"Come on in! Royal suite, the best one in the whole place. You heard of it? This is the most exclusive room in all of Veyra City. Let me put it this way—you know Marcus Voss, the richest man in the province? Even he tried to book this royal suite for a party and waited an entire week. Couldn't get it. Ended up settling for the queen suite downstairs."
Mason led the group of girls inside, bragging at the top of his lungs.
Kael almost laughed out loud.
The owner of Sovereign KTV was his own father. There was no way Marcus Voss would ever need to wait for a table in his own club.
Still, a few of the girls bought every word. One looked amazed.
"How did you manage to get it, then?"
Mason loved the attention. He puffed out his chest and thumbed at himself.
"I've got connections. Pull some strings, and even the owner of this place would pour me a drink."
He lowered his voice quickly, grinning.
"But let's keep it low-key. Just here to have fun, not show off."
The lobby was lavish and golden, decorated in the flashy, over-the-top style popular at the time. Three huge carved pillars stood tall, the high ceiling stretching all the way to the third floor. It was exactly the kind of place newly wealthy people loved to show off in.
Decades later, the style would be considered tacky. But right now, it screamed money.
The manager rushed over as soon as they stepped inside, greeting them warmly.
"Master Mason! What a pleasure to have you here!"
Kael held back a smile.
The guy already knew Mason was coming. He was just putting on a show.
Mason exchanged a few casual words with the manager. With his enhanced senses from the ancient medical inheritance, Kael clearly caught their quiet whispers.
Manager: "Two hours. Tiger from Crescent Bay is coming after that."
Mason: "Relax, cousin. Two hours is more than enough."
The manager beamed and announced loudly, "Master Mason, your entire night's on the house!"
Mason waved a hand dismissively. "Like I care about that. Just bring the drinks and fruit platters."
"Right away, sir!"
The act was flawless.
The girls who'd been casually sticking close to Kael now swarmed toward Mason, starry-eyed. Only Aurora and Lina stayed away from the circle.
Lina wanted to talk to Mason too, but the crowd around him was too thick. She could only chat from the edge.
Mason kept talking, casual and confident.
"These are just small connections. The music director from The Voice is waiting for us inside. That's the real deal. Show him what you've got, and I'll put in a good word. Get on the show, and you could be famous overnight."
The five girls except Aurora lit up instantly.
One person's face fell, though.
Aisha.
Kael noticed his downcast mood and clapped him on the shoulder.
"You okay?"
Aisha forced a weak smile. "I'm fine, Kael. Really."
Inside the private room, a man wearing sunglasses sat in the center seat.
He stayed calm at first, watching the group file in. But the second Lina walked through the door, he shot to his feet, his eyes locked greedily on her. He stared her up and down, lingering on her long, shapely legs stretched tight in her jeans.
The sunglasses hid his shameless gaze well.
Mason saw the way he was looking at her and stepped over, slapping him hard on the shoulder.
"Jake! This is the girl I like. She studies ethnic music. You gotta help her out."
The sharp slap and the warning in Mason's voice snapped Jake out of it. He quickly looked away.
He opened his mouth to speak—
Then Aurora stepped in.
Jake froze completely, words dying in his throat.
He stared at her, stunned.
Unbelievable.
A girl with this kind of gentle, otherworldly grace?
If Lina was a dazzling diamond on display, bright and eye-catching, then Aurora was a priceless jade hidden away, soft and precious, something to be cherished.
Jake swallowed hard.
He'd just found the girl he had to have.
Mason patted his back. "Jake, say something. These are my school friends. If you can, give them a chance."
The five girls bowed together.
"Nice to meet you, sir."
Aurora stood at the back, nodding quietly.
"Ah—yeah! Nice to meet you all! Hahaha!" Jake finally recovered.
He made up his mind on the spot.
The quiet girl at the end. He was going to win her over, no matter what.
What was supposed to be a simple dorm mixer quickly turned into a show.
Mason and Jake spent the whole time showing off, bragging and exaggerating their influence.
Jake laid it on thick. "First season of The Voice, we couldn't get any sponsors. No one would invest. If Master Mason hadn't pulled strings and got us seven or eight big deals, the show would've never happened."
The girls ate it up.
Even Lina looked at Mason with new respect, inching closer to him without realizing it.
Mason was floating on cloud nine.
The other boys, though, were awkward. They didn't know where to sit or what to say. Only Aurora主动 walked over to Kael, bringing up their earlier conversation at the theater—about pop and rock being part of modern folk music.
Mason clapped his hands. "Alright! Let's hear you girls sing! Let Jake judge!"
"Sure!" Lina jumped up at once. "I'll go first!"
She sang a classic Uyghur folk song, her voice clear and melodic, flowing beautifully. There was no denying she was talented. All the girls sang well.
The boys clapped wildly, but the girls barely noticed.
As soon as they finished, they crowded around Jake.
"Sir! How did I do?"
Jake crossed his arms, putting on a serious expression.
"Better than average. But not professional enough."
He didn't know the first thing about music, but he was playing the music director. He couldn't sound too easy to impress. He adjusted his sunglasses.
"Keep practicing. Honestly, only Lina is close to show level."
Mason's eyes lit up.
Perfect opening.
"Jake, c'mon, we're close! Let my girl have a shot!"
Jake adjusted his sunglasses again. "Kid, she's barely good enough. I got a hundred singers like her. But since you asked… I'll help. But… she's just your classmate. Is she worth burning a favor for?"
This was it.
Mason's heart raced. The plan was working perfectly.
He almost pulled out another three hundred to tip the guy.
On the surface, he looked hesitant.
"C'mon, you know I'm trying to ask her out."
"Just asking?" Jake leaned back, pretending to stroke his beard. He reached an arm around a nearby girl, but she stared at him weirdly. He remembered these weren't club girls and awkwardly pulled his hand back.
"Tell you what," he said loudly. "I'll hook her up. But only if you two make it official tonight. And kiss. Then I'll let my future sister-in-law on the show!"
Everyone went quiet.
Mason barely contained his excitement.
He was cheering internally.
Outwardly, he hesitated.
"I… I don't know if that's right."
Jake laughed. "Why not? One show, and she's famous! I'm not giving that kind of chance to a stranger. She has to be family!"
Mason didn't hesitate any longer.
He turned to Lina, his expression soft and sincere.
"Lina, I really like you. I wanted to take things slow, let you get to know me… but this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I'm asking you properly. Lina… will you be my girlfriend?"
CRASH.
Aisha suddenly stood up, knocking over a beer bottle.
His face was pale, his eyes empty.
"I… I'm going to the bathroom."