After finishing their karaoke session, it was time to settle the bill.
The host informed them that the owner had waived all charges.
But James insisted on knowing the total price.
The host told him that the private room cost $1,200, and the drinks were over $600.
James transferred $2,000 to the host, saying,
"Consider it a tip. Don't tell your boss."
The host's eyes lit up at the sight of the money and, unable to resist, clicked accept.
Initially, he thought about pocketing the money.
But his honest nature made him feel like this money should be considered part of the payment for the room. He worried that if there were any misunderstanding between the boss and the guest, he might get dragged into trouble.
So, like a fool, he ran to tell the owner that he had taken the money.
Brown, the owner, cursed him out thoroughly, calling him an idiot.
But in the end, considering the host's honesty, Brown didn't fire him or make him hand over James's money.
Instead, he instructed him to do his best to maintain a good relationship with James.
The host was overjoyed and, following industry practices, began posting updates on his social media, hoping James would visit again.
Nowadays, the social media feeds of rich kids were practically dominated by people from the service industry, advertising everything from dining and entertainment to luxury cars and exclusive events.
Things like car customization, outdoor camping, online gaming, villa parties, nightclubs, bars...
For some spoiled rich kids, their daily routine was to wake up at noon, scroll through their feed, find something interesting, and contact the poster for their services.
Their evenings stretched until three or four in the morning, sometimes pulling all-nighters.
Truly exhausting.
James's feed was gradually beginning to look the same.
Spa ads, KTV ads, luxury car sales ads, hotel promotions...
While at karaoke earlier, Perla had even messaged him saying her cat could do a backflip.
Curious, James asked her to send a video.
What he saw instead was a full-length mirror reflecting a woman doing the splits.
Her skimpy outfit covered less than the cat's fur.
As a proper man of principle, James watched her video intently before decisively reporting it for inappropriate content.
It was crucial to uphold public decency.
By the time James and the others left the KTV, it was already late in the evening.
Kennedy Bella, noting that James was a visitor to the city, suggested taking him to see the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower in Miami.
James was curious about what was inside the tower, and Shirley Taylor mentioned that she'd never been there either.
So, James bought the most expensive VIP skip-the-line tickets online, priced at $368 each. The ticket also included access to the revolving restaurant's buffet.
Even the old James would have been able to afford such a price.
Walking into the Oriental Pearl Tower, they entered the express lane for VIP ticket holders, where they still waited about ten minutes before boarding the high-speed elevator.
The elevator's speed was truly impressive.
In just 40 seconds, it whisked them over 200 meters into the airâfaster than a drop tower ride.
The second sphere of the Oriental Pearl Tower, located approximately 260 meters above the ground, housed the main observation deck.
The group stepped onto the fully transparent glass walkway, and James felt a slight squeeze in his bladder from the surreal sensation of being suspended in the air.
However, as a man, he kept up a façade of calmness, acting as though he wasn't afraid at all.
Still, every step he took made his legs feel a little weak.
Shirley Taylor fared worse, clutching James's arm tightly, eyes squeezed shut, refusing to take a single step forward.
Through her thin dress, James could feel her trembling body clearly.
Thankfully, he had eaten well earlier, so his hunger didn't translate into any awkward reactions.
Seeing how scared she wasâon the verge of tearsâJames pulled her into a comforting hug and softly reassured her:
"Don't be afraid. This tempered glass walkway can support one to two tons of weight. You're so light, even a hundred of you wouldn't make a difference."
"I... I'm a little afraid of heights," Shirley Taylor stammered nervously.
"Really? You didn't seem afraid of heights last night in the room," James said, pretending to be puzzled.
Recalling last night's events, Shirley Taylor's cheeks flushed, and she whispered shyly, "I was too nervous to look outside last night."
"And what about this morning?" James teased with a mischievous grin. "Weren't you pressed up against the window after your shower?"
Shirley Taylor's blush deepened as she buried her face into James's chest, too embarrassed to reply.
"Hey! Are you two seriously feeding each other dog food here?"
Kennedy Bella, walking ahead as their guide, turned back and complained.
After spending the afternoon together, her attitude toward James had noticeably shifted.
From strong resistance at the start, she now begrudgingly considered him a friend.
She had also come to terms with James and Shirley Taylor being together.
"We haven't even started. Want some?" James quipped with a smile.
"Don't ruin the view," Kennedy Bella shot back coldly.
"Run along, little girl. Don't interrupt the adults while they're dating," James replied, unapologetically dismissive.
89 points. Flat-chested. Has a big-shot dad. Spoiled and bratty.
Even if she only had one of these traits, James wouldn't be interested. But all four combined? No, thank you.
He was now a billionaire. He had the right to be choosy.
It was precisely this straightforward and unpretentious attitude of James's that appealed to Kennedy Bella.
She thought the only thing wrong with him was his sharp tongue. If someone could fix that, he'd be perfect.
"A scumbag like you has no right to date," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
But she didn't want to argue further. Instead, she called out,
"Are you coming or not? If you're not, I'm not showing you around anymore!"
"Hold on a sec."
James gently patted Shirley Taylor, still clinging to him, and coaxed,
"We're already here. Don't you want to try walking the glass walkway?"
Shirley Taylor felt he had a point.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to take a small step onto the glass.
Nervously, she peeked down at the cars below, which looked no bigger than fingernails, zipping around the circular road.
Just one glance was enough to make her feel dizzy, and she couldn't take another step.
"Brother, I'm still scared."
Shirley Taylor looked at James with pitiful eyes, unwilling to move forward.
James's eyes lit up with an idea. He squatted down in front of her and said with a smile,
"We can't come here for nothing. Close your eyes, and I'll carry you."
His gentle, considerate gesture filled Shirley Taylor with happiness.
Blushing, she hesitated for a moment before climbing onto his back.
Resting her face against his broad shoulders and staring at his chiseled side profile, she felt her fear begin to fade.
"Brother, if you get tired, you can put me down," she said softly.
"Mm-hmm."
James, however, was already out of breath, struggling under her weight.
With his hands supporting her smooth legs, he was both physically strained and mentally distracted.
Kennedy Bella noticed the goofy grin on his face and muttered under her breath, "Scumbag."
Though she felt a twinge of annoyance, she still patiently pointed out various landmarks in Miami for them.
The Huangpu River. The Central Tower. The International Architecture Complex...
And the century-old Peace Hotel, which, according to legend, could resolve any matter, no matter how serious, for those who made it inside alive.
James was intrigued and wanted to visit to try the food there.
But since they already had tickets for the revolving restaurant tonight, that plan would have to wait.
After wandering around the observation deck, they headed upstairs to the revolving restaurant.
The buffet was incredible.
It had everythingâlobsters, roasted lamb ribs, escargot, an array of desserts and main courses.
James was having the time of his life, feeling like the $368 ticket was worth every penny.
Even better than the national banquet he'd had at Drunken Fairy House.
It was worth noting that the restaurant really did rotate.
Jay Johnson returned with two heaping plates of roasted meat and noodles, only to find their table missing.
He stood there, stunned, until a staff member kindly directed him back to their new location.
Afterward, they checked out the VR experience, bought a few souvenirs, and visited the museum.
They wandered around the base of the tower for a bit before finally leaving the Oriental Pearl Tower around 9 p.m.
Kennedy Bella offered to drive the Rolls-Royce back to campus. She'd barely had two drinks at the KTV and was already sober.
James couldn't stop her.
He watched helplessly as she drove them straight onto campus.
At the security checkpoint, she got out, scanned her student card, and was let through without issue.
The guard didn't trouble her at all.