Two groups. Two stunning women leading them. Range Rover convoys. Black-suited bodyguards. All here for Ethan Chen!
One side addressed him as 'Young Master.'
The other invited him to dinner!
Ethan was caught squarely in the middle.
Across the street stood Marcus Whitfield and his gathered troublemakers, holding steel pipes and extendable batons, with their flashy electric scooters parked in front.
Summer stared at Serena.
Serena stared right back at Summer.
A spark of challenge passed between the two women's eyes.
Ethan didn't speak. He simply started walking in the direction of home. He remembered his mother's words in the hospital: to become strong, he first needed to make himself indispensable.
Mr. Kun was setting up the casino and had to partner with The Boss. He didn't want to be entangled with Michael, the local power. Knowing Ethan and Michael were at odds, Kun would try to pull Ethan in, further straining Ethan's relationship with Michael to keep Michael out.
Michael, coveting the business and wanting a piece of it, but facing Mr. Kun, saw Ethan as his ticket in.
Ethan understood clearly. These two groups sought him out not because he was important, but because they were wary of each other. If either side held a decisive advantage, this scene wouldn't be happening. They could just force their way in, no need for these tactics.
Therefore, Ethan wouldn't choose either side. Aligning with either would brand him with their label.
Ethan knew perfectly well his current leverage came from two things: first, the relative balance of power between Mr. Kun and Michael in this city; second, and more importantly, he was perceived as 'The Boss's man.' He wasn't Michael's man, and by extension, he couldn't afford to get too close to Mr. Kun's side either!
As Ethan walked away, both Serena and Summer fell into step behind him.
Soon, the students witnessed a surreal scene.
Under the darkening sky, Ethan Chen in his school uniform walked at the forefront. Behind him, flanking him left and right, were two long-legged beauties—one with long hair, one with short, embodying two Completely different styles.
Behind these two women marched two separate squads of black-clad bodyguards, their presence imposing.
On the road, the two Range Rover convoys followed slowly, hazard lights flashing. The powerful, luxury SUVs, worth a fortune each, even kept their engine roars subdued, their speed dictated entirely by the walking pace of the student leading the way.
Ethan walked into the distance.
Across the street, Marcus Whitfield and his crew could only watch.
"Marcus, are you still going to jump Ethan?" someone asked.
Marcus glanced back at the so-called tough guys he'd gathered. Before, he thought they looked cool standing outside the school with their scooters and cigarettes, sometimes revving the engines obnoxiously.
Now, the sound of those scooter engines just seemed gratingly pathetic.
Ethan walked for two blocks. Seeing the two women still following him, he stopped and turned to Serena. "How are the preparations for the venue going?"
"Almost ready. Should be operational in the next few days."
"Take me to see it."
"Gladly." Serena smiled, directly reaching out and taking hold of Ethan's wrist. She then shot Summer a look of victory.
Summer watched Ethan get into the car. She dialed a number.
"Michael, Ethan left with Serena. What he said to me, and his actions... were exactly as you predicted."
"Hmm, figured as much." Michael's voice was calm.
Summer hung up, watching the convoy disappear around the street corner.
A bodyguard grumbled, "Summer, this Ethan... he's too ungrateful. Whether it's us or Mr. Kun, he can't afford to offend either! And yet, he acts all high and mighty!"
Summer shot the speaker a sharp look. "Ungrateful? He's the opposite. He knows exactly where his advantage lies. He understands perfectly that his leverage comes from The Boss. Until The Boss makes his stance clear, he can't afford to lean towards either side!"
Ethan sat in the luxurious Range Rover, looking at the grand entrance gate ahead, which read: Summit Lakeside Resort.
"I've heard of this place," Ethan's eyes scanned the surroundings. "The rich kid in my class said the owner leased an entire mountain. The private property starts from the foot of the mountain. They even built an artificial ski slope on the back side. He said he came here in the summer, swam in the mountaintop pool, and watched the sunset. But it's membership-based. He claimed the annual fee was several million."
Serena blinked. "You're quite interested?"
Ethan smiled. "Isn't it normal to be interested in a better life?"
Serena shook her head. "I didn't take you for that type."
Ethan shrugged. "I'm a normal person. Normal people aspire to better things."
"Well, you don't need to just aspire anymore." Serena handed Ethan a key. "From now on, you're also part of the management here. The Summit Lakeside Resort is a joint venture between The Boss and my father."
Ethan looked at the key in his hand. It was shaped like a cloud.
"It's beautiful here in the early morning," Serena gazed out the window. "Shrouded in mist. It was originally a tea plantation. My father and The Boss came here for tea once, saw the view by chance, and leased the whole mountain to build this resort. It is membership-based, but your rich classmate was exaggerating to show off. The annual fee isn't several million; it's five hundred thousand. And that five hundred thousand is just a deposit on your card, which you can use for services inside."
The resort was vast. The vehicle wound its way through the grounds before finally stopping in front of the main hotel.
The moment Ethan stepped through the hotel doors, he was stunned. The lobby ceiling soared over ten meters high. The entire wall facing the mountain range was glass, offering a breathtaking, panoramic view that made one feel enveloped by the majestic peaks.
Serena led Ethan to the elevator.
"That key is for your room. Room 602, sixth floor."
"Of course, the hotel itself, including the hot springs, ski slope, and golf course outside, aren't the operations you'll be managing."
The elevator doors opened on the sixth floor. Serena swiped her keycard and entered room 601, walking up to a specific wall.
"What you'll be managing... is here."
She pressed on a particular wall panel, then pushed. A section of the wall slid open, revealing a passageway.
The passage was brilliantly lit, as wide as the wall itself, and incredibly tall—seven or eight meters high!
Spacious. Open.
Lining both sides of the passage were rows of tall, beautiful women in elegant qipaos on one side, and young, handsome men in immaculate suits on the other.
Ahead, a marble screen wall blocked the direct view, bearing four gilded characters:
Unrivaled Splendor
Walking past the screen, the space opened up dramatically. On one side were numerous gambling tables, where beautiful dealers practiced their craft. On the other side were rows of slot machines being calibrated.
The entire decor was opulent, dripping with gold and luxury!
"This is..." Ethan's eyes widened.
"The hotel is built into the mountain," Serena explained. "Room 601 connects directly to the mountain rock. So, this casino... is built inside the mountain itself."