Financial Independence through Cracked Apps-Chapter 96 - 95: Riding

8:00 PM.

After returning home, Lin Shen started planning his weekend cycling trip with Qin Yuenan.

Originally, he had planned a full-day ride, intending to just grab lunch at a random restaurant along the way.

But since he had a business trip with Qin Yuenan on Monday, he thought it over and decided to cut the ride in half, limiting it to just the morning.

For a beginner on their first ride, one or two hours was more than enough.

The main thing was to get used to the rhythm of cycling, just like with running for the first time. You find your cadence and breathing pattern, and only then do you extend the duration and increase the pace.

Besides, Lin Shen had checked the weather forecast. It was supposed to be a bright, sunny day, with high temperatures and the sun blazing at noon.

You had to be careful; summers in Modu could be brutal, and it was easy to get heatstroke if you weren’t cautious.

So, it was better to play it safe. Health was the most important thing.

The best plan was for them to go home and rest in the afternoon, pack their bags, and meet at the high-speed rail station the next day.

Lin Shen first looked up some routes from fellow riders in his cycling group chat, then considered factors like the surrounding environment.

In the end, he settled on a scenic "pilgrimage" route that would take them through the ancient towns of the Jiangnan Water Village.

It went from Zhujiajiao Ancient Town to Jinze Ancient Town, a total of thirty kilometers. He estimated it would take about two and a half hours to complete.

If they got tired, they could stop and enjoy the scenery, turning it into a cycling tour.

Lin Shen was quite satisfied with his plan. After sending it to Qin Yuenan, he quickly received her reply.

[Qin Yuenan: Okay.]

[Lin Shen: Great, so it’s a plan?]

[Qin Yuenan: Mmm, but Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is a bit far. It’s an hour’s drive. How about we meet there at 9 AM?]

[Lin Shen: Okay.]

After settling on the time and meeting place with Qin Yuenan, Lin Shen took a shower. When he came out of the bathroom, he started organizing the various luxury goods he had bought that day.

The clothes went into the closet, the watch went into its box, and as for the leather bag, he would give it to her on Monday.

PHEW!

After tidying up his home a bit, Lin Shen flopped back onto his bed, a faint sense of anticipation in his heart.

Of course, he wasn’t just looking forward to the ride tomorrow, but also to the business trip on Monday.

’Maybe this trip to Jinling will bring about a fundamental change in my relationship with Qin Yuenan...’

Clinging to this fantasy, Lin Shen turned off the lights and slept on his side.

*

*

August 17, 2025, Sunday.

22°C–29°C, overcast, level-three southeasterly wind.

[Construction Bank: Your account ending in 7946 received a deposit of RMB 23,000 on August 17 at 00:01. Current balance: 1,623,000.]

At 7:00 AM, Lin Shen woke up an hour before his biological clock was set to go off.

When he pulled open the curtains and saw the overcast sky, he couldn’t help but feel a secret delight.

’The weather forecast is never right!’

’This must be a blessing from the heavens!’

’Overcast days are the best for cycling!’

PHEW!

Opening the window to feel the fresh morning air, Lin Shen closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He then left the bedroom and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash up.

After finishing his morning routine, he began to take stock of his cycling gear.

Road bike, supplies, helmet, earbuds, and a phone mount, among other things.

The only thing he needed to put on beforehand was his cycling kit; the rest he could put on when he got there.

So, Lin Shen took his cycling kit to the bedroom to change. But when he looked in the mirror, he suddenly noticed a serious problem.

Cycling kits are generally very form-fitting; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them skin-tight.

After putting on the kit, Lin Shen threw a light jacket over it, pushed his bike downstairs, and managed to stuff it into the trunk of his car.

...

9:00 AM

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town.

It was the weekend, and the town was bustling with tourists, with countless pedestrians strolling about.

It was no wonder, though. The scenery was simply too beautiful.

Rivers flowed through the town, and long, winding streets stretched on endlessly.

A thousand Ming and Qing dynasty buildings were built along the river, and a dozen ancient stone arch bridges spanned its banks.

Whitewashed walls and black tiles, upturned eaves, wood carvings, brick carvings, stone carvings... every detail was exquisite.

For a moment, Lin Shen felt as if he had left Modu entirely and arrived in the Gusu City District.

After all, the architecture was so distinctive, perfectly embodying the delicate beauty of a Jiangnan Water Village.

"So beautiful!"

Lin Shen couldn’t resist taking out his phone to take pictures. He had barely snapped a few shots when a call came in from Qin Yuenan.

"Where are you?"

"I’m at the entrance to the ancient town," Lin Shen replied, then asked, "Have you arrived?"

"I can already see your car."

"Okay, wait for me in the parking lot. I’m on my way."

After hanging up, Lin Shen returned to the parking lot. Next to his Jaguar XFL, he saw the familiar Volvo S90.

Qin Yuenan had already taken her road bike out of her trunk and was adjusting it.

She was also wearing a cycling kit, which accentuated her graceful and exquisite figure.

Her firm thighs, in particular, looked very powerful.

"Nan!"

Lin Shen waved and called out. Qin Yuenan saw him too, but she seemed a bit dazed.

"Nan?"

Seeing Qin Yuenan staring at him blankly, Lin Shen felt a little confused.

"What are you looking at?"

"Huh? I’m not looking at anything." Qin Yuenan snapped back to her senses, looking slightly flustered. She quickly averted her gaze and insisted,

"I was just looking somewhere else."

"..."

This classic case of "protesting too much" made the corners of Lin Shen’s mouth curl up.

"I didn’t ask what you were looking at!"

Lin Shen found it a little funny, but Qin Yuenan was clearly more embarrassed. She immediately changed the subject to ease the awkwardness.

"You should hurry up and get your bike out to adjust it."

"Alright."

Lin Shen took his road bike out of his trunk and began checking the brakes while putting on the rest of his gear.

Helmet, gloves, and cycling glasses.

By the time he was done, he found Qin Yuenan had been standing by, waiting for him for quite a while.

"Let’s go."

"Mmm."

With everything ready, Lin Shen finally began his first-ever cycling journey.

Before they left Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, the large number of tourists and cars prevented them from picking up speed.

Once they were away from the tourist area, Lin Shen gradually increased their speed to around 20 km/h.

Even with the noise-canceling function of his earbuds, Lin Shen could still hear the wind whistling past his ears.

The effort from his legs seemed to awaken all the muscles in his body, making everything work together in coordinated motion.

At that moment, Lin Shen finally understood why so many people loved cycling.

Weaving aimlessly through the streets on the city’s edge and along suburban paths lined with lush trees, the wind brushed against his cheeks, and the wheels made a CRUNCHING sound as they rolled over the ground.

It was a long-lost sense of freedom.

Even though Lin Shen had already quit his job, he had been busy for the past week.

Dealing with the Cat Cafe, his relationships with Jiang Wan and Qin Yuenan, and completing all the tasks assigned by the system...

It seemed like his time was his own to control, but Lin Shen knew very well that he wasn’t completely free.

But while cycling, his mood became incredibly light, as if he had forgotten everything that had happened in the past week.

He only needed to focus on the road ahead, on each push of the pedal, and listen quietly to the mechanical sound of the gears meshing.

"Woo-hoo!"

Lin Shen couldn’t help but let out a cheer. The leading Qin Yuenan glanced back at him, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly.

"You seem very happy."

"I am!" Lin Shen shot back with a question of his own. "Aren’t you happy, Nan?"

"I’m very happy too," Qin Yuenan said from the bottom of her heart.

Compared to Lin Shen, she actually had far more worries in her work and daily life.

Therefore, it was only when she was cycling that her life truly belonged to her.

The phrase "Life is a vast wilderness" might be criticized as a consumerist trap carefully set by capitalism.

But the reason so many people resonated with it was simply that they had been suppressed by life for too long and needed an outlet for release and indulgence.

Within their own means, of course.

In that moment, it was as if everything became clear to Qin Yuenan. She was no longer hung up on whether her relationship with Lin Shen was progressing, nor was she worried about potential troubles at work.

She just wanted to enjoy herself, to enjoy the present moment.

Lin Shen felt the same way.

With Qin Yuenan leading in front, the wind blowing toward him seemed to carry a faint, mysterious fragrance.

’So the "fragrant draft" that cyclists talk about is real?’

Lin Shen mused to himself.

The two set off from Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, and the natural scenery along their southward route was exceptionally beautiful.

Coupled with the overcast sky and proximity to the lake, the temperature was also pleasant.

As a result, neither of them felt very tired for the first ten kilometers, and their spirits were high. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

However, after another ten kilometers, Qin Yuenan started to get tired. She dropped back from the lead and let Lin Shen take over.

She even started falling behind from time to time, forcing Lin Shen to wait for her at several traffic lights.

"Want to take a break?"

"No need," Qin Yuenan answered breathlessly. After quickly replenishing with some water and energy, she continued riding.

Until she completely bonked at the twenty-five-kilometer mark.

"How are you not tired at all?"

After they stopped, Qin Yuenan looked at Lin Shen’s relaxed expression with a face full of bewilderment.

Aside from the sweat on his face, which showed that he had indeed expended energy, there was no other sign of exertion.

’Is Lin Shen’s stamina really this good?’