Ticket (8)

Just as An Xiaowei was still debating whether to rent a car, Ning Moqing's vehicle pulled up outside the villa gate.

"Xiaowei, I came back to grab something for Little Wan." Ning Moqing unlocked the door with her fingerprint and stepped inside, pausing when she saw Xiaowei fiddling with a bicycle.

"Are you heading out? Need a ride? I'm going to Peaceful Village—is that on your way?" Ning Moqing said as she walked in.

This time, she had sent her assistant, Little Li, to accompany her for filming. The weather at the set was terrible, so she had come to mail some clothes to An Wan.

An Xiaowei glanced at Ning Moqing’s Maserati.

This agent was ridiculously wealthy. And coincidentally, she was also heading to Peaceful Village.

What an ominous-sounding village name.

She quickly agreed.

"Sure."

With such a nice car, it’d be a shame not to stuff a bicycle in the trunk.

Luckily, this one was foldable.

By the time Ning Moqing came back out, An Xiaowei had already folded the bike.

"Do you really need to bring a bicycle everywhere? And why a Bluetooth speaker?" Ning Moqing was utterly baffled.

And what was with the helmet?

"You wouldn’t understand," An Xiaowei said, shoving a hundred-yuan bill into Ning Moqing’s hand.

Ning Moqing: "…"

Was she being hired as a chauffeur now?

Since when had her worth dropped to a hundred yuan?

An Xiaowei studied Ning Moqing’s unreadable expression and hesitated—had she overpaid?

So she took back the hundred and replaced it with some loose change, neatly handing Ning Moqing exactly 3.88 yuan.

Ning Moqing: (''-'')ノ)`-'')

Damn it, Xiaowei was definitely being cheeky on purpose.

"Fine, keep your pennies. Get your stuff and hop in. Where are you going? I’ll drop you off first." Ning Moqing was torn between amusement and exasperation.

"I’m also going to Peaceful Village. Just leave me at the village entrance."

Ning Moqing paused. Peaceful Village wasn’t developed yet—the entrance was quite far from the actual village.

Why stop there?

But she didn’t press further. The entire drive was filled with Xiaowei’s music playlist.

Which consisted entirely of Buddhist chants.

By the time they arrived, Ning Moqing felt like she was about to ascend to the heavens.

There was something off about Xiaowei, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

At the entrance, Ning Moqing helped unload the bike and noticed Xiaowei still scrolling through her playlist.

"Call me if you need anything. I’m meeting a friend in Peaceful Village and mailing a package," Ning Moqing said before driving off, though not without some lingering concern.

Not long after, An Xiaowei spotted a car stalled on the road. A white-haired but energetic old man jumped out and kicked the multi-million-yuan vehicle.

Useless piece of junk.

He pulled out his phone and grabbed some shopping bags from the trunk. Before he could take two steps, a petite, delicate-looking girl pushing a bicycle approached him.

"Grandpa, need a ride?" An Xiaowei patted the rear seat.

"My biking skills are rock-solid. No worries."

Grandpa An eyed the tiny bike, then the girl who barely reached 1.6 meters.

This thing looked like it could topple any second.

"No, thanks, I—" Before he could finish, Yan Chen’s car rolled up beside them.

This was his latest reward from completing a mission. With his system, even taking a dump in the bathroom could earn him prizes.

So Yan Chen was as smug as ever.

He rolled down the window and glanced at the old man. That stalled car was expensive—this grandpa had to be loaded.

He definitely had a stunning granddaughter or niece who’d be hopelessly obsessed with him, just like in the novels.

But no. Yan Chen would make it clear—he only had eyes for An Wan.

A devoted man was far more attractive.

With that in mind, Yan Chen smiled warmly. "Uncle, car trouble? I’m heading into the village—need a lift?"

Grandpa An studied the car.

Not bad. Tempting.

But before he could lift a leg, An Xiaowei suddenly latched onto his arm, wailing dramatically, "Grandpa! Grandpa! Don’t you remember me? I’m An Yuhe from the Big Ming Lake!"

Grandpa An: "…"

Yan Chen: "…"

Si: Σ(д|||)

What kind of lunatic is this host? Is there still hope for her?

Yan Chen hadn’t noticed the girl earlier, but now he recognized her—An Wan’s little sister. So her name was An Yuhe?

What a tacky name. Yet, inexplicably, he loved it.

So charming.

"Yuhe, little sister, your sister’s away filming. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here? I could’ve driven you," Yan Chen said, tapping the steering wheel with a hint of pride.

An Xiaowei: ?

"I have a ride too. Come on, Grandpa! You promised—one day, you’d ride in my vehicle, whether it’s a kiddie car or a Rolls-Royce. You said you’d never judge!"

An Xiaowei was fully committed to the act, leaving Grandpa An deeply uncomfortable.

He’d never even been to Big Ming Lake.

Had the city hospital’s security failed? How did this clearly unwell girl escape?

He wanted to accept Yan Chen’s offer, but guilt gnawed at him.

This girl was probably neglected, driven to madness.

If his second granddaughter hadn’t gone missing, she’d be about this girl’s age now.

With a sigh, Grandpa An relented. "Alright, little girl. You’re sure you can handle this?"

"Absolutely! Trust me."

An Xiaowei took the bike for a quick spin to demonstrate. Convinced, Grandpa An reluctantly climbed on.

Yan Chen was floored. What kind of underhanded trick was this?

And why was the old man playing along?

As Grandpa An settled in, An Xiaowei turned and winked at Yan Chen.

"Happy early Head Seventh~"

Then she hit play on her music.

"Fold a paper crane, tie a red ribbon, wishing good folks luck every day~"

"Work hard for a sweet life, stay healthy in spring, toil a lifetime for smiles and cheer~"

The cheerful tune faded into the distance.

Yan Chen clutched his chest.

No, no—ambulance, ambulance!

It felt like An Xiaowei had just ripped away his first human cheat code.

The sheer agony of it overwhelmed him, and he passed out.

Some time later, a knock on the window startled him awake.

"Sir, are you—" Yan Chen sat up, only for a slip of paper to be tossed inside.

"Parking ticket. Who said you could stop here?"

Yan Chen: "…"