Chapter 185
On the highway, heat waves rolled, and the asphalt road baked in the sun, shimmering with an illusory, oily gleam. (Note: The regulation prohibiting drivers in their probationary period from driving on the highway began in 2013.)
A black Audi A6L was as steady as a shark cruising in the deep sea, silently slicing through the hot curtain of wind.
The air conditioning inside the car was turned up high, and David Gregg's piano music flowed through the quiet space. The double-layer soundproof glass completely shielded the outside noise, leaving only a premium sense of tranquility.
Gu Ran rested one hand on the steering wheel, his left elbow propped against the window edge, his posture languid.
"Open your mouth."
A potato chip, taken from a torn-open bag, was handed over from the side.
Ye Zhenzhen was curled up in the spacious leather passenger seat, her two fair calves placed together at an angle. Her doe-like eyes stared at the road ahead, but her hand was performing a precise "immersive feeding."
"Crunch."
Gu Ran bit down on the potato chip, casually sucking her slender fingertip in the process.
"Ah! It's all saliva!" The young girl retracted her hand as if electrocuted, wiping it in disgust on the fabric of his shoulder, though the tips of her ears flushed a faint pink. "Drive properly, stop being a hooligan."
"I'm innocent, I'm just saving food." Gu Ran chewed the potato chip, his peripheral vision sweeping over the person beside him.
A simple white T-shirt paired with light blue jeans, her hair tied up in a neat high ponytail. Her whole body exuded a clear, youthful aura. Only the thin platinum necklace around her neck caught the sunlight, reflecting a touch of low-key elegance, maxing out her pure yet alluring vibe.
"How much longer until we get there?" Ye Zhenzhen looked at the road signs nervously.
"We'll head to the company first to show you the place, then we'll go to the school."
The car exited the highway and headed straight for the Nanning District of Qinglin City.
Tech Innovation Center, sixteenth floor.
When Gu Ran led Ye Zhenzhen into the office area, the noisy clatter of keyboards that sounded like a rainstorm instantly paused.
"Hello, boss!"
Immediately after, dozens of pairs of eyes uniformly focused on the young girl.
The gazes of those tech nerds were simple yet fervent, carrying a certain jeering posture like they were looking at a "bandit chief's wife," the fire of gossip burning brightly.
Gu Ran stopped in his tracks and generously wrapped his arm around Ye Zhenzhen's shoulders. He didn't say anything, just smiled and raised an eyebrow, wearing a punchable expression that said, "How about it? Envious?"
"Hello, boss's wife!!"
Who knew which smart aleck took the lead, but the synchronized roar almost blew the roof off.
Ye Zhenzhen's face instantly flushed crimson, and she subconsciously wanted to hide behind Gu Ran.
But in order not to embarrass the titles of "Mrs. Gu" and "boss's wife," she forced herself to stay put, merely blushing as she shyly and politely gave a slight bow.
At the back of the crowd, Li Sinan stood at the door of the director's office, holding a folder.
Today, she was wearing a professional pencil skirt, her long hair pinned up, looking capable and mature, exuding the aura of a sophisticated older woman.
Wearing a professional pencil skirt, her long hair pinned up, capable and mature.
Seeing this scene, she pushed the gold-rimmed glasses up her nose. The corners of her mouth curled into a standard professional fake smile, but her fingers unconsciously gripped the edge of the folder so tightly that her knuckles turned slightly white.
"Alright, get back to work. If the server crashes, I'll hold you all accountable."
Gu Ran waved his hand like a lion king who had finished patrolling his territory, turning and leaving with his blushing little lioness.
...
Qinglin University South Campus, main entrance.
The September sun was fierce, and the air was filled with the burnt smell of melting asphalt.
The school gate was bustling with heavy traffic, and private cars dropping off freshmen formed a long line.
Various dialects, honking horns, and the shouts of parents intertwined like a boiling pot of porridge.
"So many people..."
Ye Zhenzhen looked at the heavily congested road ahead with some concern. "Why don't we park the car outside and walk in? This car is too conspicuous; it might not be good to drive it in."
Gu Ran lightly tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, just about to nod.
"Beep—!!!"
A harsh, urgent honk exploded from behind.
Immediately after, dynamic heavy metal music approached like noise pollution.
A white BMW 3 Series arrogantly squeezed its way up from the non-motorized vehicle lane on the right, forcefully cutting in front of the Audi A6L.
Sitting in the car was a young man wearing sunglasses and a floral shirt, chewing gum. He rested his elbow on the car door, his face screaming, "I am the best in the world."
Gu Ran narrowed his eyes.
Oh, an acquaintance.
The world really is small; you can run into this kind of show-off anywhere.
"Why is this guy like this? Cutting in line and acting so self-righteous," Ye Zhenzhen frowned, her small face showing a hint of anger.
"A fish that slipped through the net of quality education. Ignore him." Gu Ran calmly released the brake and followed.
The barrier gate ahead was lowered.
Two heavily sweating security guards stopped the flashy BMW.
"Stop! Stop! What's your business here?" An older security guard, his face dark, waved the registration book in his hand. "All outside vehicles must register! Show your ID! Open the trunk for inspection!"
"I'm a freshman! I'm here for school!" Qin Chaoyang took off his sunglasses and slapped the steering wheel in annoyance. "Why didn't you check the cars in front? Are you targeting me?"
"Cut the crap! This is the rule! Pull over and turn off the engine!" The older security guard wasn't buying it at all, pointing to the empty space next to them and yelling.
Qin Chaoyang cursed as he slammed on the gas pedal. The engine let out an exaggerated roar as he tried to use the sound wave to display his prestige, but it only earned him a harsher scolding from the security guard and looks from the surrounding parents as if they were looking at an idiot.
Just then, the black Audi A6L glided over silently.
The steady black paint flowed with a majestic luster under the sunlight. The 3.0T engine was deep and rich, not as flashy as the BMW, but it exuded an aura of unyielding authority.
In 2011, and even for the next ten years, on the land of China, a black Audi A6L was not just a car.
It represented the system, represented power, and represented a kind of background where "those who know, know."
Out of the corner of his eye, the older security guard, who was reprimanding Qin Chaoyang, caught sight of that familiar front end and the iconic four rings, especially the newly attached license plate with "five 6s." He reflexively straightened his back.
Before Gu Ran could even roll down the window, the older security guard had already given an extremely standard salute, and then nimbly pressed the remote control for the barrier gate.
"Whoosh."
The barrier was raised high.
The security guard even thoughtfully made a "please enter" gesture to the Audi owner, his face full of humble smiles, completely ignoring the BMW that was still arguing next to him.
Seeing this scene, Ye Zhenzhen was a bit confused. She turned her head and asked, "Do you know them?"
"No, I don't."
The young girl grew even more curious, turning back to look at the stopped BMW. "Then why did they raise the gate for you?"
Gu Ran smiled faintly, his free right hand affectionately rubbing her head. "Young lady, you know nothing about 'power'."
Ye Zhenzhen: "???"
"Do you think the license plate with five 6s I just got a couple of days ago is for show? This is called a 'VIP pass'."
Hearing this, Ye Zhenzhen wrinkled her nose and gave him a beautiful eye roll.
Keep showing off!
When I get home, I'm going to tell Uncle Gu! I'll let him know that you asked the director of the DMV for a license plate just so you could act like a big shot at school!
Meanwhile, Qin Chaoyang, who was just about to step out of his car to argue, froze completely.
His jaw dropped and his sunglasses slipped down the bridge of his nose as he watched the black car glide elegantly past him.
The windows were heavily tinted, making it impossible to see who was inside, but its dismissive and dominating presence spoke louder than any words could.
"Why did you let him in?!" Qin Chaoyang roared in exasperation. "Did he even register?!"
"What are you yelling for!" The security guard turned around, shooting him a look as if he were looking at an absolute idiot. "You think you can compare to that? That's a VIP's car! Now pull over and stop blocking the way!"
Qin Chaoyang: "???"
Motherf...
...
uld barely embark on the path to immortality. Just as he was on the verge of death, his golden finger awakened. No matter whether it was poison, drained blood and vital energy, diminished lifespan, or any other physical debuff caused by paying a price—once midnight passed, everything would be refreshed. From then on, whenever someone asked what kind of person Chu Ran was, the answer was simple: Forbidden arts that other cultivators dared not learn? Chu Ran would learn them. Prices that even demonic cultivators dared not pay? Chu Ran would pay them. Lifespan that even righteous cultivators dared not burn? Chu Ran would burn it. All the blood essence in his body? Take it. Want both his hands and feet? He would cut them off and send them to you. You say he’s finished? He wasn’t built to sit idle. You think he’s gone mad? No—he was simply waiting for midnight. From that day onward, Chu Ran would respect neither Heaven nor Earth, bow to neither gods nor ghosts. He had only one wish: For midnight to arrive a little sooner.
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
or! A blessing for those who struggle with love, a guidebook for dating novices. Quickly match with your dream goddess! Complete walkthroughs earn rewards, and perfect walkthroughs unlock limited achievements!】 Shen Yi, an ordinary office worker, accidentally downloads a mini-game called Dating Simulator. The mini-game is simple: randomly search for dating targets, simulate dates, and receive rewards upon successful confession. Rewards include but are not limited to money, attributes, and skills. The higher the evaluation, the better the rewards, with perfect ratings unlocking mysterious achievements. Shen Yi plans to use this mysterious mini-game to continuously pursue targets and improve himself, making his life better and better. ...... However, after several successful walkthroughs, Shen Yi suddenly notices something strange - the targets he previously simulated dating seem to be searching for him in real life?
