Chi Shuo got her driver’s license relatively early, during her first semester of university in Lu Cheng. Her counselor had mentioned that getting a license could earn academic credits. Back then, Chi Shuo was still trying to boost her academic record, so she signed up at the driving school next to the university.
However, after getting her license, she didn’t have many opportunities to drive. Things only improved later, during her third year when she had more free time, because she started taking on gig driving jobs.
Today’s sunlight was still harsh, but only during the day. Leaving work late had its advantages; at least it wasn’t as hot as midday.
Inside He Lindi’s sedan, Chi Shuo fastened her seatbelt, placed her hands on the steering wheel, and stared straight ahead.
It wasn’t that she was nervous and needed intense concentration—her driving skills were solid. It was just… the thought that He Lindi was sitting right next to her made her unwilling to turn her head for excessive conversation. She was currently trying hard to play the role of a designated driver.
“What do you want to eat?”
They had already left the parking garage and been driving on the road for a while before He Lindi finally asked.
Pedestrians walked along the roadside, some hurried, some slow. He Lindi’s window was half-open, and someone’s laughter drifted in from her side, creating a stark contrast with the atmosphere inside the car.
Chi Shuo frowned. “I thought you already had something in mind?”
He Lindi chuckled softly. “I was busy working.”
“Then just pick a place randomly,” Chi Shuo said flatly, as if this meal wasn’t important at all.
He Lindi shifted her gaze, tilting her head to look at Chi Shuo, who was driving seriously. A small smile touched her lips. “Alright then. How about I treat you to some fried rice?”
The light ahead turned red. Chi Shuo stopped behind the line. Her fingertips tapped slowly on the steering wheel as she seriously considered He Lindi’s words for two seconds. Without immediately nodding or shaking her head, she tilted her head slightly towards He Lindi and asked, “Is it good?”
He Lindi rested her right elbow on the car window, her hair falling over her shoulder. Chi Shuo caught sight of the few highlighted strands. Against the evening sky, the blue seemed even more distinct. Chi Shuo quietly shifted her gaze back and heard He Lindi reply, “Would I invite you if it wasn’t good?”
He Lindi paused noticeably. “Otherwise, what did you think I’d offer, poison?”
“…” Chi Shuo instantly thought of He Lindi’s WeChat nickname.
The light turned green, and Chi Shuo drove the car smoothly back onto the road.
The place He Lindi had chosen wasn’t far from the company, only about a twenty-minute drive. They had mostly missed the evening rush hour, so traffic wasn’t too congested.
However, street parking was scarce. Chi Shuo drove around once but couldn’t find a spot.
He Lindi noticed this too and suggested, “Let’s just park in my complex’s garage first, then walk over to eat.”
Chi Shuo paused, asking a crucial question, “Does that count as me completing the task of driving you home?”
He Lindi looked at her, blinked, pressed her lips together, pondered for a few seconds, and shook her head. “Doesn’t count. After dinner, you still have to drive me back.”
Chi Shuo ignored her and parked the car in the underground garage of He Lindi’s apartment complex.
The temperature dropped suddenly. Getting out of the car, Chi Shuo yawned. She touched her nose, her warm fingers feeling the coolness of its tip.
She glanced sideways. The next second, He Lindi inevitably sneezed, clearly also caught off guard by the cold.
When He Lindi sneezed, her voice unconsciously became slightly higher-pitched, the sound drawn out a bit. Combined with her youthful voice, it sounded rather amusing to Chi Shuo.
Chi Shuo suppressed the urge to smile and followed He Lindi into the elevator.
He Lindi’s residence was clearly much more upscale; the environment within the complex alone indicated that, without even needing to see the interior layout.
They walked out of the main gate again. Four security guards stood ramrod straight at the entrance, holding batons, watching everyone who entered or exited.
Their expressions were initially stern, but upon seeing He Lindi, they immediately broke into slight smiles and even chatted with her for a couple of sentences.
Once they were some distance from the gate, Chi Shuo asked out of curiosity, “Are you that close with the security guards too?”
After asking, the little devil in her heart popped up again: Just not close with me.
But… the thought of wanting to be friends with He Lindi had vanished long ago, right when she stopped liking her.
“So-so?” He Lindi carried only her handbag, switching it to her other hand. “They’ve always worked here. You get familiar after a while.”
Chi Shuo nodded, then heard He Lindi add leisurely, “Also might be because my dad gave each of them an apartment before.”
“…” Chi Shuo turned her head slightly. She asked again, “Don’t tell me he gave them apartments in this complex?”
“Yeah.” He Lindi also tilted her head to look at her, her eyes curving.
Chi Shuo was stunned. She averted her gaze and changed the subject. “Are we almost there?”
“Almost, almost.”
He Lindi finished speaking with a smile, but after walking just a few more steps, her phone rang from inside her bag.
“Now?”
“I’m still with a friend.”
“…”
Chi Shuo unconsciously observed He Lindi’s reactions while she was on the phone. By the time He Lindi hung up, her face was etched with worry.
Chi Shuo looked at her furrowed brow and asked, “Do you have to go?”
“Yes…” He Lindi gave her an apologetic look. “There’s work at 9 PM. I thought there was enough time, but something came up over there. I need to rush over now.”
No wonder she brought her camera when leaving work.
Chi Shuo waved her hand. “Go ahead. Be safe.” She paused, then added, “The problem today is on your end, so… I don’t owe you anything anymore.”
Hearing this, He Lindi’s frown deepened. Her lips parted as if wanting to say something, but in the end, she just smoothed her expression and smiled at Chi Shuo. “Okay.”
Chi Shuo nodded. “I’ll go hail a taxi back.”
Without waiting for He Lindi to say anything else, she turned and walked towards the roadside.
After two seconds, He Lindi’s voice came from behind. She said, “Chi Shuo, then I owe you dinner.”
Chi Shuo didn’t stop walking, pretending not to hear, hailed a taxi, and got in.
She gave the address and didn’t turn her head to wave goodbye to He Lindi, instead lowering her head to look at her phone.
She closed her eyes, rubbing her temples. After an unknown amount of time, the driver reminded her they had arrived.
Chi Shuo paid and got out, staring silently at the entrance of her apartment complex. Then, she turned right, went into a small restaurant, and ordered herself a portion of fried rice.
Getting too close to He Lindi alone wasn’t a good thing, Chi Shuo thought, yet she couldn’t hide her disappointment.
She didn’t know the specific reason, nor did she want to think about it.
After a while, the fried rice on her plate was almost finished when she received a friend request notification on WeChat.
The sender’s ID—Didi Wei.
