Lin Jiang drove home at a leisurely pace.
The small shop was already closed when he passed by.
Instead of going straight home, Lin Jiang started looking around by the roadside.
With Qin Yangyang there earlier, dinner hadn’t been satisfying at all. He was only about half-full and wanted to grab a late-night snack to tide himself over.
He drove to the south gate of Fenglin International and found a seafood stall. He casually ordered some food and a beer. As for the car, he could just leave it there. It was near his home anyway, so he could pick it up tomorrow.
’Doesn’t Chen Jingxian have a class here?’
He checked his watch and saw it was ten o’clock. Lin Jiang remembered that Chen Jingxian’s class should be ending around now, so he gave her a call.
"Hey, is your class over?"
"It just ended. What’s up?"
"I’m grabbing a bite at the south gate of Fenglin International. Is that the gate you use to leave?"
"Yeah, it is. But why are you eating so late?"
"I had a dinner engagement tonight but didn’t get enough to eat, so I came here to tide myself over."
"I know that habit of yours. You never eat your fill when you go out and always have to make some instant noodles or something when you get back."
"You know me best," Lin Jiang said with a laugh.
"I see you."
Lin Jiang put down his phone and glanced toward the south gate, spotting Chen Jingxian standing by the roadside.
"Over here!"
Lin Jiang called out. Hearing his voice, Chen Jingxian broke into a light jog, taking small, quick steps toward him.
"Two beers and a couple of stir-fried dishes. You’re really living the good life."
Chen Jingxian pulled up a chair and sat down across from Lin Jiang.
"I wasn’t planning on drinking, but the weather’s so nice tonight it felt like a waste not to." Lin Jiang pointed to a small blackboard nearby. "The menu’s up there. Order something if you’re hungry."
"I can’t possibly eat. I’m on a diet."
"You’re not even fat. What’s there to lose?"
"I’m already 113. If I don’t control it, I’ll be heading for 120."
"You wouldn’t make it to 120. I’d be dragging you to the hospital before that."
"You’re never serious." Chen Jingxian laughed. "Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I could have made you some noodles at home. That’s better than this stuff."
"I was just passing by and decided to grab a quick bite. It would have been too much trouble for you to go home and cook."
"What trouble? It’s just making some noodles."
"See? This is what I mean when I say you’re so caring and capable. You’re second to none."
Not wanting to keep Chen Jingxian out too late, Lin Jiang sped up his eating.
"Boss, how much?"
"89."
Lin Jiang scanned the code to pay the bill, then stood up and stretched a bit.
"I’ll call you a cab to get home," Chen Jingxian said, getting up.
"I remember you know how to drive, right?"
"Yes, why?"
"Then there’s no need for a cab. You can drive us back."
"Your van is a manual. I can’t drive it."
"I got a new car."
Lin Jiang pressed the key fob for the Maybach.
She saw the car’s lights flash and then looked at the key in Lin Jiang’s hand.
Chen Jingxian took a few steps forward. "You bought a new car? It’s huge."
"Picked it up this morning. Looks alright, doesn’t it?"
"It’s really nice looking. Domestic cars are getting more and more beautiful these days."
Uh...
’The way you put it completely ruins the thrill of showing off!’
"Come on, I’ve been drinking. You drive."
"Oh no, I can’t. My driving skills aren’t good enough. It would be terrible if I scratched or dented it," Chen Jingxian said.
"Who doesn’t get a few dings and scratches when they drive? It’s unavoidable. Just get in and drive."
As he spoke, Lin Jiang got directly into the passenger seat and waved at Chen Jingxian.
"Hurry up and get in."
Pushed into it by Lin Jiang, Chen Jingxian nervously sat in the driver’s seat.
"Is this car a Mercedes-Benz?"
Seeing the Mercedes-Benz logo on the steering wheel, Chen Jingxian was surprised for a good while. "But the logo on the front of the car is different."
For a moment, Lin Jiang wasn’t sure how to explain the relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Maybach to her.
"It’s a sub-brand. Just think of it like that."
"I get it. But even for a sub-brand, it must cost several hundred thousand, right?"
"Erm... right. Several hundred thousand."
Lin Jiang realized that with Chen Jingxian’s personality, there was no point in trying to show off in front of her, so he decided not to explain further.
Following Lin Jiang’s instructions, Chen Jingxian put the car in gear and slowly drove off.
There wasn’t much traffic at night, and Chen Jingxian drove slowly. She got used to it after about ten minutes, but she was still a little nervous.
RING RING RING— RING RING RING—
On the way back, Chen Jingxian’s phone rang nonstop.
She glanced at it and saw it was Chen Jingjia calling. Since she was driving, she didn’t answer.
But a few minutes later, the phone rang again.
"Why don’t you pull over and answer the call?"
"It’s fine, don’t worry about it. We already spoke on the phone when my class ended. She probably doesn’t need anything important."
"Alright then."
The call ended automatically, and a message from Chen Jingjia quickly followed. However, Chen Jingxian ignored it and focused on driving.
A trip that should have taken just over twenty minutes took Chen Jingxian more than half an hour to complete.
"We’re finally here. I was so nervous I’m covered in sweat."
"No need to be nervous. It would’ve been fine even if you’d crashed it."
"That’s not okay. That’s not the point."
Chen Jingxian let out a breath. "How are you getting back?"
"I’ll just call a designated driver."
"Won’t that be too much trouble? And designated drivers cost a lot of money."
"It’s fine, not as bad as you think," Lin Jiang said with a chuckle.
Chen Jingxian seemed conflicted, wrestling with her thoughts.
"Why don’t you just not go back? You can stay at my place for the night. Your shop doesn’t open until ten tomorrow anyway."
"That might not be a good idea."
"There’s nothing wrong with it. No one will know."
Now that the words were out, Chen Jingxian seemed to relax. "It’s not like we’ll be sleeping in the same bed. What’s there to be afraid of?"
’As expected. A woman over thirty, no matter how shy, is still more forward than a young girl.’
"In that case, I won’t go through the trouble."
"Let’s go."
The two of them got out of the car. Lin Jiang locked it, and they walked toward the residential complex.
RING RING RING—
Just then, Chen Jingxian’s phone rang again. It was Chen Jingjia.
Lin Jiang deliberately quickened his pace for a few steps, putting some distance between them to make it easier for her to take the call.
"What is it? You keep calling."
"Where have you been? Why weren’t you answering your phone? You scared me to death."
"I was driving, so I couldn’t answer. I already told you not to worry. I’m a grown woman."
"It’s mainly because I had something to do today and couldn’t pick you up, so I was a little worried. And then you kept not answering."
"It’s fine. The whole way is lit by streetlights, and I don’t take back alleys. I’m okay. Don’t stay out too late either, go home early."
"Wait, you just said you drove home? Did you buy a car?"
"I ran into Lin Jiang, and I drove his car home."
"His piece-of-junk van is a manual transmission. You know how to drive that?"
"He bought a new car."
"Huh? Where did he get the money to buy a new car?"
"I don’t know. It’s his business, so I didn’t feel it was my place to ask too many questions."
"What kind of car did he buy?"
"I don’t know either. He said it was a sub-brand, probably a joint-venture car."
"He’s such a show-off. Buying some crummy joint-venture car and flaunting it in front of you. He must have done it on purpose," Chen Jingjia said dismissively.
"Flaunting it to me?"
"Exactly, so that you would see it and then tell me about it. He wants to show how well he’s doing after the divorce, just to spite me."
"It’s not that serious. You’re judging him by your own petty standards."
"How is it not that serious? That’s definitely what he meant. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that he just happened to run into you?" Chen Jingjia said hurriedly.
"Oh, right! Take a picture of the car and send it to me."
"Why are you so curious? Just go home early."
"Oh, come on, just let me see."
"Fine. I’m hanging up."
Chen Jingxian hung up the phone, turned toward Lin Jiang’s car, and took a picture for Chen Jingjia.
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