Sergey Volkov was supposed to be a guest speaker at a prestigious economic forum in Eastern Europe. However, when he heard from Kaja that his "little bear" was so upset about a single school application that she’d lost her appetite, he immediately canceled his appearance and flew straight to New York.

As an oligarch who had clawed his way to the top during the turmoil following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Sergey rarely revealed his inner thoughts to outsiders, especially when it came to his daughter.

He had poured all his energy into building his power and expanding his wealth and connections. But by the time he suddenly realized he could pluck a star from the sky for his daughter, she had, in the blink of an eye, become a young woman on the verge of heading to college.

Time had flown by so fast.

Arriving in Riverdale, near the Hudson River, Sergey Volkov didn’t wait for his bodyguards, pushing the car door open himself and stepping out.

He walked straight into the elevator, and when he stepped out, Kaja was already waiting at the door.

"How is she feeling?" Sergey asked. "Is her appetite all right?"

"Miss Anna is physically fine," Kaja said. "It’s just... after she found out she was deferred from the university yesterday, she shut herself in her room for a long time."

Sergey nodded and gestured for Kaja to lead the way.

Anya was curled up on a sofa in front of the living room’s massive floor-to-ceiling windows, mindlessly flipping through entertainment shows with the remote in her hand.

Sergey suddenly felt she looked a little unfamiliar. More than half a year ago, when Kaja had flown with Anya from the airport in Moscow, he remembered her as a little girl who would cling to his leg, calling him "Papa." ’How could she be about to go to college in the blink of an eye?’

He approached Anya quietly, hoping to give her a surprise.

"You know I can see your reflection in the TV and the window, right?" Anya said, her chin resting on her knees. "Besides, the chill you brought in with you was pretty obvious."

"It was snowing when I arrived," Sergey said with a chuckle. "The snow in New York is much lighter than in Moscow."

Anya sighed. "Papa, I’m fine."

"My little bear," Sergey said, sitting down beside her. "When I sent you to New York, it was because I hoped you would see a different world, experience a different way of life."

"If you’re not happy here," he said earnestly, "you can go anywhere you want. Anyplace in the world—Paris, London, Switzerland, Monaco. You just have to say the word, and I’ll send you. We can forget about college; it doesn’t matter."

"I want to go to the moon," Anya said. "Can you do that?"

"That might be a little difficult," Sergey mused. "But what about just going to space? I can contact Musk, send you up for a spin."

"Okay, Papa," Anya laughed. "I’m really fine. It was just one application."

"Taking it so well. That’s my little bear," Sergey said, pulling a small box from his pocket and handing it to her. "An early birthday present."

Anya took the box and gave it a shake, hearing the jingle of keys. She opened it. Inside lay a hefty car key, its prancing horse emblem gleaming under the light.

There’s no sadness a Ferrari can’t cure. And if it can’t, there’s always a yacht.

"Your birthday is in just a few days," Sergey said, his eyes full of adoration. "I’ll stay in New York and celebrate with you before I leave."

"Really?!" Anya turned and gave Sergey a hug. "Thank you, Papa!"

"But weren’t you supposed to be at that economic forum?" she asked, blinking. "Is it okay for you to just cancel?"

"Let them say what they will," Sergey said. "I don’t care."

"You should still go," Anya said, shaking her head. "I saw that they already put your photo up on their official website."

"Are you sure you’re all right, then?" Sergey asked. "You don’t need me to stay for your birthday?"

"I’m fine," Anya said with a playful pout. "I’m a big girl now."

"Then I’ll leave tomorrow," Sergey said after a moment’s thought. "Oh, and there’s one more thing."

...

「Manhattan. A restaurant inside the Aman Club.」

Li Wei silently cut a piece of steak and put it in his mouth. Across from him, Anya’s father, Sergey, did the same.

The only difference was that Li Wei’s gaze was fixed on his steak, while Sergey’s was fixed on Li Wei, unblinking.

Under the table, Anya gently touched Li Wei’s knee. She rather enjoyed the subtle thrill of the gesture.

"So, you are an orphan?" Sergey asked in English, his accent thick with rolled R’s. "And currently a football player?"

"Yes, that’s correct," Li Wei replied. "I’ve also received a full scholarship and a stipend from Yale University."

Sergey looked at Li Wei, then back to Anya beside him. "Your wanting to stay in New York... to go to Yale... does that have something to do with him?"

Anya didn’t answer Sergey’s question directly, instead busying herself with trying to carve a flower into the foie gras on her plate.

’Well now, this foie gras certainly is foie gras.’

Sergey frowned, studying Li Wei for a few seconds, trying to find some fault with him.

’His daughter was older now; dating was normal. She just needed to be careful about who she chose.’

He looked the boy up and down but couldn’t find a single flaw. His looks, his physique, his manners, his academic achievements—they were all impeccable.

’His family background and financial standing were lacking, of course, but Sergey didn’t care about that.’