Chapter 18: Vehicle Gift Pack

Watching Zhao Yaqian's figure disappear.

Li Jingzhong shook his head in disappointment. After sizing Tang Song up for a moment, he suddenly smiled and said, "You're Zhao Yaqian's friend, right? Find some time to advise her. It's not easy to find a decent job these days, especially for a young girl like her who hasn't even been to university."

Tang Song frowned and asked coldly, "What kind of job are you referring to?"

From their conversation just now, it was obvious that the job he was implying was not something clean.

Zhao Yaqian was a simple-minded person; if he were sincerely trying to help her, he wouldn't have used that tone.

Li Jingzhong looked into his eyes and said indifferently, "The kind of job that suits her best, of course. Forget it, I can't be bothered to argue with a youngster like you. You'll understand certain things in the future."

With that, he curled his lip, brushed past Tang Song, and got into a royal blue Mercedes parked by the roadside.

"Beep, beep, beep—" An ear-piercing horn sounded.

The black tires churned through the rainwater as the Mercedes disappeared into the curtain of rain on the street.

Tang Song withdrew his gaze. He had intended to go in and talk to Zhao Yaqian.

However, after hesitating for a moment, he gave up.

They hadn't known each other long, and they didn't know much about one another; asking such a question would be somewhat intrusive.

Returning to Qingxin Garden.

Tang Song opened his umbrella and carefully hung it on the balcony to dry.

He sent a message to Zhao Yaqian: "The fried skewers today were delicious, thank you. Once I successfully lose weight, I'll treat you to a big meal too."

Putting down his phone, Tang Song sat on the sofa, gazing at the rainy night outside the window.

He opened the system interface to check the details of the mission he had just triggered.

[Side Quest: My First Car]

[Mission Content: Use the savings accumulated from your work to purchase your first car according to your own wishes, and take a female friend to visit three scenic spots.]

[Mission Reward: Vehicle Gift Pack *1]

[Note 1: The price of this car cannot exceed 45,220.31 yuan.]

[Note 2: Owning your own car has been your dream since graduation. It doesn't have to be luxurious, expensive, or beautiful, but it can shield you from wind and rain, pick up your dates, expand your radius of life, and allow for road trips, letting you experience the joy of car ownership.]

He checked the reward details.

[Vehicle Gift Pack *1]: Upon opening, you will randomly obtain a vehicle valued under 500,000 yuan.

After reading the mission description and the reward, Tang Song stood up abruptly.

Holy crap! A direct reward of a car worth up to 500,000 yuan!

He was a young man, after all, and had a great interest in—and considerable knowledge of—digital gadgets, cars, sneakers, and music.

Owning his own car was indeed his dream, but he had been suppressing his desires in order to save money for a house.

Now, not only could he buy a small car according to his own wishes, but the system would also provide an extra one.

Even though it was random, even if he drew a car worth two or three hundred thousand, that would be great!

Moreover, this mission wasn't difficult; it could even be described as extremely simple.

As for the restriction "price cannot exceed 45,220.31 yuan," it was likely because that was his actual savings before obtaining the system.

It was money he had earned bit by bit through his own hard work.

Although that sum of money had now been invested into the [Betting Agreement], it hadn't disappeared.

Tang Song took a deep breath, sat down at his computer, opened an automotive news website, and began searching for a car that suited him.

There were very few new cars under 45,000 yuan; they were mostly micro-cars or small vans, which didn't interest him much.

If there were reliable used cars, he could consider them, and that would offer much more choice.

After an unknown amount of time.

"Ding-dong—" A WeChat notification sounded.

Tang Song raised an eyebrow; Zhao Yaqian had finally replied.

...

Tiankuo Garden Residential Area.

Zhao Yaqian opened the door, kicked off her high heels immediately, and tossed her bag aside.

"Tap, tap, tap—" She walked into the living room barefoot, her long legs moving rhythmically.

She unbuttoned her small blazer, plopped down on the sofa, and began devouring the fruit platter on the coffee table.

Her best friend, He Liting, who was wearing a face mask and watching a drama, glanced at her and said casually, "That fruit platter cost 20 in total. Remember to transfer me 10 later."

Zhao Yaqian curled her lip, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

Seeing this, He Liting quickly comforted her, "Alright, alright, stop crying. I know you're broke, I was just joking."

Zhao Yaqian squeezed her brows aggrievedly and finished the fruit in a few bites.

Her body went limp as she leaned against He Liting, her eyes vacant. "It's too hard, Tingzi. Life is too hard."

"Can you not be so discouraged? It's no big deal. It's just that you haven't bought new clothes in a month, you can't pay off your credit card or Huabei, you don't have rent money, your family is buried in debt, you didn't go to university, and your boss has been withholding your salary for over two months while constantly gaslighting you... Okay, I can't go on, you really are miserable!"

Zhao Yaqian swatted her chest, fighting back her tears. She picked up her phone and looked at the message Tang Song had sent earlier, truly not knowing how to reply.

He Liting leaned over to look and asked curiously, "Is this that 'really nice customer' you mentioned last time? The one who gave you those Swarovski stud earrings? Oh! Did you guys go on a date today? And eat handmade fried skewers together? That's quite a relationship! You've only treated me to a meal three times!"

Hearing this, tears actually spilled from Zhao Yaqian's eyes. "But I feel like I scammed him. I knew Yizi Beauty was about to go bankrupt, yet I still took 2,000 yuan from him for a membership card."

"What the hell are you feeling bad about! You're just an ordinary employee doing what you're supposed to do. It's not your fault if the shop goes under!"

"But... but... we're friends. He'll probably be angry with me, right?"

He Liting said crossly, "Zhao Yaqian, are you actually stupid or just pretending? Isn't it obvious that guy wants to hit on you? How could he be angry over something like this? He'll probably rush to comfort you and even help you find a new job!"

At those words, Zhao Yaqian's face flushed red, and she stammered, "You... you're talking nonsense!"

"Tsk, you know the truth in your heart!" He Liting sat up straight and asked curiously, "Why don't you tell me about him? If his conditions are right, you might as well just go for it, that way... Hey, hey, hey! Don't tickle me!"

In a fit of embarrassment and anger, Zhao Yaqian began to wrestle with her best friend on the sofa.

After a while, the two finally quieted down.

He Liting pulled at the mask on her face. "Tell me. Even if there's nothing romantic between you, I just want to know what kind of person he is. Purely out of curiosity."

Lying on her friend's lap, Zhao Yaqian murmured, "He's a really good person. He speaks gently and politely, and when he does things..."

"Stop! You've said all that. I'm asking about his financial situation!"

"Uh... I don't know the specifics. I only know he's a programmer, rents a place in Qingxin Garden near Yunsheng Plaza, and doesn't own a car. Judging by his clothes, he doesn't seem particularly wealthy."

"That sounds pretty boring. Do you have a photo?"

Zhao Yaqian picked up her phone and scrolled through, finding a photo taken at the fried skewer shop today where Tang Song happened to be in the frame.

He Liting took it and looked, clicking her tongue. "He's nothing special. Combined with his economic status, you two aren't a good match!"

"Can you stop always saying that!" Zhao Yaqian hit her crossly.

Looking at Tang Song's photo, she sighed, opened WeChat, and replied: "Brother Song, I am so sorry. Yizi Beauty and Hair Salon really did run into business problems. It was my fault for not being clear with you at the time."