The Dongyuan District was a patchwork of past glories and forgotten dreams. Once a hub for tech startups and underground gaming dens, it had since decayed into rusted warehouses, flickering neon, and cheap offices clinging to relevance. For Shen Fu, it was an opportunity wrapped in shadows.
He stood atop the rooftop of a crumbling four-story building, overlooking the heart of Dongyuan. Zhenzhen stood beside him, her eyes scanning data on her tablet.
"Foot traffic is lower than Wenhua, but conversion potential is high," she murmured. "Lots of low-rent properties, most of them owned by landlords struggling with upkeep. If we step in fast, we can offer lease renewals with business support packages."
Shen Fu nodded, eyes narrowing. "Target the gaming dens and abandoned co-working spaces. We convert a few into urban hubs—cheap rentals, good lighting, decent internet. Let the people come to us."
Behind them, Xiaodie arrived with two takeaway coffees and news.
"Rumor is Qin Han's shell company, Dongyun Logistics, is under audit," she said with a smirk. The government just opened a corruption probe. Someone leaked internal tax records."
Shen Fu took the coffee, but his focus sharpened. "Who?"
"No names, but my guess? Someone inside his circle. Someone is scared."
Just then, his phone buzzed with a secure ping—one of the burner lines Zhenzhen had set up. A message blinked on screen:
Meet me alone. I have something you want. —L.T.
They met in a parking garage near the old cyber cafe that Shen Fu once frequented as a kid.
The man who stepped out of the shadows was Liu Tao—Qin Han's long-time lieutenant, a face Shen Fu remembered from surveillance footage and whispered stories. Trim beard, crisp blazer, and jittery eyes.
"I shouldn't be doing this," Liu Tao muttered, glancing around nervously. "But Qin Han… he's losing it. He's paranoid. Sloppy. I've been cleaning his messes for two years and now he's about to bring the whole damn empire down."
Shen Fu didn't flinch. "What do you want?"
"I want out," Liu Tao said, holding a USB stick. "Everything on his shell firms. Money trails. Bribes. You didn't get it from me. But if this helps you bring him down, give me a way out when it's done."
Shen Fu took the stick, eyes steady. "Deal."
As Liu Tao walked away into the smoke-filled stairwell, Shen Fu opened his system.
System. Activate.
A soft hum vibrated in his skull as the interface emerged like light etched on thought.
[SYSTEM INTERFACE – NEW CONFIGURATION]
Name: Shen Fu
Age: 22
Wealth: ¥3,270,000
Skills: Negotiation (Lv. 2), Urban Planning (Lv. 1), Street Sense (Lv. 2)
System Store [Open]
Mission [View Active]
[NEW MISSION CHAIN UNLOCKED]
District Domination – Dongyuan
Objective: Secure control of 3 key assets in Dongyuan District.
• Convert or acquire at least one commercial property
• Establish a self-sustaining income stream
• Undermine competition through economic or social leverage
Reward:
System Lottery Reward – Spin to win one of the following:
• Random Skill Upgrade (Lv. 3+)
• ¥5,000,000 – ¥10,000,000 cash infusion
• Ownership of a premium commercial building complex
• Deed to valuable urban land property in a high-traffic area
Shen Fu blinked. "A lottery? Not bad…"
[System Note]: Odds based on mission difficulty. Weighted toward user performance. Choose wisely how you proceed.
Back at his apartment, Shen Fu pulled up a map of Dongyuan. Markers blinked across the screen—potential targets. Old internet cafés, a defunct VR studio, and a neglected logistics center next to a light rail stop.
"We go after the logistics center first," he told Zhenzhen, who had joined him with fresh data.
"It's dirt cheap. The owner's desperate. But word is Qin Han tried to buy it two months ago."
Shen Fu cracked a grin. "Let's make him regret not closing that deal."
Meanwhile, across the city in Qin Han's penthouse office, the air was thick with tension. Qin Han sat in silence, watching the local news. Dongyun Logistics. Audits. Whispered names. Panic crawled beneath his skin.
He slammed a fist into his desk. "Who leaked it?!"
His assistant stammered. " We-we don't know yet. Liu Tao's gone dark."
Qin Han's face twisted into something dark and venomous.
"Then find him. And when you do—bury him."
He stood up, pacing. "And Shen Fu... I don't know how he's moving this fast, but he's not just lucky. Someone's backing him."
His eyes burned with rage. "If he wants a war, we'll give him one."
Back in Dongyuan, Shen Fu stood beneath the rusted sign of the logistics center as the landlord signed the transfer papers.
"That's one down," Xiaodie said, snapping a photo of the contract.
Zhenzhen pinged his phone. "The social media post is live. 'Urban Resurrection Begins in Dongyuan.' Already getting buzz."
Shen Fu closed his eyes and reached inward again.
System. Mark first asset secured.
A warm pulse rolled through him like electricity crawling up his spine.
[Asset Secured – 1/3]
The game had moved to a new district.
And Shen Fu?
He was planting his roots deeper than ever.