart from knowing her name was Elena Kane, he genuinely knew nothing else about her.
Hearing this, she felt a little helpless.
How could that be? She was a popular star, after all. People usually cared about reputation.
Though… this young man was quite handsome. Well, very handsome. Even if he didn’t know her, he could at least pretend to think about it for a second.
This was really awkward.
While Elena Kane was internally ranting, Ethan spoke again.
“Besides being pretty, do you have any other specialties?”
Hearing his words, she felt delighted that he had acknowledged her looks.
No girl disliked being praised for being pretty.
“My legs are long.”
After thinking for a moment, she answered seriously.
Ethan was at a loss for words. He pushed his bike and started walking forward.
Elena Kane quickly caught up and explained,
“Just kidding.”
“Besides being pretty and having long legs, I sing well… and I’m good at cooking…”
Hearing the last part, Ethan stopped and turned to look at her.
“You’re good at cooking?”
“Of course.” She was somewhat confident about her cooking skills.
“Hop on.”
“Okay.”
Elena Kane quickly got on the back of his bike.
Finally, Ethan took her to The Eastern Shores Seaview Villas.
“Aren’t delivery men usually not allowed into villa zones?”
Sitting behind him, Elena Kane asked curiously.
“Delivery men aren’t allowed in. But the owners are.”
Owners?
Before she could react, Ethan arrived at Villa No. 1 — the Premier Oceanfront Villa.
“We’re here. Get off.”
He stopped the bike.
“Here?”
“This… this… is this your home?”
Looking at the massive seaside villa, Elena Kane was shocked.
She had seen many luxury homes, but this was the first time she had seen something this lavish. This villa had to be worth at least three or four billion.
Ethan didn’t say anything. He simply answered with his actions.
He opened the villa door.
Filled with curiosity, Elena Kane followed him inside.
Looking at the luxurious decorations, she was even more stunned.
“I’m going upstairs to change. You go cook.”
Ethan spoke casually.
Huh?
But she was a guest, after all?
Elena Kane was a bit stunned, but one look from Ethan was enough. She obediently went to the kitchen.
You’re the Piano Master. You call the shots.
A few minutes later, Ethan came back downstairs.
Seeing him after he had changed clothes, Elena Kane was even more stunned.
He was truly the definition of tall, rich, and handsome.
An hour later, Elena Kane’s meal of four dishes and one soup was ready.
“The taste is not bad.”
Ethan tasted it and gave his approval.
“Can I stay here temporarily?”
“You can.”
Seeing him nod, she was extremely excited.
Even though he hadn’t agreed to take her as a disciple, being allowed to stay here meant she could learn from him in the future.
If Elena Kane’s fans knew about this, they would probably be moved to tears.
Their goddess — the famous star Elena Kane — was so excited and happy to temporarily become someone else’s “nanny.”
They would be devastated.
The next day, at noon, there was a knock on the door.
Ethan opened it to find Manager Reynolds from yesterday, standing beside a stern middle-aged man.
“Hello, Master Caldwell.”
Seeing Ethan, the middle-aged man spoke with visible excitement.
“And you are?”
Manager Reynolds quickly explained,
“Master Caldwell, this is Mr. Theodore Langford, the president of the New York Music Guild.”
“Hello. Please come in.”
Once inside, Theodore Langford explained his purpose.
“Master Caldwell, I watched your performance. It was astonishing.”
Ethan’s piano video had gone viral, so Theodore Langford had naturally seen it.
Even though it was only twenty or thirty seconds long, as a professional, he already knew Ethan’s piano skills were undoubtedly at the master level.
“I’m here to invite you to join the New York Music Guild — not as an ordinary member, but as Vice President.”
Theodore Langford spoke sincerely.
Just as she stepped out of the room, Elena Kane heard his words and froze.
Vice President of the New York Music Guild?!
Oh my God.
Chapter 55
You must know, in the music world, the New York Music Guild was top-tier.
Among all the musicians’ associations in the country, the New York Music Guild ranked in the top three.
Popular singers who wanted to join the New York Music Guild had to go through a strict selection process, with a success rate of less than ten percent.
Currently, only some veteran kings and queens in the entertainment industry had successfully joined.
Even though she was a popular singer now, Elena Kane did not dare to think about joining the New York Music Guild.
But for Ethan, not only was he proactively invited to join, but he was also directly given a high position as vice president.
Vice president of the New York Music Guild — with this title, anyone in the entire entertainment and music industry had to show a measure of respect.
It was terrifying.
To have the president of the New York Music Guild personally come and invite him was enough to prove Ethan’s horrifying level of piano skill.
In the end, Ethan and Mr. Theodore Langford reached an agreement.
Ethan became the honorary vice president of the New York Music Guild.
He was just there in name, without having to participate in any activities of the Guild, while still enjoying the various benefits and the status in the entertainment and music industries that came with the title.
Meanwhile, with a Piano Master like Ethan joining, the New York Music Guild would gain massive fame, boosting its overall status.
It was mutually beneficial.
“Thank you very much, Master Caldwell,” Mr. Theodore Langford expressed gratefully.
“Actually, if Master Caldwell wants to go further, becoming the honorary president is not impossible.”
In the end, Mr. Langford told Ethan.
“As long as Master Caldwell goes to headquarters, plays a piece to impress the board, and gets the vote passed.”
Mr. Langford himself was elected by vote, so his powers were limited. At most, he could offer Ethan the honorary vice president position for now.
“Let’s talk about it when there’s time.”
Ethan was not very interested in this and responded casually.
At The Xylon Grand Hotel, the former owner announced in the conference room to all the top management the change of ownership.
“From today onwards, Mr. Caldwell is your new boss.”
With that said, the former owner left, and the meeting was chaired by General Manager Reynolds.
After some discussion, General Manager Reynolds made a call to Ethan.
When the call connected, he spoke respectfully.
“Hello, President Caldwell. I am Reynolds, the general manager of The Xylon Grand Hotel.”
“You have become our new boss. I wonder when you will come for an inspection so we can prepare a ceremony.”
Ethan thought for a moment.
“Tomorrow.”
“By the way, the ceremony doesn’t need to be big — just small is fine. It doesn’t need to be held in the lobby, as that would affect the normal operation of the hotel.”
“Understood, President Caldwell.”
“By the way, a friend of mine is getting married the day after tomorrow. Please prepare the largest banquet hall and decorate it meticulously for me.”
“Okay, President Caldwell.”
General Manager Reynolds nodded, keeping the matter in mind.
After hanging up, he relayed Ethan’s instructions to the attending executives.
“First, President Caldwell said that the welcoming ceremony should not be too large to avoid affecting the hotel’s normal operations. After giving it some thought, we will choose a banquet hall and hold the ceremony inside, introducing President Caldwell to the various aspects of the hotel.”
“Director Li and Director Qian, you are in charge of this task.”
“Since this is President Caldwell’s first visit, treat it with utmost seriousness. If any issues arise and President Caldwell gives me trouble, even if I’m dismissed, I will make sure you’re both dismissed beforehand.”
“Understood.”
All the hotel executives spoke up, taking the ceremony tomorrow very seriously.
“Second, President Caldwell’s friend is getting married the day after tomorrow, so Banquet Hall Number One will not be open to the public from now on.”
“Manager Liu, this task is yours. Make sure to decorate with the highest standards — flowers, sound systems, bands — everything must be of the best quality.”
“Understood. I’ll start the arrangements right away.”
Under General Manager Reynolds’ directions, all the executives immediately began preparing for these two events.
The fact that the mysterious Mr. Caldwell had bought The Xylon Grand Hotel quickly became known to some bosses.
“Mr. Caldwell?”
“Is he General Manager Zhang’s elder brother, the heir apparent of Sterling Real Estate Group?”
Several bosses who had attended the previous banquet were even more surprised when they learned that Ethan had become the new owner of The Xylon Grand Hotel.
Was the 3.5 billion Xylon Grand Hotel bought just like that?
No wonder General Manager Zhang’s elder brother had such strong financial power.
After learning this, a few bosses gathered together.
“I got some news from a friend. Mr. Caldwell is coming for an inspection tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, his friend is holding a wedding at The Xylon Grand Hotel,” one boss said.
“In that case, let’s all attend the wedding the day after tomorrow to offer our congratulations and take the opportunity to get acquainted with Mr. Caldwell.”
Mr. Caldwell’s inspection was not convenient for them to attend, but the wedding the day after tomorrow offered them a chance to extend congratulations and curry favor.
“Yes. When we attend the wedding, we must prepare some decent gifts to leave a good impression on Mr. Caldwell.”
These bosses were significant figures in the city’s business sector — group presidents, each with a net worth of no less than ten billion.
Since they decided to offer congratulations, they had to bring decent gifts.
This way, with their attendance, Mr. Caldwell would surely be satisfied.
After confirming the time, they separated to prepare their grand gifts.
At The Eastern Shores Seaview Villas, after sending off Mr. Theodore Langford, Ethan received a call from his brother Zack Everett.
Zack’s extremely snobby in-laws were once again pressuring him. They even wanted to arrange a matchmaking session for Zack’s girlfriend.
“Brother, everything’s arranged. Don’t worry.”
“The day after tomorrow, you just need to play your role as the groom. Leave the rest to me.”
“When the time comes, I’ll definitely shock your snobby in-laws!”
Ethan promised.
Remembering those times when Zack’s snobby in-laws doubted and mocked him, Ethan couldn’t help but sneer.
They dared to give his brother a hard time and ridicule him.
The day after tomorrow, they would be utterly bewildered.
The hotel had already been booked.
As for cars, Ethan had also gotten them ready. Aside from his own luxury vehicles, he had pulled together a fleet of luxury cars from Vanguard Dynamics and other sources.
Each car was worth no less than five million.
“Alright.”
As brothers for over ten years, Zack still had great confidence in Ethan.
“Thanks, Ethan.”
Not long after hanging up, Ethan suddenly heard a sound from the system.
[Special Task: Helping Elena Kane escape from the men in black — task completed.]
[System Reward: 18% stock of Angel Entertainment Group. Congratulations, you are now the second-largest shareholder of Angel Entertainment Group.]
“It’s in my hands?”
Hearing the system’s voice, Ethan was extremely thrilled.
Five billion, just like that!
It was exhilarating.
“Angel Entertainment Group.”
Ethan muttered, taking out his phone to check the information.
As soon as he checked, he was taken aback.
The Angel Entertainment Group was once one of the top ten groups in the entertainment industry, with a peak market value of eighty billion.
“Eighty billion at its peak?”
Was his 18% share once worth 14.4 billion?!
Is it really that crazy?
After reading the information, Ethan understood the Angel Entertainment Group better.
Regardless, with five billion in hand, he was quite happy.
As Ethan became the second-largest shareholder of Angel Entertainment Group, the president of the group, Mr. Theodore Langford, was stunned.
“Who exactly is this mysterious wealthy Mr. Caldwell from Manhattan who bought 18% of the shares in a single stroke?”
Mr. Langford was extremely surprised.
Silently taking five billion in shares — this mysterious Mr. Caldwell’s financial power was terrifying.
“This might be an opportunity.”
Mr. Langford’s eyes lit up.
Angel Entertainment Group wanted to rise again. Without the support of external forces, it could not succeed.
This time, the appearance of the mysterious Mr. Caldwell might be the opportunity for Angel Entertainment Group to rise again.
“Quickly, help me contact Vice President Lin and others, and also book me a flight to Manhattan.”
“The earlier the flight, the better.”
At this moment, Mr. Langford was eager to meet Mr. Caldwell and have a good chat.
Half an hour later, he discussed with a few close associates and successfully booked a flight for the next morning.
They expected to reach Manhattan by noon.
The next day, a little after 9 a.m., Emma Reilly arrived at the airport.
She had received a message yesterday that her senior, Tyler Prescott, was coming to Manhattan, and as the local, she came to pick him up.
Tyler Prescott was her senior in the same department, a year older, and one of Emma’s pursuers.
This senior was the vice president of the student council, excelling in studies, music, sports, and other areas.
It was said that his family was very wealthy — a true rich and handsome guy with ambition.
Thinking of this, Emma unconsciously compared Ethan and Tyler Prescott.
In almost every aspect, Tyler Prescott crushed Ethan.
Truly one was a dragon in the sky, the other a crawling creature on the ground. Incomparable.
“Emma Reilly, what did you see in Ethan back then?”
Emma couldn’t help but mock herself.
“I must have been blind back then.”
Soon, a tall young man with sunglasses slowly walked out of the airport.
He was Emma’s pursuer, Tyler Prescott.
“Junior Sister Emma.”
Seeing her, Tyler Prescott waved his hand.
“Long time no see. You’ve become more beautiful.”
“Not really.”
“Hold on, I need to take a call.”
Tyler Prescott’s phone rang.
“Alright, you’re outside the airport, right? Okay, I’ll come find you.”
After hanging up, he explained,
“I have a friend here in Manhattan who drove to pick us up and take us to the hotel.”
Tyler Prescott and Emma walked toward the exit.
Outside the airport, a small convoy attracted a lot of attention.
This convoy had only five cars, but they were all luxury cars — Lamborghinis and Ferraris.
Seeing Tyler Prescott come out, a thin young man driving a Bentley spoke first.
“Yu Bro, you’re here.”
“This is Tyler Brooks, my friend. His dad is the deputy general manager of Summit Group.”
Tyler Prescott introduced.
“Hello.”
Emma spoke.
Although she appeared calm, internally she was incredibly surprised.
Summit Group — wasn’t it a famous big company with a market value of two to three billion?
As the deputy general manager, his net worth must be at least several billion.
“Is this the sister-in-law? Nice to meet you.”
Seeing Emma, Tyler Brooks spoke politely.
“Not yet. She’s my junior from school and also from Manhattan, here to pick me up.”
Tyler Prescott glanced at Emma, waited a moment, and then explained.
To be honest, the purpose of his visit to Manhattan, besides having fun, was to win over Emma.
“Not yet, but eventually,” Tyler Brooks replied with a smile.
“Yu Bro, let me introduce you. This is Old Sun…”
Tyler Brooks introduced the owners of the other luxury cars one by one.
It turned out these were all second-generation rich kids.
After listening to the introductions, Emma was extremely curious.
What exactly did Tyler Prescott’s family do to have friends who were all second-generation rich?
“This here is my big bro, Tyler Prescott. Yu Bro, let me tell you — Yu Bro’s family is a shareholder of Angel Entertainment Group, with assets in the billions.”
Tyler Brooks spoke proudly.
Hmm?
Several second-generation rich kids were shocked.
Although they were also second-generation rich, their family wealth was generally in the range of several billion.
Now, hearing that Tyler Prescott’s dad was a shareholder in Angel Entertainment Group, worth hundreds of billions, they were all very surprised.
“Yu Bro, nice to meet you.”
“Yu Bro, nice to meet you.”
Emma was shocked.
A shareholder in Angel Entertainment Group, billions in assets?
So this was Tyler Prescott?
Impressive.
For a moment, she was somewhat moved.
Perhaps this was the type of boyfriend she had been expecting, though there was still a bit of a gap compared to the mysterious figure from the video.
Soon, under Tyler Brooks’ arrangement, Tyler Prescott and Emma got into the car.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at The Xylon Grand Hotel.
“Yu Bro, this is Manhattan’s top hotel. I’ve arranged a suite for you and rented a banquet hall where some other friends are waiting to welcome you and let you taste some of Manhattan’s cuisines.”
Tyler Brooks said.
“I’ll take your luggage to the room first. You and the sister-in-law go to the banquet hall.”
With that, Tyler Brooks and a few friends left on purpose, leaving space for Tyler Prescott and Emma to be alone.
Tyler Prescott looked at the note Tyler Brooks left before tossing it aside.
“109 banquet hall.”
Tyler Prescott and Emma chatted as they headed to the banquet hall.
Tyler Prescott hadn’t noticed he was holding the note upside down — the real banquet hall was actually 601.
Simultaneously, an Aston Martin parked outside the hotel.
Ethan and Elena Kane got out.
Elena Kane wanted to learn piano from him and was afraid he would leave her behind, so she tagged along.
Seeing Ethan, a middle-aged man in a suit approached.
“Hello, Mr. Caldwell. I’m the general manager here, Reynolds.”
The middle-aged man said politely.
“Hello.”
“Please follow me. As you requested, I’ve reduced the ceremony’s scale and set it in banquet hall 109.”
Under General Manager Reynolds’ guidance, Ethan and Elena Kane headed to the banquet hall.
Soon, they reached the banquet hall.
As soon as they entered, an astonished voice rang out.
“Ethan?”
Inside the banquet hall, seeing Ethan, Emma Reilly was extremely surprised.
Hmm?
Ethan raised an eyebrow. How did he run into Emma here?
Next to Emma, upon hearing the name, Tyler Prescott instantly became alert.
He had investigated Emma and knew that her ex-boyfriend’s name was Ethan.
Unexpectedly, they had run into each other.
Good. Very good.
Now, he was confident he could win Emma. He would step over Ethan to get the beauty!
With this thought, Tyler Prescott walked toward Ethan with ill intent.
“Kid, you seem to be in the wrong place!”
“Who do you think you are to be allowed here?”
Chapter 56
Tyler Prescott had done some digging and knew that Emma Reilly’s ex-boyfriend came from a small county, with a family that was neither wealthy nor influential.
How could such a poor kid possibly compare to him?
So, right from the start, Tyler Prescott launched into an attack, berating Ethan.
“Heh.”
Ethan’s face showed a hint of a roguish grin.
Interesting. Here he was in his own hotel, in a banquet hall prepared to welcome him.
Yet he was being angrily told he wasn’t worthy to be here.
“This is a welcome party my friend set up for me. You don’t belong here, so get out now.”
Tyler Prescott crossed his arms, ordering him like he owned the place.
“Ethan, just leave.”
Emma Reilly chimed in.
“This isn’t a place for a delivery guy like you.”
“This isn’t a place I should be, but you guys can come?”
Ethan retorted to Emma.
“You…”
“If you don’t listen to advice, don’t regret it later.”
Emma shook her head helplessly. She was only trying to help. Ethan, a delivery guy, couldn’t afford to provoke a shareholder of Angel Entertainment Group — someone like Tyler Prescott, whose family business was worth billions.
With just a gesture, Tyler Prescott could ensure Ethan would never rise again.
If Ethan refused the warning, then he couldn’t blame her.
“I think the one who should get out is you.”
Ethan coldly replied to Tyler Prescott.
“Hahaha.”
Tyler Prescott burst into laughter.
“You think I should get out, you crazy little punk?”
“What makes you, a delivery guy, think you can talk to me like that?!”
“Do you believe I won’t find somebody to throw you out?”
Tyler Prescott continued to threaten him.
“In my banquet hall, you’re the first to act like a thug.”
Hearing this, General Manager Reynolds couldn’t hold back and prepared to scold Tyler Prescott.
Where did this lunatic come from, throwing a fit here?
But before General Manager Reynolds could speak, footsteps were heard from outside.
“Tyler, what are you doing here?”
Tyler Brooks shouted.
They’d been waiting for a while in banquet hall 601 without seeing Tyler Prescott and Emma Reilly and had been searching for quite some time.
They finally realized Tyler Prescott might have made a mistake, so a group of rich kids rushed over.
“Huh?”
Hearing Tyler Brooks’ words, Tyler Prescott furrowed his brows.
What did it mean?
Wasn’t this the banquet hall Tyler Brooks had set up to welcome him?
Beside him, Emma Reilly was equally astonished.
“Tyler, here’s the thing…”
Tyler Brooks was embarrassed, whispering to Tyler Prescott.
After hearing it, Tyler Prescott and Emma Reilly were stunned.
They had entered the wrong place, barging into someone else’s banquet hall.
Thinking back on what had just happened, Tyler Prescott and Emma Reilly stood there awkwardly.
It was like a stranger barging into someone else’s home and then telling the owner to get out.
Wasn’t this insanity?
Ethan, Elena Kane, and a few others watched Tyler Prescott’s group as if they were clowns.
“Ahem.”
Tyler Prescott cleared his throat.
A mistake was made, but he’d see it through. He absolutely couldn’t lose face in front of Emma Reilly.
“So I barged into the wrong banquet hall, huh, kid? How much did you rent this hall for? I’ll pay you double.”
“Give us this banquet hall.”
Tyler Prescott spoke with swagger, in a money’s-no-object fashion.
Tyler Brooks understood that Tyler couldn’t lose face.
“How could we let Tyler spend money? Since we’re on a friend’s turf, leave this little thing to me.”
Tyler Brooks spoke up.
“Yeah, we’ll handle this little issue.”
“How could we let Tyler spend the money?”
The others also chimed in, friends of Tyler Brooks.
“Kid, tell us, how much?”
Tyler Brooks stepped forward, facing off with Ethan.
“What if I say no?”
Ethan spoke calmly.
Hmm?
Was he picking a fight?
After hearing Ethan’s words, Tyler Prescott and his group were very surprised.
Emma Reilly also shook her head, truly admiring Ethan’s courage.
Who gave him the guts to provoke a rich kid and a multi-billionaire handsome guy?
“You really want to play tough, huh?”
Tyler Brooks sneered aggressively.
“Let me tell you, buddy, I know the higher-ups at this hotel. If you don’t give it up, I’ll call them to toss you out!”
Hmm?
Ethan chuckled.
Beside him, General Manager Reynolds was taken aback. Apart from Mr. Caldwell, he was the highest-ranking executive at The Xylon Grand Hotel.
Everyone here was also from the hotel’s upper management.
He certainly wanted to see which so-called high-level member dared to throw Mr. Caldwell — and him — out.
In the banquet hall, the other executives also looked at Tyler Brooks.
None of them knew him.
“Fine, don’t scram then. I’ll make the call.”
With that, Tyler Brooks took out his phone.