Jason, Megan, and Brooke continued their shopping spree through the upscale Northwood Galleria.
Inside the Louis Vuitton store, Megan casually picked up a monogrammed leather belt and held it against Jason's waist.
"This would look great on you."
Price tag? $2,400.
Jason didn't even blink. "Let's get it."
A few stores later, they were at Salvatore Ferragamo, and Megan found a pair of custom-stitched white sneakers. Price tag? $7,300.
Jason didn't hesitate. Swipe.
Brooke kept glancing between the products and Jason with growing disbelief. But it wasn't until they stepped into the Rolex boutique that things hit a whole new level.
"Most models require pre-orders these days," the sales associate said. "We only have a few Day-Date and Sky-Dweller models in stock."
Megan's eyes sparkled. She pointed at a platinum Day-Date 40 Sunday Dial Edition.
"That one's beautiful."
Price tag? $52,820.
Jason nodded like he was buying a soda. "I'll take it."
System Update: Megan Chase - Affection +5
Fifteen points so far, all from passive flexing. No flowers. No begging. No kneeling.
Just self-respect and style.
Jason smiled to himself.They were right. Money isn't for women—it's for women to see.
Just as they left the Rolex boutique, a familiar voice pierced the air like nails on glass.
"Jay? What the hell? Are you following me?"
Jason turned.
And there she was.
Emma Bennett, ex-crush and the girl he once simped over for three years, stood near the LV window, holding the arm of a tall guy in Gucci shades.
Jason frowned. "Following you? You think your family owns this mall or something?"
Emma crossed her arms, tone sharpened. "We agreed to be friends, so what are you doing here, showing up at the exact same time?"
Jason opened his mouth, but before he could respond, Megan and Brooke stepped beside him, carrying bags worth a car lease.
Emma froze.
Was that… Megan Chase? The Megan Chase? Art Department senior, social media darling, literal walking perfection?
Why was she with Jason?
Even the guy next to Emma—Ryan Mercer, a second-gen rich kid from a Bay Area investor family—looked confused. "Who's this guy?"
"He's… no one," Emma muttered. "He used to have a thing for me."
Brooke raised a brow and leaned in, whispering to Megan, "That's the girl Jason chased? The one who ghosted him?"
Megan, lips twitching, whispered back, "Yeah. Didn't know she'd be so plain in person."
Then, without warning, Megan gently looped her arm around Jason's—keeping it tasteful, just touching.
"Come on, Jason," she said. "Let's check out that skin spa next."
Jason almost stumbled in surprise. She just... helped me save face?
He looked at her and saw nothing but calm confidence. She wasn't falling for him. But she respected him enough to step in.
And that felt better than any fantasy he'd built around Emma.
Jason smiled, composed. "Sure. Spa's on me. You've been helping me upgrade my style all day. I owe you a full treatment."
Brooke lit up. "Ohhh, facials on the rich kid's tab? Count me in!"
They strolled toward the high-end salon, passing Emma and Ryan like they didn't exist.
Behind them, Emma stood frozen, her gaze falling to Jason's wrist—Rolex. Real. The platinum kind.
Then she noticed the LV belt. The Ferragamo sneakers. The bags in his hands. She did a quick estimate.
That's… $80K at least.
She blinked in disbelief.
"He told me once his monthly budget was like $200…"
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "You sure he's not just blowing someone else's cash?"
Emma didn't reply.
Something twisted in her gut. Watching Jason walk off—surrounded by two gorgeous girls, full of confidence, style, and charm—felt like getting slapped with the truth.
She'd written him off as a simp. A background character in her little romance.
But the character had changed. And now… she couldn't stop staring.
System Update: Emma Bennett - Affection +5Name: Emma BennettAge: 21Looks: 8.4Height: 5'4"Weight: 106 lbsAffection: 4 → 9
Jason, about to sit for a haircut, froze at the system prompt.
Seriously?
Three years of licking got him to affection level 4, and now he says nothing, does nothing—and she jumps 5 points?
He couldn't help but smirk.
Turns out, it's not just me who's cheap. People chase what walks away from them.
He wasn't interested in Emma anymore. But if her affection boost helped him complete System Task 1, then he'd take it like a stock dividend.
[Mission Progress: Task 1 Completion - 99%]One more point to go…