105: Chapter 105 The Crest of the Wave: Wealth, Resonance, and New Horizons

On the day the settlement from Northrop arrived, the bank sent a senior vice president to provide personal service. The middle-aged man, with his hair combed meticulously, checked the final document and authorized the transfer. He then said to Alex in a tone mixed with awe and caution: "Mr. Su, the scale of your liquid assets has now reached the threshold for our bank's highest level of private wealth management. We possess the world's top..."

"Not at the moment, thank you." Alex interrupted him gently but firmly. After signing the papers and returning the pen, he said, "I will contact the relationship manager if I need anything. Now, could you please leave me alone with my friend? We have matters to discuss."

The vice president immediately put away his sales pitch, nodded with a professional smile, and quickly and quietly exited the temporary villa living room that Alex had just rented, which was perched on the cliffs of Malibu with floor-to-ceiling windows. The door clicked shut.

Only Alex and Taylor remained in the living room. The sea breeze blew in through the slightly opened window, carrying a salty, damp scent and the white noise of the distant waves. The figure of the settlement was indeed staggering, enough for an ordinary person to squander for several lifetimes, but for Alex at this moment, its most important significance was the unprecedented sense of security and freedom it brought. He no longer had to worry about the budget of any project and could pay purely for creativity and ambition.

Taylor curled up barefoot on the huge white sofa, holding a cup of hot tea in her hands, watching Alex dismiss the banker with a smile playing on her lips. "It seems the first test of 'huge wealth' is the various people who want to help you 'manage' it."

"The first test?" Alex walked over, sat down on the carpet naturally, leaning his back against the sofa, and looked up at her. This posture put him at a slightly upward angle, but the relaxation and intimacy in his eyes eliminated any sense of distance. "I think the first test is how to remember how to use a microwave to heat up a frozen pizza after having it."

Taylor gently kicked his shoulder with her toes, her smile deepening. "You already passed that test, Mr. Kitchen Killer." She paused, her voice softening, "Seriously, this money... how do you plan to use it?"

"A portion has already been allocated to the 'Lighthouse Project' of the Voice of Truth and the victims' trust fund. As for the rest," Alex reached out and took her hand hanging off the sofa, his fingertips warm, "I want to buy a real house. Not a rental, but a home. One with a soundproof piano room, a terrace overlooking the sea, a kitchen large enough for me to continue challenging my cooking disasters, and a guest suite for Hank and the others to stay over occasionally."

Taylor's fingers moved slightly in his palm. "That sounds... very specific."

"Because the invitation is specific." Alex turned around, resting his arm on the sofa, looking calmly into her deep blue eyes. "Would you be willing... to look at houses with me? Or, to see what kind of space 'we' might need?"

The air was quiet for a few seconds, with only the rise and fall of the waves. Taylor did not pull her hand away, nor did she look away. Their relationship, having gone through the tension of the live broadcast, the collaboration of creation, the glory of the awards ceremony, and the mutual support backstage, had long transcended that of work partners or ambiguous acquaintances. It was a connection based on deep understanding, soul resonance, and absolute trust, growing naturally in places the spotlight couldn't reach. Some things had long since fallen into place.

She leaned down, her blonde hair falling like a waterfall, blocking some of the light from the window and forming a private, intimate space. Her kiss landed, gentle and firm, carrying the faint fragrance of tea and her unique scent. Alex responded to her, his palm cupping the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. There was no urgency, only confirmation and belonging.

After a long while, Taylor pulled back slightly, her forehead resting against his, her breathing slightly short, with starlight seemingly rippling in her eyes. "Looking at houses is fine," she whispered, with a rare touch of playfulness, "but the piano room must be under my jurisdiction; that is my bottom line."

Alex laughed and pulled her closer. "Deal, Your Majesty."

The changes brought about by money were rapid and tangible. Alex entrusted Lauren and a top real estate agent to low-key search for a suitable permanent residence in several top communities in Los Angeles, with a budget so loose that even the agent was secretly stunned. At the same time, he purchased a small portion of Apple and Google stock through an offshore holding company (a steady investment based on future memories) and began scouting for suitable commercial real estate to prepare for a personal studio or small production company that might be established in the future. The process of spending money itself brought a subtle sense of controlling one's destiny.

The focus of creation, the studio version of 《Something Just Like This》, was able to be carried out in the top environment after sufficient funding was injected. The "Ocean Sound" recording studio in Malibu was booked for two weeks, and master Rick Rubin was brought out of retirement with a hefty fee. Here, money was transformed into ultimate time, top-tier equipment, and an uncompromising pursuit of art.

The recording process was still an artistic penance. But when the final mix was born in the early hours of the morning, fatigue was drowned out by a huge sense of accomplishment. Rick Rubin's approval was the best return on this huge production investment. After finishing her final harmony, Taylor was almost exhausted and fell into Alex's arms, who laughed as he carried her to the sofa in the lounge for a nap. The quiet moments they shared in their exhaustion were more satisfying than any revelry.

The song release strategy also demonstrated the power of money. The globally synchronized release matrix, the purchase of top-tier platform homepage recommendation slots, and the joint promotion by key opinion leaders... all of these required real money. The effect was immediate, and the data tsunami once again proved the power of high-quality content combined with strong channels. The split of the first day's streaming revenue made Marcus excitedly report that "more than half of the production costs have been recovered." Money was flowing and appreciating rapidly, transforming into louder industry influence.

The preparation for the "Echoes and Wavelengths" tour was another gamble combining money and creativity. The technical quote for the ice screen circular stage finalized in the stage design drawings was exorbitant, but Alex approved it without blinking an eye. He knew deeply that a tour destined to go down in history would bring returns far exceeding the investment through ticket revenue, merchandise sales (exquisitely designed tour-limited peripherals were already in preparation), and even subsequent live albums and documentaries. More importantly, it could elevate his live influence to a legendary level. The instant sell-out of the first round of tickets and the subsequent frenzy in the secondary market verified his judgment. Here, money was the brick and mortar for building the stage of dreams.

Meanwhile, the documentary sands of the return journey》, which had been mentioned and funded by the Voice of Truth platform, also reported staged results. Director Martin sent a fifteen-minute rough cut. Alex and Taylor watched it together: no sensational music, just calm shots following the former combat engineer in a wheelchair, recording him trembling as he straightened vegetable seedlings in a community farm with his remaining hands, his silent meeting with a psychologist, and the trauma that could not be completely erased deep in those eyes, along with a slowly reignited glimmer, when facing the camera. The film's texture was raw and real, full of power.

"This is more important than any chart data." Taylor said after watching, silent for a while.

"It is also creating influence," Alex turned off the screen, "another kind of deeper, more lasting influence." He instructed Marcus to allocate an additional sum from the settlement to establish a special fund to support the post-production of sands of the return journey》 and its participation in important documentary film festivals next year. Here, money became a torch lighting up the shadows and passing on memories.

Against the backdrop of multi-line progress and money flowing effectively like running water, Alex pushed open the door to a newer world—film. The meeting with independent director Sophia Chen at a club in Beverly Hills had an atmosphere different from any business negotiation. The concept of city of instantaneity》 brought by Sophia, with its surreal visual imagination and exploration of the essence of time, instantly captivated Alex. This was no longer simple "porting" or pop creation, but an artistic adventure requiring truly original thinking.

"Visual concept consultant? Co-producer?" Alex flipped through the concept book full of stunning sketches, "I need to see the full script, and I also need my team to assess the risks. But frankly, I am very fascinated by the challenge of 'making time perceptible through visuals'." He tentatively agreed to invest a sum of "angel funding" for the project's early development and promised to endorse the project with his personal influence. This was not just an investment, but using wealth to pave the way for a creative dream that crossed boundaries.

Late at night, when Taylor was fast asleep in the room, Alex stood alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window facing the sea. Consciousness sank into the system.

[Milestone Settlement Integration]

- Phenomenal release and sustained popularity of 《Something Just Like This》

- Tour pre-sale explosion and brand value enhancement

- Northrop incident concluded, image consolidated, and settlement received (The sense of security and resource leverage brought by huge wealth significantly enhanced the comprehensive influence coefficient)

- Staged results of the sands of the return journey》 documentary received deep acclaim

- Exploration of new fields (film) opened

[Popularity Gained (Comprehensive Settlement): + 6,350,000 points]

[Current Available Popularity: 11,180,030 points]

(Cumulative Total: 31,180,030 points)

[Influence Coefficient Correction: Wealth and Resource Leverage Bonus Effect Active]

[Subsequent Popularity Acquisition Base Efficiency + 25%]

[Next Goal: 'Physical Function Overload (Temporary)' (Requires 28,000,000 points)]

Progress: 11,180,030 / 28,000,000 ≈ 39.9%

The progress was rapid. Emotions settled, wealth added, and career blossomed in multiple dimensions. That secret path of transcendence, pushed by such abundant "secular fuel," became increasingly clear and accessible.

Alex closed the interface and returned to the bedroom. Taylor leaned towards him unconsciously in her sleep. He lay down gently, pulled her into his arms, and felt the rhythm of each other's breathing.

Outside the window, the tides of the Pacific never ceased. And the wave belonging to Alex Su was lifting him, rushing towards a peak of unprecedented creation and possibility.

Money, love, creation, influence, and even the secret prospect of transcendence... everything was in his grasp, resonating in harmony.

This feeling was, indeed, better than imagined.