The night was like ink, with scattered starlight. Among the greenery, rows of luxury villas were scattered across the quiet streets.
Zhou Qingfeng stood on the viewing platform on the second floor of one villa, hands on the railing, scanning the surrounding darkness.
In the distance, lights flickered in the night, as if waving to him, but they were too far away, bringing a sense of detachment.
Kelly was skinny-dipping in the backyard pool not far from him. Silver ripples danced on the water's surface, her graceful figure rising and falling like a lively fish.
The sound of water gently slapped the pool's wall, breaking the night's silence yet adding a hint of ambiguity.
"Victor, how do you feel?"
Kelly's husband, the villa's owner, Nar Johnson, walked over with a smile. His tone was relaxed, as if he had just come for a casual chat.
His gaze lingered on Zhou Qingfeng's face for a moment, finding that the young man wasn't staring at the icy beauty in the pool but rather at another brightly lit mansion nearby.
"That's the home of Representative Haus, priced at twenty-three million US Dollars," Nar followed Zhou Qingfeng's gaze, his tone carrying a mixture of envy and self-mockery.
"It has a wide lawn, a beautiful private garden, a backyard with a pool, a tennis court, and even a helipad.
What's more excessive is that there's a private road leading straight to his own beach. It takes over a dozen servants just to maintain that place, and it's said the annual electricity bill alone runs into two to three hundred thousand kilowatts."
Though Nar's own villa was likewise luxurious, it was only worth a mere four million US Dollars.
While still considered a mansion, it paled in comparison to the Representative's. He looked up at Zhou Qingfeng, trying to read something from the youth's expression.
But Zhou Qingfeng remained indifferent, offering no response.
"Did you know? Our President's Mar-a-Lago is nearby, less than ten minutes by car." Nar continued to make conversation.
"I was once invited to a dinner there; it's not a place just anyone can enter.
Victor, I understand how you feel right now. With your current wealth, you can't buy Mar-a-Lago, but the Representative's home is within your reach anytime."
Nar thought he understood the young man's mindset and patted Zhou Qingfeng on the shoulder, trying to offer some emotional support.
As a dentist with three private clinics, earning millions annually and with total assets surpassing twenty million US Dollars, he was part of Miami's wealthy class. Yet still, he couldn't suppress his own envy and jealousy.
No matter how dowdy this kid looked, in half a month, he'd be a bona fide billionaire, and no one could laugh at him.
Zhou Qingfeng nodded lightly. His gaze lingered on the brightly lit mansion in the distance, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
Having accrued over fifteen billion in wealth, he wanted to experience the life of a rich man, so he accepted Kelly's invitation to stay for a night.
However, upon arriving at the mansion in Palm Bay, he found the place underwhelming.
The place was spacious, finely decorated, with numerous servants, yet too orderly, too quiet, too restrained, lacking a sense of lived-in warmth.
It was far less comfortable than the small bedroom Julia had arranged for him.
Feeling stifled in the living room, he came outside to gaze absently around and get some fresh air.
Unexpectedly, Nar followed like a ghost, trying to strike up a conversation and build rapport.
From Nar's deliberate mention of visiting Mar-a-Lago, Zhou Qingfeng could tell that the man had some money but was small-minded, unable to truly enter high society.
And it also hinted at why Kelly, in her role as a senior executive, would lower herself and act servile in front of him.
Kelly's self-description seemed accurate—she indeed lived worry-free, with a happy life.
But living within the circles of the highest elites, facing the ceiling of her own life and career, breaking through required bending conventions.
At this moment, Kelly climbed out of the pool, her body bare, breasts and hips jiggling, dripping wet.
She took a towel from a servant to dry her hair, then wrapped a blanket around her body, glanced at the young man and her husband on the viewing platform, and walked up the spiral staircase.
"What were you talking about?" Kelly's voice was cold, as if she never smiled and her face always wore a serious expression.
"Real estate," Nar replied with a smile, "Victor is quite interested in our Representative neighbor's home."
"Real estate?" Kelly nodded, "Fifteen billion US Dollars in cash assets, the annual interest alone amounting to seventy or eighty million. Victor indeed needs a mansion, it's no big deal."
Seeing that the conversation was turning dull, a black maid approached the viewing platform and whispered to Nar, "Sir, dinner is ready. The guests have arrived."
Nar turned and invited Zhou Qingfeng, "Come on, it's dinner time. Tonight's menu was specially prepared, I hope you'll like it."
"Give me five minutes, I need to change clothes," Kelly said as she untied the blanket, disregarding her nudity, and walked slowly towards the dressing room.
Her steps were leisurely and elegant, her hips swinging naturally, presenting a charming sight.
Zhou Qingfeng's eyes involuntarily swept over her rounded buttocks, then he turned to Nar, puzzled, "Do you always live so casually? Entertaining guests this... liberally?"
"No, we don't live casually. It's just that my wife is indeed more relaxed at home, but if there are outsiders, she wouldn't behave this way," Nar laughed, "Victor, you're not an outsider."