Shenna's mother could tell that Olivia was brushing her off. But there was nothing she could do.
Olivia wasn't just any secretary—she was the personal secretary of Jason Carter, the most powerful young tycoon in Harbor City. Even as the daughter-in-law of the Shen family, she had to maintain courtesy.
So the call ended without any useful information. Yet her intuition screamed the truth—her daughter running away from home had to be related to Jason.
The next few hours were torture. She kept dialing Shenna's number again and again. No answer. Again. Still nothing.
Until after ten in the morning, the call connected. A lazy, sleepy voice drifted through the phone.
"Mom, I just woke up."
Her anger exploded. "Do you know what time it is?! Where did you sleep last night?!"
Shenna yawned softly, but her tone was relaxed. "Mom, I haven't slept this peacefully in a long time. I'm with Senior Jason, so don't worry. I'm safe. There's no need to hold the birthday banquet. And I won't see Brown either. He makes me uncomfortable."
She frowned. "He's just not as handsome as Jason, but he's still presentable! Feelings can grow over time! Our two families joining forces would elevate both sides! You and Brown are perfectly matched—this is the best outcome for you and the family—"
Beep. Busy tone.
She froze mid-sentence. She called back. No answer.
A message popped up.
Shenna: "Mom, I've made up my mind. Please inform the guests they don't need to attend."
Her face turned livid. "That brat is getting more audacious. It's all Jason's fault for leading her astray. They only met once, how could she—"
She stopped mid-sentence. Because she knew exactly how.
That single meeting had been too impactful. Jason had taken her obedient daughter and shown her a different world. Night markets. Escape rooms. Late-night amusement park rides. He even bought a Park just to accompany her after hours. Took her stargazing and acquired the a Observatory Tower.
Add his looks, his charisma, his status. What girl could resist that?
Sometimes one meeting was enough to leave a lifelong imprint.
If Jason were single, She would have approved instantly. But the problem was obvious. He had countless women around him. And that was unacceptable for a daughter like Shenna.
Sunlight shimmered across the ocean. Waves rolled gently toward the shore. The RV stood parked beside the beach, curtains fluttering in the sea breeze.
Shenna stepped out barefoot onto the sand. The first thing she saw was Jason.
He sat in a folding chair. Fishing rod in hand. Casual beachwear. Hair messy from the wind. Slippers on his feet. Completely unrefined.
Yet compared to the polished, suit-clad heirs at her mother's arranged banquets, the unkempt Jason looked a hundred times more handsome. More real. More free.
Hearing her footsteps, he turned. A bright, easy smile appeared on his face. One that eased her heart.
"How was it?" he asked. "Did you sleep well?"
Shenna nodded, smiling sweetly. "I listened to the waves and fell asleep almost immediately. I slept straight till morning. I haven't rested this well in ages." She bowed her head. "Sorry, Senior. I overslept and made you wait."
Jason waved it off. "Not long. It's your birthday—sleeping in is allowed."
He stood, stretching. "Come on. I'll take you to grab some street-style breakfast. Then we'll go crab hunting."
Standing nearby, Olivia almost rolled her eyes. You didn't wait long? You just got here. But she kept the thought to herself. Professional composure intact.
Shenna's eyes sparkled. "Crab hunting? Really?!"
Jason grinned. "Of course. Birthday girl gets special treatment."
The sea breeze carried their laughter across the shoreline, unaware that by nightfall, an unprecedented birthday spectacle was about to shake Harbor City's entire upper class.
Jason had come over lazily. Hair uncombed. Shirt wrinkled. He had just crawled out of Julia's bed not long ago before heading straight to the beach.
When she heard "street breakfast," her eyes lit up. When she heard "crab collecting," they shone even brighter.
"Can you really collect crabs on this beach?" she asked.
Jason nodded. "You can find them almost anywhere. This area has a good ecosystem, so there are quite a lot. You woke up a little late, so the bigger ones might've been picked already. But there are still plenty."
He pointed toward the rocky shoreline. "Flip those rocks. There'll be crabs hiding underneath. Sometimes you'll even find octopus, and jellyfish."
Shenna's excitement exploded. Her eyes sparkled like a child discovering treasure. "Then let's hurry! Breakfast first, then beachcombing!"
Jason took her to a small breakfast shop nearby. The place had been open for over ten years. Old signboard. Peeling paint. Plastic stools. A hole-in-the-wall establishment.
The owner froze when he saw them. Other customers glanced over. Even though Jason dressed casually, his temperament was extraordinary. As for Shenna, her aura screamed "rich heiress." Elegant. Delicate. Out of place in this environment.
Everyone expected her to show discomfort. But instead, she ate happily. With relish.
Midway through the meal, she smiled brightly. "Senior, this is the best birthday breakfast I've ever had."
At the next table, two single guys nearly choked. Wait, today is her birthday? You brought a goddess to THIS place for her birthday breakfast? And she's HAPPY about it?!
Their worldview shattered. One of them thought bitterly: I prepared half a month. Booked a themed luxury restaurant. Cake, roses, candles. She still complained all night. Yet here, a ten-dollar breakfast, and this stunning girl was glowing with happiness.
This wasn't logical. This wasn't scientific.
After eating, Jason bought her a pair of ten-dollar slippers from the shop next door. Shenna put them on immediately. Not only didn't she mind, she urged him impatiently.
"Hurry, hurry! Let's go crab hunting!"
She grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the shore. Jason was responsible for flipping rocks. Shenna was responsible for catching.
Soon, silver laughter echoed across the beach.
"Wow—this one's huge!"
"Ah! It pinched me!"
"Haha—it broke its own claw!"
"Senior! Quick—there's one there!"
"Your hand speed is so fast!"
"This rock is too big—let's skip it—wait, how are you so strong?!"
Her voice was clear, melodious, filled with genuine joy. Like a carefree child. Anyone could see it—her eyes were full of Jason.
Some people never understand what "emotional value" means. This was emotional value.
If a girl's heart is with you, even the simplest things make her happy. If her heart isn't, even perfection feels insufficient. Nine good things, one flaw, and she'll focus only on the flaw. But if she loves you, ten dollars' worth of memories can outshine ten million.
Back near the breakfast shop, the two single men watched the beach scene in silence. They exchanged glances. Both saw the same thing in each other's eyes. Bitterness. Jealousy. Confusion.
One muttered, "Ten-dollar breakfast. Ten-dollar slippers. And a ten-dollar net bag. That's all it took to make a goddess smile like that?" He sighed. "So picking up girls is really this cheap?"
His friend shook his head slowly. "It's not cheap. It's just that we're not him."
The first guy fell silent. Because deep down, he knew the truth. It wasn't about the money. It wasn't about the location. It was about who was doing it.
Jason Carter could take a girl to a roadside stall, and she'd treasure the memory forever. They could book a Michelin restaurant, and the girl would still complain about the service.
The difference wasn't the ten dollars. The difference was everything else. The confidence. The charisma. The status. The way Jason made a girl feel like the center of his world, even for just a moment.
That was the real cost. And it wasn't measured in money.
On the beach, Shenna's laughter continued to ring out, pure and bright. Jason flipped another rock, revealing a cluster of small crabs scuttling for cover. Shenna squealed with delight and carefully scooped one into her bucket.
For her, this was paradise. Not because of luxury or extravagance, but because for the first time in years, she felt truly free. No arranged meetings. No forced smiles. No expectations weighing her down.
Just the ocean, the sun, and someone who made her feel alive.
And tonight, when the Blue Sea Pearl docked in Harbor City's harbor, when the nation's elite gathered under the stars, she would realize just how far Jason was willing to go to make her birthday unforgettable.
But for now, in this quiet morning moment, all that mattered was the next crab, the next laugh, and the warmth of his presence beside her.
There are 200 chapters ahead in my Patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
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