Chapter 118: Safety First

Trust?

A faint smile flashed in Shen Subai’s eyes as he gave a soft “Mm” and didn’t say another word the rest of the way.

Captain Shen truly was a proper gentleman. He didn’t take a single bumpy shortcut and brought her steadily to the machinery factory. Throughout the trip, there was no physical contact between them, let alone any romantic undertones.

The logistics staff at the factory were already waiting at the gate. Shen had given them a heads-up before the New Year, saying he wanted to help a friend buy a second-hand three-wheeled motorcycle. Since the factory was updating its equipment, they had set a few vehicles aside.

These decommissioned factory vehicles were usually in decent shape. Aside from being a little old, they were definitely worth the price. If lucky, you could find one that was 80% new for less than half the market price.

Without connections, though, the average person wouldn’t even have a shot at buying one.

Xie Yunshu touched one bike, then another, her heart filled with delight. She was pleased with all of them. These three-wheelers were much bigger than the small tricycle she had been riding. Just the large front of the bike alone looked impressive.

The logistics guy was straightforward and friendly:
“Miss, whichever one you like, just pick! We can talk about the price!”

Xie Yunshu knew they were only being this polite because of Shen Subai. Otherwise, even if she had managed to get through the gate, no one would have given her the time of day.

“As long as it works and there are no major functional problems, that’s enough for me. I’m not asking for much.”
She remembered what Shen Subai had told her and didn’t bring up the price at all.

She pressed her lips together and snuck a glance at Shen Subai, silently urging: Captain Shen, say something?

He gave a subtle smile and then bent down to inspect each three-wheeler carefully. In the end, he chose one with a relatively new engine and bargained the price down to 1,200 yuan.

The logistics guy let out a bitter laugh:
“Captain Shen, only you could pull this off.”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but Xie Yunshu got the message loud and clear — that price was incredibly low. She pretended not to hear, looked up at the sky, and made a mental note that she’d gotten a great deal and shouldn’t push her luck. That said, she definitely couldn’t treat Shen Subai to a cheap meal later…

But now that she had the keys in hand, a new problem came up.

“How do I start this thing?”

Shen Subai frowned:
“You don’t know how to ride it?”

Xie Yunshu nearly rolled her eyes. Of course not! It was her first time even touching a three-wheeled motorcycle. She wasn’t a genius — she didn’t even know where the ignition was.

“I don’t know how,” she admitted honestly. “I need to find a place to practice.”

Shen Subai’s face turned serious again:
“Practice? If you don’t handle a three-wheeler properly, it can be dangerous. You can’t just practice on your own without supervision. And you definitely can’t just take it out on the road after a bit of practice. That’s irresponsible — to yourself and to others.”

Xie Yunshu puffed up her cheeks.
“But I already paid for it!”

What, was she just supposed to admire it from afar? It cost her 1,200 yuan!

Shen Subai lowered his gaze to her:
“The project department won’t open until the tenth of the first lunar month. I’ve got nothing to do before then.”

Then he added:
“I used to be in the military. I’ve driven all kinds of vehicles.”

Xie Yunshu’s eyes lit up, and she braced herself to ask shamelessly:
“Captain Shen, could you teach me how to ride it? I’ll treat you to meals — all three meals a day!”

A flicker of amusement crossed Shen Subai’s eyes. With one hand, he picked up his bicycle and placed it in the back of the three-wheeler. Despite his tall frame, he didn’t seem to struggle at all. Then, straddling the bike, he said:
“Get on. Watch how I start it.”

Xie Yunshu blinked in surprise. Didn’t he say earlier he wasn’t that strong? How’d he lift that thing with one hand?

Shen Subai raised an eyebrow:
“Well? Are you learning or not?”

Xie Yunshu snapped out of it and quickly jumped into the back:
“Yes! Learning!”

She wisely chose not to dwell on his earlier claim of not being strong. Instead, she sneaked a peek at his arms through the thick coat and thought to herself — if she had to fight Captain Shen, she’d definitely lose…

He pointed at the ignition:
“Turn the key here, then press down on the pedal for throttle. Twist the handle gently — don’t go too fast at the start. Always keep your hand on the brake. Safety is the most important thing with motor vehicles. The same goes for everything in life — safety first, don’t rush.”

Xie Yunshu listened attentively, memorizing every step. As the engine roared to life, Shen twisted the throttle, and the vehicle jerked forward. Caught off guard, Xie Yunshu lost her balance and instinctively grabbed his shoulder.

“Hold onto the rear handlebar. It’s safer,” he said without turning, slowing the bike down. “Don’t grab my shoulder.”

Her face flushed red. She quickly sat down properly.
Did Captain Shen think she was trying to take advantage of him?

She swore she wasn’t! Objectively speaking, a man like Shen Subai certainly wouldn’t lack admirers. And she had been married before; she wasn’t some clueless girl. Asking someone to teach her to ride — with physical contact involved — definitely gave off the wrong impression, like she was some scheming woman with bad intentions.

She wasn’t being self-deprecating — just realistic. There was absolutely no way anything would happen between her and Shen Subai. Even someone like Lu Zhixing, from a good family, looked down on her. So how could someone like Shen Subai ever…

He was just a decent man who treated everyone fairly, without judging them by their background.

Climb the social ladder? She’d never think of doing that. It was better to raise herself up — much more stable.

Staring straight ahead, Shen Subai said calmly:
“I don’t like spicy food. Next time, don’t cook meat with red chili.”

“…Huh?”

The topic changed too fast. Xie Yunshu was confused:
“Captain Shen, what do you mean?”

By now, they had reached an open area nearby. It was spacious and empty — perfect for practice.

He turned off the engine, waited for the bike to come to a full stop, and looked back at her.
“Didn’t you say three meals a day? Forget breakfast. Lunch and dinner will do. I live alone. That kind of compensation works for me.”

Xie Yunshu rubbed her face, then jumped off the back of the bike:
“Captain Shen, don’t worry! I’ll make sure my cooking suits your taste!”

Shen Subai frowned slightly:
“Don’t jump down like that. The bed of the vehicle is high.”

She flashed him a bright smile:
“Got it. Safety first, right?”

---

After several hours of practice, by the time they headed back, Xie Yunshu’s legs were practically jelly.
That three-wheeler looked easy to handle, but riding it for a long time was exhausting — especially the insides of her thighs. If not for the thick clothes, she’d suspect her skin had rubbed raw.

“Let me treat you to dinner at the state-owned restaurant,” she said from the backseat, hands gripping the bars, face tired but eyes still shining. “Give me two or three more days, and I’ll definitely be fine.”

Shen Subai pulled out a tube of erythromycin ointment from his pocket.
“Apply this wherever it hurts. No need for dinner — just go home and rest early.”

Xie Yunshu held the ointment and felt a wave of guilt:
“Captain Shen, I owe you a favor. I don’t have anything to repay you with now, but if you ever need help in the future, I’ll do it — no questions asked!”

Shen Subai raised an eyebrow and gave her a long look:
“Good to know.”