The morning traffic of Shanghai had already reached its peak.
Vehicles crawled slowly across the wide avenues while impatient horns echoed from every direction. Pedestrians hurried past crosswalks with coffee cups in their hands, and delivery riders zipped dangerously through narrow gaps between cars.
Inside the silver Pagani Zonda, Lin Tian drove steadily.
The deep roar of the engine hummed beneath his control like a restrained beast. Even though he pressed the accelerator lightly, the car surged forward effortlessly, attracting attention everywhere it went.
People on the sidewalk constantly turned their heads.
Some even stopped walking.
After all, a Pagani Zonda worth nearly 28 million yuan was something most people had only seen online.
Lin Tian glanced at the rearview mirror.
His first passenger earlier that morning—Su Yurou—had already gotten out near the headquarters of her company. The system had confirmed the completion of his first ride.
Now the progress counter floated quietly in front of his eyes.
Ride Progress: 1 / 25
Time Remaining: 6 Days 16 Hours
Lin Tian leaned back slightly in his seat and exhaled slowly.
Everything that had happened today still felt surreal.
Yesterday he had died in a hospital bed.
Today he had awakened in his university dormitory with a mysterious system, driving a Pagani while working as a Didi driver.
If someone had told him such a story in the past, he would have laughed and called it absurd.
But now…
It was his reality.
Lin Tian's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Let's keep going."
He gently turned the steering wheel and drove toward the next busy intersection.
A few minutes later, his phone vibrated.
A new ride request appeared on the Didi driver app.
Pickup location: Riverside Plaza
Distance: 1.3 kilometers
Lin Tian tapped the accept button without hesitation.
"Second ride."
He pressed the accelerator lightly.
The Pagani surged forward like a silver arrow slicing through traffic.
Drivers around him instinctively slowed down or moved aside.
No one wanted to risk scratching a supercar that could buy several luxury apartments.
When Lin Tian arrived at Riverside Plaza, a young office worker was already waiting on the sidewalk.
The man wore glasses and carried a laptop bag. But when he saw the Pagani stopping in front of him, he froze instantly.
"…What?"
He stepped closer slowly, staring at the car as if it might disappear.
Then he checked his phone.
License plate.
Driver name.
Everything matched.
The man swallowed nervously.
"Excuse me…"
Lin Tian lowered the window.
"Did you order a Didi ride?"
The office worker nodded stiffly.
"Yes… but…"
He looked at the car again.
"Why is it a Pagani?"
Lin Tian smiled calmly.
"Company benefits."
The office worker laughed awkwardly.
"I guess your company treats drivers very well."
"Something like that."
The man carefully opened the passenger door and sat down.
He still looked stunned.
"I feel like I'm dreaming."
Lin Tian started the car smoothly.
"Where are you going?"
"Financial Street, Building B."
"No problem."
The Pagani merged back into traffic with elegant ease.
As the car drove through the busy streets of Shanghai, the office worker kept glancing around the interior.
The luxurious leather seats.
The sleek dashboard.
The precision-crafted details.
Everything inside the car screamed wealth and exclusivity.
Finally he could not hold back his curiosity.
"Driver… can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why are you driving Didi with a Pagani?"
Lin Tian thought for a moment.
Then he answered truthfully.
"I'm experiencing life."
The office worker blinked.
"…What?"
"I want to understand how ordinary people live."
The man stared at him silently.
A few seconds later he burst out laughing.
"That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard today."
Lin Tian chuckled.
"You asked."
The ride continued smoothly.
Ten minutes later, they reached Financial Street.
The office worker stepped out reluctantly.
Before leaving, he looked back at the Pagani.
"I'll definitely give you five stars."
Lin Tian nodded.
"Thanks."
The man walked away, still shaking his head in disbelief.
Ding
A mechanical sound echoed in Lin Tian's mind.
Five-Star Ride Confirmed
Ride Progress: 2 / 25
Reward: Experience +50,000
Lin Tian raised his eyebrows slightly.
"That was quick."
The system seemed surprisingly generous.
But before he could think further, another notification suddenly appeared.
The blue interface expanded again.
System Module Unlocked
Strategic Defense Network — Level 1
Purpose: Protect Host and Associated Assets
Initial Function Available.
Lin Tian's hands paused slightly on the steering wheel.
"Strategic defense…?"
The system continued displaying new text.
As the Host's influence grows, threats will inevitably increase.
To ensure the safety of the Host and the future civilization infrastructure, the system will assist in building a private defense network.
Current functions unlocked:
• Basic Security Personnel Recruitment
• Threat Detection System
• Security Command Interface
Lin Tian frowned slightly.
"A personal security force?"
In his previous life, he had worked in the business world long enough to understand something very clearly.
Once someone reached a certain level of wealth and influence, danger naturally followed.
Kidnapping attempts.
Corporate sabotage.
Industrial espionage.
Even assassination plots.
Those things were not just movie stories.
They happened in real life.
Lin Tian remembered reading about a famous entrepreneur who had survived a kidnapping attempt years ago.
Back then he had thought it sounded exaggerated.
Now he understood something much more clearly.
If he truly built the empire the system hinted at…
Enemies would appear sooner or later.
Lin Tian's eyes turned thoughtful.
"A security network might actually be necessary."
Just as he finished speaking, the system displayed another line.
First Security Personnel Candidate Available
Name: Chen Luo
Age: 32
Background: Former Special Forces Soldier
Specialization: Close Protection & Tactical Operations
Recruitment Cost: Free (First Unit Bonus)
Lin Tian blinked.
"Free?"
That was quite generous.
The system even provided detailed background information.
Chen Luo had served in an elite military unit for eight years before retiring due to injury.
He currently worked as a private security consultant.
Lin Tian tapped the recruitment button curiously.
Recruitment Confirmed
Chen Luo will arrive within 24 hours.
Lin Tian whistled softly.
"So that's how it works."
His personal defense force had just gained its first member.
Although right now it was just a single soldier.
But the system had clearly shown a much bigger picture.
Security teams.
Defense networks.
Even advanced technology in the future.
Lin Tian leaned back slightly.
His business empire had not even begun yet.
But the system was already preparing the protection force that would guard it.
He smiled faintly.
"Looks like things are going to get interesting."
Another ride request appeared on his phone.
Pickup location: University District
Lin Tian accepted immediately.
The Pagani roared again as he drove across the bridge.
On both sides of the river, skyscrapers reflected the bright sunlight like shining towers of glass.
Shanghai stretched endlessly toward the horizon.
Millions of people were struggling for success in this enormous city.
But Lin Tian knew something none of them did.
His journey had already begun.
The taxi mission.
The business empire.
The defense network.
And the future civilization he would build.
All of it started today.
Meanwhile, in a luxurious office building across the city, a young man slammed his fist against a desk.
Guo Mingyuan's expression was dark.
He had just received a report from one of his assistants.
"President Guo," the assistant said nervously, "we confirmed it. The Pagani really belongs to Lin Tian."
Guo Mingyuan's face twisted slightly.
"That bastard."
He still could not forget the humiliation from earlier.
Watching Su Yurou get into Lin Tian's car right in front of him.
The sound of the car door closing had felt like a slap across his face.
Guo Mingyuan clenched his jaw.
"Find out everything about him."
The assistant hesitated.
"But sir… he's just a small sales employee."
Guo Mingyuan's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"No one who drives a Pagani works as a sales employee."
He leaned back slowly in his chair.
"There's something strange about this guy."
Outside the office window, the city continued moving normally.
But somewhere in the streets below, the silver Pagani flashed through traffic once again.
Lin Tian drove calmly.
Unaware that new rivals had already begun investigating him.
Or perhaps…
He simply did not care.
Because in the game that was about to unfold, everyone else was only beginning to play.
While Lin Tian had already started building the board.