96

**Saturday.**

**6:00 PM.**

The trio of Long Zhan, Clay, and Brian—known as the Three Musketeers—along with the newly added old-timer and unlucky soul, Cooper, had all dressed to the nines and gathered at the base's entrance.

Each of them donned freshly purchased designer menswear, turning their personal charm up to the max.

But just as they were about to set off, a problem arose.

Clay and Brian, who didn't go out often, hadn't yet purchased personal vehicles, and Long Zhan only owned an old Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

It wouldn't exactly look great to attend a singles party by hailing an Uber.

This is where Cooper stepped in!

Having worked at the Okinawa Naval Air Base for nearly ten years, Cooper had long considered the base his second home, while he lived off-base in a rented house.

To make his commute more convenient, he had bought a rugged yet budget-friendly off-road vehicle that fit his military persona—

a Jeep Wrangler!

The Wrangler's spacious interior was large enough for even the hulking Long Zhan to "squeeze" in, making it the perfect ride for the four of them on this journey.

The singles party was a private affair held at Stella's rented apartment.

With Long Zhan acting as a human GPS, the four arrived at the destination before 6:30 PM, where Stella personally came out to greet them.

This gesture gave Long Zhan plenty of face, leaving Clay and the others envious.

Stella's rental had a unique layout resembling a hotel suite, with multiple bedrooms. The main party areas included the small garden outside the back door and the living room, offering ample space.

By this time, a good number of people had already arrived. Inside and out, there were at least thirty to forty individuals, clustered in groups of three or five, chatting and drinking.

Since Stella and her roommates were graduate students, most of the attendees were from the university.

Universities, being microcosms of society, brought together a diverse crowd, enough to meet anyone's preferences.

There were people of all races—Black, White, and Asian.

There were native Americans, green card holders, and international students from other countries.

There were sophisticated women and men in their thirties, as well as fresh-faced youths barely in their twenties.

When Long Zhan and his companions entered, exuding an unmistakable military aura, combined with Long Zhan's massive frame that nearly required him to turn sideways to fit through the door,

every pair of eyes in the room turned their way.

Stella, ever the consummate socialite who could hold her own as a university teaching assistant, immediately introduced the four to everyone, stating their names and identities.

She made a point of highlighting that Clay, Brian, and Cooper were single.

As for the only one left unmentioned—Long Zhan—no one at the party was foolish. Everyone understood the implicit message.

It was essentially a declaration of ownership.

"This man is mine, Stella's. Everyone else, don't even think about it."

In Beach City, the Navy SEALs were an icon, highly revered by the locals.

(The SEALs are semi-public compared to units like Delta Force, whose identities are strictly classified.)

With this pro-military sentiment as a backdrop, the attendees warmly welcomed Long Zhan and the others.

Of course, not everyone was happy.

For instance, the single guys eyeing Stella were far from pleased about Long Zhan's presence, wishing they could kick him out on the spot.

But most kept their frustration to themselves, knowing better than to act on it.

First, Long Zhan's sheer size was intimidating—akin to a WWE wrestler. Picking a fight with him would be the very definition of foolishness.

Second, there was personal restraint.

Though losing a shot at their goddess left them frustrated and resentful, most managed to control their emotions, preventing further escalation.

Just as Stella finished introducing the group, a lively black-haired beauty with a daring personality approached them with a smile, holding two drinks.

"Welcome to the party! I hope you all have a great time tonight. Your shirt is so unique; can we talk?"

Her warm greeting was directed at everyone, but she handed one of the drinks straight to Brian.

Brian, the first to encounter a stroke of luck that evening, grinned immediately. He found himself drawn to the bold beauty and accepted the drink without hesitation.

"Guys, I'm off to have a drink with this lovely lady. Best of luck to you all tonight."

Feeling a bit giddy, Brian gave a smug toast to Long Zhan and the others before following the woman toward the garden out back.

Watching Brian happily scurry off, Clay couldn't help but mutter enviously, "That guy's really lucky."

"There are plenty of beautiful women here tonight. If you put in some effort, you'll have your chance too."

Stella offered Clay a polite word of encouragement before leading the remaining three forward. "Let me find you a spot, and then I'll grab you some drinks.

There aren't any strict rules for this party—feel free to mingle. If you're interested in someone, just go strike up a conversation. No need to hold back."

It was Long Zhan's first singles party, and he found the whole setup intriguing. He followed Stella further into the house, taking everything in.

Meanwhile, Clay and the unlucky Cooper turned into human radar, their eyes darting around the room, scanning every corner for tonight's potential "prey."

"This spot will do. I'll go grab you some drinks."

Stella guided the three to a spot by a window, near a long sofa, and gestured for them to take a seat. She then turned and walked away.

"Take a break for now. There's no rush. The night's still young."

Long Zhan patted the shoulders of the overly eager Clay and Cooper, then made his way to the sofa and plopped down.

The sofa was one of those soft, cushy fabric types, and Long Zhan's weight caused it to sink significantly. Though comfortable, the low height and his reclining position made it feel like he was almost sitting on the floor.

Clay and Cooper agreed with Long Zhan's words and joined him on the sofa.

They had barely sat down for a minute when Stella hadn't yet returned with the drinks, but someone suddenly approached them.

The smirk on his face and the provocative glint in his eyes made it clear—he was here to cause trouble.