Jason entered the grand banquet hall, but since he wasn't a member of the Reeves family, he didn't mingle with the guests. Instead, he quietly found a corner near the buffet table and began nibbling on a few slices of fruit, content to stay unnoticed.
A few minutes later, Shenna Reeves and her mother returned.
Shenna had changed into a light gray cashmere coat with a soft white scarf wrapped around her neck. The outfit was casual, yet her natural grace made her look like she'd stepped straight out of an aristocratic portrait — elegant, poised, and untouchable.
Her eyes scanned the hall — and the moment she saw Jason still sitting there, her face brightened. Ignoring the small clusters of guests trying to greet her, she walked straight toward him.
"How was it?" she asked with a smile. "Did you manage to find the other kittens?"
Jason nodded and showed her a short video that Olivia had sent. In the clip, Olivia's team had located two more kittens and their mother in the flower garden outside, safely taking them to an animal rescue shelter. Everything had been arranged perfectly.
Shenna's lips curved into a soft, delighted smile. It was a simple, genuine expression — but in that instant, her beauty outshone even the glittering chandeliers above.
Trailing behind her was a refined, graceful middle-aged woman — Mrs. Reeves. Earlier, when Jason had stopped her at the entrance, she'd carried herself with an air of commanding authority. Now, her expression softened as she approached.
"Hello," Mrs. Reeves said with a polite smile. "I'm Shenna's mother. I didn't realize earlier that you were one of her friends. My tone may have been a bit sharp — please forgive me. Actually, I should be thanking you. If you hadn't helped with those stray cats, this girl wouldn't have been able to sleep tonight."
Jason waved his hand lightly. "It's alright, ma'am. Really, no need to thank me — it was just a small thing."
Mrs. Reeves's smile faltered slightly as she changed her tone. "If I may offer a bit of advice," she said, glancing between Jason and Shenna. "I understand the kindness in wanting to save small lives — it's admirable. But everything in this world follows its own laws of nature. When you're young, it's better to focus on things that truly matter — your future, your goals. Spending too much energy on small distractions can be… unproductive. Don't you think?"
Her words were clearly meant as a subtle lecture, particularly toward Shenna.
Shenna turned her face away, pretending she hadn't heard anything, her expression politely blank.
The two young men standing behind Mrs. Reeves quickly nodded in agreement, unwilling to contradict her.
Jason glanced at Shenna, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He could tell she was annoyed but too well-mannered to argue.
But since Mrs. Reeves wasn't his mother, Jason had no such reservations.
He leaned back slightly, his tone calm yet steady. "You know, ma'am," he began, "there's a saying — 'Do not ignore what is right simply because it seems small, and do not commit what is wrong simply because it seems minor.'"
Mrs. Reeves blinked, surprised.
Jason continued, his voice composed but firm. "The idea is simple — if you can't handle small things properly, how can you be trusted with greater ones? There's another saying — 'If a person can't keep a single room clean, how can they expect to build a kingdom?'"
He smiled faintly. "Saving a kitten might seem insignificant, but the way we approach small acts defines how we approach life. Greatness isn't built overnight — it's built from the accumulation of every small, decent thing we choose to do.
"We're only in our twenties. We might not be able to change the world yet — but we can start by doing the right things, one small step at a time."
The surrounding guests had gone quiet. Mrs. Reeves looked momentarily speechless, caught off guard by how articulate — and fearless — Jason was in speaking to her so calmly and logically.
Shenna, standing beside him, tried to suppress a smile but failed; the corners of her lips lifted just slightly, her eyes gleaming with admiration.
For the first time that evening, it wasn't the expensive suits or champagne that drew attention — it was Jason's quiet confidence.
Shenna's eyes lit up as she listened, her bright gaze lingering on Jason Carter's face for a full three seconds.Shenna: Favorability +5.
She didn't dare argue with her mother — not many people did. The two young heirs standing nearby, sons of her father's business partners, looked equally subdued.
After all, Mrs. Reeves was not someone to trifle with. Even when she spoke softly, her words carried the unshakable weight of authority. Yet somehow, Jason stood there completely unruffled — calm, confident, and utterly unmoved by pressure.
His rebuttal wasn't disrespectful or confrontational, yet it was so logically precise that it left no room for counterargument.
At that moment, Shenna felt like Jason had become her personal champion. She silently gave him a mental thumbs-up, her heart secretly cheering at the rare sight of her mother speechless.
The two young men standing beside them looked on, stunned. They couldn't help but feel a flicker of envy when they saw how Shenna's eyes glowed as she looked at Jason.
"Why didn't I think of something like that?" one of them thought bitterly. "And even if I had, I'd never have dared say it to Mrs. Reeves's face."
After all, Mrs. Reeves wasn't just anyone — she was the Vice President of Reeves Capital, known across the East Coast for her influence and sharp intellect. Her power, wealth, and connections made her nearly untouchable in the business world.
But what they didn't know was that Jason Carter was playing on an entirely different level.
He didn't fear her wealth or influence because his own resources dwarfed them. He wasn't intimidated, nor was he trying to curry favor with Shenna. His calm came from strength — the kind that didn't need to prove itself.
Since his mental fortitude had grown, his memory and focus were sharper than ever. Every quote, every passage he'd ever read could be recalled at will. If he weren't too lazy to talk more, he could have gone on effortlessly for hours.
Mrs. Reeves's eyes flickered with brief surprise. Then she gave a measured smile. "Well said, young man. Well said. I'll take that as your 'small step' toward a thousand-mile journey. Then tell me — what's your next grand plan for rescuing stray kittens?"
Jason shrugged lightly, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "Haven't thought that far ahead. But life's funny — no step you take ever really goes to waste. Every step counts for something."
He said it so casually — then popped a slice of watermelon into his mouth, completely relaxed.
Mrs. Reeves blinked, caught off guard. She had been ready to continue the debate, but his sudden shift from profound philosophy to easy nonchalance threw her rhythm off.
For a moment, she didn't even know what to say.
Shenna, watching her mother's expression, couldn't help but cover her mouth and stifle a laugh. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she looked at Jason — but she quickly looked down, pretending to study her drink.
Jason finished the watermelon, then looked up again, his voice smooth and even.
"You know," he said, "there's a story about a father teaching his son calligraphy. The father was a master — but instead of forcing his son to copy his every stroke, he let the boy develop his own style. In the end, both became legends — remembered as equals, not copies."
Mrs. Reeves raised an eyebrow. Jason continued, his tone steady but cuttingly gentle.
"On the other hand, there's the story of a young general who memorized every war manual his father gave him. Brilliant in theory, a disaster in practice. He knew strategy by heart — but not the world itself. His story became a warning about what happens when parents try to raise replicas instead of people."
He leaned back slightly. "You're clearly a brilliant woman, Mrs. Reeves. But if you try to shape your children completely in your image, aren't you afraid they'll never learn to think — or live — for themselves?"
The air between them tightened slightly.
Mrs. Reeves's eyes narrowed, a sharp, dagger-like focus settling on Jason. But Jason didn't flinch — he calmly took another bite of fruit, as though her authority meant nothing to him.
For a long moment, silence hung between them. Then Shenna exhaled softly, her lips curving into a quiet, radiant smile.
Her gaze locked onto Jason's face, eyes shimmering with a warmth that hadn't been there before.
Shenna: Favorability +15.
Jason smiled faintly to himself. Not bad, he thought. All that just from talking?
He could already tell — Shenna was the type who'd grown up under strict control, always having to be proper, restrained, the perfect daughter.
Girls like her — obedient, overprotected — were always the easiest to sway. Because deep down, they were waiting for someone bold enough to voice the rebellion they never could.
And tonight, Jason had done exactly that.
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