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...
...
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
