A few minutes later, Ethan pulled up to the entrance of the Cloud Summit Hotel in his Ferrari.
It was getting close to the time for the reunion, and a small group of his classmates had already gathered outside the hotel. They were chatting, laughing, and catching up.
"Look, is that a Ferrari?" one of them said, their voice filled with awe.
"Wow, is that Ged driving? I don't think we have too many Ferraris in our class, do we?" another asked.
"I don't think that's him... but the guy driving looks pretty young. Wait a second... I think I've seen that guy before."
"Hmm... is it one of us? But who else besides Ged or Lynn could afford a Ferrari?"
"Man, that car must cost a couple million... Just being able to touch it would be worth it!"
"Well, with the world changing, if you awaken an A-tier talent, you'll probably get anything you want," someone commented.
"B-tier should be enough. With that, you could probably get your hands on anything."
As the sleek Ferrari pulled up, a group of curious classmates couldn't help but gossip among themselves, their attention fixed on the car and the young driver behind the wheel.
Just as Ethan got out of the car, one voice rang out in disbelief.
"Holy crap, is that really Ethan?" Ned's shocked voice rang through the crowd.
Ned had been waiting outside for a while, worried Ethan might not show up. Just as he was about to call, he saw the Ferrari roll up. The driver looked remarkably like Ethan—but he couldn't believe it. Ethan was never one to show off, so seeing him in this high-end car was a shock.
"No way! Is that really Ethan?" another classmate muttered, eyes wide with disbelief.
Ethan grinned, a little embarrassed but also enjoying the moment. "Hey guys, sorry I'm late," he said with a casual wave, pulling off his sunglasses and stepping out of the car.
"Holy shit! It's really you!" Ned rushed up to him, his mouth hanging open. He shoved past Ethan and immediately started inspecting the Ferrari like it was a rare artifact.
"Where the hell did you get this car?" Ned demanded, his mind racing.
"Don't tell me you rented it—I know you don't have the money for that!"
"Wait... did you awaken a talent and rob a bank?" Ned joked, though he was half-serious.
"No, no," Ethan replied, chuckling. "I just got lucky. Made some decent money recently, so I treated myself."
"You sneaky bastard!" Ned slapped his forehead, frustrated but also impressed. "Here I am, sitting in my tiny apartment, and you're out here living the dream."
Ethan just shrugged, unfazed. "It's just a little bit of luck. You can touch it, though. Go ahead, check it out."
Ned couldn't believe it. He ran his hands all over the car, practically drooling. "Seriously, Ethan? You're the one who made it big? This is insane!"
A few other classmates, hearing the commotion, came over to gawk at the Ferrari. They circled around the car like it was a museum exhibit.
"Yeah, yeah. It's just a car, don't make a big deal out of it," Ethan said with a lighthearted shrug, secretly enjoying the attention. "It's just some good luck. Feel free to look around or take a seat. Let's head inside, though."
"Is this really your car, Ethan?" a voice suddenly called out.
Ethan turned to see Ged walking toward him, noticing the group of people gathered around the car.
"Yeah, it's mine. Just got it a few days ago," Ethan replied, maintaining his cool.
Ged, the class's notorious rich kid, looked at the car with a critical eye, sizing it up. "Nice. A Ferrari's not bad at all, but for someone like you..." Ged's voice trailed off as he seemed to think about something for a second.
It was no secret that Ged came from an extremely wealthy family, and he was notorious for flaunting his money. Still, Ethan wasn't bothered by it. While Ged could be a little annoying, he didn't have any major ill feelings toward him.
"Nice car, though. I'd guess it's worth at least six or seven hundred grand," Ged remarked casually, his tone surprisingly neutral.
Ethan nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty nice, right?"
Just then, the topic shifted, and Ged got right to the point. "So, what's the deal with you? I'm guessing you've awakened some sort of power, right? Maybe a talent that got you this? I mean, a guy like you wouldn't just buy a Ferrari with normal luck."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "It's just a little good fortune, really. No special powers. Just wanted to enjoy life while the world's still intact."
Ged, still skeptical, narrowed his eyes slightly. "Hmm. If you've awakened something useful, I'd be happy to help you join our group. We're recruiting high-level talents for some future opportunities. Your Ferrari could be like a down payment on what's to come."
Ethan kept his cool. "I'm not interested in joining any group. I'm doing fine on my own. But thanks for the offer."
Ged looked a little disappointed but shrugged it off. "Whatever. The offer stands, though. I'm sure you'll come around."
He clapped his hands together and turned toward the hotel entrance. "Alright, enough about the car. I've got a full spread inside. Let's head in and enjoy the night."
"Sounds good," Ethan replied, giving the car one last look before following the others.
The group headed inside, where the event was already underway. People were mingling, chatting, and laughing. Ged, ever the center of attention, was already making his rounds, talking to some of the girls and boasting about his connections.
But as Ethan walked past him, he noticed something—or rather, someone. In the distance, a sleek black Bentley pulled up in front of the hotel. The door opened, and a long, graceful leg stepped out.
Then, from the car emerged Lynn.
She stood there, her beauty as striking as ever, her presence enough to stop conversations in their tracks. The room seemed to quiet as people turned to look at her. Lynn was everything they had imagined—and more.
She stepped into the spotlight, her confidence radiating as she walked toward the entrance. Ethan watched from the corner of the room, a smile slowly forming on his lips.