Chapter 6: Motorcycle
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
After waiting for a long time without anyone coming out of the conference room, Shi Wenze yawned drowsily. He grabbed his tablet and lazily lay back on the sofa, passing time.
Xu You, standing by the water cooler, made two cups of instant coffee. When he turned around, he saw Shi Wenze still staring at the screen with a noticeably good mood, which immediately made him suspicious. Given Shi Wenze’s personality, it seemed strange that, after being beaten up by a Qiongqi, he still radiated an aura of peace and love, like a saint. It just didn’t seem normal. So, Xu You quietly walked over and looked closely. Okay, fine, a privacy screen.
Shi Wenze slowly switched the page from a picture of Lin Su to a used car website, then glanced up and said, “Don’t you have a phone?”
“What are you looking at?” Since his spying had been caught, Xu You decided to be straightforward and grabbed the tablet. He was stunned when he saw what Shi Wenze was browsing. “You really want to buy a sports car?”
Shi Wenze nodded patiently. “Yes.”
“This model? A used one with major repairs? It would cost at least seven figures. Are you crazy?” Xu You squeezed in beside him, trying to figure out the reason, wanting to wake up this suddenly vain lost lamb. “Your off-road motorcycle is already stylish, you don’t get stuck in traffic, and you can even take Chenghua Avenue to Erxian Bridge. Why do you need a Ferrari?”
Shi Wenze continued to lie back in a relaxed posture. “It’s winter, and my hands get cold when I ride a motorcycle.”
Xu You was stumped. A Qilin, and his hands were cold riding a motorcycle? Wasn’t that reason a bit too lame?
Shi Wenze noticed his disbelief and tapped his thumb to his forehead. “Half Qilin. Just half. The other half’s with my mom. I’m sensitive to the cold in winter and the heat in summer. It’s a bit difficult to take care of, so you should understand.”
Xu You replied, “I don’t understand.”
As they were talking, the door on the left suddenly opened, and a group of people filed out. Among them were Zhou Yuansong, the Minister of the Emergency Response Department, Wang Gui, the Minister of the Transportation Department, Bai He, the Minister of Health, and several middle-aged men that Xu You didn’t recognize but found familiar. Given how skillfully they were carrying thermos cups, they had to be at least division-level officials.
Shi Wenze didn’t expect such an old-and-middle-aged ensemble to emerge from the meeting room. He had no time to put his legs down from the sofa. Given his position, this “idle” posture seemed inappropriate, so he had to prop himself up with one hand. He furrowed his brows and struggled to get up, but Xu You was quick, rushing forward to support him and playing along, “Shi, don’t move around. Your leg’s broken.”
“Hey, Xiao Wen, you’re this hurt, and you’re still wearing a patient’s gown to come to work?” Bai He quickly made a phone call. “Lie down and don’t move. I’ll have a stretcher sent over.”
Well, the act was over. Just in time, Zhou Yuansong stepped in and smoothly took control of the situation with a few words. After everyone left, he turned to the two on the sofa and said, “Get up. Be mindful of your image at work next time. This will be the last warning.”
“Zhou, this time I’m not pretending, it really hurts,” Shi Wenze said, holding onto Xu You, hopping on one leg. “What exactly happened with that Qiongqi?”
“Qian Dagang, from Mengcheng. Three years ago, he was arrested for smuggling medical equipment, but he only served eight months. Then he escaped from Bailu Mountain, and the police have been after him ever since,” Zhou Yuansong explained. “The information we’ve received shows that when he was first incarcerated, his medical data was completely normal.”
This meant that in less than two years, he had somehow modified himself with a pair of metal wings—something straight out of a fantasy novel. No wonder it had caused such a stir among the higher-ups.
“I need to head to headquarters to report now,” Zhou Yuansong said, quickly signing a sick leave form for Shi Wenze. “Go home and rest for a week. Let your leg heal and come back later.”
Next, handling the fugitive or investigating illegal medical institutions would fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Security. Unless there was a special arrangement, there was no urgent matter for the Emergency Response Department. Shi Wenze was more than happy to accept the time off.
His leg injury wasn’t too serious; it was mostly the doctors’ overly cautious treatment that made it look worse than it was. After resting at home for a night, he was nearly back to normal. Shi Wenze couldn’t be bothered to return to the hospital, so he removed the bandages and threw them in the trash.
Xu You was in the shop playing games when he heard the sound of an engine outside. He rushed out to look. “Wait, bro, you’re limping, where are you going?”
“The sky’s gloomy, and I’m feeling dizzy,” Shi Wenze said. “Just going for a drive.”
Xu You grabbed the motorcycle frame firmly. “Are you sure you’re not going to the used car lot?”
Shi Wenze had fastened his helmet, saying, “I had already forgotten about this, but thanks for reminding me again.”
Xu You didn’t believe such a weak and unconvincing excuse. After all, this was the same person who, years ago, had dared to buy a $150,000 motorcycle with only a $5,000 monthly salary. Shi Wenze was stuck and couldn’t move, so he grabbed another helmet casually. “How about you come with me to Tai Nan Road?”
Tai Nan Road was a street known for its tech stores. Xu You then remembered the phone that had been smashed into two pieces, so he stuffed his hands into his pockets and said, “You go ahead.”
Shi Wenze clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll go buy the phone. You stay here and don’t move.”
Xu You replied, “Go to hell!”
On that cloudy afternoon, the business on Digital Street was bound to be slow. With Shi Wenze there, the large showroom had only two customers. Lin Su turned around, surprised, his gaze instinctively landing on Shi Wenze’s legs.
“It’s fine now,” Shi Wenze said, not expecting to run into him here. He walked up confidently, trying not to limp. It still hurt, but he had to bear it. He was like the son of the sea, walking on the edge of a knife for the handsome prince.
Lin Su had come to buy a phone for his sister, Lin Lu. Shi Wenze knew he had a sister who had been raised by relatives in Yang City. Lin Su said, “After graduating from college, Xiao Lu came to Chengdu to work, and now she lives with me.”
Shi Wenze guessed that the pile of pink cushions on the sofa might be Lin Lu’s choice. So, he picked a rose gold phone in the same color scheme. “How about this one?”
Lin Su glanced at the poster. “No, it’s endorsed by Qiao and Fan.”
Shi Wenze perked up immediately. This was a question he could answer.
Qiao and Fan were rivals of Xia Jiayang, and the knowledge he had learned from Lan Weiwei’s fan classes came in handy. Shi Wenze exhaled slowly and began his presentation. “It’s just a short-term promotion, with no official announcement title.”
Lin Su frowned. “?”
Phone brands always liked to choose popular celebrities for endorsements. Besides the main spokespersons, there were also various ambassadors. Xia Jiayang, a minor celebrity, didn’t quite meet Lin Lu’s standards, but there weren’t many options. Shi Wenze had never been more grateful to Lan Weiwei. Confident, he led Lin Su past all the promotional stands and straight to the HOM display. “This brand is considering Xia Jiayang.”
Lin Su’s emotions were mixed. What exactly had you been doing all these years? Under Shi Wenze’s confident gaze, he sent a text to Lin Lu.
L: Is this one okay? My friend said the brand is considering Xia Jiayang.
Lin Lu was busy in a meeting and didn’t have time to educate her brother about HOM’s policy of only signing big stars. But there was no conflict of resources between big stars and minor celebrities, so it was fine to go with either.
Shi Wenze had originally planned to buy a different brand, but to show his support for Xia Jiayang in front of Lin Su, he casually grabbed a flagship HOM model. After checking out, there was a lucky draw, and Lin Su stepped aside, as Shi Wenze had a natural talent for winning. He ended up winning two high-end wedding quilts with dragon-and-phoenix embroidery.
Thinking it over, it was a form of wish fulfillment, though a little premature. The staff might have felt it inappropriate for such a handsome guy to walk out carrying giant red embroidered quilts, so they offered to ship it via SF Express and handed him two parking tickets.
Shi Wenze turned to ask, “Did you drive today?”
Lin Su didn’t answer. “Where’s your car?”
Shi Wenze pointed. “Over there.”
Lin Su replied casually, “I didn’t drive.”
Shi Wenze smiled. “Then I’ll give you a ride.”
The two of them walked side by side through the crowded alley, passing through a noisy seafood market. Lin Su, stepping around puddles, couldn’t understand why Shi Wenze didn’t park at Digital City, choosing instead to park in such a winding and out-of-the-way spot. It wasn’t until he saw Shi Wenze crouch and expertly enter a non-motorized vehicle shed nearby that he understood.
“…”
It was illegal to carry passengers on an electric scooter, and Officer Tan would usually stop them.
But this time, he was wrong. Shi Wenze’s vehicle was a modified Scrambler. The bike was already large and rugged, and with the surrounding pastel-colored electric scooters, it immediately looked cooler and more imposing—like a dark knight standing in an endless night.
As a fan of good looks, Lin Su instantly fell in love with the bike. It was too cool—while other bikes were meant for commuting or going home, Shi Wenze’s motorcycle looked like it could head anywhere at any time, untethered, wild, and just as arrogant as its owner.
“Use this for now.” Shi Wenze handed him his helmet. “I’ll buy a new one tomorrow.”
There was another helmet on the bike, meant for temporary riders, like Xu You or even Aunt Wang Cuifen. Shi Wenze wasn’t keen on letting him use one that someone else had worn. Lin Su stood still, looking like a noble gray prince who only rode in pumpkin carriages. He asked, “How do I wear this? I don’t know how.”
Shi Wenze had already swung one leg over the motorcycle, but upon hearing this, he got off and carefully fastened the helmet for him. The distance between them was close, and Lin Su, looking through the helmet, wondered if saying “How do I sit? I don’t know” would seem too pretentious. It seemed a bit much. So, he decided to let it go this time. Next time, definitely.
Lin Su got onto the motorcycle himself. Due to the angle of the seat, his upper body inevitably leaned against Shi Wenze’s back. It was clear that motorcycles were indeed a high-quality mode of transportation—fast enough, powerful enough, and wild-looking enough. While a Ferrari might have the same advantages, it couldn’t be ridden as closely together, so the motorcycle still won. Not to mention, the two of them had hit the evening rush hour.
Lin Su was carried by Shi Wenze, and they roared down the road, speeding past car after car that was stuck in place. A wave of superiority surrounded him, and from that moment on, he would never feel heartbroken over traffic jams again.
Once they returned to Qinghu Garden, Lin Su got off the motorcycle but stayed standing without moving. Shi Wenze took the helmet off for him, as if it was natural. Lin Su asked, “Was that the fastest speed?”
“Of course not. How could you race in the city?” Shi Wenze replied. “If you want to see a real fast car, let me know when you have some free time, and I’ll take you to the track.”
“No need,” Lin Su glanced at his bike. “I plan on buying one myself and finding a coach.”
Shi Wenze was taken aback. “What coach? If you want to learn, just practice with this bike. I’ll teach you.”
“What if I fall?”
“You won’t fall.”
“I wasn’t talking about me, I was talking about your bike.”
“What’s wrong with the bike? If it falls, it falls. I’ll fix it. Just don’t fall yourself.” Such a standard answer for someone with a partner.
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