Walking out of the café, the warm sunlight caressed his face, dispelling the last trace of gloom. The sense of power from the God-Level Physique still coursed through his veins. Lu Yan raised his hand and rolled his wrist; the explosive strength at his fingertips made him acutely aware—the Lu Yan who had been bullied and humiliated, the timid and inferior one, was truly gone forever.
His old mobile phone vibrated again in his pocket. This time, it wasn't a bank transfer notification, but a text message from an unknown number with a location attached: [Dear Mr. Lu, the high-end apartment in the city center under your name has been registered. Address: Top-floor duplex, Building 1, Boyue Mansion. The key has been left at the property front desk for you to pick up at any time.]
Boyue Mansion! A sharp glint flashed in Lu Yan's eyes. That was the top luxury residential area in the city—a top-floor duplex cost at least 10 million yuan, something he had never even dared to dream of before.
Just then, the system's crisp, mechanical voice echoed in his mind again, no hint of stiffness at all.
[Ding! New sign-in mission released!]
[Designated location: Imperial Court Mall]
[Mission time limit: 90 minutes]
[Sign-in reward: Limited-edition Ferrari LaFerrari (worth 28 million yuan), Black Gold VIP Card (unlimited overdraft, valid throughout the mall), God-Level Fashion Taste!]
Lu Yan had long heard of Imperial Court Mall. It was a gathering place for the wealthy—any single luxury item inside cost more than half a year of his previous part-time earnings. In the past, he hadn't even dared to approach the gate, fearing being stopped by security guards or mocked by passers-by.
But now, he had the confidence to walk in with his head held high.
Lu Yan straightened his washed-out T-shirt, squared his shoulders, and headed for the bus stop. Along the way, many passers-by stole glances at him—not because he was shabbily dressed, but because his temperament had completely transformed. Gone was the inferiority and timidity; in its place was calmness and coldness. Even in cheap clothes, he couldn't hide the aura of a hidden tycoon.
The bus wasn't crowded. He found a window seat and sat down. Just as he settled in, a young woman in a short skirt, carrying a designer bag, hurried aboard. She slipped and lunged straight toward him. Lu Yan reacted in an instant, reaching out to steady her arm—his grip was gentle yet firm, holding her securely.
"Tha...thank you." The woman regained her balance, but when she looked up and saw Lu Yan's clothes, the gratitude in her eyes vanished instantly, replaced by undisguised disdain. She jerked her arm away, brushing her sleeves vigorously as if touching something dirty, and snapped sharply: "Can you not touch me if you're dressed like a beggar? If you ruin my clothes, can you even afford to pay for them? This skirt cost me 30,000 yuan!"
Lu Yan raised an eyebrow, pulled his hand back, and spoke in a calm yet sharp tone: "I helped you out of kindness, didn't ask for thanks, and now you're falsely accusing me? Who taught you such twisted logic?"
The woman was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage. She planted her hands on her hips and shouted at the top of her lungs: "Falsely accusing you? You poor loser—touching me is an insult! I bet you did it on purpose to blackmail me, didn't you?"
Passengers around turned to look—some whispered, some looked annoyed, and others echoed her, thinking Lu Yan, in his shabby clothes, shouldn't have touched her. In the past, Lu Yan would have felt embarrassed, inferior, even apologized softly. But now, he only found it ridiculous and pointless.
He stood up, didn't glance at the woman again, and walked straight to the front of the bus, ignoring her shouts behind him—wasting time with such an unreasonable person was beneath him.
Fifteen minutes later, the bus arrived at the stop. Lu Yan got off, and the magnificent Imperial Court Mall loomed before him. Its European-style architecture, golden gates, and well-dressed crowds—all carrying luxury bags, oozing wealth—stood in stark contrast to his cheap T-shirt.
He strode toward the mall, but two tall, uniformed security guards blocked him at the door.
The guards looked him up and down, sneered at his tattered T-shirt and worn-out sneakers, and spoke coldly and arrogantly: "Kid, stop right there! What are you doing here? Got a membership card? No card, no entry!"
"I'm here to sign in at the atrium." Lu Yan said calmly, no extra words, his eyes steady as he looked at the two guards.
"Sign in?" The guards exchanged glances and laughed loudly. "Hahaha, are you out of your mind? Imperial Court Mall isn't some place you can just waltz in and sign in! Get lost before you make a nuisance of yourself—or we'll teach you a lesson!"
One guard, growing impatient, reached out to push Lu Yan away. But the moment his hand touched Lu Yan's arm, it was bounced back by an invisible force. Lu Yan then raised his hand gently, gripping the guard's wrist—his grip wasn't tight, yet the guard couldn't move an inch.
"Ah! It hurts! It hurts! Let go! Let go now!" The guard grimaced in agony, his face turning pale as cold sweat streamed down his forehead. The other guard tried to step forward to help, but Lu Yan shot him a cold glance that froze him in his tracks—those eyes were terrifying, icy to the bone, as if they could see straight into his soul.
"I'll say it one more time—I'm here to sign in. Don't stop me." Lu Yan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable aura of authority. He tightened his grip on the guard's wrist slightly.
"Stop! What's going on here!"
A sharp shout rang out. A slightly overweight middle-aged man in a suit hurried over—it was Wang Hao, the mall manager. He'd just finished work in his office when he heard the commotion at the door and rushed over, fearing a crisis.
The guard with the trapped wrist wailed: "Manager Wang! You're here! This kid doesn't have a membership card but insists on breaking in—and he hit me! Hurry and teach him a lesson!"
Wang Hao turned to Lu Yan. When he saw his clothes, a flicker of disdain crossed his eyes—dressed so poorly, yet daring to cause trouble at Imperial Court Mall? He was asking for trouble.
But after more than ten years in the mall, Wang Hao had a keen eye for people. The young man in front of him, though simply dressed, had a calm demeanor and steady aura—nothing like a poor troublemaker. He looked more like a hidden tycoon. Besides, the headquarters had specially notified him the previous day that a mysterious VIP would visit the mall soon; they were ordered to receive guests cautiously and not neglect anyone suspicious, lest they offend someone important.
Wang Hao's heart skipped a beat. He didn't dare to push further. He stepped forward quickly, putting on a polite smile: "Sir, I'm truly sorry. My men are ignorant and offended you. Our mall does have a rule—no entry without a membership card. May I ask what you mean by 'sign in'?"
Lu Yan looked up, cutting him off, his tone still calm but unshakable: "I'm here to sign in at the atrium. The rest is none of your business. If you dare not let me in, call your headquarters directly—and bear the consequences."
Wang Hao panicked even more. Anyone who spoke so confidently and dared to mention the headquarters must be no ordinary person! He didn't dare to make that call—if this really was the mysterious VIP, he'd lose his job as manager, maybe even struggle to find work anywhere else.
Wang Hao immediately switched to a fawning smile, bowing deeply to Lu Yan, his voice dripping with respect: "I'm sorry, so sorry, sir! I was blind to your status and showed you disrespect. Please forgive me! Please come in—I'll personally take you to the atrium, and no one will dare stop you again!"
The two guards were stunned, their mouths hanging open in shock. The mockery and arrogance on their faces vanished, replaced by pure fear and disbelief—how could Manager Wang be so respectful to this poor kid? What was his background?
Lu Yan let go of the guard's wrist, glancing at them coldly. The guards quickly hung their heads, trembling all over, too scared to even breathe. Regret flooded their hearts—they'd judged a book by its cover and offended a tycoon.
"Lead the way." Lu Yan said two words, his tone calm as a still lake, yet terrifyingly cold.
"Right away, sir! This way, please!" Wang Hao nodded and bowed repeatedly, hurrying ahead to clear the path. He kept apologizing as they walked: "Sir, I'm so sorry you were wronged earlier. I'll discipline my men severely later—this will never happen again!"
As soon as they entered the mall, many shoppers noticed them. Seeing Lu Yan's cheap T-shirt and Wang Hao trailing behind him respectfully, everyone froze, stopping to whisper.
"Who's that kid? Dressed so poorly, yet Manager Wang is leading him personally?"
"Could he be a tycoon pretending to be poor to test the mall's service? Otherwise, why would Manager Wang be so deferential?"
"I don't think so. Maybe Manager Wang mistook him for someone else—this will be awkward later! How could a poor kid be a tycoon?"
Lu Yan heard the whispers clearly but paid them no mind. Strength wasn't shown through clothes. Soon enough, these people would learn what a real tycoon was—and how quickly a slap in the face could come.
Wang Hao also heard the murmurs and felt embarrassed. He quickly turned to wink at the shoppers, signaling them to be quiet, then turned back to Lu Yan with a fawning smile: "Sir, please don't mind them—they're ignorant. I'll teach them a lesson later!"
Lu Yan shook his head slightly: "No need."
Two simple words, yet they carried an unchallengeable aura. Wang Hao grew even more flustered, quickening his pace, not daring to say another word for fear of angering Lu Yan.
In the blink of an eye, they reached the mall's atrium. A small fountain stood in the center, with a huge, dazzling crystal chandelier hanging above. Crowds gathered around to take photos, making it lively.
Lu Yan walked to the fountain, and when no one was looking, he silently thought: "System, sign in."
[Ding! Sign-in at Imperial Court Mall Atrium successful!]
[Rewards obtained: Limited-edition Ferrari LaFerrari (worth 28 million yuan), Black Gold VIP Card (unlimited overdraft, eligible for the highest privileges at all luxury stores in the mall), God-Level Fashion Taste!]
A surge of information flooded Lu Yan's mind—knowledge of fashion matching and luxury appreciation etched itself into his bones instantly. His ordinary posture now exuded a natural elegance. Even in his tattered T-shirt, he couldn't hide his tycoon aura; every gesture radiated calmness and nobility.
At the same time, his phone vibrated, and two text messages popped up:
[Dear Mr. Lu, your limited-edition Ferrari LaFerrari has been parked in the mall's underground parking lot (license plate: YC99999). The car key has been delivered to the service desk for you to pick up at any time.]
[Dear Mr. Lu, your Black Gold VIP Card has been activated, valid throughout the mall. You are entitled to unlimited overdraft, exclusive shopping guides, priority services, and other top-tier privileges. The card is available at the service desk.]
A playful smile tugged at Lu Yan's lips. He turned to Wang Hao and said: "First, go to the service desk to get my card and car key, then take me to the car."
"Right away, sir! Please wait a moment!" Wang Hao agreed hastily, turning to run to the service desk. His flustered yet respectful demeanor left the surrounding shoppers confused, and the whispers grew louder.
Just then, a familiar voice rang out, filled with sharp mockery and disdain: "Yo, isn't this the poor kid from the bus? How'd you sneak in? You even dare to make Manager Wang run errands? Bet you snuck in to pretend to be a tycoon and mooch some benefits, huh?"
Lu Yan turned around. It was the woman who'd accused him on the bus, standing at the door of a nearby leather goods store with a designer bag, her face full of contempt. The shopping guide beside her chimed in, her tone sharp: "That's right, miss. People like him don't belong in Imperial Court Mall—he probably snuck in. I'll call security to kick him out later, so he doesn't pollute our store's atmosphere!"
The woman lifted her chin proudly, glancing at Lu Yan contemptuously, her voice growing more arrogant: "I suggest you leave on your own. Otherwise, you'll be even more embarrassed when security kicks you out! A poor loser like you, pretending to be a tycoon here—you really don't know your place!"
Lu Yan said nothing, just stared at her calmly, his eyes showing no emotion. Yet somehow, it made the woman feel inexplicably flustered, and she took a step back unconsciously.
At that moment, Wang Hao ran back out of breath, holding a black VIP card and an exquisite car key. He held them out to Lu Yan with both hands, bowing his head so respectfully he didn't dare look up: "Sir, your Black Gold VIP Card and car key. The car has been inspected and maintained—you can drive it anytime!"
When the woman and the shopping guide saw the black VIP card, they froze instantly. The mockery on their faces turned to shock and disbelief, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.
They knew better than anyone what the Black Gold VIP Card of Imperial Court Mall meant—it was only for top tycoons with a net worth of billions. Not only did it offer unlimited overdraft, but also exclusive butlers, priority services, and other top-tier privileges. There were barely a handful in the entire city! How could this shabbily dressed young man have such a prestigious card?
The shopping guide's face turned deathly pale, her legs going weak as she almost collapsed. She bowed repeatedly to Lu Yan, her voice trembling: "I...I'm so sorry, sir! I was blind to your status—I was wrong! Please forgive me, I'll never dare again!"
The woman was also stunned. The designer bag in her hand dropped to the floor with a "thud." Her face turned red, then purple, overcome with shame—she wanted to crawl into a hole. She'd never imagined that the poor kid she'd mocked and looked down on was actually a hidden tycoon! She'd just humiliated herself in public by taunting him.
Lu Yan glanced at them, ignoring the shopping guide's apology and the woman on the floor. He took the Black Gold VIP Card and car key, and said indifferently to Wang Hao: "To the parking lot."
"Right away, sir!" Wang Hao nodded quickly, following Lu Yan cautiously, not daring to glance at the woman—he wouldn't dare offend this mysterious tycoon, and the woman was irrelevant.
As soon as they left, the shoppers erupted in excitement, their whispers growing louder, filled with shock and regret.
"Oh my god! It's the Black Gold VIP Card! That kid is amazing! Truly, you can't judge a book by its cover!"
"I mocked him for being poor earlier—and now I'm the one embarrassed! Judging people by their appearance really comes back to bite you!"
"No wonder Manager Wang was so respectful—he's a real tycoon! This kid was hiding his true self so well!"
The woman stood there, tears welling in her eyes, trembling all over. She'd not only offended a tycoon but also made a fool of herself—she'd never been so humiliated in her life. She bent down to pick up her bag and fled the mall in embarrassment, forgetting all about buying a new bag.
In the underground parking lot, a bright red Ferrari LaFerrari sat quietly. Its sleek lines and dazzling color shone under the lights like a streak of red lightning. The license plate YC99999 was particularly eye-catching, exuding a powerful aura that drew everyone's gaze.
Wang Hao handed the car key to Lu Yan with both hands, saying respectfully: "Sir, your car has been inspected, maintained, and filled with gas—you can drive it anytime. If you have any needs, just call me, and I'll be here immediately!"
Lu Yan took the key, pressed the unlock button, and the car lights flickered twice with a crisp beep. He opened the door and slid into the driver's seat. The luxurious interior came into view—red leather seats, a high-definition touchscreen, a multifunctional steering wheel. Every detail exuded luxury and quality, standing in stark contrast to his cheap T-shirt, yet somehow not feeling out of place.
The God-Level Driving Mastery activated instantly. He started the car skillfully, and the engine roared with a deep, powerful sound that echoed through the entire parking lot, full of impact.
Lu Yan stepped on the gas gently, and the Ferrari LaFerrari shot forward like an arrow, heading for the parking lot exit. As he passed the gate, he glanced at the two guards still trembling there, his eyes cold, not pausing for a second—these people weren't worth his time.
As he drove out of the mall, the Ferrari LaFerrari instantly attracted the attention of all passers-by. Many stopped to take photos with their phones, exclaiming and discussing excitedly.
"Oh my god! Is that a Ferrari LaFerrari? Limited edition! It must cost at least 28 million yuan!"
"That license plate is incredible! YC99999! Who owns this car? They must be filthy rich!"
"Look at the young man driving—he's dressed so casually, but he's this rich? He's really hiding his light under a bushel!"
Lu Yan drove the luxury car calmly through the traffic, no trace of complacency on his face—only calmness and determination. He knew this was just the beginning of his counterattack. With the God-Level Sign-In System, he would gain more and make everyone who'd ever looked down on him or bullied him regret it.
[Ding! Host successfully humiliated the villains (bus woman, security guards, shopping guide), triggering an additional reward: 1 million yuan in cash! It has been transferred to your account!]
[New function unlocked: Daily Sign-In (sign in once a day to receive random rewards)]
[New mission released: Go to Blue Bay Club to sign in tomorrow to receive super rare rewards (top-tier network resources + private doctor team)!]
His phone vibrated—a text message confirming the 1 million yuan deposit popped up. Lu Yan smiled, stepping on the gas harder. The Ferrari LaFerrari roared forward, speeding toward his path of glory. The sunlight shone on the car, reflecting a dazzling light—just like his life now, bright and full of promise.