He wants to adopt a younger sister, but his aloof wife disagrees.

"boom--!!!"

The roar of the W16 engine echoed through the underground garage, like a sleeping dragon awakening.

The sound was deeper and more resonant than any of the modified exhaust pipes on the "Ghost Fire" motorcycles that Su Xiaoruan had ever ridden on before, carrying a chilling aesthetic of mechanical violence.

The Bugatti Veyron Nightsound slowly drove out of Tomson Riviera and merged into the bustling traffic of Jianghai City.

inside the car.

Su Xiaoruan huddled in the leather passenger seat, her hands gripping the seatbelt tightly, her whole body stiff as a stone.

She used to think those energetic young men who floored the accelerator and wheeled their cars around on the street were cool. But now, sitting in this steel beast worth half a billion, she finally understood what true "speed and passion" really meant.

When the surrounding cars saw this all-black monster, they all consciously kept a distance of more than ten meters, for fear that if they scratched even a single piece of paint, they would have to sell their houses to compensate for it.

This domineering sense of "I am the only one who matters" made Su Xiaoruan secretly glance at Jiang Che in the driver's seat.

The man held the steering wheel with one hand, his profile was cold and stern, and although his sunglasses concealed his eyes, they could not hide the aura of calm and complete control he exuded.

"Uncle... this car must cost several million, right?" Su Xiaoruan asked cautiously, afraid that a loud voice would damage the interior.

"Several million?"

Jiang Che's lips curled into a playful smile. "That's for the tires."

Su Xiaoruan: "..."

She shut up. Poverty had limited her imagination. She used to think that "being rich" meant driving a BMW or Mercedes; now it seemed she was too naive.

……

Twenty minutes later.

Hang Lung Plaza is the most upscale luxury shopping center in Jianghai City.

Jiang Che did not park his car underground, but instead parked it directly in the VIP parking area at the main entrance of the mall.

As the scissor doors slowly rose, Su Xiaoruan, wearing a white shirt and a baseball cap, followed Jiang Che out of the car, instantly drawing the attention of passersby.

There was amazement, envy, and also a deeper meaning behind Su Xiaoruan's "missing lower garment" outfit.

Su Xiaoruan awkwardly pulled down the brim of her hat, instinctively trying to hunch her back and shrink her neck (a classic "spirited young woman" posture).

"Keep your back straight."

A large hand suddenly patted her on the back.

Jiang Che stood beside her, his tone calm yet firm: "Walking beside me, you don't need to bow your head."

Su Xiaoruan trembled and subconsciously straightened her chest. Looking at the tall and upright Jiang Che beside her, she suddenly felt a surge of inexplicable confidence.

Yeah, I have my brother backing me up, who am I afraid of?

The two entered the mall.

Instead of visiting those trendy young brand stores, Jiang Che took her directly into the Chanel flagship store.

Welcome!

The saleswomen initially showed a hint of surprise and disdain when they saw Su Xiaoruan's mismatched outfit (men's shirt + slippers + baseball cap). But when they saw Jiang Che next to Su Xiaoruan, and the Patek Philippe watch on Jiang Che's wrist that, though understated, was undoubtedly very valuable to connoisseurs, their professional smiles instantly spread across their faces.

"Sir, Madam, is there anything I can help you with?"

Pick out a few outfits for her.

Jiang Che sat on the sofa in the rest area, crossed his legs, and casually pointed at Su Xiaoruan:

"Wash away that shabby, unconventional air about her."

Su Xiaoruan: "..."

Although it's the truth, brother, you're really being too blunt!

The saleswoman was quick-witted and immediately understood: "Yes, sir, this young lady has a very good figure, we'll arrange it right away."

The next hour was both torture and enjoyment for Su Xiaoruan.

She was manipulated by the sales assistant like a porcelain doll.

"This one won't do, it's too revealing." Jiang Che rejected a low-cut tank top.

"This one won't do either. It's covered in huge logos, like you're afraid people won't know you're rich? It's tacky." Jiang Che rejected another trendy T-shirt.

All the sequined, chain-embellished, and tight-fitting clothes that Su Xiaoruan had originally liked were ruthlessly rejected by Jiang Che.

"Then...what should I wear?" Su Xiaoruan asked, looking aggrieved. "If I don't wear these, I won't look like a socialite at all."

"What kind of society do you want?"

Jiang Che got up and personally picked out a beige tweed dress from the shelf, along with a pair of simple lambskin flat shoes.

"Go try this one."

Su Xiaoruan pouted and took the clothes into the fitting room. She thought the clothes were too plain, like what those well-behaved girls would wear, not cool at all.

however.

Five minutes later.

When the curtain of the fitting room was drawn back.

Jiang Che, who had been playing on his phone, looked up and his gaze froze slightly.

Su Xiaoruan stood awkwardly in front of the mirror.

The impeccably tailored dress fit her figure perfectly, neither too tight nor too loose, outlining her slender waist just right. The off-white color made her already fair skin appear even more radiant.

Without the constraints of leggings and loafers, and without those exaggerated metal accessories.

At this moment, she stood tall and graceful, exuding a serene air. She resembled a wealthy heiress who had skipped class at a prestigious private school; there was no trace of the spoiled brat she once was.

Even the sales assistant next to her couldn't help but exclaim, "My goodness, miss, this outfit is practically tailor-made for you! It's so elegant!"

Su Xiaoruan looked at herself in the mirror and could hardly recognize herself.

Is this... really Su Xiaoruan, the one who rolled around in the mud?

"Come here." Jiang Che beckoned.

Su Xiaoruan walked up to him, still somewhat insecure: "Brother, isn't it too plain? It's not imposing enough..."

Jiang Che didn't say anything, but reached out and took off her baseball cap, then tidied her slightly messy long hair.

"True charisma isn't built on tattoos and ripped jeans."

Jiang Che looked into her eyes, his tone serious:

"This is who you are. You are beautiful."

"Thump, thump."

Su Xiaoruan's heart pounded, and her cheeks flushed instantly.

Is it...beautiful?

"Swipe your card."

Jiang Che handed over a black card with an extremely dashing gesture. "Wear this outfit. Wrap up the other three you just tried on."

"Yes, sir!" The saleswoman beamed from ear to ear; the commission from this sale was equivalent to her monthly salary.

……

As Su Xiaoruan walked out of the mall, she was carrying several exquisite shopping bags and wearing new clothes worth tens of thousands of yuan. She looked a little smug.

However, reality always seems to throw cold water on people when they are at their most triumphant.

"Buzzing—"

Su Xiaoruan's phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket.

It was the new phone Jiang Che gave her yesterday, but in order to contact her old "friends" (actually, she was afraid they would cause trouble), she secretly inserted her old SIM card into it.

Upon seeing the caller ID name "[Brother Hao]", Su Xiaoruan's originally rosy face instantly turned deathly pale.

Brother Hao.

The local gang leader was also the "big brother" who brought her "into the business." Calling him a "big brother" was a euphemism; he treated homeless girls like them as money-making tools, forcing them to work as hostesses and fill in for others, beating and verbally abusing them at the slightest provocation.

Su Xiaoruan held her phone, her fingers trembling. She didn't dare to answer or hang up.

Why aren't you answering?

Jiang Che stopped and turned to look at her.

"It's...it's a sales call," Su Xiaoruan lied, her eyes darting away.

Jiang Che narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on the incessantly vibrating phone. He was all too familiar with the fear in Su Xiaoruan's eyes.

"Give me."

Jiang Che extended his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Brother, no..." Su Xiaoruan tried to hide, but Jiang Che's hand was already outstretched in front of her.

Under the oppressive aura of [Primary Deterrence], she could only tremble as she handed over her phone.

Jiang Che glanced at the contact name, sneered, and pressed the answer button, turning on speakerphone as he went.

"Damn it, Su Xiaoruan! Where the hell are you?!"

A rude roar immediately came from the other end of the phone, accompanied by a deafening bass background noise:

"How many WeChat messages have I sent you and you haven't replied? You think you're all grown up now? Get your ass back to 'Nightfall Bar' right now, some bosses are coming tonight, you'd better come and drink with them! If you dare not come, I'll break your broken leg!"

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Su Xiaoruan shrank back in fright, tears welling in her eyes, and instinctively wanted to crouch down and cover her head.

That's a conditioned reflex formed from long-term bullying.

However, a warm, large hand pressed down on her shoulder, giving her support.

Jiang Che held his phone, his expression calm, but his tone carried a chill:

"Are you done talking?"

There was a pause on the other end of the phone: "Who are you? Where's Su Xiaoruan? Let her answer the phone!"

"I am her current guardian."

Jiang Che spoke calmly, his voice not loud, yet it carried the composure of someone in a superior position:

"From today onwards, Su Xiaoruan has nothing to do with you. All past grievances are wiped clean. From now on, she will walk with me."

"Guardian? Hahahaha!" Hao Ge on the other end burst into maniacal laughter. "Where did this idiot come from? I bet you want to keep her as a mistress, right? Kid, there are some things you can't meddle in! Su Xiaoruan owes me money, and she'll pay it back even if she has to sell herself! You believe I'll bring some men to kill you?"

Jiang Che didn't even flinch at such a low-level threat.

"You owe money, right? How much?"

"Fifty...fifty thousand! With interest!" Brother Hao demanded an exorbitant sum.

"OK."

Jiang Che's quick and decisive agreement surprised the other party.

"I'll have someone send the money over. But there's one condition: once I've received the money, if I see you harassing her again..."

Jiang Che paused, his tone suddenly turning cold, the chill even penetrating the cell phone signal:

"I'll make sure you bunch of trash disappear completely from Jianghai City. You can try me if you don't believe me."

After saying that, Jiang Che didn't give the other side a chance to rant again.

"Click."

He used his fingers to pry open the SIM card slot and took out the small SIM card.

Apply slight pressure with two fingers.

"Smack."

The SIM card was broken in two.

Jiang Che casually tossed the broken card, and it flew in an arc before landing precisely in the nearby trash can.

"alright."

Jiang Che tossed the phone back to the stunned Su Xiaoruan, clapped his hands, and acted as if he had simply thrown away a bag of trash.

"The flies are gone."

Su Xiaoruan held her phone, looking at the trash can, then at the tall, god-like man in front of her.

At that moment, she felt as if the black canopy that had been looming over her and suffocating her had been torn apart by Jiang Che.

The beatings, threats, and darkness that terrified her vanished completely as the card broke.

"elder brother……"

Su Xiaoruan's lips trembled, and she could no longer hold back, tears welling up in her eyes.

This wasn't an act, nor was it an attempt to curry favor.

She really wanted to cry.

"Why are you crying? Your makeup is going to be ruined again."

Jiang Che glanced at her with disdain, but instead of pushing her away, he took out a handkerchief from his pocket (this was also a pretentious prop given to him by the system) and handed it to her.

Wipe away your tears.

Jiang Che looked at the blue sky outside the mall, then at the girl beside him who had finally gotten rid of her past, and a pleasant notification sound rang in his mind.

【Ding! 】

[Task Completed: Eliminate poor aesthetic taste and unhealthy social interactions.]

[Congratulations, host, you have received a reward of 1000 million in cash.]

[Congratulations, host, you have received a reward: Shen's Group share acquisition progress +1% (current shareholding 1%).]

[Su Xiaoruan's loyalty/dependency is locked; current status: unwavering until death.]

Jiang Che's lips curled up slightly.

"Let's go home."

"Let's have a good meal tonight."