Chapter 38: The Truly Skilled Driver
The young man's hand, which took the card, was a little stiff.
He had seen people who were generous, but never someone this straightforward.
A twelve-million business deal, without even a test drive, just swiping the card after one look?
"No problem! Absolutely no problem!" The young man's attitude did a complete 180-degree turn, his face breaking into a huge grin. "Brother, please wait a moment, I'll get someone to process it right away! I have connections at the supermarket, I guarantee I'll stuff it full of the best imported goods for you!"
The card machine beeped once.
Transaction successful.
Jiang Chen looked at the long receipt that was printed out, feeling completely unmoved.
In his mind, the system's voice arrived as scheduled.
【Ding! Mission complete!】
【Congratulations to the Host for purchasing the Doomsday-grade heavy-duty RV, the "black knight".】
【Amount spent: 12,000,000 Yuan.】
【Critical hit cashback triggered! Current cashback multiplier: 5 times!】
【Cashback amount: 60,000,000 Yuan (Sixty Million) has been transferred to the Host's account.】
【Reward issued: God-tier Driving Mastery (Integrated).】
【Additional reward: Vehicle Modification Grand Gift Pack (Automatically applied to the vehicle, performance increased by 30%, added bulletproofing level and intelligent assistance system).】
A massive stream of information instantly flooded into Jiang Chen's mind.
That feeling was marvelous.
One second he was still unfamiliar with the control panel of this behemoth, the next second, it felt as if it had become an extension of his own body.
He knew the function of every button, the revolutions represented by the engine's roar, and even the feedback from the friction of the tires rolling over the snow, all like the back of his hand.
"Alright," Jiang Chen retracted his card and looked at the staff busy moving supplies. "CEO Su, Sister Wan, Sister Man, this is our transportation for the journey ahead. Everyone find a comfortable spot to sit."
Su Qingge sat in the aviation seat in the co-pilot's position and fastened her seatbelt.
The visibility from this seat was extremely high; looking out through the massive windshield gave her the feeling of looking down upon all living beings.
"Can this vehicle... really drive to the provincial capital?" She was still a little uneasy.
"Don't worry," Jiang Chen said, settling into the driver's seat and skillfully flipping a few switches.
The instrument panel lit up, emitting a cool blue light.
The engine let out a low roar, and the entire body vibrated slightly—that sense of power made one's blood surge.
"Hold tight."
Jiang Chen shifted gears, released the handbrake, and pressed the accelerator.
This twelve-meter-long steel giant slowly drove out of the warehouse door.
The snow outside was like flat ground to it.
The massive tires easily crushed the accumulated ice, emitting a grating yet incredibly satisfying sound of shattering.
Chen Man and Lin Wan were sitting in the living area in the rear cabin.
There was a circular leather sofa and a lift-up table there.
"This is too cool!" Chen Man pressed against the window, watching the small cars outside stuck in the snow, unable to move. She was so excited she slapped her thighs. "This is practically a dimensional strike! Sister Wan, look, isn't that a Land Rover? It's completely bogged down, but our vehicle hasn't even wobbled once!"
Lin Wan was organizing the supplies that had just been delivered.
That young man had certainly done things properly. The refrigerator was stuffed with steak, seafood, fruit, and even a few bottles of good-looking red wine.
The cabinets were piled high with rice, flour, and all sorts of snacks.
"With this much stuff, it'll last us half a month," Lin Wan washed a box of strawberries and placed them on the table. "It really feels like we're out for a picnic."
The cabin was very warm, and there was even a faint scent of perfume.
Su Qingge looked back at the two relaxed figures behind her, and her tense nerves finally completely relaxed.
She turned to look at Jiang Chen, who was focused on driving.
His profile had sharp, firm lines, and his eyes were concentrated. That composed and unhurried manner was truly captivating.
"Jiang Chen."
"Hm?"
"Thank you," Su Qingge said softly. "I owe you again."
"Keep owing," Jiang Chen looked straight ahead, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "You're supposed to spend your whole life paying me back anyway, so what's one or two more debts between us?"
Su Qingge's face flushed, and she didn't speak, merely casting her gaze out the window.
The vehicle drove onto the national highway.
The road conditions were indeed terrible, with snowdrifts and skidding vehicles everywhere. Many cars were parked on the roadside waiting for rescue, and traffic police were overwhelmed.
But this black heavy-duty RV was like an anomaly.
It ignored the black ice and deep potholes, weaving through the traffic with an almost brazen attitude.
When they encountered congestion, Jiang Chen simply turned the steering wheel sharply, and the vehicle rumbled off the road base, driving smoothly across the snowy wasteland beside it.
"What the hell is that vehicle?"
"Is it a tank?"
The frustrated drivers stuck on the roadside watched this behemoth speed away, their eyeballs nearly popping out.
Inside the vehicle.
Chen Man turned on the stereo, and dynamic music flowed through the cabin.
"With such a great car, how can we not have some wine?" Chen Man took out a bottle of red wine from the cabinet. Unable to find a decanter, she simply poured it directly into several mugs. "Come on, everyone, a toast to our 'Doomsday Escape'!"
She swayed slightly while holding her cup and walked to the driver's compartment, handing one cup to Su Qingge, and the other... she actually offered it directly to Jiang Chen's mouth.
"Little brother, driving is hard work, wet your throat."
Jiang Chen tilted his head slightly: "No drinking while driving."
"Oh, come on, this car is so stable, what are you afraid of with just one sip?" Chen Man was persistent, leaning forward, her chest curves pressing right against Jiang Chen's arm. "Just one sip."
"Chen Man!" Su Qingge frowned and scolded, "Stop fooling around! The lives of everyone in this vehicle are in his hands."
"Tch, CEO Su is such a spoilsport." Chen Man pouted, took a big gulp herself, and the red wine dripped down the corner of her mouth onto her collarbone, looking exceedingly seductive.
She stuck out her tongue to lick the corner of her mouth and looked at Jiang Chen with hazy eyes: "Then when we're not driving at night... we can drink, right?"
Jiang Chen ignored her, only tightening his grip on the steering wheel slightly.
This woman really knew how to light a fire anytime, anywhere.
Just then, a group of people suddenly appeared on the road ahead, waving red clothes to block the way.
They weren't traffic police.
Judging by their attire, they looked more like nearby villagers, or perhaps... opportunistic local thugs taking advantage of the chaos.
Under such extreme weather, order was often the most fragile thing.
Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes; he didn't ease up on the accelerator but pressed it even harder.
"Hold tight."
He coldly spat out two words.
The vehicle's speed soared.
The roar of the engine instantly rose an octave, like an enraged beast charging toward the group of people.
"Ah! Jiang Chen, what are you doing? You're going to hit them!" Su Qingge screamed in fright, instinctively grabbing the handrail.
"They won't dare not move."
Jiang Chen's voice was as cold as the ice and snow outside.
The group of people who had been aggressively blocking the middle of the road, seeing this steel giant charging towards them with thunderous momentum and showing no signs of slowing down, were instantly terrified out of their wits and scrambled to dodge to the sides.
"Whoosh—"
The massive vehicle body kicked up a gust of strong wind, sweeping past the intersection in an instant.
It only left a mouthful of exhaust fumes for the group of people in the wind and snow.
"Now that's a truly skilled driver," Chen Man leaned back against the seat, watching the miserable figures in the rearview mirror, the light in her eyes shining even brighter. "Little brother, you are wild; I like it."
Jiang Chen didn't speak.
His gaze was fixed firmly on the vast, white road ahead.
The provincial capital was only two hundred kilometers away.
"Sister Wan, get some food ready," Jiang Chen suddenly spoke up. "I'm hungry."
"Got it!" Lin Wan's cheerful voice came from behind. "How about pan-seared steak? Or boiled seafood noodles?"
"Both."