Chapter 20: Controlling Desire

Wang Linfeng led Su Baili towards the bus stop outside. It was close to the road, making it convenient for taking a taxi.

During the walk, he couldn’t help but feel puzzled. At this time of night, the surrounding small-time ruffians would usually be drinking and messing around, but today there was not a soul to be seen in the alley.

The alley was unusually quiet, and Wang Linfeng found it hard to get used to.

When they reached the bus station, he still hadn’t encountered anyone. After thinking for a moment, he couldn’t help but worry and advised her, “Sister, even though there’s no one in the alley tonight, it’s usually pretty chaotic around here. You should always let us know if you’re heading home, so we can meet you outside.”

Su Baili, delicate and soft, was clearly out of place in such a neighborhood. Who knew if the local troublemakers would have ill intentions when they saw her? The more Wang Linfeng thought about it, the more uneasy he became.

He almost wished they could move away immediately, but thinking about his family’s financial situation, he could only sigh inwardly.

His father had racked up considerable debt from surgery and still hadn’t paid it off. Their family had to cut back on daily expenses, and while the environment here wasn’t great, the rent was the lowest in the city. If they moved, the only option might be to return to their village. But going back would make it impossible to earn money and the debt would only grow…

Su Baili noticed Wang Linfeng’s troubled expression but didn’t know what he was thinking. Still, she nodded obediently, “I understand. I’ll contact you in advance next time. It’s already so late; you should head back now. Be careful on your way.”

“I’ll wait until you leave before heading back.” Wang Linfeng waved his hand dismissively, “I’ll call a car for you.”

“No need, no need. I’ve already booked a ride, and it’s almost here,” Su Baili said.

As soon as she finished speaking, a regular car pulled up beside her.

Su Baili blinked in confusion, thinking, “What’s this?”

When the window rolled down, a familiar face appeared: it was Driver Chen.

Driver Chen had noticed from afar that someone was with Su Baili, so after stopping the car, he didn’t dare to get out and open the door for her.

He cleared his throat and then asked seriously, “Did you call for this car?”

“It’s me,” Su Baili said, startled. She immediately answered.

She didn’t expect the family driver to be so theatrical. She turned and waved, “The car’s here, so I’ll be going now. You should hurry back.”

“Alright, goodbye.”

Although Wang Linfeng agreed verbally, he stayed where he was, motionless, until the car was out of sight before turning and walking away.

Inside the car, Su Baili looked astonished. “Uncle Chen, where did this car come from? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before.”

The driver chuckled and explained, “This afternoon, I noticed that you didn’t seem keen on exposing your identity. So I spoke with the housekeeper and applied for a regular car, which makes things more convenient in the future.”

Driving a luxury car was too eye-catching. While their family had many cars that could be switched around, they were all expensive luxury vehicles. Even the most naïve person would notice something was off…

Su Baili gave a thumbs-up in admiration. “You’re too talented for this job. If my boyfriend’s company didn’t have you, I wouldn’t do it myself.”

“Hahaha, Miss, you’re joking. A company like Sir’s is beyond someone like me to enter,” Driver Chen said with a grin. “Just being able to drive for Sir and Miss is already a blessing from eight lifetimes.”

This wasn’t an exaggeration. Although he was just a driver, his salary was several times that of a regular driver, not to mention the bonuses the housekeeper gave during the holidays.

Since he was earning that kind of money, he made sure to stay sharp and knew who was at the top of the family’s food chain. After all, there were several drivers in the Qi family, but only he was entrusted with driving the young lady. This was a sign of Sir’s trust in him.

Driver Chen looked a bit smug.

Su Baili curiously looked around the car. Honestly, she didn’t really understand cars, and to her, the only distinction was whether they were good-looking or not.

She asked out of curiosity, “Uncle Chen, how much is this car?”

“It’s not expensive, just 200,000. Is it too cheap? Is it uncomfortable to sit in? I can take it to get customized tomorrow if you’d like. That way, the exterior won’t stand out too much,” the driver said.

Su Baili shook her head. “No, it’s fine, it’s quite comfortable. Just keep driving this car for me from now on.”

Driving this car was great. Even if someone saw her, she could confidently say it was just a ride-sharing car. Why hadn’t she thought of this before?

She used to sneak around when coming back from school, taking a ride from a place a kilometer away, feeling like a thief. Now, she didn’t have to do that anymore.

Su Baili felt a bit lost in the wind, realizing that the path she’d been taking all along had been unnecessary.

“Alright, Miss, I’ll do as you say,” Driver Chen agreed.

He said it cheerfully, but once he turned his head, he reported the matter. After all, when it came to anything related to the young lady, he couldn’t make decisions on his own.

Thinking about Sir’s personality, he figured that if the young lady used such a cheap car, it might be fine for an occasional trip, but if she used it regularly, there would definitely be changes.

Sure enough, his guess was right. The matter was reported the same day, and by the next day, the car was already modified. The exterior didn’t seem to have changed, but the driver knew that the car’s entire set of parts had likely been replaced.

At the Qi family’s old residence:

Su Baili, holding a small cake, flew inside like a happy little bird.

Qi Shenzhi was waiting for her in the living room. When he saw her return, he put down the file in his hands and waved at her.

Su Baili ran over, and with one leap, sat in his lap.

“Shenzhi~” she sweetly called, and anyone could tell how happy she was.

Qi Shenzhi reached out and pinched her little face. “You little ungrateful one, after being out for a day, you’ve almost forgotten your boyfriend, haven’t you?”

Su Baili widened her eyes in disbelief and pouted. “What are you talking about? I didn’t stay at the Wang family’s, I came home obediently. How can you say that about me?”