Game begin with 5 million.
The moment he stepped off the intercity shuttle, the air felt different. The towering skyline of Longhai stretched into the horizon, neon lights blinking like stars fallen from the heavens. The streets pulsed with life—luxury hovercars gliding silently past, high-end boutiques displaying the latest fashion trends, and crowds of young elites laughing as they strolled through marble-paved plazas.
For Jiang Chen, this city was like a different dimension—one where money dictated reality.
Dressed in an old, slightly faded jacket and carrying a second-hand duffle bag, he felt every pair of eyes sizing him up. He wasn't some clueless country bumpkin, but here? Here, he might as well have been invisible.
His stomach grumbled, reminding him he hadn't eaten since morning. After checking his dwindling balance, he decided to look for something cheap. He found a small, dimly lit noodle stall at the corner of an alley, the only place that didn't look like it would charge him an entire day's worth of expenses for a meal.
As he sat down and ordered, laughter echoed from the other side of the street. A group of young men and women—dressed in expensive designer brands, their faces practically glowing from skincare treatments—were toasting champagne on the rooftop lounge of a nearby skyscraper. Among them was a familiar face.
Zhao Yuting.
She was wrapped around the arm of a tall, confident man, his wrist adorned with a platinum watch that probably cost more than Jiang Chen's entire living expenses for a year. Her laughter rang through the night as she whispered something into the man's ear, leaning closer, her eyes filled with admiration.
Jiang Chen clenched his fists under the table.
It wasn't like he still had feelings for her. No, that had died a long time ago. But seeing her now, living a life he could never dream of, while he was here counting coins for a bowl of cheap noodles—it stung.
At that moment, the reality hit harder than ever.
Love? Affection? None of that mattered.
In this world, wealth was everything.
And then, as if fate was listening, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind—cold, calculating, and filled with hope echoed within his brain.
[Female Stealing System Activated.]
At first, it felt like he was being joked about by someone. But the next second, a blue screen appeared in front of him.
'What the hell?' At this moment Jiang Chen definitely questioned his insanity. Looking around, he was sure that no one was able to see the screen, not to say the screen was moving around his vision; he looked around.
Jiang Chen glanced at the floating text in his vision.
[Female Stealing System Activated.]
[Initial Gift: Black Diamond Card]
[Balance: $5,000,000]
His grip on the card tightened. Even with everything he'd seen in this city—the expensive cars, the high-end boutiques, the rooftop lounges—five million dollars was no small amount.
But was it real?
He had no intention of celebrating until he confirmed it himself.
His stomach grumbled again, reminding him of the cheap bowl of noodles in front of him. He picked up his chopsticks and started eating, his mind racing.
Each bite tasted like the same mediocrity he was used to—slightly overcooked, lacking in richness, a dish meant for people who had no other choice. But for now, it would do.
When it came time to pay, he didn't pull out the Black Diamond Card. Instead, he counted the exact change from his pocket and left—not a cent more.
Every habit born from years of poverty told him to confirm first, spend later. After that, he stood from his place to leave the small stall and, in a hurried step, left that place.
Jiang Chen moved quickly through the streets, ignoring the dazzling neon signs and the laughter of the wealthy elites enjoying their carefree lives. The Longhai Financial District was only a few blocks away, home to some of the largest banking institutions in the city. If this card were real, it would work anywhere.
He stepped into a brightly lit 24-hour banking lobby, its pristine white walls lined with luxury-brand ATMs. There were a few other late-night visitors—businessmen in sharp suits, a well-dressed woman checking her balance, a tired office worker transferring funds.
Jiang Chen walked up to a machine, inserted the card, and took a deep breath.
[Welcome, Esteemed Black Diamond Member]
His pulse quickened.
A series of options popped up on the screen, each more absurd than the last:
|Personal Wealth Management|
|Exclusive Concierge Services|
|Private Jet Booking|
|Luxury Asset Consultation|
He ignored all of them and went straight to Balance Inquiry.
A moment later, the numbers appeared.
|Available Balance: $5,000,000.00|
His fingers curled slightly against the screen.
'It's real.'
The weight in his chest loosened slightly. This wasn't a scam. This wasn't some illusion. He was actually rich.
He withdrew $5,000 in crisp hundred-dollar bills, just to feel the money in his hands. The smooth texture of real cash, the subtle scent of ink and fibre—it was the undeniable proof of his new reality.
Jiang Chen slipped the cash into his wallet and turned toward the exit.
Now, it was time to leave this place.
The train station for the Longhai Inner-City Rail was a monolithic structure of glass and steel, stretching across multiple levels. Electronic billboards flickered with high-end advertisements, showcasing everything from luxury watches to five-star restaurants.
This was a city built for the elite.
The Skyline District, visible in the distance, was a paradise for the wealthy—sprawling penthouses, exclusive clubs, and private entertainment venues where billionaires spent fortunes in a single night.
Closer to the train station, the Corporate Zone housed skyscraper offices, five-star hotels, and high-end malls catering to executives and foreign investors.
The air smelt of money. Every inch of the city screamed wealth, power, and untouchable privilege. It was the first time that Jiang Chen had the mood to check out the city as he walked toward the station, with a carefree smile on his face, as he felt as if he was at the moment dreaming and wanted to enjoy it to the end.
Jiang Chen enjoyed it all until he boarded the train.
The ride was smooth, the inner-city train gliding through Longhai's landscape like a silver bullet. Outside the window, the scenery shifted—from the glittering lights of the business districts to the more refined, academic atmosphere of the Xinghai University Zone.
When Jiang Chen stepped onto the station platform, the difference was immediate.
The university wasn't just a campus—it was a city within a city.
From the elevated station, he had a clear view of the sprawling grounds:
- Skyscraper-like dormitories with rooftop gardens and infinity pools.
- A private shopping district filled with designer brands, cafes, and high-end restaurants.
- An entertainment zone featuring a luxury theatre, concert halls, and even five-star hotels for visiting families and VIP students.
State-of-the-art research centres that worked directly with corporate sponsors, ensuring that only the elite got access to the best education and career opportunities.
This place wasn't just a school. It was a kingdom where the rich groomed their successors.
Jiang Chen had seen parts of it in photos before, but standing here in person made it feel even more surreal.
In his worn-out clothes, carrying a duffle bag that screamed "commoner," he stuck out like a sore thumb.
Even the students walking past carried an aura of superiority—clad in custom-tailored outfits, accessorised with designer watches, some even stepping out of luxury cars driven by personal chauffeurs.
A few of them glanced at him dismissively before turning away.
Jiang Chen remained still for a moment. Then, his fingers brushed against the Black Diamond Card in his pocket.
He wouldn't stay at the bottom for long.
The game had just begun.