While Kai Zi was lost in a flood of thoughts, An Xin was lighthearted as ever. Glancing at the night sky, she said to him,

“Alright, since we’ve settled things, I should head back. If you don’t have anything urgent tonight, hurry back to the provincial city. Let your team know to prepare. We’ll meet tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. at your depot.”

With the agreement finalized, it was time to prepare for early mornings and long days of transporting goods. It was better to notify everyone in advance to ensure no one slacked off.

Kai Zi snapped out of his thoughts, his gaze shifting to the tall figure waiting in the distance. He nodded and said,

“Alright. You and your friend can leave first. I’ll let the village chief know and head back to the city tonight.”

From the moment they arrived, Kai Zi had noticed the man accompanying An Xin. The man had deliberately stayed quiet, keeping a low profile, standing silently as An Xin discussed business. Now that the talk was over, Kai Zi took a closer look at the tall, composed man in the shadows. His steady presence and willingness to accompany An Xin late at night suggested he was more than just an acquaintance.

An Xin followed Kai Zi’s gaze and saw Bai Yichen standing quietly in the dark. Only then did she remember that she had left her husband waiting while she focused on the deal.

If it had been her waiting for someone that long, she would’ve been fuming. Yet Bai Yichen remained calm, standing as tall and steady as a pine tree. His composed demeanor made her chuckle inwardly.

“Alright, then!” she replied brightly.

Taking out a stack of money from her pocket, she handed it to Kai Zi.

“Here’s a 5,000-yuan deposit. Once the transport plan is completed, I’ll pay the remaining 5,000 yuan.”

Having worked in the provincial taxi industry for a while, An Xin had learned enough about Kai Zi’s reputation. He was known to be a man of his word. Dealing with straightforward people like him didn’t require lengthy contracts—just a verbal agreement and an upfront deposit would suffice.

Back then, trust and integrity were values deeply ingrained in people’s character, making them far more reliable than written agreements.

Kai Zi glanced at the stack of money but didn’t immediately take it. Instead, he gave An Xin a playful look and teased,

“Well, look at you! Trusting me enough to hand over the money before the job’s even started? You’re bold.”

He was genuinely surprised. Most people he worked with either dragged their feet on payment or demanded work be completed before they’d even discuss compensation. Yet here was An Xin, handing over half the payment before the truck had even moved.

Was she naive, or just incredibly genuine?

An Xin ignored the teasing in his tone and shoved the money into his hand with a firm smile.

“Take it. What’s with all the fuss from a grown man? Make sure you get your guys ready and bring your trucks on time tomorrow.”

She didn’t wait for his response, turning and walking toward Bai Yichen. After all, she still had to go home . He had work the next day, and she didn’t want to delay him.

Kai Zi watched her retreating figure and then looked at the money in his hand. A quiet laugh escaped him.

Bai Yichen stood in the dark, his steady gaze fixed on An Xin as she returned. She approached quickly, a satisfied smile on her face.

“All done?” he asked softly.

An Xin nodded, her smile widening.
“Yep. Let’s head back.”

“Alright.”

Bai Yichen responded and glanced once more at Kai Zi. Across the dimly lit space, the two men exchanged a brief, unreadable look before averting their eyes.

The car moved silently through the dark countryside. Bai Yichen drove with quiet focus, his expression serious. Despite everything that had transpired, he hadn’t asked An Xin what she and Kai Zi had discussed.

The atmosphere in the car felt subdued, perhaps due to the oppressive darkness outside.

An Xin sat in the passenger seat, gazing out at the passing shadows of trees and the faint outline of mountain ridges in the distance. Turning her head, she caught sight of Bai Yichen’s sharp, composed profile. A pang of guilt struck her, prompting her to explain.

“A few days ago, I accidentally got involved in a transport project. It requires partnering with a freight team. That’s why I came to find Kai Zi tonight—to discuss the project.”

She didn’t know why, but she felt compelled to share her reasons. Bai Yichen had accompanied her through the dark night without once questioning her motives. Now that the matter was resolved, she owed him an explanation.

Besides, he was her husband. Since their marriage, Bai Yichen had respected her space and shouldered the family’s financial burdens without complaint. She saw no reason to hide anything from him.

What’s more, the next ten days would be incredibly busy for her. She’d need to stay in the city and couldn’t risk misunderstandings or giving people a reason to gossip. It was better to lay everything out clearly.

Bai Yichen hadn’t expected An Xin to reveal her purpose for meeting Kai Zi. He had already resolved not to pry if she didn’t want to share.

Her candidness caught him off guard. Yet, the frustration he’d been suppressing all night suddenly dissipated, replaced by a quiet joy.

But being the reserved man he was, Bai Yichen quickly masked his emotions. He adjusted his tone and asked,
“A transport project? You mean delivering goods?”

An Xin’s abilities never ceased to surprise him. In just a short time in the city, she had secured a major transport deal. Her resourcefulness was impressive.

Still, Bai Yichen couldn’t help but worry.
“Are you planning to drive a truck yourself? Those vehicles aren’t like small cars or jeeps. They demand serious skill and stamina. Will you be okay driving for ten days straight?”

Bai Yichen’s curiosity about his wife deepened. What other surprises was this woman hiding?

An Xin didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Yes, I’ll be transporting goods from the city’s port to the railway station. The total cargo is about 30,000 tons, and it should take around ten days to complete.”