When Mia and Oli left, Olivia lingered behind the stage.
Once the crowd had thinned, she hurried over to Jason Carter, leaned close to his ear, and whispered softly, "Mr. Carter, New Vision Media is holding private auditions backstage for new potential streamers. Would you like to take a look?"
Although Jason had mentioned earlier that he'd signed a few influencers from the nearby university district, that was mostly an excuse. In truth, he had come tonight to observe — to "cultivate his social sentiment," as he often phrased it.
The event had been sponsored by New Vision Media, with his company's logo shining across banners and screens. An opportunity like that wasn't something Jason usually ignored.
Becoming a streamer required several things — looks, charisma, creativity, charm, and a sense of personal style.
And from the looks of the art gala, the first two qualities were certainly abundant here tonight. Most of these students were talented and unjaded — not yet shaped by the world's harsher colors — and that made them perfect potential recruits.
Their starting fees were low, but their potential value was sky-high.
Even so, Jason shook his head slightly and replied calmly, "No. Not tonight."
He turned toward his friends — Mike, Josh, Ivan, and a few others — and said casually, "We didn't skip dinner just to watch a concert. Let's grab something to eat."
They all laughed and nodded. The evening had dragged on, and hunger was winning over curiosity.
Jason then glanced toward Jinyi and Luce. "You two haven't eaten either. Why don't you join us?"
Luce was about to decline — he didn't care much to see Jason show off again — but before he could say anything, Jinyi smiled and said brightly, "Sure."
That caught Luce off guard. he quickly changed His mind, muttering, "Yeah, sure. I'll come too."
Just then, a guy from the event staff jogged up and whispered something in Luce's ear.
His eyes flickered with excitement.
She turned toward Jinyi, lowering His voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Jinyi, listen — New Vision Media's doing private auditions backstage. Even though you didn't apply, I can pull some strings to get you in. With your looks and your voice? You'd be a shoo-in."
Jinyi's eyes lit up, temptation flickering beneath her calm exterior.
New Vision Media had been blowing up recently — pulling in millions of viewers through lifestyle and art streamers.
Though Jinyi already had a decent following as a beauty blogger, she'd been stuck at the same level for months. The company's network could be the push she needed.
If she could become a recognized influencer — or even better, a sponsored ambassador — her career could explode overnight.
Neither Jinyi nor Luce knew that the man standing beside them — the unassuming "Mr. Carter" — was in fact the major shareholder and silent owner of New Vision Media.
They assumed Jason's front-row seat and effortless authority came from money and influence alone. They had no idea he was the influence.
When Jason noticed Jinyi's hesitation, he said casually, "You want to go backstage? That's fine. But let's grab dinner first."
Grace — his top-performing partner and the one who had introduced him to the media world — had once provided immense "emotional value" in his peculiar system. Through that partnership, Jason had invested in New Vision Media and secured Grace's S-tier contract, cementing her as the company's star streamer.
Jinyi, on the other hand, hadn't contributed much to him yet — emotionally or professionally. She wasn't worth bending his schedule for.
And honestly, he was starving.
So he turned and started walking toward the parking lot without hesitation.
If Luce wanted to play social ladder games, that was His problem. If Jinyi wanted to chase a slim chance backstage, that was her choice.
To his surprise, Jinyi quickly followed, brushing off Luce's offer.
"Mr. Carter's right," she said lightly, smiling. "Food first."
In Jinyi's mind, even if she went backstage, it would only be a chance — nothing guaranteed. She could get a low-tier contract, or worse, be tied down by restrictions.
Compared to that, building a closer connection with Jason Carter — the campus enigma with quiet power and real wealth — was far more promising.
Throwing away a "maybe" for a guaranteed opportunity beside a true high-value man? That would've been foolish.
As they walked off together, Luce stood frozen, His smile twitching.
His chest tightened with frustration.
Wasn't Jinyi supposed to be this independent, ambitious woman? Why does she melt the second he speaks?
Watching Jason and Jinyi disappear down the hall, Luce clenched her fists — equal parts jealousy and disbelief.
She had no idea that while she schemed to get Jinyi noticed by New Vision Media… Jason Carter was New Vision Media.
Luce had always been ambitious — the kind of girl who planned her life in bullet points and deadlines. But now, she was genuinely shocked.
Jinyi — the one she thought was just as career-driven — had actually turned down a rare backstage opportunity at New Vision Media just to have dinner with Jason Carter.
It wasn't even a choice, really. Dinner could happen any night. A private New Vision Media selection? That was once in a lifetime.
No matter how you looked at it, giving that up for a casual meal was a dumb decision.
Luce's face flushed with disbelief and irritation. "Jinyi!" she blurted out. "This is your big break! Haven't you always dreamed of going big online — of becoming a top-tier influencer? A beauty streamer?"
Jinyi smiled softly, brushing her hair aside. "Thanks, Luce. Really. But Mr. Carter hasn't eaten yet."
Her words sounded innocent, but the undertone — the gentle deference in her tone — made Jason glance over, clearly amused.
Her emotional intelligence wasn't on Grace's level, not even close. But the simple loyalty in that gesture still pleased him.
The guys — Mike, Josh, Ivan, and the rest — exchanged looks, silently grimacing.
Man, Luce's getting crushed out there.
They didn't even have to say it out loud. The way Jason stood there — calm, confident, a quiet force — made it clear who had already won this round.
Luce's frustration only grew as they all walked toward the parking lot.
Olivia had already arranged the cars: Jason's matte-black Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a matching Mercedes-Benz G-Class for the rest of the group.
Jason got into the Cullinan, with Jinyi and a few other girls joining him. Mike, Josh, and the guys piled into the G-Wagon.
Luce hesitated for a moment, then climbed into the G-Wagon too, though the seat felt unbearably cramped. Watching Jinyi chat softly with Jason in the other car made His chest tighten.
But when she saw the gleaming luxury SUVs parked side by side, she finally understood just how wide the gap really was.
She'd heard Jason Carter was wealthy. But seeing two vehicles worth more than a million dollars each sitting casually in the student lot? That was another thing entirely.
It wasn't just "rich." It was unreal.
Just as the convoy was about to pull away, two middle-aged figures — a man and a woman wearing ID lanyards — came jogging breathlessly toward the Rolls-Royce.
Their badges read: New Vision Media.
"Mr. Carter!" the man said, slightly out of breath but respectful. "We've completed the initial review for the anchor selections. Would you like to come and inspect the shortlist personally?"
Jason didn't even turn his head.
Olivia, seated in the passenger seat, answered coolly, "That won't be necessary. You handle it yourselves. Just send the final list to me once it's done."
Both staff members straightened immediately and nodded. "Understood, Ms. Olivia. We'll take care of it, sir."
Then they hurried off, leaving the onlookers frozen in silence.
Inside the G-Wagon, Mike let out a low whistle. "Wait… did they just call him boss?"
Josh blinked. "Boss? As in, the boss? Of New Vision Media?"
Ivan quickly pulled out his phone, fingers flying. "Dude… this company's worth like, what, close to three hundred million dollars right now?"
The whole car went quiet.
They already knew Jason was loaded — three luxury cars, a Beverly Hills penthouse, and enough connections to make half the campus kneel.
But being the owner of New Vision Media? That was a different level entirely.
Luce sat stiffly, staring blankly at the tinted window.
His thoughts were a mess. Jason Carter… the actual boss?
No wonder the event staff had treated him like royalty. No wonder the manager was practically bowing earlier.
And suddenly, Jinyi's choice to skip the audition didn't seem stupid anymore. It was genius.
Why chase a company rep when you could sit next to the owner himself?
The realization hit Luce like a brick. His heart pounded in her chest, her mind completely blank.
Inside the Cullinan, Jinyi had just heard the same thing.
She turned her head slightly, looking at Jason — calm, expression unreadable under the soft interior lights.
Her lips parted, a faint smile appearing before she could stop it.
Jinyi: Favorability +10.
There are 100 chapters ahead in my Patreon, with 2 daily chapters. If you are interested can check it out.
patreon.com/B_A_3439