"What a beautiful ride," Yuki He's eyes sparkled as she admired the sleek curves of the Venom supercar parked before her.
"Boss, are we really going to steal this car?" the blond-haired young man beside her asked nervously, glancing around as if worried someone might overhear.
Before he could finish, Yuki He smacked the back of his head. "Steal? Who said anything about stealing?"
"Then why've you dragged me around the entire city chasing this car?" the guy grumbled, rubbing his head.
"That's none of your concern," Yuki He replied dismissively. Of course, she couldn't tell him the truth—that all she wanted was to meet the owner and ask for a chance to test drive it.
At that moment, Jack walked out of the hotel, fresh from breakfast and check-out, only to see two strangers circling his Venom like flies.
He raised a brow. It was too early in the day for nonsense.
Just as he was about to speak, the system's ever-sarcastic voice rang out in his head:
[Ding — Host, two curious lifeforms detected admiring your car. Minor interest in you personally has also been detected.]
[Suggestion: Smile. Don't come off as a jerk. After all, charm is also a form of capital.]
Jack's lips curled into a slight smile. "Then you'd better remember — I've never lacked capital."
The system replied dryly:
[Yes. Especially the kind printed on your face.]
Suppressing a chuckle, Jack stepped forward and said calmly, "Excuse me, could you step aside?"
The two froze, startled.
When Yuki He met Jack's eyes, her heart skipped a beat. She'd never been the type to swoon over looks, but this guy… was dangerously good-looking.
The blond guy, noticing Jack's young age, puffed up and sneered, "Why should we?"
Jack raised his key fob and pressed a button. The Venom's colorful lights flashed instantly.
"This is my car."
The blond kid's face turned ghost white. He hadn't expected the car's owner to be this young — or this sharp.
But Yuki He's eyes lit up with excitement. She quickly stepped forward, blocking Jack's path with boldness. Her wine-red short hair had streaks of teal, smoky eyes, electric blue lipstick, and a baggy streetwear look — she had "wild child" written all over her.
Jack smiled. "Is there something I can help you with, miss?"
"I want to race you," Yuki He said, locking eyes with him, completely serious.
Jack blinked, surprised by the directness. "You want to race me? And I'm just supposed to agree?"
"I'm not letting you leave otherwise," she said with a smirk, arms crossed like a defiant teenager.
Jack found her amusing — feisty, stubborn, like a stray cat daring you to pet it.
"Are you even eighteen?" he asked.
"I'm twenty-two. Just had my birthday," she said, pulling out her ID.
Jack took a glance and raised an eyebrow. "Alright then, if we race — what do I get if I win?"
Yuki He froze. She hadn't thought that far. She only wanted to experience the Venom in action. But now that he was asking for stakes…
She looked down at her outfit, then at her beat-up old car. She had nothing to offer him. Biting her lip, she hesitated.
Jack turned slightly, pretending to leave.
Panicked, Yuki He jumped in front of him and bumped right into his chest. Startled, she rubbed her shoulder and looked up.
He caught the hint of blush on her cheeks. Though petite, she was unexpectedly… well-proportioned.
"So?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow.
"If I lose… you can do whatever you want with me," she muttered, face burning.
Jack's smirk deepened. "Anything?"
"Anything," she said firmly, her eyes darting toward the Venom.
"And if you win?"
"I want to drive your Venom… for a month!" she said quickly, as if afraid he'd say no.
Jack took a long look at her. The girl was gutsy — he liked that. Maybe trouble, maybe fun.
"I'm Jack," he said finally. "What's your name?"
"Yuki He."
"Alright, Yuki He it is. You can call me Jack… or Young Master Jack, if you prefer," he said, half-joking.
She grinned. "Deal."
Jack nodded. "Let's race from here to Skyview Villa No. 1. First to arrive wins."
"Done."
The blond guy tugged Yuki He's sleeve. "Boss, don't. His car's a monster. You'll lose."
"I know what I'm doing," she said, eyes locked on Jack.
Jack chuckled. "Tell you what — let's make it more fun. You drive my Venom. I'll drive your car."
Yuki He's eyes went wide. "You serious?"
He casually tossed her the key.
She caught it carefully and scowled at him. "That's not how you treat a treasure."
Cradling the key like it was sacred, she stroked the Venom's emblem gently.
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
She blinked, then sheepishly handed him the keys to her own car — as if handing over her soul.
Jack casually twirled the beat-up car keys in his hand, glancing at the rusty old sedan parked nearby. He couldn't help but chuckle — this wasn't a race, it was charity work.
Yuki He, meanwhile, was already seated in the Venom, her hands gripping the steering wheel like it was the crown of a queen. The excitement on her face was impossible to hide, her lips slightly parted, her eyes sparkling like she'd just won the lottery.
Just as Jack leaned back against the cracked leather seat of her old car, the system's voice echoed again, slow and sarcastic:
[Ding — Host, you've just exchanged a supercar for scrap metal. Brilliant financial decision, truly.]
Jack's lips quirked into a grin. "Who said I always play it safe?"
The system hummed:
[Noted. High probability: this girl's not as simple as she looks.]
Jack started the engine, the old car coughing like an asthmatic smoker, while the Venom beside him roared like a beast awakening.
[Ding — Ready when you are, Host. This should be entertaining.]
Jack's eyes narrowed on the road ahead, one hand lazily resting on the steering wheel.
"Let's see how entertaining it gets."
The countdown had already begun — and so had the game.