How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 85

## You Got the Money, Why Care What They Think?_What’s Wrong with a Ride-Hailing Driver Having Some Money? (1)

Everyone stared at Yuan Xiaozao, their faces etched with confusion and shock.

Yuan Xiaozao offered an awkward smile. “If I told you I also have no idea how he, a ride-hailing driver, can be so extravagant, would you believe me?”

“Do you think we’d believe he’s *just* a ride-hailing driver?”

“Your family’s ride-hailing drivers are *this* rich?”

“Who would *be* a ride-hailing driver if they had this kind of money?”

……

Yuan Xiaozao quickly tried to explain. “Maybe he’s a young master from some powerful family, slumming it for a while? You know, like those male-oriented web novels? The ones with the ‘Dragon King with a Crooked Smile’ or the ‘War God Son-in-Law’? [These are popular tropes in Chinese web novels where a seemingly ordinary man is secretly a powerful figure]. Something about a three-year term ending and going home to inherit the family fortune. They say art imitates life, right? So why can’t this be real?”

A group of male authors chuckled.

“Sister Zao, don’t joke around. Those plotlines are pure fantasy. They don’t reflect real life at all.”

“Anyway, there’s no way he’s just a ride-hailing driver, and it’s even less likely he’s giving you so much money simply because he likes your work.”

“Sister Zao, putting everything else aside, you’ve got guts. I admire you.”

Great Author Gongzi Juan chimed in, “Xiaozao, you can’t do this. You can’t achieve success by faking data. Even if you’re doing other jobs, you need to accumulate experience or build a customer base to succeed. There’s no shortcut to writing. You have to keep at it to have a chance at a breakthrough. Speaking of which, you’re so flush with cash now, why not start a small business? Why give it all to the platform for nothing?”

Yuan Xiaozao’s eyes welled up instantly, and tears streamed down her face.

No matter how she tried to explain, everyone remained convinced she was faking her numbers.

Even her author friend, Li Youlan, looked at her with thinly veiled disgust.

She couldn’t stay there any longer. Yuan Xiaozao grabbed her bag and fled in tears.

Great Author Gongzi Juan said with a dismissive smile, “Everyone, don’t mind her. Let’s continue our discussion. To reiterate, writing isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. There are no shortcuts, and definitely no room for faking data…”

Yuan Xiaozao stumbled out of the hotel and immediately called Yang Chen.

The call connected quickly.

“Waaah… Waaah…”

Yang Chen asked, concern lacing his voice, “What’s wrong? Why are you crying again?”

“They all say I’m faking data, and they’re all looking down on me! Waaah…” Yuan Xiaozao sobbed.

“Ah? So, my giving you those rewards has caused you trouble,” Yang Chen said, sounding a little embarrassed.

It seemed the online novel world operated differently from the live-streaming scene.

In live-streaming, any amount of gifting, regardless of the streamer’s popularity, was considered normal.

But in the online novel world, if a relatively unknown author suddenly received a massive influx of rewards, people immediately suspected foul play.

“Where are you?” Yang Chen asked.

“I’m at the entrance of Minghai Hotel. Where are you? Can you come pick me up? I’ll treat you to a meal. No matter what they think, you *did* give me those rewards, and I want to thank you,” Yuan Xiaozao replied, her voice thick with tears.

“Okay! Wait there, I’ll come get you right away,” Yang Chen assured her.

He hung up and immediately drove to her location.

When Yuan Xiaozao spotted Yang Chen’s car, she hurried into the passenger seat, still sniffling.

As soon as she was inside, she began pouring out her grievances.

“They don’t believe me! They all think I’m faking data. How could I possibly have enough money to fake that kind of support? But no one listens to my explanation; they just believe what they *want* to believe! Waaah…”

Yang Chen felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t anticipated that gifting her a Gold Alliance Master title [a high-level donation rank on a web novel platform] would cause her so much grief.

“Don’t cry. Let them think whatever they want. The important thing is that *you* got the money,” Yang Chen said, trying to comfort her.

Yuan Xiaozao abruptly stopped crying, blinked, and nodded rapidly. “You’re right! I got the rewards from Brother Yang, so why should I care what they think? Hehe… Let’s go! I’ll treat you to a meal, Brother Yang, to thank you for the gifts.”

Finally, she stopped crying. Yang Chen instantly felt a sense of relief.

Knowing that it wasn’t easy for a Level 2 author to earn royalties, Yang Chen didn’t suggest a fancy restaurant. Instead, he chose a small, unassuming place for lunch.

“Brother Yang, can I ask you something?” Yuan Xiaozao asked, a small smile playing on her lips.

Yang Chen nodded. “Sure, go ahead.”

“Are you a young master from some big family, experiencing life undercover? Just like in those novels, your three-year term is up, and you’re about to go back and inherit the family fortune,” Yuan Xiaozao asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Yang Chen chuckled. “What makes you think that?”

Yuan Xiaozao explained, “Because if you were really just a ride-hailing driver, how could you be so generous? Gifting me over a million in one go… that’s not the kind of financial power a typical ride-hailing driver possesses.”

Her logic seemed sound.

Yang Chen quickly countered, “I’m not a young master playing at being poor. I really am just a ride-hailing driver. It’s just that my parents left me a considerable amount of wealth, so I might be a bit reckless with my spending, which makes you mistakenly think I’m some rich kid slumming it.”

“Oh, so you’re a rich second generation [a term for someone who inherited wealth]. That’s pretty much the same thing,” Yuan Xiaozao concluded.

It seemed that only this explanation made sense to her, so Yang Chen didn’t bother arguing. He simply nodded with a smile and said, “More or less.”

Soon, they finished their lunch.

Yang Chen dropped Yuan Xiaozao off at her apartment complex and resumed taking ride-hailing orders.

Not long after he started driving, the Yonglida Bentley 4S store called, reminding him to schedule regular maintenance for his Bugatti Veyron.

For such high-end sports cars, a checkup after each drive was recommended to prevent issues like chassis damage.

Yang Chen, remembering he still had four free maintenance appointments, agreed to bring the car in within the hour.

The 4S store staff quickly prepared for Yang Chen’s arrival.

At 3:05 PM, Yang Chen arrived in his Bugatti.

Store Manager Chen Ziyao, along with all available employees, personally greeted him by the roadside.

“Mr. Yang, hello! I’m Chen Ziyao, the store manager of Yonglida. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to Yonglida Bentley 4S store!” Chen Ziyao said, bowing slightly.

The employees behind him followed suit, bowing respectfully to Yang Chen.

Yang Chen quickly responded, “Hello, Manager Chen, hello everyone. There’s no need to be so formal. Please, just get back to your work.”

Chen Ziyao waved his hand, and the employees dispersed.

Then, Chen Ziyao personally led Yang Chen to the maintenance area.

Yang Chen parked the car and stepped out.

Chen Ziyao hurried forward to shake his hand and greet him warmly.

“Mr. Yang, it’s a true pleasure to meet you.”

Yang Chen smiled and nodded, returning the friendly greeting.

Chen Ziyao then escorted Yang Chen to his office.

The assistant brought tea, poured it for them, and quietly left.

Chen Ziyao invited Yang Chen to drink tea, and they chatted amiably.

After a while, the assistant returned, reporting that a customer wanted to purchase a Bentley Continental, but they were struggling to agree on a price, and the salesperson hoped Chen Ziyao could intervene.

Chen Ziyao frowned. “Can’t you see I have a guest? Do I have to handle every little thing myself? What are you people even here for?”

Yang Chen smiled. “Manager Chen, please, go ahead if you need to. I can take a look at how the car maintenance is progressing.”

Chen Ziyao quickly demurred. “No, no, no, Mr. Yang, please relax here for a while. It’s quite hot outside. How about this: I’ll go take a quick look and be right back. Would you mind waiting for me a moment?”

Yang Chen nodded with a smile. “Manager Chen, please, don’t worry about me.”

Chen Ziyao nodded and hurried out.

He was only being polite, but he was actually quite anxious. After all, the customer was interested in buying a Bentley Continental, a car worth millions.

Yang Chen drank a few cups of tea and felt the urge to use the restroom, so he got up and headed to the bathroom.

As he emerged from the bathroom, he ran into Chen Lijun.

Chen Lijun, who had suffered a humiliating defeat on the mountain road, forced to kneel and apologize to Yang Chen, had vowed revenge.

He never expected to encounter Yang Chen on his uncle’s territory. Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to settle the score?