...

Natalia entered the room, with a measuring tape in her hand. "Mr. Zastan," she said with a soft smile, "I've come to take your measurements for the suit. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," Zastan replied, standing up and walking right in front of her.

Natalia approached him, and as she began to measure his shoulders and chest, Zastan could feel the warmth of her presence. She stood closer. Her breath brushed against his neck, and he noticed how her hands trembled slightly as she worked. Despite her professionalism, there was an undeniable tension in the air.

As she wrapped the tape around his waist, Zastan exhaled softly, the warm air from his nostrils brushing against Natalia's cheek.

She froze momentarily, her face flushing with a deep shade of red. The proximity, and the warmth all became too much for her. Then her breathing quickened, and she struggled to maintain her composure.

"Almost done," she murmured, her voice slightly shaky.

Zastan, noticing her flustered state, couldn't help but smirk. He found the situation quite amusing.

As Natalia finished the measurements, she quickly gathered her tools and stepped back, her face still a bright crimson.

She turned to leave, walking briskly towards the door.

"Thank you, Natalia," Zastan said, his tone playful. "You did a great job."

Natalia paused for a second, her back to him, before hastily exiting the room.

As she left, Zastan chuckled softly to himself. "She's just a little girl," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head with amusement.

Natalia, hearing his chuckle from the hallway, quickened her pace, her heart racing from the intensity of the moment.

Left alone in the suite, Zastan's mind began to wander. The system had given him the means to live luxuriously, but he knew that managing these resources was crucial.

Feeling a growing hunger, he picked up the phone once more.

"Yes, Mr. Zastan?" The concierge answered promptly.

"Send me the best food you have," Zastan said, not bothering with specifics.

"I want a meal that is fit for a king."

"Of course, sir. We'll ensure it's prepared to perfection."

After being contented with his request, Zastan hung up and waited.

As the clock ticked, his stomach began to protest which caused him to remember something, "Well... It seems like I've forgotten to get lunch today."

...

About thirty minutes later, there was another knock on the door. This time, a bellhop arrived, pushing a cart adorned with a large box and a garment bag.

"Mr. Zastan," the bellhop said with a respectful bow. "Here is your phone and the suit you requested. The food will arrive shortly."

Zastan took the items and dismissed the bellhop with a nod. He first opened the box, revealing the Astra 15, the latest in cutting-edge technology. Sleek and futuristic, it had a platinum finish coincidentally the color that he liked, with a holographic display that shimmered under the light. The phone was state-of-the-art, equipped with an AI assistant, facial recognition, and the ability to connect seamlessly with any smart device. In this world, it was a status symbol as much as it was a tool, and Zastan appreciated its elegance.

Next, he turned his attention to the suit. He unzipped the garment bag to reveal a finely tailored outfit. It was a dark, iridescent suit from the prestigious brand called Noir Elan.

The suit was a masterpiece, crafted from the finest silk. The jacket had a sharp, slim fit with midnight-blue notch lapels that contrasted elegantly with the deep black fabric.

The shirt was a crisp white, made from a cotton with a subtle pattern. The pants were tailored to his proportions to perfection, with a modern, tapered cut that highlighted Zastan's slightly athletic build.

Completing the set with a pair of polished leather shoes adding the perfect touch of nobility to his outfit.

Zastan ran his fingers over the fabric, admiring the craftsmanship.

"Well... I must say, whoever got me these clothes should be a stylist or something."

Just as he was appreciating the outfit, there was another knock at the door. This time, a waiter entered, pushing a cart laden with an extravagant spread of food. There was caviar, lobster, a perfectly cooked steak, and a selection of fine wines and desserts, all presented with impeccable care.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Zastan's eyes gleamed as he took in the feast. "Now this," he said with a satisfied smile, "is how you start a new life."

Zastan stared at the feast laid out before him. The thought of sharing this moment with the world crossed his mind. He had come so far, from the cramped room in his small town to this luxurious hotel suite in Luminae. It was tempting to show off his newfound wealth and success. He unlocked his phone and opened his old social media account, the familiar interface greeting him with a sense of nostalgia.

His thumb hovered over the camera icon, ready to snap a picture of the lavish meal. But then he hesitated. "Is it really wise to share this with the people who knows the 'old' me?"

"Well... I already left that life behind for a reason."" The person he was now—confident, wealthy, well... At least not yet, and resourceful. Which was completely nothing like the person they knew.

Zastan sighed, his thumb moving away from the camera. "What's the point?" he muttered to himself. "No one from my past would understand. They'd just ask questions I don't want to answer. I also don't wanna be accused of doing something illegal that made me have this amount of wealth."

He thought back to the people he had left behind. His friends, acquaintances, and other people. They would either be shocked or suspicious, and neither reaction was something he wanted to deal with. No, it was better to keep this new life separate from the old one.

"Well, at least not yet. I'll give it time, then I'll eventually tell them."

But then he thought of Elara. She was someone new, someone who had met him as he was now, not who he had been. Zastan smiled at the memory of their conversation on the train. Elara had seen him for who he was... Or at least, for who he was becoming. Maybe it was time to start fresh, with new people who could appreciate his new life without the baggage of his past.

"Of course, they don't need to necessarily know about my 'new life'."

With a determined nod, Zastan closed his logged out of account. He quickly created a new account, choosing a username that reflected his new identity.

Once the account was set up, he hesitated again, thinking of what to post first. His eyes drifted back to the feast in front of him. It was the perfect way to introduce his new life to the world, or at least, to the few people he chose to let in.

After posting, he decided to send a quick message to Elara on his old account. He opened their chat and typed:

Hey Amara, I forgot to tell you something. The account I added you with was an old one. Here's the account that I am now using.

*******

He hesitated for a second before hitting send, wondering if it sounded too casual. But then, he reminded himself that this was who he was now. Someone who didn't need to overthink things, someone who will now act with confidence and with zero timidity at all.

With that done, he returned to his new account and snapped a picture of the luxurious dinner. The angle was perfect, capturing the elegance of the meal and the sophistication of his surroundings. He added a simple caption: Dinner in Luminae. Just the beginning.

Satisfied, he posted another picture and put his phone down, leaning back in his chair with a contented sigh. Then started to devour the sumptuous meal in front of him.

...

Across blocks of buildings, in a grand, well-furnished dining room, Elara was finishing up dinner with her close friend Amara.

The table between them was adorned with a beautiful centerpiece, and the soft glow of the chandelier above casted a warm, golden light over the room. The house, with its high ceilings and elegant decor, was a valid proof to the wealth and status of Elara's family.

As they chatted about their day, Elara's phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at it and saw a message notification from Zastan. A small, involuntary smile curved her lips as she opened the chat to read his message.

Amara, ever perceptive, noticed the smile right away. "Who's that?" she asked, her tone teasing. "Which guy made you smile like that?"

Elara blushed slightly, trying to play it cool. "It's just that guy I met on the train. Zastan."

Amara's eyes sparkled with interest. "Oh, the one you said was interesting?"

Elara nodded, her blush deepening. "Yeah, he just sent me his new social media account. Said that he inputted his old account"

Amara raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Well... I guess that's interesting?"

Elara shrugged, trying to keep her tone casual. "Maybe. He's... different. I just can't quite figure him out."

Amara leaned in, her grin widening. "Different, huh? You know, that's how it starts. First, you're curious, and next thing you know, you're falling for him."

Elara rolled her eyes, though her blush betrayed her. "It's not like that. I'm just curious... That's all."

Amara chuckled, clearly enjoying herself. "Curious, huh? Well, don't be surprised if that curiosity turns into something more. It usually does."

"You! That's just what you think, maybe you've read too much novels that it changed your thinking" she replied as she quickly scrolled on her gallery which was the books Amara was reading.

"When did you take that?!" Amara quickly grabbed her phone, but she was faster and pulled it back.

Then what came up after was the bickering of two bestfriends that lasted for quite some time.

...

Just as Elara was about to retort when she noticed a new post from Zastan on his freshly registered account.

She clicked on it and saw the picture of his lavish dinner. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the image. The food looked exquisite, it was steak, caviar, lobster, and a glass of wine that practically screamed luxury.

"Wow," she muttered under her breath, her focus entirely on the post.

Amara noticed her serious expression and leaned over, trying to see what had caught her friend's attention. "What are you looking at?"

Elara didn't answer right away, her fingers instinctively pinching the screen to zoom in on the details of the dinner. Amara caught sight of the food and let out a low whistle.

"Your new 'friend' is living... quite extravagantly," Amara said, impressed. "That's some serious gourmet stuff—caviar, lobster, and I think that's the wine I have found from the internet that costs around 5,000$ a bottle?"

Elara nodded slowly, still examining the picture. "He's... full of surprises," she said softly, almost to herself. "I never expected that he's also a person with status."

Amara grinned, nudging Elara playfully. "Sounds like someone's more than just curious."

Elara shook her head, her blush returned but deeper than before as she quickly set her phone down, trying to change the subject. "It's not like that! I'm just... trying to figure him out."

"Uh-huh," Amara teased, clearly not convinced. "Sure, you are. Just be careful. You might end up figuring out more than you bargained for."

Elara didn't respond, her mind too occupied with thoughts of Zastan. Despite her friend's teasing, she couldn't deny that she was intrigued by him, more than she wanted to admit.

...