Morning at the Villa
Sunlight streamed through the expansive windows of the villa, casting a golden hue over the pristine marble floors. Jia Yi sat comfortably on the velvet chaise in her private lounge, sipping her morning coffee as she scrolled through her phone.
Last night had been perfect—the villa, the extravagant gift, and the way Joshua had reassured her when she had momentarily doubted his intentions. She had felt on top of the world.
Feeling a surge of satisfaction, she opened WeChat and began crafting a post. Selecting the best photos from yesterday—one of Joshua standing by the infinity pool, looking effortlessly cool, another of them laughing together on the villa's grand balcony, and the last, a subtle yet intimate shot of their intertwined hands resting on the table—she captioned it:
"Cherishing moments of joy in our little slice of paradise. #HomeSweetVilla #Blessed"
Within seconds, comments started flooding in:
"Jia Yi, is that your boyfriend?!"
"OMG, who is he?! This is next-level luxury!"
"Damn, you hit the jackpot!"
Jia Yi smirked, basking in the attention. She casually responded to a few, enjoying the moment. But as she was scrolling, a notification popped up—a private message from Xiao Rou.
Xiao Rou: "Jia Yi, I saw your post… Is that really your boyfriend now?"
Jia Yi hesitated, then typed a response, maintaining an air of effortless confidence.
Jia Yi: "Yes, Xiao Rou. It's been a wonderful change. Hope you're doing well!"
She leaned back with satisfaction, but Xiao Rou's reply came quickly—faster than expected.
Xiao Rou: "Wow… You moved on pretty fast. Guess some people really do get lucky."
Jia Yi's expression faltered for a second before she let out a small chuckle. So, Xiao Rou was feeling something now, huh?
Jia Yi: "Well, some of us know when to move forward instead of holding onto the past. 😉"
Xiao Rou left her on read.
Jia Yi put her phone down and sighed in amusement. Xiao Rou wasn't as indifferent as she pretended to be.
But before she could dwell on it further, another post caught her eye—one that made her entire mood shift.
Evening: A Date with Sung En
Joshua adjusted the cuffs of his tailored black suit as he stepped into the upscale jazz lounge. The soft melody of a saxophone filled the air, blending with the low hum of conversations and the occasional clink of champagne glasses.
At a private booth near the stage, Sung En was already waiting. Her silver-white hair cascaded elegantly over her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
She greeted him with a playful smirk. "I almost thought you weren't going to show up, Chairman Lim."
Joshua slid into the seat across from her, mirroring her amused expression. "And miss an evening with the famous Sung En? That would be a crime."
She chuckled, swirling her wine glass. "You know, when I first heard about you, I pictured an old businessman in his fifties. You've really shattered my expectations."
Joshua leaned back, feigning disappointment. "Does that mean you're disappointed?"
Sung En took a sip of her wine, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "Not at all. But now I'm even more curious."
They exchanged stories—Sung En talked about her recent performances, and Joshua offered vague but intriguing answers about his business ventures. The air between them was lighthearted and flirtatious, but there was an undercurrent of genuine interest building beneath the surface.
As the live band took an intermission, Sung En tilted her head. "So, Chairman Lim, any hidden talents I should know about?"
Joshua smirked. "You'll have to see for yourself."
He stood up and made his way to the grand piano near the stage. With a subtle flick of his fingers—activating his Master Piano Skill—he placed his hands on the keys.
The moment he began to play, the lounge fell silent.
His fingers danced across the piano, weaving a melody that was both elegant and deeply emotional. The sound resonated through the room, pulling at something deep inside those who listened. It wasn't just music; it was a story, an experience.
Sung En, who had initially watched with casual amusement, slowly felt something shift within her. She had expected a simple performance—but this? This was on another level.
The way Joshua played was almost intoxicating—graceful yet commanding, as if every note carried a secret only he knew.
As the final note faded into the air, the lounge erupted into subdued but awed applause.
Joshua returned to the table, and Sung En stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words.
The System's notification appeared before Joshua's eyes:
[System Notification: Sung En Favorability +5 → (Total: 70 Points)]
Sung En finally exhaled, setting down her glass. "Okay, I'll admit… I wasn't expecting that."
Joshua smirked. "You look flustered, Miss Sung En. Should I play another one?"
She quickly regained her composure, crossing her arms. "Tch. You've surprised me, but don't get cocky. It's just a song."
She was clearly lying.
For the rest of the night, Sung En found herself genuinely enjoying Joshua's company, no longer seeing him as just a mysterious billionaire.
Later, as they left the lounge, she pulled out her phone and posted a picture of them together—Joshua standing beside her under the city's neon glow.
Her caption was simple, but uncharacteristically sentimental:
"Tonight was unforgettable. Music can really change everything."
A Spark of Jealousy
Back at the villa, Jia Yi refreshed her WeChat feed, feeling pleased with the engagement on her earlier post. But as she scrolled further, her thumb froze.
A friend had just shared an Instagram story—one featuring Sung En's latest post.
Jia Yi tapped on it.
There, in the photo, was Joshua and Sung En, looking almost picture-perfect.
The caption: "Tonight was unforgettable. Music can really change everything."
Jia Yi stared at the screen.
She could feel something twisting in her chest.
She clicked on the comments.
"OMG, Sung En, who is he???"
"Is this the rumored Chairman Lim?! Wow, such a power couple!"
"I'm so jealous! You're so lucky!"
Jia Yi locked her phone, her expression unreadable.
For the first time since she had met Joshua, something inside her stirred uncomfortably.
She picked up her phone again, typing out a message to Joshua.
Jia Yi: "You're back late. Did you have fun?"
She hovered over the send button… but hesitated.
Then, she deleted the message.
Instead, she let out a slow breath, setting her phone aside and closing her eyes.
"Tch. Whatever."
Final System Notifications
[Current Favorability Points]
• Jia Yi: 85 (but feeling conflicted)
• Sung En: 70 (flustered, but intrigued by Joshua's charm)
• Xiao Rou: N/A (but clearly paying more attention now)
[Recent System Rewards & Skills]
• Bank Deposit: +20,000,000 yen
• New Skill: Master Piano Skill Activated
• Attribute Points: +10 (Charisma Boost)
Joshua leaned back in his luxury car, glancing at his phone as he saw the new notifications.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Things are getting interesting."