Darwin, Northern Australia.
It was the afternoon of January 13th. A dusty motorcade drove into the parking lot of the Diamond Beach Casino Hotel by the sea in the south of the city, causing many passersby to stop and stare.
This was a motorcade that had clearly undergone a long journey, consisting of eleven vehicles in total. Besides eight off-road vehicles, there was also a fuel tanker and two container trucks.
The bodies of all eleven vehicles were covered in dust, and several of the off-road vehicles bore obvious collision marks.
Anyone with similar experiences would understand upon seeing this that the motorcade had likely just crossed the Australian continent. Both local and overseas travel enthusiasts in Australia love to have such an experience.
However, compared to other travellers, this motorcade could only be described with one word: 'extravagant'.
Setting aside the fleet of top-tier off-road vehicles, how many people bring their own fuel tanker and containers on a trip?
Simon pushed the door open and stepped out of a Mercedes G460, wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans with thick-soled boots on his feet.
After a full week of traveling through the mountains, rivers, canyons, and deserts of the Australian continent, following his previous trip to Antarctica, Simon's skin had darkened slightly under the continuous exposure to snow, frost, wind, and sun. His entire being exuded a strong masculine aura.
Perhaps everyone has the idea of traveling around the world.
Simon was no exception.
In his past life, he didn't have the capital, but now that he had the chance, he naturally wanted to fulfil some of his former dreams.
Driving an off-road vehicle at will across the endless red sandstone deserts of Australia, the feeling of roaming freely between heaven and earth truly made one's blood boil. After more than half a month of continuous travel from Melbourne to Antarctica and then across the entire Australian continent since Christmas, the passion that a twenty-year-old should have returned during this trip.
Simon also made up his mind to take a similar trip every few years in the future.
Seeing Simon get out of the car, the hotel manager greeted him warmly, while people from the other vehicles also gathered around.
For the week-long trip, the group consisted of thirty-one people in total.
However, there were actually only six 'masters': Simon and Janette; David Johnston, the fourth child of the Johnston Family, and his girlfriend Leslie Wickett; and Patrick Johnston, the fifth child, and his girlfriend Sarah Keystone. The rest were bodyguards, drivers, and other attendants.
Since the conditions allowed for it, he naturally wanted to provide himself with the best security.
The natural environment of the Australian outback was still very harsh.
Simon didn't feel that having more attendants diminished the fun of the trip at all.
The first thing Simon experienced upon arriving in Australia this time was a formal engagement ceremony, a result of Raymond Johnston's insistence; the Old Man was a very traditional person at heart.
After Christmas, there was a trip to Antarctica, with only Simon and Janette.
Of course, that was if you didn't count the attendants.
New Year's Day was spent on a cruise ship in Antarctica, giving it the feel of a mini-honeymoon.
Returning from Antarctica, they began this journey across the Australian continent.
Compared to the two-person world of the Antarctic trip, this time they brought along the fourth and fifth children of the Johnston Family and their respective girlfriends.
David Johnston had no interest in traveling, claiming he still had a thesis to work on. After this reason was given, the whole family unanimously agreed to force him along. Patrick Johnston had wanted to follow Simon and Janette on their Antarctic trip but was rejected, so he naturally wouldn't miss out this time.
As everyone was greeting each other, Janette came around from the passenger side, waving the satellite phone in her hand and saying to Simon and the others, "Mom says she's already started preparing dinner and wants us to go back to the manor to eat tonight".
Patrick Johnston was leaning in and whispering something to his girlfriend, but upon hearing this, he immediately said, "Why go back so early? Hey Sis, how about we go to Bali? It's very close to here, we can be there in two hours".
Janette rolled her eyes at her younger brother and said, "You've been wandering around for half a year, Pat. This time when you go back, Dad is going to arrange a job for you".
Patrick Johnston was actually three years older than Simon and had previously been studying at the University of Birmingham in the UK.
However, compared to the top student from Cambridge, David Johnston, Patrick's academic career was a total failure. Since enrolment, he had spent six years fooling around and still failed to get a degree. Coupled with his poor track record, he was forcibly expelled by the school last year. He then spent another half a year idling in London before the Old Man finally forced him home at the end of the year.
Janette was unmoved by Patrick's request, wagging an index finger as she said, "One hour. Take a shower, change your clothes, and then we go home. If you don't come back, you'll be left here to drink seawater; Dad will cancel your credit cards".
After saying this, Janette ignored her brother's protests and, holding Simon's arm, walked toward the hotel building under the manager's guidance.
Darwin Airport was near this hotel. Over an hour later, the group boarded Simon's Boeing 767 at the airport. Other people would take care of the motorcade left behind.
Once the plane levelled off, Patrick began to restlessly wander around the cabin. He soon returned to a small living Room in the centre of the cabin where everyone was gathered.
After leaning over Janette and Leslie's shoulders to glance at the office building interior design blueprints they were discussing, Patrick went over to Simon, who was chatting with David, sat on the arm of the sofa, and said, "Man, how about I go to Hollywood? Just give me some random job, preferably one where it's easy to pick up girls".
Before Simon could speak, Sarah Keystone, who was sitting cross-legged in a nearby armchair playing a handheld game console, looked up and stared at Patrick, saying, "I can hear you".
Patrick said, undaunted, "Sarah, how about we break up?"
"Go tell your dad and my dad that, you jerk. Do you think I want to be your girlfriend?"
"We're adults, Sarah. You should have the courage to resist your father's arrangements".
"Sorry, I don't have the guts".
After Sarah Keystone finished speaking, she simply ignored Patrick and went back to playing her game console.
Simon listened to their conversation with interest and glanced at the girl nearby, who was wearing a loose black sleeveless T-shirt and had a very punk vibe.
Sarah Keystone came from the Keystone Family in Western Australia, who also ran a mining business. The Keystone Family and the Johnston Family were old family friends. Sarah Keystone's father, Louis Keystone, and Raymond Johnston were very close friends, the kind who supposedly served in the military and went to school together, resulting in the cliché story of an arranged childhood betrothal.
However, according to Janette, the two families didn't actually mean for it to be an arranged marriage like in Patrick and Sarah's dialogue; they were letting things take their natural course.
It was just that Patrick and Sarah had grown up together and had always found each other annoying. They fought as children, bickered as they grew up, and occasionally had periods of cold war, yet they never separated. Later, they went to the University of Birmingham together, fooled around for six years, and were both expelled last year after failing to get their degrees. They were quite a unique pair of bickering lovers.
Through their time together, Simon could tell that this black-haired girl, who liked to wear heavy eyeshadow, was somewhat taciturn, and had the Shakespeare quote 'All devils are here' tattooed on her right arm, was clearly the one in control of her relationship with Patrick.
Patrick, having gotten nowhere with his girlfriend, instantly forgot his previous request and asked Simon, "Man, what's the password for the front cabin? I want to go take a look".
Simon tilted his chin toward Janette. "Ask your sister".
Patrick looked over.
Janette said casually, "123456".
Patrick immediately jumped up, not forgetting his girlfriend. "Sarah, want to come along?"
Sarah Keystone didn't even look up. "No".
Patrick ran out anyway, but soon ran back, asking his sister with a hurt expression, "Are you sure it's 123456?"
Janette rolled her eyes at him. "That's Simon's and my bedroom. Why are you going in there?"
Patrick gestured exaggeratedly with his hands. "A bedroom that takes up a third of the cabin? Are you guys playing tennis in there?"
Janette also simply ignored her brother, picked up a page of the office design drafts, and showed it to Simon, asking, "How about this one?"
Renovation work had already begun at Daenerys Studios in Los Angeles.
A while ago, Leslie Wickett had been subtly testing the waters to see if she could get a chance to practice her design skills, even encouraging her boyfriend to help put in a good word.
Leslie Wickett majored in architectural design at Cambridge, primarily to follow in her father's footsteps. Leslie's father owned an architectural design firm in London; it wasn't massive, but it wasn't small either, likely at a level where it couldn't handle the design of the entire Daenerys Studios, but was more than capable of handling a section of the administrative district.
Of course, Daenerys Studios had already been completed, leaving only the subsequent interior decoration in need of design.
This was exactly the kind of work Leslie Wickett hoped to obtain.
Although she majored in architectural design, Leslie Wickett preferred interior design. She planned to join the interior design department of her father's company after graduation, so her studies had always leaned heavily toward that field.
Originally, Leslie had wanted to be responsible for the interior design of the Seashell Villa at Dume Cape Manor. If she could build a resume by designing a residence for the richest man in North America while still a student, it would certainly be a great boon to her future career after joining the workforce.
Simon and Janette preferred to plan the interior design of the Seashell Villa themselves, but they found it difficult to refuse David, who rarely asked them for favours. In the end, they handed over the design work for an office building at Daenerys Studios to Leslie; Simon's office was located in that very building.
Although Leslie was graduating next year, she wasn't yet qualified to complete the design of an office building alone. Simon simply had the Los Angeles office sign a formal contract with Leslie's family's Wickett Design Company. This allowed Leslie to seek assistance from her father's company's professional departments, and it also allowed Wickett Design Company to break into the North American market.
Simon just took a glance at the draft, then shook his head with a smile, saying, "Swap out the red sofa, and the rest will be fine".
Leslie Wickett was confused and said, "This is a dark burgundy, Simon. I think this colour matches the overall design style of your office quite well".
Simon glanced around and asked, "Do none of you know what a red sofa means?"
Janette and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.
Sarah Keystone, who was playing a handheld console, suddenly spoke up: "It's a tacit rule from the Golden Age of Hollywood. When an actress enters an audition Room and sees a red sofa, she strips naked and waits for the director or producer to arrive. Then, they get the role".
Janette's eyes widened in surprise: "Really?"
Simon nodded.
Leslie Wickett quickly pulled the draft back, saying, "Then I'll redo it".
Patrick came over again and squeezed in next to Simon, putting an arm around his shoulder and asking with envy, "Even if it's not red, actresses would probably be very happy to strip naked in front of you, right?"
Simon didn't answer, but raised his hand and flicked the hand resting on his shoulder.
Patrick pulled his hand back in pain and complained to Janette, "Sis, your man hit me".
Janette said casually, "You can hit him back".
Patrick eyed the back of Simon's hand and made a gesture as if to strike, but ultimately didn't dare. He continued to chat with Simon: "Man, did you really break the legs of five people back then?"
At Patrick's question, everyone in the Room except Janette seemed to prick up their ears.
Simon just shook his head and said, "It's been too long, I've forgotten".
"Hey, you're even more..." Patrick stopped halfway, then thought of something else. "How about we go out tonight? The Packer Family opened a new place on the Southbank. I heard it's very exciting".
Simon was noncommittal and said, "Ask your sister".
"I've tanned a lot during this time, so I'm going for a spa treatment tonight. Leslie and Sara are coming too", Janette said, then added to Simon, "You and Pat go play. Take David with you too".
David Johnston immediately shook his head: "I'm not going".
Patrick also shook his head in refusal: "I'm not taking David. It would be so embarrassing if he started talking to everyone about fluid physics on the spot".
The trip from Melbourne to Darwin took a week, but the flight from Darwin back to Melbourne only took four hours.
By evening, everyone had returned to the Johnston Family mansion in the Melbourne suburbs.
Since it was Saturday, Anthony Johnston and Norman Johnston both brought their families over for dinner. Veronica Johnston had also rushed over.
There was still some time before dinner. After some small talk, Simon and Janette returned to their Room in the mansion for a brief rest.
Changing into a more casual pale pink dress, Janette came out of the walk-in closet. Seeing Simon lying on the large bed with his eyes closed, she leaned over and lay on top of him, propping herself up on the man's chest. "Dad and Mom are definitely going to talk about the wedding tonight, right?"
Simon reached out and hugged Janette's waist, saying, "I'll go back and be busy for a while next week. We can start preparing here. A little over a month should be enough".
Janette rubbed her face against Simon's and said, "If you think it's too rushed, we can postpone it for a while".
Simon smiled and said, "I want to get it done before your birthday too. After March, it feels different".
"Hmph, I'll bite you".
Opening her mouth to grind her teeth against the man's neck, Janette lifted her face again and said, "Actually, I've discovered something".
"Hmm?"
"I feel like you've slowly become a part of the Johnston Family".
"Why do you say that?"
"Intuition".
"Is that just you feeling too good about yourself?"
"Hmph, then you say it yourself?"
"I refuse to answer that question".
Simon said it casually, but he also took note of the question.
No one likes to be alone forever.
As the years passed, Simon's deep-rooted sense of alienation from this world had never fully dissipated.
However, perhaps because of Janette, or perhaps because of Veronica, Simon had unconsciously begun to develop a certain underlying sense of belonging to the Johnston Family. It was precisely because of this instinctive sense of belonging that Simon felt no resistance toward the upcoming marriage.
It was just that Simon himself hadn't clearly realized this sense of belonging, yet Janette had felt it.
The hand around the woman's waist tightened, and neither of them spoke again.
After an unknown amount of time, Leslie Wickett knocked on the door to remind them that dinner was ready, and the two went to the dining Room arm in arm.
With the whole family gathered, dinner was very lively.
Raymond Johnston indeed brought up the wedding and had even chosen a date: March 3rd. That day was a Saturday, exactly one and a half months from now, which was enough for the preliminary preparations.
Neither Simon nor Janette had any objections, and everyone began to chatter about various details.
Dinner ended after eight o'clock.
Janette couldn't wait to take the other women for a spa treatment, stating she didn't want her skin tone to not have recovered by the time she got married.
Anthony Johnston still wanted to talk to Simon about Cersei Capital, which had just finished its settlement for this period, but Simon was pulled away from the mansion by Patrick.
After nine o'clock, they went from the suburban mansion to the south bank of the Yarra River. They arrived at the place Patrick had mentioned on the plane, which turned out to be a fighting arena recently opened by the Packer Family near the Crown Casino.
Simon had visited various nightclubs in the Crown Casino with Janette last time. Patrick must have given advance notice, as the heir to the Packer Family, James Packer, personally came to accompany them.
Compared to the Middle-aged Man who would later discuss marriage with Mariah Carey and get into a public brawl with a friend over Miranda Kerr, James Packer was still just a green youth in his early twenties. The Packer Family was still in the hands of his father, Kerry Packer.
Seeing James Packer and Patrick with their arms around each other's shoulders, they were clearly very familiar; their playboy attributes were likely similar.
The matches in the ring were freestyle kickboxing.
James Packer skilfully summoned a group of girls, picked the best viewing spot below the ring, and asked Simon if he wanted to place a bet.
Since he was already there, Simon briefly observed the two contestants and symbolically filled out a ten thousand dollar check to bet on one of them.
Subsequently, watching the fighters struggle in the ring and hearing the cheers that erupted from the hundreds of people around them from time to time, everyone quickly blended into the fiery atmosphere.
After a few matches, Patrick suddenly leaned toward Simon and egged him on, "Man, do you want to go up and have some fun?"