His gaze, through the window's lowered glass top, fell without focus on the empty court a few steps away. Just now it was crowded with people, now only a few strolling aunties and uncles remained.
The streetlight from the corner slanted into the car, illuminating half his face. His nose bridge was straight, his jawline a bit tense.
Then, without moving his head, he only lifted his chin in a nonchalant way, the movement small, carrying a careless negligence he didn't bother to hide. The line of his neck straightened, his Adam's apple rolling with the slight movement. His whole demeanor was one of "that's how it is, who cares."
The next second, he asked with a hint of amusement: "Then let me borrow your dad's Toyota Century?"
Hearing this, his childhood friend waved his hand dismissively: "Eh, forget it. Not just you, even I fucking want to drive it!"
"Uncle Wei is out on business again?"
"Yeah, that's right."
The topic almost strayed. Young Master Wei still couldn't figure it out: "But you, how did you suddenly take out this old relic? Good grief, it still has a yellow plate? Can it be driven on the road? How did you get it out?"
The guy in white didn't agree: "What's wrong with this car? I think it's very cool. It's an old model, very... um... collectible."
Everyone laughed in unison.
Ning Ci rubbed the steering wheel a couple of times. His expression wasn't exactly good or bad—just a faint sense of defeat.
The Tiger Head Benz was the Mercedes-Benz S-Class model sold from 1991 to 1999. This car was at least 25 years old by now, truly an antique. What the guys said wasn't wrong.
Truth be told, he didn't want to drive this car either, but he had no choice. He was even less willing to touch the other cars.
That garage full of metal monsters—he wanted to sell them all and just buy a Land Cruiser.
But the top trim wasn't available.
What could he say? His luck had been bad lately. He finally managed to catch his brother at home and could ask to borrow a good car, but then the license plate was subject to traffic restrictions based on the last digit. Except for that state gift car, he really didn't want to drive any other car.
Then came a good friend's wedding, and he scurried off to Shencheng.
After coming back, his mom forced him to go on blind dates. He only escaped by pretending to be sick.
As for how he dug up this car—this Tiger Head Benz was his father's previous ride, retired long ago. Back then, when his parents got married, this car was the lead wedding car.
These past few days, he had gotten fixated on the wedding lead car. He wouldn't drive anything that wasn't a wedding lead car. But his brother had left right after, and even the 9090 was gone, with no clue when it would be back.
After a long time, holding a strawberry milk lollipop, his brows were weathered and forlorn, with a faint sense of lifelessness. After a moment of thought, he said, "I want a car that's presentable."
Everyone first looked blank for half a second, then rolled their eyes one after another, with expressions of 'Do you even hear yourself?' 'Which car in your garage isn't a knockout? You still want a presentable one? Why don't you just fly into the sky?'
But Second Young Master still wore that troubled look, as if they couldn't understand the icy helplessness in his heart and the misery of having too many things beyond his control at this age...
"I can't fucking stand this."
"............"
Everyone was speechless.
Han Xiao couldn't bear it and suggested: "Then ask Haozi. Haozi's been busy at the 4S store recently."
Hearing that while sucking on the strawberry milk lollipop, Ning Ci's expression settled.
He actually took it to heart, bowed his head, and called Haozi.
Everyone: "............" All collectively speechless, confounded in the wind.
On the other end of the line, Haozi's boisterous voice came through. He was apparently bragging to someone: "Why buy a big bull? That car is just for showing off. Better to buy a big Rolls! Sports cars aren't suitable for the highway, you know? In the city, it's so congested they can't show their strengths! And the chassis is so low, many places it can't go at all—Hello? Ning Ge! What's up!"
"Haozi, where are you now?"
"Ning Ge, I'm at the 4S store. What's up?"
"Lend me a car."
"What?"
"I said, lend me a car."
After hearing that, Haozi, like all the other brothers present, first rolled his eyes, then had the expression of 'Do you even hear yourself?' 'Which car in your garage isn't a knockout? You still want a presentable one? Why don't you just fly into the sky?'
Before he could retort, Ning Ci unexpectedly stated his request with all seriousness: "Mm, I want a very, very presentable car."
Haozi: "."
Fuck off!!!!!!