Chapter 18: We Who are Supposed to Meet Will Always Meet
Early the next morning, Guo Wei arrived, panting and carrying his luggage.
After having breakfast together, the two of them said goodbye to their parents and left the house.
To avoid revealing that he had bought a car, they deliberately walked a lap around the residential compound.
Once the silhouettes at the windows disappeared, they got in the car and quietly drove out of Shengze Jiayuan.
Jiang Zhou had bought a Toyota Corolla, which cost just over 100,000 yuan.
But he didn’t buy the car to show off at university. He thought that since he planned to go into business, having a car would be more convenient.
After all, even in this day and age, no big boss takes the bus.
However, Guo Wei was clearly not as calm as Jiang Zhou.
He ran his hands across the center console multiple times, his eyes full of envy.
“So, what do you think? Not bad, right?”
Guo Wei nodded eagerly. “I really want a car of my own too.”
Jiang Zhou chuckled. “Say a few nice things about me. If I’m happy, maybe I’ll buy you one too.”
“Really, Brother Jiang?!”
“I think you’re dreaming.”
Guo Wei’s grin immediately vanished.
Jiang Zhou was not someone to be fully trusted. Out of ten things he said, eleven were probably false.
The journey from Linjiang to Shangjing was over 400 kilometers.
Driving would take about four hours.
They first needed to reach the Linjiang expressway entrance and then cruise down the highway.
Jiang Zhou had only had his license for half a month.
Technically, he wasn’t allowed on the highway yet.
But enforcement wasn’t strict during this era, and the rule about novice drivers not using highways was more of a recommendation.
So Jiang Zhou calmly drove toward the Linjiang expressway entrance.
Just before entering, he spotted two familiar figures by the roadside.
One was Officer Chu in plain clothes.
The other, of course, was the high school goddess — Chu Yuwei.
“Sweetie, can you stop being angry?” her father pleaded.
“No! Absolutely not!”
Chu Xiong sighed. “There really is something urgent at the station. I just got the call.”
Chu Yuwei pouted. “So now you want me to go to the bus station and take a coach?”
“How about this? You take the coach first, and after I’m done with work, I’ll visit you at school.”
As a father who doted on his daughter, Chu Xiong was completely helpless.
He already missed much of her childhood due to work.
Now, he couldn’t even see her off to university. He felt terrible about it.
But as the chief, some things were simply out of his control.
“What if I ask your uncle to take you?”
“I don’t care who comes, I want you to take me!”
At that moment, a Toyota Corolla quietly passed by.
It didn’t stop and headed straight for the toll gate.
Jiang Zhou had always seen Chu Yuwei as trouble.
So he stuck to his “less is more” policy and didn’t greet them.
But just because he didn’t say anything didn’t mean Guo Wei wouldn’t.
He rolled down the window and stuck his head out.
“Hey, school beauty! What a coincidence seeing you again!”
Jiang Zhou didn’t even get a chance to stop him!
Left with no choice, he hit the brakes.
“Uncle Chu, Yuwei, what are you guys doing here?”
Chu Yuwei blushed and suddenly looked down.
Her pads were still with him.
Chu Xiong looked surprised. “Jiang Zhou? You’re driving yourself to school?”
“Oh, I wanted to try being independent. What about you two? Why are you still here?”
Jiang Zhou quickly came up with an excuse, trying to steer the conversation away.
His parents still didn’t know about the car. If Chu Xiong spilled the beans, he’d be in trouble.
They might even drive to the university to scold him.
“Independence is great. That’s how boys should be,” Chu Xiong nodded approvingly.
Then he looked at his daughter. “I’ve got an emergency at work and can’t take Yuwei. I was just figuring out what to do.”
Guo Wei’s eyes lit up. “That’s easy! She can come with us!”
At that moment, Jiang Zhou had the sudden urge to stuff him into the trunk.
“Would that be appropriate?” he asked.
Guo Wei nodded furiously. “Of course! There’s only the two of us in the car anyway.”
Seeing that he couldn’t avoid it, Jiang Zhou reluctantly agreed. “Yeah, and our schools are right next to each other. I can drop her off.”
Chu Xiong hesitated. “That might work… but my daughter insisted that I take her today.”
Jiang Zhou perked up. “Well then, I won’t keep you—”
“Wait!” Just as he was about to speak, Chu Yuwei suddenly cut in. “I understand, Dad. You’ve got no choice. Work is work.
“I’ll go with Jiang Zhou to school.”
Chu Xiong turned around, shocked. “Didn’t you just say I had to take you?”
Chu Yuwei cleared her throat. “I was just throwing a tantrum. It’s not like I’m immature.”
“This is kinda hard to believe…”
“Oh, come on. Just go do your work. I know you’re in a tough spot.”
Chu Xiong was moved to tears.
His daughter really had matured since graduating high school.
She finally understood how hard he worked.
“When you arrive, make sure to call me, alright?”
“I will! Now hurry up and go, we’re heading out.”
Chu Yuwei, now all smiles, took her luggage out of the trunk.
Guo Wei got out to help her load it into Jiang Zhou’s car.
Chu Xiong walked up to Jiang Zhou. “Jiang Zhou, please take care of Yuwei. I’ll treat you to dinner when you’re back.”
“You’re too polite, Uncle Chu. It’s what classmates should do.”
“Great. I can rest easy then.”
Jiang Zhou gave him a big smile. “Drive safe, Uncle Chu. Just call me if you need anything.”
Chu Xiong nodded and drove away from the expressway entrance.
Meanwhile, Guo Wei finished loading the luggage.
He got into the passenger seat, opened a bottle of water, and was ready to relax.
Jiang Zhou turned to him. “You. Get in the back.”
Guo Wei blinked. “Why?”
“If it were your car, would you rather have a pretty girl in the passenger seat, or a dumbass?”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
Guo Wei froze for half a second, then got out.
But a second later, he felt something wasn’t right.
If the pretty girl is Chu Yuwei… then who’s the dumbass?