The afternoon sun hung high above the city skyline, pouring warm golden light over Shanghai's endless forest of glass and steel.
Traffic moved steadily along the main avenues, and the noise of engines blended with the distant chatter of pedestrians. Life in the city never truly slowed down; it simply shifted from one rhythm to another.
Inside the silver Pagani Zonda, Lin Tian drove calmly through the crowded streets.
The interior of the car remained cool and quiet despite the noise outside. The luxurious leather seats and polished metal accents reflected faint rays of sunlight, creating a subtle glow within the cabin.
Lin Tian kept one hand on the steering wheel while the other rested casually on the center console.
His gaze remained steady.
Although he had only been driving for a short time today, he already felt surprisingly comfortable behind the wheel of the supercar.
Perhaps the system's skill bonuses were working.
Or perhaps he simply enjoyed driving.
The floating blue interface appeared again in front of him.
Ride Progress: 2 / 25
Remaining Time: 6 Days 14 Hours
Lin Tian glanced at the number briefly before shifting his attention back to the road.
"Twenty-three more rides."
He smiled faintly.
If each ride continued to go smoothly, he might even finish the mission before the deadline.
Just as he was thinking about it, his phone vibrated again.
Another ride request appeared.
Pickup location: Huanghai Shopping Mall
Distance: 2.6 kilometers
Lin Tian tapped the accept button without hesitation.
"Third ride."
The Pagani's engine roared softly as he accelerated.
Cars ahead quickly made space, unwilling to block the path of a vehicle worth tens of millions.
Within a few minutes, Lin Tian arrived at Huanghai Shopping Mall.
The plaza outside the mall bustled with activity. Shoppers walked in and out carrying bags from luxury stores, while street musicians played near the fountain at the center of the square.
Lin Tian parked near the entrance.
A moment later, a tall woman walked toward the car.
She wore a fitted black coat and carried a slim silver briefcase.
Her long hair flowed behind her as she walked with confident steps.
Even before she reached the car, several pedestrians had already turned their heads to look at her.
Not only was she beautiful, but she also carried an aura of elegance that made her stand out in any crowd.
When she saw the Pagani, she paused briefly.
Then she checked her phone.
The license plate matched the ride request.
The woman raised an eyebrow slightly before opening the passenger door.
She sat down gracefully.
"You're the driver?"
Her voice sounded calm, but there was a faint trace of curiosity in it.
Lin Tian nodded.
"Yes."
The woman looked around the interior of the car.
Her gaze lingered briefly on the dashboard and steering wheel.
"A Pagani Zonda."
She spoke the name softly.
"I didn't expect my Didi ride to be a supercar."
Lin Tian smiled.
"First time for everything."
The woman turned to look at him.
"You must have an interesting story."
Lin Tian started the engine.
"Where are you going?"
"Linhai Technology Park."
"Got it."
The car slowly pulled away from the mall.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Outside the window, buildings passed by like moving scenery.
Finally, the woman broke the silence.
"My name is Xu Wanqing."
Lin Tian nodded politely.
"Lin Tian."
Xu Wanqing leaned back slightly in her seat.
"You're not a normal driver."
"That obvious?"
"A little."
She gestured lightly around the car.
"Most Didi drivers don't use supercars."
Lin Tian laughed softly.
"That's true."
Xu Wanqing studied him carefully.
"Are you testing something?"
"What do you mean?"
"You seem too calm."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Most people who drive cars like this enjoy showing off. But you don't look like you care whether anyone notices."
Lin Tian glanced at her briefly.
"You're very observant."
Xu Wanqing smiled faintly.
"It's part of my job."
"What do you do?"
"Investment consulting."
Lin Tian nodded.
That explained her sharp eyes.
The car continued moving through traffic.
As they approached the river bridge, sunlight reflected brightly across the water below.
The city skyline stretched endlessly ahead.
Xu Wanqing looked out the window quietly.
"Shanghai is beautiful from this angle."
Lin Tian followed her gaze briefly.
"It's also ruthless."
She looked back at him.
"You speak like someone who's experienced it."
Lin Tian chuckled.
"Something like that."
The car crossed the bridge smoothly.
After a few more minutes, they reached Linhai Technology Park.
Modern office buildings lined both sides of the street, their glass facades reflecting the bright afternoon sun.
Lin Tian stopped the car near the entrance of Building C.
"We're here."
Xu Wanqing opened her briefcase and took out her phone.
Before getting out, she turned to look at him again.
"You're an interesting person, Lin Tian."
"I hear that sometimes."
She smiled faintly.
"I'll give you five stars."
"Much appreciated."
Xu Wanqing stepped out of the car and walked toward the building.
Several employees near the entrance stared at the Pagani in surprise.
Lin Tian watched her disappear into the lobby before looking at the system interface again.
Ding
Five-Star Ride Confirmed
Ride Progress: 3 / 25
Reward: Experience +50,000
Lin Tian nodded slightly.
"Three down."
But before he could close the interface, another notification appeared.
Strategic Defense Network Update
Security Personnel Arrival Estimated: 12 Hours
Assigned Unit: Chen Luo
Lin Tian raised an eyebrow.
"So he's arriving tonight."
He wondered what kind of person Chen Luo would be.
A former special forces soldier sounded promising.
Lin Tian tapped the interface and opened the security module.
Several new panels appeared.
Strategic Defense Network — Level 1
Personnel: 1
Capabilities:
• Personal Protection
• Threat Detection
• Basic Tactical Response
Future Upgrades Available.
Lin Tian studied the interface thoughtfully.
For now, the defense network looked simple.
But the system clearly hinted at future expansion.
Security teams.
Advanced weapons.
Even robotic soldiers.
Lin Tian leaned back in his seat.
"If the empire grows large enough…"
"…this might become essential."
Just then, his phone vibrated again.
Another ride request appeared.
Pickup location: Shanghai University
Lin Tian smiled slightly.
"That's close to the dorm."
He tapped the accept button.
The Pagani turned smoothly and accelerated down the street.
Across the city, inside a luxurious office suite, Guo Mingyuan sat silently at his desk.
An assistant stood nervously nearby.
"President Guo, we've finished investigating."
Guo Mingyuan lifted his head slowly.
"And?"
"Lin Tian is currently a student at Shanghai University. There's no record of him owning any major company."
Guo Mingyuan frowned.
"That's impossible."
The assistant continued carefully.
"But we confirmed something else."
"What?"
"He's currently working as a Didi driver."
Guo Mingyuan's expression froze.
"…A Didi driver?"
"Yes."
The assistant hesitated.
"And the Pagani is registered under his name."
Guo Mingyuan leaned back in his chair slowly.
His eyes darkened.
"A student…"
"…driving a Pagani while working as a ride-share driver."
He tapped the desk lightly with his fingers.
"There's definitely something strange about this guy."
The assistant swallowed nervously.
"What should we do?"
Guo Mingyuan's lips curled slightly.
"Keep watching him."
He stood up and walked toward the window.
Far below, the endless traffic of Shanghai moved like flowing rivers.
"Anyone who dares to interfere with my plans…"
"…will eventually regret it."
Meanwhile, several kilometers away, Lin Tian drove calmly toward Shanghai University.
He had no idea that someone had already begun watching him.
But even if he knew…
He probably wouldn't be worried.
Because his game had only just begun.
And the system beside him promised something far greater than anyone could imagine.