Chapter 116: My First Passenger Crashed My Bugatti
Chapter 116: My First Passenger Crashed My Bugatti
Lucas was still thinking about Maya’s profile as he started slowly walking away from hallway.
Sixty favorability.
The number kept replaying in his head.
He genuinely couldn’t understand it.
He hadn’t spent a single dollar on her.
Yet somehow her favorability kept climbing on its own.
And now there was that strange line in her profile.
Unmarried.
The word made no sense.
Lucas rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Maybe the system had glitched.
Or maybe there was something about Maya he didn’t know.
Either way, standing around wasn’t going to give him answers.
He waved goodbye to Sofia, Maya, and the others.
"I’ve got some things to take care of. See you guys later."
Without waiting for a response, Lucas headed toward the parking lot.
Just as he reached his Bugatti, his phone vibrated.
Mia.
A smile appeared on his face.
He answered immediately.
"What’s up?"
"Come pick me up."
Her voice came through the speaker casually.
Lucas laughed.
"That’s it?"
"Yep."
"I’m at my faculty building."
"Okay. Give me five minutes."
The call ended.
Lucas stared at the phone for a second.
Mia was becoming surprisingly bold lately.
Not that he minded.
A few minutes later, the black Bugatti rolled smoothly to a stop outside Mia’s department building.
Students nearby immediately began staring.
The car itself attracted enough attention.
When they saw Lucas behind the wheel, the whispers became even louder.
Mia stepped out of the building carrying her bag.
The moment she spotted the Bugatti, her eyes lit up.
She hurried over and opened the passenger door.
The smell of her perfume drifted into the car.
"You’re late."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"I got here in four minutes."
"Still late."
Mia grinned and fastened her seatbelt.
Lucas shook his head helplessly.
Women really did operate under different laws of physics.
As they drove through campus, Mia couldn’t stop looking around the interior.
Her fingers lightly brushed the dashboard.
The steering wheel.
The carbon fiber trim.
Everything fascinated her.
"You really bought this?"
Lucas nodded.
"Last week."
Mia looked around again.
Then looked at him.
Then looked at the car.
Then looked at him again.
The expression was almost funny.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You’re just getting harder to understand."
Lucas laughed.
That wasn’t exactly wrong.
A few moments later, he suddenly asked,
"Do you know how to drive?"
Mia blinked.
"Of course I do."
"You have a license?"
"Obviously."
Lucas nodded.
Then, without warning, he pulled the car over to the side of the road.
Mia looked confused.
"What are you doing?"
Lucas unfastened his seatbelt.
"You like the car so much."
"Want to drive it?"
Silence.
Mia froze.
Then her eyes widened.
"Seriously?"
Lucas grinned.
"Seriously."
For a moment she looked genuinely excited.
Then nervousness appeared.
"This thing costs more than my entire future."
"Relax."
"You won’t break it."
"I might."
"You won’t."
Mia stared at him for several seconds.
Then immediately jumped out of the passenger side.
A moment later they switched seats.
For the first time since buying the Bugatti, Lucas found himself sitting in the passenger seat.
It felt surprisingly strange.
Meanwhile, Mia sat behind the wheel looking like a child who had just been handed the keys to a spaceship.
Her hands gripped the steering wheel carefully.
Almost reverently.
"This is insane."
Lucas laughed.
"It’s still just a car."
"No."
"It definitely isn’t."
She gently touched the steering wheel.
Then started the engine.
The deep growl instantly filled the cabin.
Mia nearly squealed.
"Oh my God."
Lucas suddenly felt worried.
Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea.
"Take it easy."
"I am taking it easy."
"You’re smiling like a supervillain."
"I’m happy."
The Bugatti slowly pulled away from the curb.
At first, Mia drove surprisingly well.
Smooth acceleration.
Careful steering.
Everything seemed under control.
Lucas relaxed slightly.
Maybe she actually knew what she was doing.
Then five minutes later~
She became confident.
With a press of the accelerator, the Bugatti surged forward.
The powerful engine roared.
Mia’s eyes sparkled.
"This feels amazing!"
The tree-lined boulevard outside the university stretched ahead of them.
Students on the sidewalks turned to watch the car pass.
Mia couldn’t stop smiling.
"How is it?"
"My driving skills are pretty good, right?"
As she spoke, she turned her head slightly toward Lucas.
Only slightly.
But slightly was enough.
Lucas immediately felt his soul leave his body.
Because he was looking forward.
And what he saw made his blood run cold.
A silver-gray hypercar had appeared directly ahead.
Much closer than it should have been.
Way too close.
The distance was disappearing fast.
"Mia."
She was still smiling.
"Mia."
"What?"
"MIA."
Her smile disappeared.
"LOOK FORWARD!"
Mia turned her head.
The gray hypercar filled her entire windshield.
Her eyes widened instantly.
"Oh crap."
"BRAKE!"
Lucas practically screamed.
Mia slammed her foot onto the brake pedal.
The tires screeched.
The seatbelts locked.
For one brief moment, everything seemed frozen.
Then~
BANG!
The impact wasn’t catastrophic.
But it was enough.
Enough to make both of them sit in silence for several seconds.
The smell of burnt rubber lingered in the air.
Neither moved.
Neither spoke.
Finally, Mia swallowed.
"...I think we hit something."
Lucas slowly opened his eyes.
"You think?"
"I was trying to stay positive."
Lucas covered his face.
Of course.
The first person he ever let drive his Bugatti rear-ended another hypercar.
What were the odds?
Then the door of the gray car opened.
Both Lucas and Mia looked up.
A tall man stepped out.
White dress shirt.
Tailored black trousers.
Expensive watch.
The kind of person who looked successful even from a distance.
The sunlight reflected off the badge on the back of the car.
And when Lucas finally saw it clearly~
His eyes narrowed slightly.
A Pagani.
Not cheap.
Not cheap at all.
The man calmly inspected the rear of his vehicle.
Then slowly turned his gaze toward the Bugatti.
And toward Lucas.
The atmosphere instantly became awkward.
Very awkward.
Beside him, Mia quietly lowered her head.
"...I’m sorry."
Lucas sighed.
Somehow he already had a feeling this afternoon was about to get a lot more expensive.