Chapter 19: Used Cars

"Ding-dong—"

Looking at the message Zhao Yaqian had just sent, Tang Song smiled faintly.

From the very beginning, his reason for getting a membership and topping up his balance wasn't for Yizi Beauty and Hair Salon, but simply to make friends with this beautician.

And this friend of his was so straightforwardly cute that he actually felt a sense of guilt.

After a moment's thought, Tang Song replied with a smile: "It's okay. As long as you're willing to give me some skincare tips, we can consider that 2,000 yuan as tuition. I will always trust your professional ability and character, Teacher Zhao."

The message was sent, and a reply came back almost immediately—it was a voice message.

He tapped to play.

Zhao Yaqian: "I... I have no problem with that! You can reach out to me anytime! Don't worry, Song-ge, Yizi Beauty still owes me unpaid wages! If the shop actually goes bankrupt, I'll just haul all the equipment and skincare products back to my house. When that happens, you can come to me and I'll keep doing your treatments!"

It was clear that this beautician friend was extremely happy.

Tang Song replied with a voice message as well: "Remember to call me when that time comes. I'll drive my car to help you move the goods."

"Ding-dong—"

[Zhao Yaqian: "That would be great! I was actually worried I wouldn't be able to move the equipment by myself!"]

[Zhao Yaqian: Moved.GIF]

Looking at the emoji she sent, Tang Song couldn't help but laugh out loud.

It was actually a selfie of her, wearing a sexy camisole, looking both beautiful and adorably dorky.

Tang Song casually replied with a "cool guy" GIF.

The two of them spent a while going back and forth with emojis.

It was evident that Zhao Yaqian was quite a narcissistic girl; most of the emojis were her own selfies.

After chatting and finishing his fat-burning aerobics, Tang Song did a quick wash.

He leaned against the headboard and read *To Live* for half an hour.

Falling into a deep sleep amidst reflections on Fugui's tragic fate and a familiar sense of hunger.

...

The next day at noon.

"Holy crap, Xiao Song, you want to buy a car? For real?!" Guo Peng exclaimed, completely forgetting about the grilled meat rice in his hand.

Du Shaokai, who was resting while hugging a pillow, said with a chuckle, "Old Song, you weren't actually provoked by someone, were you? First weight loss, then skincare, and now buying a car."

Hearing this, the surrounding colleagues instantly pricked up their ears and crowded around.

"What price range are you looking at?"

"Want me to recommend a few? I've been watching a ton of reviews lately; I'm super professional."

Tang Song smiled and explained, "I just saw Brother Guo buy a car, and it made me a little restless."

Guo Peng looked at him and advised, "Don't be impulsive. Think it through before you buy—whether you really need it. Cars are depreciating assets the moment you buy them; you're better off considering a house first."

Zhao Yue stood up from her workstation and asked curiously, "What kind of car is Brother Song planning to buy?"

"A used car for thirty or forty thousand will do. It'll be good practice; I won't feel bad if I get a scratch or a dent, and I can upgrade to a new one later." Tang Song patted Guo Peng. "Brother Guo, don't you have a cousin who runs an auto repair shop? Ask him to help me scout for something."

Guo Peng's cousin had a small-scale repair shop over in the Qiaoxi District and also made a side living trading used cars; his Civic had been sourced by the guy.

Guo Peng paused, then smiled. "That works. For a car at that price, it won't depreciate much even if you drive it for six months and then sell it. I'll call him right now."

"Alright, thanks Brother Guo. I'll treat you to a big meal later."

Hearing that Tang Song only wanted to buy a cheap used car, a visible disappointment appeared on Zhao Yue's face.

In her consumer philosophy, buying an old used car was truly inferior to taking out a loan for a good one. Not only was it more reliable, but it also brought prestige when driving it out.

However, she maintained an excited expression on the surface, her eyes sparkling as she said, "Brother Song is about to join the 'car owner club.' How much further can a house be? Keep it up!"

"A house... it shouldn't be too far," Tang Song said, half-joking and half-sighing.

Once, buying a house had been an obsession that he and his family could not escape.

Now that the game system had descended, as long as he worked steadily to improve himself, everything would follow its natural course.

Du Shaokai, however, burst out laughing. "Holy shit, you two are like a comedy duo, acting out a skit. Old Song! If you ask me, you should just take out a loan for an RV. That way, you get the car and the house in one go. Blissful! Hahahaha~"

Zhao Yue pursed her lips awkwardly and ignored Du Shaokai.

Du Shaokai was a local from Yancheng; he came from a good family, had a house and a car, and was handsome.

When she first joined the company, she had pursued him for a long time, showing concern on WeChat every day and occasionally sending coffee or snacks.

Unfortunately, Du Shaokai wasn't interested in her; his heart was set on pursuing Tian Jing, who had joined in the same batch as her.

She admitted that she was indeed lacking in certain aspects compared to Tian Jing, but she didn't feel she was much worse.

Because of this, the two had some unpleasantness, and their relationship had never truly mended.

...

3:30 PM.

Tang Song stepped off the elliptical machine, panting. Just as he returned to his workstation, Guo Peng approached him.

"Xiao Song, my cousin sent over the car listings. I forwarded them to you; take a look and see if any catch your eye. These are all quality cars with reasonable prices and reliable conditions."

"Got it, Brother Guo, let me see." Tang Song responded and quickly opened the chat window.

He trusted the character of this veteran of the department.

"This is a 2012 Fit. It has a sunroof, a 1.5L Earth Dreams engine, and it's super spacious—the rear seats can fold completely flat. It's fuel-efficient and durable. I've test-driven it before; it drives great! The price is just over 30,000, and it's negotiable."

"This is an 2018 Arrizo 5. It's newer, in excellent condition, with only about 40,000 kilometers on it, and it's an automatic. I think this one is also very good."

...

"This one is cheaper—a 2014 Suzuki Swift, manual, 1.3L displacement. The exterior is quite interesting, and it's very suitable for family errands or commuting. It's rugged and durable."

Tang Song's eyes sparkled as he looked through the photos and descriptions.

There were five cars in total, with prices ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 yuan. Each one was clearly documented, and they all looked to be in good condition.

The more Tang Song looked, the more interested he became. This was his first car!

"How is it? See anything you like?" Guo Peng leaned in beside him, appearing even more excited than Tang Song himself.

He was also a car lover; to buy that used Civic, he had spent a long time browsing forums and researching data. That sense of excitement hadn't worn off yet.

Tang Song took a large gulp from his water cup and said excitedly, "They're all pretty good. How about this, Brother Guo, you come with me tomorrow to see the actual cars and take them for a test drive before I decide?"

"No problem!" Guo Peng patted his chest. "You can do some thorough research on these models today. Don't worry about the price; they definitely won't rip you off. It's much better than buying from a dealer!"

"Alright, thanks Brother Guo!"

"Don't mention it. Just let me have a turn behind the wheel once you buy it! Hehe."

As the two were chatting, Du Shaokai suddenly walked over, patted Tang Song's shoulder enthusiastically, and smiled, "Old Song, President Chen is looking for you. Get over there, quick."

Guo Peng glanced toward the Director's office, quickly ducked his head, and retreated to his workstation to slack off.

Tang Song frowned, having a bad premonition.

(End of Chapter)