When he finished, Ethan looked at himself in the mirror and was speechless. The reflection staring back at him was a completely different man: handsome, fresh, stylish. He was no longer the scruffy homeless guy who had walked through the door, but someone who could easily pose on the cover of a magazine.
Emily was also staring, her eyes slightly widened. She bit her lip unconsciously.
"Wow…" she whispered, "you look… incredible."
[Confirmed: Handsomeness level +300%. Chances of being rejected on the street have drastically decreased.]
Ethan spun the chair toward her and, with a half-playful smile, said:
"You know? I think you earned more than just a 'thank you'."
Emily blinked, confused.
"W-what?"
Before she could react, Ethan leaned in and gave her a short, soft kiss that left her frozen for a moment. She brought her hand to her lips, her face completely red.
"Why… did you do that?" she asked in a low voice.
Ethan smiled confidently.
"Because you saved me. If it weren't for you, I'd still be seeing myself as a homeless guy with a car right now."
Emily hesitated for a moment, but finally, her heart racing, she pulled out her phone.
"Alright… but give me your number. And not because you're handsome now, but because…" she looked away, "I don't want this to be the last time we see each other."
Ethan took the phone, typed in his contact, and handed it back with a lopsided grin.
"Done, Emily Carter. I promise it won't be the last."
[Confirmed: lovesick idiot detected.]
Ethan rolled his eyes but couldn't help laughing as he got up to leave.
Ethan stood up, ran his hand through his freshly cut hair, and took one last look in the mirror. The difference was insane. He no longer looked like a homeless guy escaping an alley; he looked like someone who could appear on the cover of a teen magazine.
[HAHAHA. See, champ. Money works miracles. Your self-esteem isn't a joke.]
Ethan grinned smugly. "Yeah… I have to admit it, I look damn good."
He opened the door and stepped out of the private salon. Outside, Jessica stood with her arms crossed, throwing murderous glares at Emily from afar. The manager, on the other hand, smiled as soon as she saw him appear.
"Mr. Ethan," she said softly, "was everything to your liking? I hope you enjoyed… Emily."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. From her tone, it was clear she wasn't just talking about the haircut. He held back a laugh, not wanting to get the newbie into trouble.
"Yes," he replied calmly. "It was perfect. Actually, I think I'll be back soon."
Emily, still nervous and following behind him, widened her eyes in surprise and lowered her head to hide the smile escaping her lips.
Jessica, on the other hand, looked like she was about to swallow her tongue out of pure rage. The manager discreetly nudged her and then addressed Ethan:
"I'll make sure no further disrespect happens. Jessica has something to say to you, right?"
Jessica clenched her jaw, but under her boss's piercing gaze, she had no choice but to bow slightly.
Gritting her teeth, she leaned in just a little. "I apologize for my earlier attitude."
"I accept your apology," Ethan said without erasing his half-smile. "But next time, I want you to be the one attending me… and to earn your forgiveness the way I ask."
The manager smiled with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "As you wish. I can handle it personally… or, if you want something more… specific, I could attend you myself."
She winked suggestively, making it clear her words carried more than one meaning.
Ethan cleared his throat, trying to stay composed. "Uh… I'll keep that in mind."
[Hahaha Mental file saved: "VIP Punishment" unlocked. Mischief level: healthy.]
Emily, behind him, blushed just hearing the exchange. Jessica clenched her teeth even more, and the manager grinned like a predator who had already secured her prey.
Ethan walked out of the salon with his ego inflated and got into the BMW. The moment he turned the key, notifications appeared on the digital dashboard that only he could see.
[Mission Complete! "Get Rid of That Hobo Mane".]
[Rewards: +$10,000.]
Ethan laughed out loud. "I'll never get used to this. Feels so good watching zeros appear out of nowhere."
[Relax, Rockefeller. Remember, money works miracles, but your self-esteem isn't a joke. Where to now?]
Ethan lit an imaginary cigarette with two fingers and flicked it out the window. "I'm hungry."
[Want to go show off where they didn't let you in before? Go ahead, champ. Flash the black card you don't have.]
"No way," Ethan growled, revving the engine. "I'm not giving those bastards a single dollar."
[HAHAHA. Beautiful. Poor pride with a full wallet.]
He drove for a while through the rich district, admiring the spotless streets and the glowing boutique signs that could swallow a year's salary with just a glance inside. Then, rounding a corner, he came across an imposing white marble hotel with blue glass. Above the entrance, three golden stars indicated the quality of its restaurant.
As soon as the car stopped at the entrance, a notification appeared.
[New Mission: Consume Quality Food.]
[Requirement: Spend at least $5,000 on food.]
[Reward: Surprise.]
Ethan smirked. "Now this is my kind of mission."
A uniformed valet practically bowed to the ground to open the BMW door for him. Inside the lobby, two receptionists greeted him like he was an Arabian prince. Ethan walked confidently, enjoying every respectful glance.
[From rejected homeless to VIP client. Fallen gods rise fast when they have money. Capitalism is magic, I insist.]
A waiter led him to a table by a panoramic window. The white tablecloth looked freshly ironed by angels, and the silverware gleamed like solid silver. Ethan plopped into the chair and ordered without even glancing at the menu.
"Bring me your best. Everything top-tier. And don't skimp on the wine."