Harem Investment System: Getting Money And Women

Ethan sighed, tucking his phone into his pocket as he let the night wind ruffle his hair.

It was… annoying yet amusing at the same time.

Vanessa was just being herself, but her reactions never failed to entertain him.

He turned away from the balcony, stepping back into the hotel room. The contrast between the crisp night air outside and the warm atmosphere inside was stark, making him realize just how comfortable the room was.

His gaze landed on Riley, who was curled up on the bed, still deep in sleep.

Her breathing was soft and steady, her body half-buried under the thick covers.

A small smirk tugged at Ethan's lips. She had been so anxious the night before, running all the way here just to see him.

Now, she looked peaceful, almost defenseless in her sleep.

Shaking his head slightly, he slipped into bed beside her, adjusting the blanket over himself before closing his eyes.

…

The next morning, Ethan groggily blinked awake, his body still heavy with sleep.

He let out a slow exhale, rubbing his eyes before adjusting to the morning light filtering through the hotel curtains.

The scent of something warm and delicious wafted through the air, and he frowned slightly.

Then, he noticed movement.

Standing right beside the bed was Riley, a steaming tray of food in her hands.

But what caught his attention even more was what she was wearing — or rather, what she wasn't wearing.

A skimpy tank top and a pair of shorts that barely reached her thighs.

Ethan's brow twitched, and his sleep-addled brain took a moment to process the sight before him.

He cleared his throat. "What... are you wearing?"

Riley blinked, then looked down at herself as if she had just remembered her outfit choice.

A light pink dusted her cheeks, but she quickly composed herself. "I, um... I accidentally wet my other clothes in the tub when I was in the bathroom earlier. These were the only things I had left in my bag."

Ethan stared at her for a second longer before sighing. "You could have just borrowed my shirt or something."

"And let you see me drowning in an oversized shirt?" she teased with a grin. "No thanks."

Ethan shook his head, deciding not to argue further.

Instead, he sat up, stretching out his arms before glancing at the tray she was holding. "You made breakfast?"

"Of course!" Riley beamed, stepping closer and setting the tray down on the small table beside the bed. "I figured it's the least I could do. You've been spoiling me, so it's only fair that I do something for you."

Ethan eyed the food — a neatly arranged plate of toast, eggs, and some fruit on the side. It looked surprisingly good.

"Not bad," he admitted.

Riley grinned, but then, a playful glint appeared in her eyes. "Here, let me feed you."

She picked up a fork and scooped up a piece of egg, holding it up toward him.

Ethan's expression flattened. "I can eat by myself."

"But I made it," she whined, pouting as she waved the fork closer to his mouth. "Come on, Ethan, just let me do it."

He exhaled sharply. "Riley — "

"Please?" she dragged out the word, giving him the biggest, most exaggerated puppy eyes she could muster.

Ethan groaned, rubbing his temple. "You're relentless."

"Mhm! Now, open up!*" she chirped.

Defeated, Ethan reluctantly opened his mouth, letting Riley place the bite of food in. She watched him expectantly as he chewed, as if waiting for some kind of grand reaction.

"It's fine," he said after swallowing.

"Just fine?"

"It's good," he corrected with a small smirk.

Riley puffed out her chest proudly. "See? I told you I could cook better than you!"

Ethan shook his head but didn't protest when she continued feeding him.

Maybe it was because she looked so happy doing it, or maybe it was because he was too tired to argue.

Either way, he let her have this moment.

Ethan zipped up his bag with a firm tug, tossing it over his shoulder as he glanced toward Riley. "Come on, start packing," he urged, slipping his phone into his pocket.

Riley let out a soft groan from where she stood at the counter, stretching her arms over her head.

"We still have time," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

"No, we don't," Ethan countered, picking up one of her shirts and tossing it toward her bag. "We need to get back. There's work to do."

Despite her reluctance, Riley knew he was right. She had already called her father and Oliver earlier that morning, letting them know she'd be leaving soon.

They had been understanding, though Oliver had jokingly called her a traitor for leaving them so soon.

She let out a sigh and stood up, gathering her things. "Fine, fine. But I'm moving at my own pace."

Ethan didn't respond, already focused on his own packing. As he folded a few more pieces of clothing, he ran a hand over the soft fabric of the white robe he had worn the previous night.

He had to admit —it felt damn nice. Maybe when he got back to Greyport, he'd look into buying one for himself.

After about fifteen minutes, they were done.

Ethan double-checked the room to make sure they hadn't left anything behind before grabbing his bag and leading the way out.

Once they stepped into the hallway, Riley gave the room one last glance before closing the door behind her.

"It was nice while it lasted," she murmured.

Ethan shot her a side glance. "Don't get sentimental over a hotel room."

...

The taxi ride to the subway station was relatively quiet. Riley rested her head against the window, watching the towering buildings of Silicon City pass by.

"It really is different from Greyport," she murmured.

Ethan, who was sitting beside her, nodded slightly. "Yeah. Bigger, busier. But I don't think I'd want to live here."

"Why not?"

"Too much noise. Too many people in your business." He leaned back against the seat, glancing out the window. "Greyport's quieter. More manageable."

Riley hummed in thought. "Yeah… I guess I get what you mean."

The taxi eventually pulled up in front of the subway entrance, and the two of them stepped out, shouldering their bags as they made their way inside.

The station was bustling with people, most of them either rushing to catch their train or waiting in groups.

The smell of coffee and baked goods lingered in the air from a nearby stand, and an announcement echoed overhead, listing departure times.

Ethan led the way to the ticket counter, pulling out his wallet.

"Two tickets to Greyport," he said to the attendant.

The man behind the counter nodded, typing into his computer before sliding the tickets across the counter.

"That'll be fifty-five," he said.

Ethan handed over the cash without hesitation. Riley, standing beside him, crossed her arms. "You didn't even let me pay for my own ticket."

"Because I didn't feel like waiting for you to dig through your purse," Ethan replied flatly, tucking the tickets into his pocket before handing one to her.

She rolled her eyes but accepted it, following him toward the waiting area.

As they sat down on one of the metal benches, Riley stretched her legs out, letting out a small yawn. "I feel like yesterday was too much."

"It was," Ethan admitted, checking his watch. "But we'll be back soon. Then you can go back to annoying me in a more familiar environment."

"Pfft. You make it sound like you don't enjoy my company."

Ethan smirked. "I tolerate it."

Riley gasped dramatically. "Rude."

Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. As they waited for their train, he glanced around at the people walking by, their faces either tired or preoccupied.

Something about travel always fascinated him.

People were always on the move, going places for different reasons. Some were heading home, some were leaving for something new.

As the train pulled into the station, a gust of wind rushed through the platform, rustling Riley's hair as she adjusted the strap of her bag.

Ethan, standing beside her, watched the train doors slide open with a faint hiss. People moved around them, some rushing forward to get on first, while others stepped out, eager to be on their way.

"Come on," Ethan said, nodding toward the doors.

They stepped inside, scanning the train car for empty seats. The train was fairly packed, filled with all sorts of people heading to Greyport.

A few businesspeople dressed in stiff suits sat with their laptops open, typing away.

Some high school students huddled together, chatting excitedly. A young mother struggled to keep her toddler from climbing onto the seat beside her.

Riley nudged Ethan's side. "Over there," she said, pointing to two empty seats near the window.

They made their way over, squeezing past a few passengers before finally settling down. Ethan let out a small sigh as he leaned back, adjusting his bag on his lap.

"It's busier than I expected," Riley commented, glancing around.

"Silicon City is huge," Ethan replied. "Lots of people going in and out."

Before they could say anything else, the train jolted, the movement abrupt enough that Riley had to grab onto the edge of her seat.

"Well, that was dramatic," she muttered.

Ethan smirked slightly, but he gripped the armrest just in case.

The train picked up speed, the vibrations of the metal tracks humming beneath them.

The cityscape outside the window blurred as they left the station behind, the towering buildings giving way to the outskirts of Silicon City.

For a few minutes, neither of them spoke, simply watching as the scenery changed.

The transition from city to countryside was gradual — first, the tightly packed streets became wider, then the concrete jungle gave way to stretches of open land and clusters of trees.

Riley let out a sigh and leaned back in her seat. "Feels weird, doesn't it?"

"What does?"

"Leaving. It's like… we were just here, and now we're gone," she said, waving a hand vaguely toward the window. "It makes me think about how fast everything moves."

Ethan hummed in agreement. "That's just how life is. One minute you're in one place, the next you're somewhere else."

"Deep," she teased, smirking.