Urban System in America
Chapter 183 - 182: Project Start

Chapter 183: Chapter 182: Project Start

By the time Rex got home, the sunlight had fully bloomed over the city. Golden beams streamed through his windows, catching the corners of his freshly cleaned living room in a warm glow.

He stepped inside, loosened his collar, and let out a breath that felt like shedding the boutique’s refined air. The scent of the boutique still clung faintly to him—oak, citrus, and the kind of fabric polish only places with six-figure price tags used.

Without wasting time, he headed to his room and peeled off his casual jacket. A quick shower followed, short and brisk this time, enough to wash off the city dust and residual cologne.

By 8:20, he was dressed in a clean, crisp outfit: charcoal-grey chinos, a soft cream shirt with rolled-up sleeves, and a slim-fitting dark cardigan. Comfortable, scholarly, and just polished enough to remind people he wasn’t the average campus guy.

He grabbed his bag, checked the time—8:25—and made his way to the underground parking. His black car gleamed under the garage lights, sleek and purring low when he started it. Victor and Kaelan’s vehicle waited near the exit, Kaelan giving a slight nod as their cars moved into traffic, one after the other.

The drive to university was smooth. Morning traffic had thickened, but nothing his instincts—and built-in GPS—couldn’t handle. As he pulled into the university lot, the time blinked exactly 8:49 on the dashboard.

Right on time.

Rex parked in the shaded area near the library, grabbed his satchel, and strode toward the entrance. The campus was alive—students crossing paths, some with caffeine still warming their hands, others speedwalking with overdue regrets. He moved like he belonged. Because he did.

Inside the library, the group study area on the second floor was already half full. Near the back window, a familiar cluster waved at him.

"Look who’s decided to grace us with his presence," teased Sophie, the boldest of the beauty trio. Her hair was tied up today, playful curls framing her smirking face.

Rex raised a brow as he approached. "Didn’t realize punctuality was now considered divine intervention."

"Amen to that," chimed in Daisy, the sweet one, fluttering her lashes over the edge of her tablet. "You’re looking extra studious today. Who are you, and what did you do with our slacker?"

Rex gave a slow, dramatic spin before pulling out a chair. "I’m in a team with a bunch of beauties, can’t afford to embarrass myself."

Daisy, as always, was composed and focused, already flipping through a thick binder.

Their eyes met—and for a second, just a second—Rex caught a flicker of memory from yesterday morning. The accidental glimpse. The awkward silence. And the promise.

He gave a playful smirk. "Good morning, my academically terrifying co-pilot. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten the song."

Her cheeks colored ever so slightly. "You better not. I’m expecting front-row acoustics and emotional damage."

Sophie, perched cross-legged on her chair like it was a throne, flipped her dark curls over her shoulder. "Oh? Songs and private duets already? Rex, you’re moving fast. Should I be jealous?"

He chuckled, sliding into his seat. "Only if you want me to sing to you in Spanish ballads while holding a rose between my teeth."

Sophie placed a hand over her heart. "Tempting. Keep talking like that and I’ll make you a scandal before finals week."

Hannah, cool and composed beside them, didn’t bother looking up from her tablet. "If we’re done with the soap opera, the assignment outline is ready. I’ve organized tasks by expertise and deadlines. I’ve also made a contingency plan if someone forgets." She cast Rex a sideways glance.

He held up both hands in surrender. "I’m innocent until proven forgetful."

"So, did you shortlist three companies? Because I didn’t see your message last night."

Hearing this, Rex immediately froze, embarrassment creeping up his neck. First, he had been so absorbed in his music that he completely lost track of time. Then, the system’s unexpected reward had sent him into a whirlwind of excitement, wiping the task from his mind entirely.

Now, faced with the consequences, his flustered expression was all the confirmation they needed. Laughter bubbled up around him, the girls giggling at his predicament. Even Elara, normally reserved, let out a quiet chuckle before quickly hiding behind her book.

Rex groaned, rubbing his temple. "Listen, in my defense—actually, no. There is no defense."

Hannah sighed but didn’t bother hiding her amusement. "That’s what I thought."

Rex blinked, then let out a long sigh of relief, pressing a hand dramatically to his chest. "Hannah, you are an angel among mortals. I was two seconds away from drafting the most heartfelt apology known to humankind."

Hannah rolled her eyes but smirked. "You should still feel guilty. Organization isn’t magic—it takes effort."

Hannah smirked, tapping at her tablet with the smooth efficiency of someone who had already anticipated his failure. "I had a feeling this would happen, so I went ahead and shortlisted the companies myself. Now, we just need to finalize our decision."

Daisy peeked up from behind her book. "But at least he’s consistent in his forgetfulness."

Lina nodded, crossing her arms. "True. We should probably start factoring ’Rex’s inevitable distraction’ into all our planning."

Rex sighed. "Okay, okay, message received. So, what’s the next step? Since you’ve done all the hard work, I might as well pretend I was useful."

Hannah tapped her tablet, effortlessly professional despite the teasing atmosphere. "We just need to decide on the final pick. I’ve included key metrics for each option, so you can at least contribute something to the discussion."

Rex grinned. "That sounds dangerously close to responsibility. But fine, lay it on me."

Just then, a quiet rustle drew his attention. At the edge of the group, half-hiding behind a book was Elara. His deskmate. The human embodiment of lofi beats. Her long bangs shadowed most of her face, and her fingers trembled slightly as she turned a page—though he doubted she was actually reading.

"Elara," he said gently.

Her head twitched slightly. "H-Hi," she whispered, the volume barely louder than a sigh.

"Glad you could join us." His tone softened around her, like it always did. She was the type who could vanish in a crowded room—not by trying, but simply by being. But he always noticed.

"Thanks," she said, cheeks dusting pink. She refused to meet his eyes but nodded slightly. Progress.

"Alright," Daisy cut in, clearing her throat. "Before we spiral into chaos—Sophie—no more flirting. Rex, no more distractions. Let’s get started."

"Hey," Rex said, pulling out his laptop. "I’m the picture of professionalism."

Sophie grinned. "Sure. If that picture was taken at a nightclub."

Laughter rippled across the table—even Elara smiled, though she quickly hid it behind her book.

And just like that, the team dove into their project discussion, a strange blend of personalities, flirtation, and academic ambition. Ordinary on the surface.

"So," Hannah began, her tone brisk as always, "now that we’re all here and seated—and semi-conscious—it’s time to get serious."

Sophie immediately groaned. "We were just celebrating being productive."

"This is productivity," Hannah shot back, tapping her tablet with purpose. "Two-week deadline. Real-world entertainment industry dissection. This isn’t high school. We need to lock everything in now."

Rex stretched his arms behind his head. "Alright, boss. Lead the way."

Across the table, Elara opened her notebook with all the intensity of someone opening an ancient spellbook. Her handwriting was neat, small, and perfectly aligned. Rex half-expected the pages to glow.

"Okay," Hannah continued, "we already established roles last time. Elara’s on research, Sophie’s outreach, I’ll handle structure and presentation, Rex is fieldwork and coordination, and Daisy?"

"I’ll handle financial analysis and business model breakdowns," Daisy replied smoothly, not even looking up from her tablet. "I already have a template ready. I’ll need company records, revenue patterns, investor shifts—if they’re public, great. If not, I can work around it."

"Remind me never to be audited by Daisy," Rex muttered.

"Smart choice," Sophie said. "She once made a fake income statement for fun."

Daisy finally looked up, serene. "It was realistic."

Terrifying.

Hannah projected her tablet screen onto the group study room monitor. The document was already color-coded. Of course.

"Let’s shortlist the companies," she said. "We need small-to-mid-tier, preferably local or reachable. We’re not dissecting Hollywood giants."

"I can reach out to three," Sophie offered, pulling out her phone. "There’s a boutique modeling agency my cousin worked at. Then there’s this indie production house that made a web drama about time-traveling gym bros—it’s weirdly popular. And there’s an influencer management firm that, no joke, runs its office out of a café."

Hannah tapped notes rapidly. "We’ll evaluate all three based on accessibility, openness to interviews, and how much internal data we can actually get. Elara?"

Elara sat upright, notebook already flipped to a clean page. "I—I can start digging tonight. Company profiles, articles, funding history, employee reviews. I’ll cross-reference with media mentions and social media records for leadership and structure."

Sophie blinked. "Damn, girl."

Rex grinned. "Told you she was a pro."

Elara shrank slightly at the praise, but her lips tugged into the tiniest smile.

"Great," Hannah nodded. "Rex, once we pick the company, you’ll need to set up a meeting—preferably with someone high enough to talk business, but low enough to actually reply to emails."

(End of Chapter)

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