The Retired CEO's Guide To Being Spoiled-Chapter 152: A Cup of Ambition

"Ding."

The soft, melodic chime of the arrival bell sliced through the quiet hum of the machinery. The polished steel doors of the elevator slid open smoothly, revealing the destination. Julian Sterling stepped out into the VIP waiting lounge, a space meticulously designed in a luxurious and sophisticated Art Deco style. The atmosphere was immediately distinct from the world below. Here, the air seemed stiller, cooler, and infinitely more expensive. Warm, golden light cascaded down from intricate crystal chandeliers suspended from the high ceiling, their prisms scattering illumination that was absorbed by the thick, plush velvet carpet underfoot, creating a sensation of absolute silence and supreme comfort with every step he took.

He swept his gaze around the expansive area, his eyes adjusting to the ambient lighting, and quickly spotted the person he was looking for. Lucas Hill was seated comfortably on a caramel-colored cowhide sofa nestled in a private corner of the room.

Lucas appeared the very picture of leisure. He was sipping tea with a slow, deliberate grace, his back resting easily against the cushions, legs crossed in a relaxed posture. In his hand, he held a business magazine, his eyes scanning the pages with interest. The expression on his face was radiant; the corners of his mouth were turned up in a suppressed, secretive smile, as if he had just stumbled upon a pot of gold or received news of a massive windfall. This demeanor was a stark contrast, almost night and day, to the anxious, fidgety, and worried young man from their previous encounters. Today, Lucas Hill exuded a strange, magnetic aura of confidence and a profound love for life that was almost palpable.

It had indeed been quite some time since the two of them had met in person. Video calls, text messages, and emails were efficient, but they could never truly replace the nuance and warmth of face-to-face interaction.

The moment he noticed Julian approaching, Lucas immediately set his teacup down on the saucer with a clatter. His grin widened into a full-blown beam, and he stood up energetically, waving his hand in greeting. "Well, well! The great personage has finally made an appearance! Look at you, your complexion is so rosy and healthy. I assume you have been ’cared for’ very thoroughly by your husband, haven’t you?"

Julian shot him a look that was sharp enough to cut glass, but despite the feigned annoyance, he could not hide the glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes: "Cut the nonsense. Have you been waiting long?"

"Just a little while, the tea hasn’t even had time to go cold yet." Lucas shrugged nonchalantly. He fell into step beside Julian, chattering incessantly like a bird that had just been released from its cage. His mouth worked at full capacity, eagerly recounting all the recent gossip and events related to their university.

He rattled off stories with dramatic flair: Lecturer A had just gone through a messy divorce that was the talk of the faculty lounge. The beauty queen of Department B had been caught by paparazzi stumbling out of a bar in a less-than-dignified state. And those rich, spoiled brats who used to bully Lucas were now running around like headless chickens, panicking as they tried to salvage their graduation projects at the last minute.

During this recent period, Ethan Caldwell had formally submitted an application for Julian to be absent from the university to recover from his health issues. Consequently, Julian was completely blind to the current state of school affairs. In truth, he held very little interest in the goings-on of his current university. Firstly, the original Julian Sterling in the novel had been a recluse, living a closed-off life with no close acquaintances. After Julian transmigrated into this body, the only person he had truly befriended was Lucas. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, he was on the verge of transferring to the Saint Lawrence Arts Academy. To him, these petty school dramas were now nothing more than the wind blowing past his ears, sound without substance, entertaining for a fleeting moment but leaving no lasting impression.

Guided by the respectful and attentive management staff, the two of them arrived at the familiar, exclusive private suite that belonged to Ethan Caldwell.

The heavy, solid ironwood door was pushed open with a quiet, substantial weight. Immediately, the familiar, faint scent of aged sandalwood wafted out to greet them, a grounding, masculine aroma that Julian associated with safety. The room was expansive, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking, panoramic view of Saint Lawrence City at night, a sprawling carpet of glittering lights. The interior remained exactly as Julian remembered from his last visit: luxurious, high-class, and imbued with a distinct, powerful masculinity in its design.

Stepping into this familiar space, Lucas could not help but let out a sigh that sounded strangely philosophical: "Oh... It has been so long since I returned here. It feels as if several lifetimes have passed."

Julian, who was in the process of taking off his coat to hand to the waiting staff member, turned his head to glance at his friend upon hearing this. Seeing Lucas standing there with his hands clasped behind his back, looking up at the ceiling with a wistful expression, Julian thought he looked exactly like a young man trying to impersonate an old sage reminiscing about a golden past.

He chuckled softly, waving his hand to dismiss the staff, signaling that they required privacy.

"Alright, that is enough acting deep. Sit down."

Julian walked over to the solid wood tea table positioned in the center of the room and sat down gracefully. An exquisite Yixing purple clay tea set had already been prepared by the staff, and water was bubbling softly on a small electric stove nearby. With practiced movements, Julian rinsed the cups and began to brew the tea. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The unnecessary personnel had all retreated, leaving the vast space occupied only by the two close friends. Julian’s driver, who doubled as his bodyguard, was a man who knew his place well. He was currently standing guard strictly right outside the door, ensuring that not even a fly could slip in to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Seeing Julian reacting so calmly to his outburst, Lucas pouted slightly. He pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Julian, his face expectant like a child waiting to be asked about his day: "You aren’t going to ask me why I said that? I just made a statement full of depth and profundity, and you are just going to ignore it?"

Julian pushed a teacup, from which steam was curling lazily upwards, toward Lucas. He indulged his friend with a resigned smile, asking just to make him happy: "Fine, fine. Why? Why does Young Master Hill feel like several lifetimes have passed?"

Lucas picked up the teacup, bringing it to his nose to inhale the pure, delicate fragrance of the premium Dragon Well tea. He took a small, appreciative sip. The slight astringency at the tip of his tongue quickly transformed into a lingering sweetness that spread through his mouth, lifting his spirits instantly.

He exhaled a long breath of satisfaction, his eyes looking past Julian to somewhere distant: "Because the mindset I had the last time I came here and the mindset I have today are completely different. It feels like I have shed a skin, like I am living a completely different life."

Lucas set the teacup down and looked straight into Julian’s eyes. His voice dropped to a more serious register, though it was still brimming with excitement: "The last time I walked into this room, I was still just a student, a kid secretly cursing the heavens and the earth, lamenting that I had talent but had to hide it in the shadows. But this time... this time, I am sitting here as a partner. I am a business executive, a young man taking his first real steps on the road to success. The feeling... it is truly exhilarating!"

Julian looked at the bright, burning light in his friend’s eyes, and he felt a contagious joy swelling in his own chest. He recalled the image of the timid, shrinking Lucas from the past and compared it to the dashing, confident Lucas sitting before him now. It was truly a difference of heaven and earth.

He smiled gently, cutting to the chase: "So, you got the license?"

Lucas nodded furiously, his head bobbing like a chicken pecking at rice, a grin stretching from ear to ear. He bent down, reached into the professional leather briefcase he had brought with him, and pulled out a thick, substantial file folder. With a gesture of solemn pride, he placed it ceremoniously on the tea table between them.