Chapter 30: Driving a GTR to Sell Barbecue

Mike Carter had never owned a car before, let alone a luxury one. Growing up poor, he'd always thought buying second-hand cars was the most cost-effective option since they depreciate in value the fastest. But now, he understood how the wealthy approached buying luxury cars.

The wealthy didn't care about prices—they only cared about quality and prestige.

Ethan Howard had gone all out this time, preparing a limited-edition GTR for Mike. The bright red, flashy exterior immediately grabbed attention, and Mike couldn't help but feel it was a bit over the top.

"I'm just running a barbecue stand. If you think my second-hand car is too shabby, I'll just take a cab instead," Mike said, clearly uncomfortable with the extravagance.

Ethan smiled and shook his head. "Young Master, I consider myself half your mentor. Trust me on this one."

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Reluctantly, Mike drove the flashy GTR to the campus. To avoid drawing too much attention, he parked it at the end of a quiet alley. When he arrived at the barbecue stand, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Amelia Song was already busy working, and there were customers lined up.

When she saw Mike, she looked flustered. Using her phone, she typed a message and showed it to him:

"Didn't you say you were studying today?"

Mike shrugged. "The lesson got canceled."

Amelia's expression turned even more anxious as she typed another message:

"Today's not busy. You can leave it to me."

Mike smiled and rolled up his sleeves. "I'm already here. Let's work together."

Initially, Amelia seemed distracted, but eventually, she focused and started working efficiently. As time passed, more and more students began pouring out of the school after evening classes.

Suddenly, screams echoed through the alley.

A bright red GTR, parked conspicuously near the alley entrance, had caught everyone's attention.

"What a car!"

"Who owns this beauty? A student? A millionaire? It's insane!"

"Let's take a picture!"

Students swarmed the car, snapping photos and chatting excitedly. Many began lingering around the alley, and some even sat down at the barbecue stand to grab a bite.

"This is the difference between us," one student muttered, biting into his food. "Some people are born to drive a GTR, while others are stuck selling barbecue."

"Exactly," his friend agreed with a laugh.

Mike ignored the comments. Amid the growing crowd, one person stood out—Sophia Rivers.

Sophia was dressed elegantly in a pleated skirt, her tall, graceful figure accentuated by sheer stockings. Her high ponytail and radiant features drew as much attention as the GTR. She was a stunning sight.

But Sophia wasn't alone. She was accompanied by a young man who was clearly trying to impress her.

"Sophia, why are you eating here? It's so unhygienic," the young man said disdainfully. "Let me take you to Cloudview Manor instead. The food and atmosphere there are much better."

Cloudview Manor was one of the most exclusive establishments in the city, known for its exquisite cuisine and scenic views. Only the elite could secure reservations there.

Sophia didn't respond. Her gaze briefly lingered on Mike before she stood up, grabbed her bag, and walked away.

The young man hurried after her, still rambling about how he could treat her better.

Meanwhile, business at the barbecue stand was booming. The flashy GTR had inadvertently turned the alley into a hotspot. Women came to snap pictures, and students lingered longer, leading to a surge in sales.

Ethan's strategy had worked like a charm. Parking the GTR at the alley entrance had drawn attention, and the increased foot traffic led to record sales. Mike realized the same tactic could be applied in business—a flashy asset could attract an audience and generate unexpected results.

By 9 p.m., most of the food had sold out. Just as Mike was about to call it a night, a middle-aged man approached the stand.

"How much do you have left?" the man asked, barely glancing at the GTR.

Mike checked. "Mostly skewers of lamb kidneys and some green onions."

"I'll take them all. Pack them up," the man said.

Mike hesitated. "Are you sure? There are at least twenty kidneys left."

The man smirked, looking a bit embarrassed. "It's fine. Gotta stay strong, right?"

"Alright, you're the boss," Mike said, packing up the order.

After completing the sale, Mike couldn't help but wonder why the man had bought so much. When he followed the man down the alley, he saw him toss the entire bag of food into a trash can.

Mike frowned. Something felt off.

Returning to the stand, Mike decided to restock. "Should we order more supplies?" he asked Amelia.

Amelia, thrilled by the evening's success, nodded enthusiastically. She was finally starting to see hope for the future. They had made over $500 in one night, which was a huge accomplishment.

Mike hopped on Amelia's bicycle to fetch more supplies, but as he turned the corner, he was surprised to see a familiar figure standing under the streetlamp.

It was Sophia.

"Sophia? What are you doing here?" Mike asked, parking the bike.

Sophia seemed out of breath, as if she had rushed over. "Why haven't you closed up yet?"

Mike studied her face, sensing she wasn't here just to chat. "Wait a minute... was that guy earlier—was he sent by you to buy out the food?"

Sophia bit her lip, her expression awkward but undeniably beautiful under the moonlight.

"Yes… so what?" she admitted softly.

Mike sighed. "Sophia, I appreciate the thought, but I'm running a business, not begging for charity."

Sophia crossed her arms. "So what? Do you think you're some kind of self-made entrepreneur? You don't even realize how dangerous this alley is, do you?"

"Dangerous? What do you mean?" Mike asked.

Before Sophia could answer, a group of young men appeared at the alley entrance. Their flashy clothes and dyed hair made their intentions clear. One of them, holding a metal rod, stepped forward.

It was Ethan Bear.

"Mike Carter! I've been waiting for this!" Ethan sneered. "Do you even know whose turf you're on? This alley belongs to me. You're lucky you've lasted this long without paying up."

Mike smirked. "And what's your point?"

Ethan's grin widened. "My point? It's time for you to pay up or get out. This isn't a place for amateurs."

Sophia tugged at Mike's arm. "Let's go. It's not worth it."

But Mike shook his head. He wasn't going anywhere.

Ethan laughed. "You really don't get it, do you? This alley only has room for one king—and that's me."

Mike chuckled. "Wrong. There's only room for one badass—and that's me."