Lucas leaned back comfortably in his chair, crossing one leg over the other as though he were discussing the weather instead of making an unusual request.
Across from him, Malcolm sat upright with complete attention.
His expression was respectful, but inwardly he was curious.
What could possibly bring someone like Lucas Gray directly to the dean’s office?
Lucas didn’t keep him waiting.
"I want to join Ashford University’s basketball team."
Malcolm blinked.
"...Basketball?"
Lucas nodded matter-of-factly.
"I don’t have the patience to go through tryouts."
"I don’t feel like spending weeks training just so someone can decide whether I’m qualified."
He smiled faintly.
"So I’d like you to tell the coach to put me on the roster."
The office suddenly became quiet.
For several long seconds, Malcolm simply stared at Lucas.
If anyone else had made such a request, he would’ve assumed they were joking.
But this was Lucas.
The young man who had become one of the university’s biggest benefactors almost overnight.
Money wasn’t the issue.
Authority wasn’t the issue either.
Getting Lucas onto the basketball team?
That was actually the easiest part.
The problem...
Was the timing.
Malcolm frowned slightly.
"Mr. Gray..."
"If this were during the regular season, it wouldn’t be difficult."
"I could have you registered immediately."
He sighed.
"But right now..."
"The university tournament is already underway."
His expression grew serious.
"This isn’t an ordinary campus game."
"Schools from all over the state are competing."
"The level of competition is completely different."
He folded his hands together.
"The players on those teams train year-round."
"They’ve spent years developing chemistry with one another."
"Throwing someone into the middle of a tournament..."
"...especially someone without competitive experience..."
He paused for a moment.
"...could be dangerous."
Malcolm wasn’t worried about Ashford losing.
If he were being honest...
He had already accepted that outcome.
Ashford University had participated in the Slivermont Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament for years.
Every single year...
They entered with hope.
Every single year...
They went home empty-handed.
The school had never won the championship.
Not once.
So whether Lucas joined or not...
Malcolm didn’t believe it would change the team’s chances very much.
What truly concerned him...
Was Lucas himself.
Basketball wasn’t a gentle sport.
Players collided.
They fought for rebounds.
They crashed to the floor.
Hard fouls happened almost every game.
After what had happened to Max...
Malcolm knew this year’s tournament was even more physical than usual.
If Lucas got hurt...
How would he explain it?
The university simply couldn’t afford to let anything happen to him.
Malcolm opened his mouth, preparing to persuade Lucas to reconsider.
"Mr. Gray, perhaps it would be better if you waited until next season. That way, you could train properly first and~"
Lucas calmly raised a hand.
The simple gesture immediately stopped Malcolm mid-sentence.
"There won’t be a next season."
His tone was calm.
Yet it carried a confidence that left no room for negotiation.
"I’m joining this tournament."
Malcolm looked into Lucas’s eyes.
There wasn’t the slightest trace of hesitation.
Nor arrogance.
It was simply...
A decision that had already been made.
After several seconds, Malcolm let out a helpless smile.
He understood.
There was no changing Lucas’s mind.
Slowly, he nodded.
"...Very well."
"I’ll contact the basketball coach immediately."
"And I’ll inform the team captain as well."
"I’ll personally make sure your name is added to the tournament roster."
Lucas smiled faintly.
"Good."
Malcolm could only shake his head with a bitter laugh.
"Although..."
"I still hope you’ll be careful."
"The players from other University aren’t exactly known for playing fair."
Lucas slowly stood up.
A cold glint flashed across his eyes before disappearing just as quickly.
"I know."
"That’s exactly why I’m joining."
After getting the answer he wanted from Malcolm, Lucas left the dean’s office feeling completely satisfied.
Everything had gone according to plan.
The basketball team was no longer a problem.
Now...
There was only one place he wanted to be.
Home.
As he settled into the driver’s seat of his Bugatti, he suddenly realized something and couldn’t help laughing to himself.
"I haven’t even gone home since getting back from Lanai."
From the moment he returned to Slivermont, he’d gone straight to the dorm after Max’s phone call. From there, he’d rushed to the dean’s office without taking a single break.
His mansion had been completely forgotten.
Shaking his head, Lucas started the engine and drove away from campus.
✦ ✦ ✦
Nearly forty minutes later...
The familiar black gates of his mansion slowly came into view.
The security system recognized his license plate immediately.
With a soft mechanical hum, the massive gates slowly opened.
Lucas drove through the entrance, taking in the beautiful scenery on both sides of the driveway.
Perfectly trimmed hedges.
Crystal-clear fountains.
Rows of colorful flowers gently swaying beneath the afternoon breeze.
After spending several hectic days outside...
The sight alone made him feel relaxed.
"I really missed this place..."
The Bugatti slowly rolled to a stop in front of the mansion.
He had barely turned off the engine...
Before the front door suddenly flew open.
Three beautiful figures rushed outside almost at the same time.
"Lucas!"
"You’re finally back!"
Daisy.
Debbie.
And Mia.
The three of them had clearly been waiting.
Lucas hadn’t even finished opening the car door before they surrounded him.
By the time he stepped out...
He found himself trapped in three warm embraces.
One hugged his waist.
Another wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
The third happily buried her face against his chest.
Lucas laughed helplessly.
"I was only gone for a few days."
"A few days?"
Debbie looked up at him with an exaggerated expression of grievance.
"It felt like a whole month."
Mia smiled softly.
"Somebody couldn’t stop talking about when you were coming home."
Daisy immediately pointed at Debbie without hesitation.
"She checked the security cameras at least twenty times today."
Debbie’s face turned bright red.
"I-I wasn’t checking for him!"
"I was checking whether the delivery truck arrived!"
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"The delivery truck comes every thirty minutes?"
"..."
Debbie immediately looked away.
"...Maybe."
The living room instantly filled with laughter.
✦ ✦ ✦
After finally escaping their enthusiastic welcome, Lucas walked inside the mansion.
He thought he would at least have enough time to sit down.
He was wrong.
The moment he reached the sofa...
Debbie gently pushed him down into the seat.
"Open your mouth."
Lucas blinked.
"What?"
"No questions."
"Just open it."
Before he could react...
A perfectly sliced piece of steak was already being held in front of him.
Lucas sighed dramatically.
"I’m being treated like a child now?"
Debbie smiled proudly.
"No."
"You’re being treated like someone who disappeared without letting us spoil him first."
Lucas obediently took a bite.
"..."
His eyebrows rose slightly.
"Not bad."
Debbie instantly became excited.
"I made it myself!"
Lucas looked genuinely surprised.
"You cooked?"
"...What’s with that expression?"
"...Nothing."
Lucas smiled awkwardly.
"I just didn’t expect your cooking to improve this much."
Debbie immediately puffed out her chest proudly.
"I practiced."
"Every single day."
While Debbie continued feeding him piece after piece...
Mia and Daisy had already spread several reports across the coffee table.
Unlike Debbie...
The two of them immediately switched into work mode.
"Lucas."
"Switch Live has exceeded every projection."
Mia handed him the latest financial report.
"Our active user count has increased much faster than expected."
Daisy continued.
"We’ve already signed dozens of high-quality streamers."
"The daily revenue keeps breaking new records."
Lucas casually flipped through the reports while eating.
The more he read...
The more satisfied he became.
Switch Live’s growth was even faster than he had originally predicted.
When the meal finally ended...
Lucas leaned comfortably against the sofa and let out a long breath.
"I’m exhausted."
The three girls quietly exchanged glances.
Without saying a word...
They all smiled knowingly.
Vacation over.
Lucas finally home.
The atmosphere inside the room suddenly became strangely quiet.
Lucas immediately noticed.
"...Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Nobody answered.
Instead...
The three of them slowly took a step forward together.
Lucas’s smile stiffened.
His instincts suddenly screamed danger.
Wait...
Surely...
No.
Not now.
Before Lucas could overthink it further...
Debbie suddenly giggled.
"Relax."
"We’re not monsters."
Mia nodded with a gentle smile.
"You’ve been running around nonstop."
"You need proper rest."
Daisy crossed her arms.
"We’ll save everything else for another day."
Lucas secretly let out a breath of relief.
Thank goodness...
For a second...
He genuinely thought he was about to be "attacked."
Unfortunately...
His expression of relief didn’t escape the girls.
Debbie leaned close to his ear and whispered with a mischievous smile,
"Don’t celebrate too early."
"We’re just giving you time to recover."
Lucas instantly regretted relaxing.
He knew it.
There was no escaping forever.
Fortunately...
The three girls really did keep their promise.
Instead of bothering him further, they helped carry his luggage upstairs.
Debbie even volunteered to prepare his bath.
Lucas had to stop her before things escalated any further.
"I can shower by myself."
"I promise."
Only after making that very clear did the girls reluctantly give up.
Lucas finally escaped into his room.
The hot shower washed away every trace of fatigue from the past several days.
When he came back out wearing comfortable clothes, he threw himself onto the large bed.
He wasn’t sleepy just yet.
Instead...
He picked up his phone.
One basketball highlight became another.
Professional games.
College tournaments.
Streetball compilations.
He watched carefully, paying attention to footwork, passing, positioning, and movement.
The videos continued playing one after another.
At some point...
His eyelids slowly became heavier.
Without realizing it, Lucas drifted off to sleep.
The basketball highlights continued playing softly on the phone resting beside his pillow...
Preparing him for the storm that awaited him tomorrow.