In Amanda and Mr. Reeve's eyes, Jason Carter had bought both the amusement park and the Los Angeles Astronomical Research Center for their daughter.
But the truth was far less romantic—and, in a way, far more unbelievable.
Jason had genuinely enjoyed himself. He'd always wanted to try those rides again, relive the thrill of bumper cars, cotton candy, and carousel music echoing through the night. The fact that he happened to enjoy Shenna's company made it even better.
He found joy in the simple things—street food, go-karts, roller coasters. Shenna, on the other hand, found her joy among constellations and galaxies, explaining each cluster and nebula with childlike wonder that Jason found oddly contagious.
He never treated her like some untouchable goddess he had to impress. To him, she was a genuine playmate—someone who made the world lighter, easier.
As for the money he spent? To Jason, that wasn't spending at all.
That was simply repurposing "simp funds."
He was taking money intended to use to idolize others—and using it to buy himself amusement parks and observatories. Turning simping into profit was, in his mind, the best kind of investment.
Meanwhile, Shenna's affection toward him was skyrocketing.
From the moment they started their night at the downtown food market, her "favorability" had been climbing nonstop. By now, it had increased by fifteen points, reaching a total of seventy.
But after an entire night of laughter, food, and stargazing, Jason was feeling a little tired. It was almost midnight, and it was time to make sure Shenna got home safely.
As they walked toward the exit of the observatory's grand dome, Shenna intentionally slowed her pace, letting Jason walk a few steps ahead while she turned to the man following behind them—President Taylor, the current head of the Los Angeles Astronomical Research Center.
"Mr. Taylor," she said softly, "can I ask you something… privately?"
President Taylor immediately straightened his posture, his voice carrying the kind of deference reserved for board members and billionaires. Even if Shenna was just Amanda's daughter, her connection to Jason Carter demanded respect.
And truthfully, Taylor couldn't shake the thought that Jason had acquired the observatory for her. From the way they interacted—her laughter, his easy smile—they looked every bit like a couple.
If that was true, then Shenna could very well be the future Mrs. Carter.
That thought alone made Taylor's tone even more polite. A good impression now might mean job security later.
"Of course, Miss Shenna," he said warmly. "Please, ask anything you like. I'll answer as best I can."
Shenna smiled slightly, then tilted her head toward the massive telescopes still standing in the observation dome.
"While we were using the telescopes, I noticed the maintenance team already setting up," she said. "And the moment we stepped away, they started working immediately. Normally, maintenance like that doesn't happen unless there's something big planned. You must be expecting important guests tomorrow, right?"
President Taylor hesitated for a split second, but Shenna's perceptiveness caught him off guard.
"The observatory must be looking for investors," she continued, her voice soft but curious. "If that's the case, then it shouldn't even be open to the public tonight. So… what exactly did Jason do to make you open it just for us? And why did you personally come to greet us?"
President Taylor's expression froze.
She had figured it out—all of it—just by observation.
Amanda and Mr. Reeve hadn't told their daughter about Jason's purchases; they didn't want to make her feel pressured or self-conscious. Shenna, however, had put everything together herself.
For all her sweetness and innocent charm, she was anything but naïve.
She'd simply been protected too long to show how sharp she really was.
In truth, her intelligence, reasoning, and insight far exceeded what most people expected. After all, she'd scored nearly perfect marks in her university entrance exams. If she hadn't wanted to stay close to home in Los Angeles, she could've easily gone to Harvard or MIT.
Did anyone really think a girl like that had a dull mind?
At the amusement park earlier, Jason had explained his sudden access by saying he had "a friend who managed the place."
At the time, it had sounded reasonable enough.
But now, standing under the vast glass dome of the observatory, Shenna's instincts told her there was far more to Jason Carter than anyone let on.
At the Los Angeles Astronomical Research Center, Jason Carter gave Shenna the same casual explanation he'd used back at the amusement park — that a "friend" had arranged their visit.
But the moment she saw both the president and general manager personally receiving them at midnight, she felt something was off.And when they left and the maintenance crew rushed in to start work, her suspicion solidified into certainty — this wasn't as simple as Jason made it sound.
President Taylor froze for a second after hearing Shenna's quiet, thoughtful question.
As expected of Amanda's daughter, he thought. She might look gentle and naïve, but she's sharp — nothing escapes her eyes. She's clear-headed. She didn't sneak out tonight because of teenage rebellion… she came because it was Jason Carter.
Glancing toward Jason, who was a few steps ahead, Taylor finally sighed and decided there was no need to hide the truth.
He smiled and said with complete respect,"Just earlier tonight, Mr. Carter acquired the entire Astronomical Research Center. From this point on, everything here belongs to him. So there's no need for exceptions, Miss Shenna. Whenever you wish to come back, simply let us know — the doors will always be open for you."
Shenna stopped dead in her tracks.Her eyes widened in disbelief, then slowly softened, light shimmering in them brighter than the galaxies she'd just been admiring through the telescope.
She'd had more fun tonight than she had in years — maybe since she was a child. For the first time in a long while, she'd laughed freely. Somewhere in her heart, a quiet sense of warmth and trust began to grow toward the boy who had rescued her, stood up for her, and — unknowingly — become her secret rebellion.
Sure, sneaking out late with a guy like him was technically something a "bad girl" would do. But Shenna didn't feel unsafe for even a second.Jason had this calm confidence about him — he neither flattered her nor acted arrogant. He just understood her. When he spoke, when he listened, it felt like they shared the same rhythm.
Until this moment, she had thought Jason was just being generous and playful.But to make her happy… he had bought the entire observatory?
She blinked. She knew the price of this place — it was at least $400 million.
Countless wealthy young men had tried to impress her before — sons of corporate partners, heirs to business empires. They'd given her luxury handbags, jewelry, cars, even promised inheritances worth millions after marriage.
She had never been moved by any of it.
Her parents had raised her with love and comfort, yes — indulgently, even — but she'd never cared for material things.Money, luxury, status… none of it really mattered to her.
But now… her heart trembled uncontrollably.
Wait, she thought, her mind spinning. If Jason bought this place, then… that amusement park earlier — could that also have been him?
Her pulse quickened. She grabbed her phone and texted her family's secretary, asking him to check discreetly.
The reply came within seconds.
"Yes, Miss Shenna. Mr. Carter purchased both the Downtown Amusement Park and the Los Angeles Astronomical Research Center earlier today."
For a long moment, she just stared at her phone.
He had spent over $300 million on an amusement park and another $400 million on this observatory — nearly $800 million in a single night.
And he hadn't said a word about it. He hadn't shown off, hadn't bragged, hadn't even hinted. He'd just smiled and said he "knew people."
They had only met recently — she couldn't begin to understand why he would do so much for her.Yet, somehow, she didn't feel fear or pressure. She only felt sincerity.
Jason wasn't pretending, wasn't performing. Everything he did carried a natural ease, a quiet confidence that made her trust him instinctively.
Shenna didn't play games, and she wasn't good at hiding her emotions. She simply believed what her heart told her.
And right now, it told her something clear — Jason Carter was different.
[System Notification]Shenna Reeve — Favorability +13Current Favorability: 83
Status Update:Name: Shenna ReeveAge: 19Appearance: 9.3Height: 5'7'' (171 cm)Weight: 128 lbs (58 kg)Favorability: 15 → 83Ex-boyfriends: NoneHealth: Perfect
As the notification flashed faintly in Jason's interface, Shenna stood a few steps behind him under the night sky, her heart quietly racing.
And in her eyes, Jason Carter wasn't just the boy who bought stars for her to look at —he was the first person who made her heart feel alive.
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