As Ann Wan stepped out of the residential area, she called for a ride-hailing service and waited by the roadside with Liu Chang’an. Ann Wan took a close look at the driver, who was taking the order, and was shocked: “This person is driving a Bentley to work as a ride-hailing driver!”
Liu Chang’an glanced over and saw that the car model was a Bentley Flying Spur. Ann Wan tried to cancel the order, but to no avail, as the car was already nearby. Liu Chang’an chuckled, and Ann Wan gave up, thinking, “What’s the point, anyway? Others can’t do anything about it.”
Most people who drove luxury cars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars as ride-hailing drivers didn’t do it for the living experience or to earn money. Their goal was clear: many girls understood the intentions of these drivers and would either cancel the order directly or get on the car with a clear understanding.
The car stopped soon, and the driver’s name, Ma Benwei, was displayed on the app interface. He stuck out his head to take a look at Ann Wan and Liu Chang’an, his gaze pausing on Liu Chang’an’s face. “Two people, huh?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Should I cancel the order, then?” Ann Wan asked hesitantly.
“No need, this route has few cars, get on board,” Ma Benwei said, looking at Ann Wan.
Liu Chang’an got on first, followed by Ann Wan.
“Xiangnan University, Orange Garden East Gate, right?”
“Correct.”
As the car started moving, Ann Wan noticed Ma Benwei glancing back at them through the rearview mirror from time to time. She quickly grabbed Liu Chang’an’s arm.
“Drive safely,” Liu Chang’an reminded him.
“I won’t hide it from you, I’m doing a live stream, and my fans told me that this beautiful girl is also a web celebrity?” Ma Benwei turned his head to look at Ann Wan, sizing them up as a couple, trying to create some drama according to the script. But it was a bit difficult, so he said it straight out.
Ann Wan heard this and covered her face with Liu Chang’an’s clothes, completely ignoring Ma Benwei.
“This isn’t good, you’re invading our privacy and violating our portrait rights,” Liu Chang’an joked.
“Fine, I’ll turn off the live stream.”
Ann Wan finally put down Liu Chang’an’s school uniform.
“To be honest, a beauty like you, without makeup, is more stunning than any web celebrity I’ve seen,” Ma Benwei praised.
“It’s no wonder, our school has five hundred flower guards, and we take turns protecting her every day. I waited in line for a year to get to my turn,” Liu Chang’an said happily, then felt Ann Wan pinch his waist.
“Ha ha, you’re exaggerating, you’re exaggerating,” Ma Benwei laughed.
Ann Wan still didn’t respond to Ma Benwei, not even saying a word until they got off the car.
As they watched the car drive away, Ann Wan stomped her feet. “This is bad luck… but how did he recognize me? I usually walk on the street without anyone pointing at me and shouting ‘beautiful volleyball girl’.”
“Direct visual perception and seeing photos through a screen are two different things. I think the key is the school uniform issue. Your mom posted pictures of you wearing the uniform on Weibo, and others can easily make the connection, thinking you’re a student from Xiangnan University Attached Middle School… Give it five stars anyway.”
“Is it my fault for being too beautiful?” Ann Wan asked with a smirk, twirling her body.
“Let’s go.”
“It’s all because you didn’t want to walk back with me, otherwise, this wouldn’t have happened. I super hate these kind of anchors.”
“It’s nothing, anyway, it’s not like he talked to you at all, he was just saying stuff… and this route is hard to find a car.”
“Yeah, see you tomorrow…”
“See you tomorrow…”
Ann Wan stood still, not moving.
“Do you want to send me back?” Liu Chang’an asked, smiling.
“I’ll wait for you to turn around and kick you one!”
Liu Chang’an turned around, and Ann Wan watched him walk to the corner before putting her hands in her pockets and jumping her way home.
Liu Chang’an didn’t walk back, instead finding a bicycle and riding it back to his home. He still went to the mahjong hall and turned around, watching others play cards under the grape arbor, then came to the parasol tree.
The parasol tree had almost lost all its leaves, and its branches were bare. These days, the discussions about the parasol tree were related to Liu Chang’an’s original explanation about the buried treasure underwater that could absorb the essence of the tree.
The highest-rated explanation was Old Man Qian’s story about the dragon dropping a pearl under the tree. This made him feel authoritative and in charge when chatting with the old folks.
Liu Chang’an opened the car door, and inside, he had placed a dog’s head earlier that morning. The summer heat had not made the car feel stifling, and the dog’s head still smelled of blood, without any signs of decay or change, just like when he had put it in.
“Dead things don’t work, huh?”
Liu Chang’an muttered to himself, thinking about the fallen leaves of the parasol tree, the dead ants, and the old folks’ minor health issues, which all started happening after the coffin was sent here.
It was impossible to say that the coffin and these events were unrelated.
Liu Chang’an closed the car door and went to find Old Lady Liu, buying a small hen from her that weighed over three pounds.
If he hadn’t made over a thousand dollars from selling dog meat, Liu Chang’an wouldn’t have been so extravagant.
He locked the hen in the car, waiting to see what would happen tomorrow morning. Liu Chang’an finished all this, took a shower, and lay on his bed, checking his phone. He had many unread messages on WeChat.
“I took a ride-hailing service with a classmate today and ran into a driver who was doing a live stream. Someone took a screenshot and posted it on Weibo.”
“It’s true that the classmate and I are just ordinary friends, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not that kind of casual girl, I’ve told you I won’t date in high school.”
“You didn’t seem to be on Weibo today? I remember you usually give me likes, I went to your Weibo and saw that you didn’t like my new posts… I thought you were angry.”
“Are you really angry?”
“It’s all a misunderstanding, those people online are just random!”
Liu Chang’an thought for a moment and replied to the message.
“You’d better explain to your mom, it’s most important. But I think your mom is a kind and understanding person, you can just tell her clearly, and she’ll be fine.”
“Hehe, my mom is indeed like that, I explained it to her, and she didn’t get angry. She’s always been a gentle person.” The response came almost immediately.
It turned out to be a family trait… Every time Liu Chang’an praised Ann Wan, she would accept it without hesitation, such as when he said she was cute, and she would respond with “Yeah, I’m really cute.” She wouldn’t be like other girls, being coy and denying it or listing their own flaws.
“I was busy today, so I didn’t go on Weibo. You won’t keep waiting for me to respond, would you?”
“No! I just opened my phone, I had turned it off earlier.”
“Ah, I’m a bit disappointed.”
“It’s true, there’s a bit of tension too. You’re older than me by many years, but as friends, why bother about age? You should take care of your friends, don’t want you to misunderstand me as a casual girl.”
“You’re right, you’re knowledgeable and kind, it’s because your mom has taught you well.”
“Ha, you keep mentioning my mom tonight.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Yes!”
“…”
They chatted for a while, and Liu Chang’an sent Ann Wan a message, only to find out that her mom had scolded her, recognizing the classmate from the previous video call, and was furious. She had practiced belly dancing for over an hour to calm down.
This mother-daughter duo was quite lovely, Liu Chang’an thought, smiling as he said goodnight.
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