Everyone in the room just… lost it. Laughed, scoffed, rolled their eyes—the works.
"Jason, dude… where's your integrity?"
"Hahaha, Jason, did you, like, feed your integrity to the dogs or something?!"
"And does Master's house still need staff? Take me, I'm free!"
"Yeah! Totally!"
Chase pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something like "why even…"—the world is cruel, seriously, why are these guys like this?
Ethan smirked, just a little, pulling a check from his pocket. Scribbled his name casually. "This round's on me," he said, tossing it to a waiter.
Chase and Jason shared a look, like telepathy, and immediately began fawning over him.
"Do whatever you want, do whatever you want! Yep, money fixes all," one of them cheered.
"Come on, Master, sit! Sit! Sit!"
"I'll even rub your shoulders if you like," someone added.
These three—Jason, Chase, and Ethan—were the infamous iron triangle of Kyoto's elite circle. Kids of high-ranking officials, grew up together, ran the same little gangs of rich kids, the kind that make people mutter "ugh, kids these days."
Ethan had mostly dropped off the radar since taking over the family business a year ago. But when he showed up, energy levels shot up. Drinks flowed. And someone decided it was the perfect time for slightly shady games.
"Hand it over," Ethan said. Straight business.
Jason clapped Ethan on the shoulder, grinning: "Relax, dude. It's my rare day off. Can't we just… play a little first?"
Jason looked like he was carved from marble or maybe fancy chocolate. Tall. Sharp features. The kind women screenshot for their girlfriends. Naturally, he had a trail of exes and flings.
Chase, despite peach blossom eyes, had quirks. Hygiene quirks. Only went for virgins.
Ethan? Cleanest of the trio. Despite rumors, he abstained. The others tried… ridiculous, but they tried. Spoiler: they never succeeded.
"I said it once. Not repeating myself," Ethan's smile curled just so—half-sweet, half-knife. Jason and Chase felt it. Danger. Literal danger.
"Fine, fine, let's move," Chase muttered. Memory of being torn apart by gossip still burned.
They switched rooms. Chase hit a remote. A 3D projection appeared.
And holy—unmarked van dumping a body.
Two guys—probably thugs—dragged a girl, glanced around, tossed her into the forest, then the van vanished. The road looked like… hell, I dunno, like someone tried to pave a war.
"Maple Hill, just the driveway cams. Side path. Can't see where they came from or where they went," Chase lounged, half-watching.
Jason stood rigid, arms crossed. Watching. Trying to process everything while also thinking about pizza? Maybe a meme.
"They're thugs. The van? Generic Jinbei. Forgettable. They thought she was dead."
Jason had been a scout—details mattered.
"Zoom in," Ethan said.
The image froze. One man dragging her closer. Chase pressed buttons. Face clearer. Blood across forehead. Freaky.
Jason frowned, "Skull damaged… big impact. No visible wounds. No attack signs."
Pause. Think. Actually, why are we even here?
"She fell. From height. Those guys caused it," Ethan said. Cold eyes.
"Wait… at Maple Hill—the race—was it really her?" Chase doubted. Footage showed her driving. Hard to believe.
"Didn't you bring her home? How is she now?" Jason asked.
"Yes. She's gone," Ethan replied, eyes on the projection.
They glanced at each other. Something about Ethan was… off. Neck twitch. Crisp snap.
"You know who she is?" Ethan asked.
Jason stared. Sighed deeply.
"Ethan, lucky those lonely, reckless guys didn't see you. With looks like that… more tempting than women…"
Before Jason finished, Chase predicted the outcome.
Boom. Ethan's face darkened. Then smile. Knife smile. Cold.
Jason shivered.
"Tongquelou is hiring male hosts… Jason, you're perfect."
Jason nearly fell.
Chase couldn't hold it. "OMG! Hahaha! This is gold! I'm posting: Empire's Steel Adonis goes rogue as male host—how to cope? Urgent!"
Chase grabbed his phone. Jason glared.
Of course, joke. But funny. Chaos.
"Did teasing me make you happy, Jason?"
Teasing Ethan—instant fire.
After all, Ethan could make Jason a host. Undeniable.