NOVEL WEB Chapter 14: The Arrival of Young Master Shen!
In the sweltering daylight heat, the sun's relentless rays beat down, causing shimmering mirages on the road where a fine layer of dust still lingered in the air.
A sleek, black McLaren Senna, its exquisite curves betraying its owner's affluence, sat parked with its front bumper crumpled and scraped from a recent impact.
Leaning nonchalantly against the sports car's carbon fiber body, Shen Zeming, the young heir to an influential family, watched with feigned disinterest as a convoy of menacing black SUVs rumbled towards him and came to an abrupt stop.
Several men clad in crisp black suits burst from the vehicles, their movements disciplined and purposeful.
"Young Master..." they greeted in respectful unison, bowing deferentially before their eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Shen Zeming's damaged supercar.
Without awaiting orders, they immediately fanned out, sharply scanning their surroundings as they secured the perimeter with practiced efficiency.
A bald, muscular man with a hawkish gaze and an earpiece nestled against the side of his head strode forward, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene.
"Who's responsible?" he demanded, his gruff voice tinged with a hint of disbelief as he adjusted the communication device.
Shen Zeming regarded the man with a casual, almost indifferent air, his expression betraying none of his inner thoughts.
"No one," he replied evenly, brushing past the black-suited entourage as he made his way towards one of the idling SUVs. "Take the car to the garage and make sure to thoroughly inspect the brake pedals. Someone sabotaged my car right under your noses."
His words hung in the air like a thinly veiled threat, causing the men to visibly flinch and exchange uneasy glances, their shoulders tensing as the gravity of the situation sank in.
"Yes, Young Master. I'll ensure this problem is resolved. Thank you for your generosity," the bald leader responded, his jaw clenching as he inclined his head in a show of contrition, well aware of the precarious position he now found himself in.
As for how this happened?
Shen Zeming had been forced to crash the bumper into a nearby fire hydrant in order to bring the car to a controlled stop.
...
As the SUV carrying Shen Zeming navigated through the city streets towards his family's corporate headquarters, the young heir idly reviewed the holographic display projected before him, detailing his current status.
[Host: Shen Zeming]
[Villain Points: 3,000]
[Wealth Points: 500 million yuan]
[Attributes:]
[Power: 45, Speed: 48, Reaction: 48, Endurance: 48, Charisma: 40]
[Skills:]
[Martial Arts Skill: Expert Level, Driving Skill: Intermediate Level, Singing Skill: Beginner Level, Cooking Skill: Beginner Level, Psychology Skill: Beginner Level]
A faint smirk tugged at the corners of Shen Zeming's lips as he considered the numbers before him. 'Three thousand points,' he mused inwardly. 'It's not an insignificant amount, but well...'
'It also wasn't much, especially considering he had spent almost 1 billion yuan to get to this point. Money can be earned, just like villain points,' he thought inwardly with a smile.
But, it was worth it; he had managed to at least improve Wei Fang's impression and upgrade his physique. It was more than worth it.
Now, when he thought about this, he suddenly considered how effective and useful the recently acquired Psychology Skill was.
'That was just at the beginner level... What happen if I upgrade it to the next level?' he thought inwardly.
Shen Zeming's brow furrowed ever so slightly as he contemplated the potential upgrade to his Psychology skill.
The cost seemed reasonable, and he could afford to allocate the necessary points while still retaining a comfortable reserve. With his mind made up, he watched as a translucent screen materialized before him.
[DING!] Consuming 500 points to upgrade Psychology skill: Beginner Level -> Intermediate Level. Confirm Y/N?
As expected, Shen Zeming thought inwardly. Without a moment's hesitation, he confirmed the upgrade, prompting the screen to refresh with a new notification.
[DING!] Beginning the upgrade!
While the system processed his request, Shen Zeming turned his attention to his wealth, his sharp eyes zeroing in on the displayed value.
[Wealth Points: 500 million yuan]
A contemplative frown creased his features as a stray thought surfaced, unbidden. 'There's always something that bothers me when reading those urban romance novels...' he mused as he caught the driver's furtive gaze in the rearview mirror.
The man swiftly averted his eyes, but the tension in his posture did not go unnoticed.
The SUV slowed to a halt before the imposing edifice that housed his family's corporate empire – a towering structure of gleaming glass that seemed to pierce the very sky itself, its sleek lines and modern design a testament to wealth and power.
Located in the heart of Beijing, the building commanded an almost regal presence, its grandiose scale leaving little doubt as to the affluence and influence of its owners.
As the vehicle idled before the main entrance, a plush red carpet stretching invitingly towards the revolving doors, the rear door slid open with a hushed hiss to reveal a middle-aged man impeccably attired in the crisp lines of a traditional butler's uniform.
His brown hair was neatly trimmed, and the faint creases etched into his features lent him an air of quiet dignity.
"Welcome, Young Master. Thank you for visiting the company," the familiar voice greeted Shen Zeming. It was the same voice that had contacted him recently—the family butler.