Chapter Fifty-Two: Anyway, I Don’t Have a Driver’s License

Lin Sha stood at the intersection, watching one taxi after another, packed with passengers, speed past her, anxiety written all over her face.

She usually drove to and from work and rarely hailed a cab, so she had no idea how difficult it was to get one at this hour. But there was nothing she could do—her car had been borrowed today, and after standing at the corner for quite a while, she felt completely helpless, her delicate brows knit tightly in worry.

Screech—

Just then, a black Jeep Wrangler, exuding a rugged and wild aura, braked sharply in front of her.

The window rolled down, and Yang Jiekai poked his head out, flashing a smile at the anxious Lin Sha. “Beautiful lady, do you need any help?”

Lin Sha looked at Yang Jiekai, then at the SUV that, while not luxurious, was still worth several hundred thousand, and asked suspiciously, “Is this your car?”

“It’s a friend’s. I borrowed it for a couple of days,” Yang Jiekai lied, not because he meant to deceive Lin Sha, but to avoid unnecessary trouble. He knew Lin Sha’s temperament; if she found out the car was his, she would surely investigate how a security guard making two or three thousand a month could afford such a vehicle. She might even suspect he’d stolen it.

Lin Sha gave a look that said, “I thought so,” opened the door, and got into the passenger seat. She looked straight ahead and said lightly, “City District Kindergarten.”

“Kindergarten?” Yang Jiekai asked, puzzled. “What are you going there for?”

“To pick up a child, of course! Stop with the questions and drive!” Lin Sha was already anxious, and Yang Jiekai’s dithering only made her more irritable, her tone sharpening.

Yang Jiekai didn’t take offense. He gently pressed the accelerator and asked, “Picking up a child? Whose child?”

“Mine, obviously. Or is it yours?” Lin Sha replied impatiently, her anxiety mounting.

Screech—

Yang Jiekai suddenly hit the brakes, eyes wide in surprise. “What! You have a child?”

Lin Sha had just gotten into the car and hadn’t fastened her seatbelt. The abrupt stop caught her off guard, and her head banged against the windshield with a thud.

Luckily, the car was sturdy and the glass didn’t shatter, but Lin Sha’s expression was anything but good.

Who could blame her for being upset?

“Are you crazy? Are you driving or not? If not, I’m getting out!” Lin Sha’s forehead throbbed with pain, and her nerves, already frayed, snapped. She shouted at Yang Jiekai, reaching for the door to get out.

But Yang Jiekai stomped on the gas, and the SUV shot forward like an arrow, tires squealing against the pavement.

“Slow down! Are you trying to get us killed?” The fury vanished from Lin Sha’s face, replaced by terror as her heart lurched. This lunatic was driving a hundred kilometers per hour in the city!

“You said you were in a hurry. I’m speeding up.” Yang Jiekai had been annoyed by Lin Sha’s yelling and was driving fast on purpose. Hmph, let her be bossy—if he didn’t teach her a lesson, she’d never stop treating him like a pushover.

As the world outside blurred by, Lin Sha, frozen in the passenger seat, didn’t dare breathe. The speeding cars and buildings streaking past filled her with dread.

“Aren’t you afraid you’ll lose all your license points?” Desperate, Lin Sha tried a different tactic, hoping to scare Yang Jiekai into slowing down.

He replied carelessly, “Let them take the points. They can deduct all they want.” Then he muttered under his breath, “Not like I have a driver’s license anyway.”

By now, Lin Sha was deeply regretting her decision. She never should have gotten in this lunatic’s car. Speeding was bad enough, but he was also driving without a license? Who knew if he could do anything besides stomp the gas? If they crashed and died, she’d have gotten the worst end of the bargain.

Luckily, despite the close calls, they reached their destination safely.

As the SUV rolled to a stop outside the kindergarten, Lin Sha let out a long breath, feeling as though she’d just survived a disaster. A fine sheen of sweat covered her forehead.

Yet, strangely, Lin Sha also felt a kind of exhilaration, as if the rush had swept away all the stress and worries that usually weighed her down.

“Hey, wasn’t that exciting just now?” Yang Jiekai grinned at her.

“Exciting my foot!” Lin Sha, still shaky from nerves, uncharacteristically swore. Realizing herself, she opened the door and hurried out.

Yang Jiekai stuck his head out the window and shouted after her, “If that wasn’t enough, I’ll try harder next time—guaranteed to give you a real thrill!”

Lin Sha was about to retort when she noticed the strange looks from people around her. Suddenly, she realized what they must be thinking. Her cheeks flushed crimson. She gave Yang Jiekai a fierce glare, then lowered her head and hurried into the kindergarten.

Yang Jiekai drove off, filled with disappointment. She already had a kid? What a pity—another fine woman snatched away by the wrong man!

Humming a bawdy tune, he spun the car around and went to meet Qin Feng and the others for a night of feasting and drinking. Only after he was thoroughly tipsy did he drive back home.

Returning to Bamboo Grove Villa, Yang Jiekai slipped inside, heading straight for his room. Han Ning was always in a foul mood whenever she smelled alcohol on him. It wasn’t that Yang Jiekai feared her, but the ice-queen bossiness was just too much hassle. As the saying goes, a harmonious home brings prosperity.

“Son-in-law, you’re back! Come, come, we’ve been waiting for you to eat. We’ve cooked all your favorite meat dishes tonight,” Aunt Wang greeted him with a broad smile.

Yang Jiekai, about to sneak into his room, paused in surprise, as if something had just occurred to him. He turned his head, and his eyes lit up.

The first thing he saw was a pair of legs—smooth, fair, and dazzling enough to make any man’s heart race!

His great-legged sister-in-law was back!

“Well, well… oh, I mean, my dear sister-in-law, you’re back! What an honor, what a rare guest!” Yang Jiekai beamed, unable to explain why her presence always made him so happy.

Han Wei had grown up abroad, and her speech and manners brimmed with the confidence and openness of the West. Her lively, jubilant personality suited Yang Jiekai perfectly; being with her was always relaxing.

Today, Han Wei wore a vivid, tight-fitting embroidered T-shirt, paired with snug denim shorts that hugged her hips, her long, shapely legs crossed enticingly.

“Hey, brother-in-law, you’re back! Haven’t seen you in a few days and you look worse every time,” Han Wei laughed, her voice tinkling.

“Nonsense, you flatter me…” Yang Jiekai chuckled, then suddenly caught himself. “What do you mean, worse every time? I’m in great shape! Look at these arms and legs—aren’t they even more muscular?”

“Shameless! With those skinny arms and legs, a strong wind could blow you away,” Han Wei retorted, falling into their familiar banter.

Yang Jiekai was undaunted. “Don’t be fooled by appearances—I’m sturdier than I look. If you don’t believe me, ask your sister.”

“Is that true, sis?” Han Wei turned to Han Ning, who was sitting quietly nearby.

Han Ning, caught off guard, blushed and glared at her grinning sister. She frowned. “Mind your own business. How would I know if he’s in good shape?”

“But you’re married!” Han Wei persisted with a laugh. “Come on, sis, out with it. How does my brother-in-law perform in that respect?”

“You…! Watch your mouth!” Han Ning’s face flushed all the way to her ears. Clearly, her traditional upbringing left her ill-equipped to handle Han Wei’s Western-style jokes. She made a move to swat her sister.

“Hey, hey, I’ll stop, I’ll stop!” Han Wei dodged away, giggling, then turned to Yang Jiekai. “What are you waiting for? Come eat! My sister and I are starving.”

To Yang Jiekai’s surprise, Han Ning didn’t refute her sister this time—she just lowered her head in silence.

Yang Jiekai went to his room, changed into comfortable flip-flops and shorts, then returned, smiling broadly, to plop down next to Han Wei.

“Dinner time!” Han Wei cheered. “Aunt Wang, give me an extra-large helping. I’m about to starve.”

“Of course, I’ll serve you plenty,” Aunt Wang replied cheerfully, ladling steaming rice for everyone before sitting down to eat.

Yang Jiekai had already eaten earlier, but the sight of the lavish spread reignited his appetite. Without a care for appearances, he tore into a roast chicken leg, chewing as he asked, “What’s the occasion for all this delicious food?”

Aunt Wang chuckled, “It’s a day for celebration.”

“Celebration? Who’s getting married? Aunt Wang, are you remarrying?” Yang Jiekai mumbled through a mouthful of meat.

She laughed. “I’m far too old for that. But today really is a happy day. Ask Xiao Ning yourself.”

Yang Jiekai swallowed his food and glanced at Han Ning, who was quietly eating, but decided not to ask—he knew she wouldn’t tell him anything anyway.

But, unexpectedly, Han Ning spoke before he could. “Weiwei just came back from abroad with several major projects. This is tremendous news for Ziyu Corporation. If the projects launch successfully, we’ll save at least five years of development.”

“Wow, that impressive? What kind of projects? Tell me—maybe I’ll invest too!” Yang Jiekai was genuinely happy; after all, if the little rich lady made a comeback, it would mean plenty of benefits for him.

“What’s it got to do with you?” Han Wei rolled her eyes. “You think you can just invest as you please? How much money do you have, anyway?”

“Uh… well…” At the mention of money, Yang Jiekai lost his bravado, grinning sheepishly. “I don’t have any right now, but maybe, possibly, if you let me owe it first, I’ll pay up once the project makes money…”

“You might as well just ask for the money outright!” Han Wei scoffed at his shameless proposal. “We need a large investment to get the projects started. That’s the last hurdle. I’ve already negotiated with overseas partners, but we have to find a suitable investor within ten days to secure final authorization.”

“Then hurry up and find one,” Yang Jiekai said.

Han Wei was exasperated. “You think it’s that easy? We’re not talking small change here. In the whole city, only three companies qualify, and each is a tough nut to crack.”

“Three? Which three?” Yang Jiekai asked curiously.

“Tianlong Group, the Zhou family, and Yongcheng Group. But we’ve had some issues with the first two before, so they’re unlikely. That leaves Yongcheng Group, but their boss is a sly old fox—not easy either.” Even Han Wei, usually so confident, sounded uncertain.

“Yongcheng Group?” Yang Jiekai found the name oddly familiar.