Morning.
Yun City was just waking up.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the city was covered in a thin layer of mist.
Ethan Cole stood by the window.
He barely slept the whole night.
But he wasn't tired at all.
His phone screen was lit.
Balance:
$1,560,037.62
One million five hundred sixty thousand.
That number made everything simple.
He glanced down at his clothes.
Still the same as yesterday.
Ordinary.
Even a bit worn.
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Time to change a few things."
One hour later.
The largest auto showroom in Yun City.
Bright lights filled the hall.
Luxury cars lined up neatly.
Ethan walked in.
The salespeople at the entrance glanced at him.
No one approached.
People dressed like him—
They saw dozens every day.
Most were just browsing.
Not buying.
Ethan didn't care.
He walked slowly.
His eyes passing from car to car.
Until—
He stopped.
A black sports car.
Sharp lines.
Low body, like a beast ready to strike.
The badge beside it stood out—
Porsche.
The model read:
Porsche 718 Cayman.
Price:
$898,000.
Ethan looked at it for a few seconds.
Just as he reached out—
A voice came from the side.
"Sir, please don't touch the car."
The tone wasn't exactly polite.
Ethan turned.
A salesperson.
A professional smile on his face.
But his eyes carried clear disdain.
Ethan withdrew his hand.
"Oh."
He didn't argue.
He simply asked,
"Can I test drive it?"
The salesperson paused.
Then smiled.
That kind of "I know your type" smile.
"This model requires an appointment, and…"
He paused.
"We need to confirm purchase intent first."
The meaning was obvious.
You can't afford it.
Don't waste time.
Ethan nodded.
"Then I'll buy it."
The air fell silent for a second.
The salesperson thought he misheard.
"Excuse me?"
Ethan looked at him.
His tone calm, as if stating something ordinary.
"This car."
"I'll take it."
The salesperson froze for two seconds.
Then forced a smile again.
But it was clearly perfunctory.
"Sir, the total cost is close to a million—"
"Full payment."
Ethan cut him off.
The moment those words came out—
The smile on the salesperson's face froze.
At that moment—
Another voice sounded nearby.
"Well, well."
"What a coincidence."
Ethan turned.
Not far away—
Chloe Carter stood there.
She was dressed beautifully today.
Beside her—
The same man.
Her current boyfriend.
When she saw Ethan, she froze.
"Why are you here?"
Her tone carried a hint of complexity.
The man glanced at Ethan.
A faint smirk appeared.
"Looking at cars?"
His tone was casual.
But clearly mocking.
"This isn't a place to just wander around."
The salesperson immediately turned respectful.
"Mr. Zhou, welcome."
The man nodded.
Clearly a regular.
He looked at Ethan.
"You just said… you're buying a car?"
Ethan didn't answer him.
He looked at the salesperson instead.
"Charge it."
The air froze instantly.
This time, the salesperson was truly stunned.
"You… you're buying it now?"
"Now."
Ethan handed over his phone.
Not another word.
At that moment—
The atmosphere turned strange.
Chloe stood there.
Her heartbeat suddenly quickened.
She looked at Ethan.
For the first time—
She couldn't read him.
Beep—
Payment successful.
The sound was light.
But it hit like a hammer.
The salesperson looked down at the amount.
He was completely stunned.
$898,000.
Paid in full.
No loan.
No hesitation.
He immediately looked up at Ethan.
His attitude completely changed.
"M-Mr. Cole, please wait, I'll handle everything right away!"
His tone flipped instantly.
He almost ran off.
The man stood there.
The smile on his face slowly disappeared.
He stared at Ethan.
His gaze turning cold.
"Interesting."
He said softly.
"Where did the money come from?"
Only then did Ethan look at him.
And replied calmly,
"Somewhere you can't reach."
That sentence—
Was like a slap across the face.
The man's expression darkened.
Chloe stood beside him.
Her thoughts in chaos.
She looked at Ethan.
And suddenly realized—
This man
Was no longer the Ethan she knew.
Ethan didn't look at them again.
He took the car keys.
And walked toward the car.
The black body reflected cold light under the showroom lamps.
He got into the driver's seat.
Started the engine.
The engine roared low and deep.
At that moment—
He finally understood.
Why rich people loved cars.
Not for speed.
But—
Control.
The car slowly drove out of the showroom.
Passing by the two of them.
Chloe couldn't help but look.
The window rolled down.
Ethan glanced at her.
No smile.
No emotion.
He simply said,
"Don't come looking for me again."
The window rolled up.
The car drove away.
Only the taillights remained.
Fading into the light.
At the same time—
His phone vibrated.
The system's voice echoed.
[Consumption: $898,000]
[Cashback: 10x]
[Reward: $8,980,000]
The balance surged again.
$10,540,037.62
Ethan held the steering wheel.
And smiled faintly.
"This is just the beginning."