Chapter 70: Encountering a Troubling Person

Chapter 70: Encountering a Troubling Person

As the end of the workday approached, Wang Guocheng called, “Xiaoyou, I’m waiting for you downstairs at your company.”

Fan Xiaoyou’s mood was oddly complicated by a note she had seen earlier that day. She responded and headed downstairs. “Alright.”

When Fan Xiaoyou finished gathering her things and came down, she saw Wang Guocheng dressed in casual clothes from head to toe.

He wore a crisp white T-shirt, faded gray jeans, and a pair of ordinary sneakers—nothing could have been more plain.

The sight of Wang Guocheng looking so relaxed and unassuming today unsettled Fan Xiaoyou a little.

She walked up and teased him, “What’s this? Are you afraid people will say you look older than me, so you deliberately dressed like a fresh-faced youngster?”

Wang Guocheng glanced over himself, apparently seeing nothing amiss. He reached out and pinched Fan Xiaoyou’s cheek. “I’ve always been fresh-faced—no need to pretend! Come on, beautiful, tonight I’ll take you cycling to enjoy Kangcheng’s sunset scenery.”

Fan Xiaoyou was somewhat surprised by this gesture. In the past, when she was dating Tim, she had hoped he would take her out cycling around Kangcheng, but Tim always said it wasn’t suitable for his status. Their relationship was a secret, and he didn’t want too many people to know.

Back then, Fan Xiaoyou had only foolishly sat in Tim’s BMW time and again, quietly sobbing. Each time, she listened to Tim’s promises: “When the time is right, I’ll introduce you to my family, to my colleagues at the company…”

But she never waited for their relationship to see the light of day. They broke up, met again, and then Tim passed away…

She mocked herself silently. She realized her love for Tim was like an illusion—unless it cut to the bone, it seemed so insubstantial it was as if it had never happened.

Wang Guocheng saw Fan Xiaoyou staring blankly and nudged her. “Goddess, hop on the bike! If you keep daydreaming, the sky will turn dark soon, and we’ll miss the sunset.”

He led Fan Xiaoyou to the bicycle, helped her onto it, and said,

“Don’t get distracted, alright? Hold tight to my waist, or you might get thrown off.”

The reason Wang Guocheng showed up this evening on a bicycle was to experience what it felt like to have the girl he loved trust him enough to hold onto his waist.

Seeing Fan Xiaoyou settled but not yet holding onto him, Wang Guocheng joked, “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you holding onto my waist? Are you shy?”

Fan Xiaoyou’s cheeks flushed. Truthfully, her heart was racing; it was the first time in her life she had ever sat on the back of a boy’s bicycle.

She thought of a beautiful essay she once read, “Bicycle Love.”

Fan Xiaoyou stuck out her tongue at Wang Guocheng, wrapped her arms around his waist, and retorted,

“I’m not shy! I was just wondering if it’s appropriate for us to ride out like this. You know, Kangcheng doesn’t have dedicated bike lanes, so…”

Wang Guocheng smirked, “The place I’ll take you today is definitely somewhere you’ve never been. Just get ready to take some beautiful photos!”

And so, in the twilight, Wang Guocheng carried Fan Xiaoyou through Kangcheng’s streets and alleys. To her surprise, they never retraced their steps.

Watching Wang Guocheng skillfully weave through the lanes, Fan Xiaoyou was puzzled. “Wang Guocheng, did you grow up in Kangcheng before leaving? You seem to know the roads here better than I do.”

Wang Guocheng grinned with pride. “Envious, aren’t you? Let me tell you, I’ve always had a natural sense of direction—wherever I go, I get familiar in no time. But I must correct you: this is my first time in Kangcheng. I’ve never lived here before.”

Just as Wang Guocheng turned his head to reply, he lost control of the bicycle. Suddenly, a car came from behind, bumping them to the side. Thanks to Wang Guocheng’s quick reflexes, Fan Xiaoyou wasn’t hurt.

He shielded her as they tumbled to the other side. As he was about to get up, a fashionable woman stepped out of the car, speaking with an abrasive tone,

“Are you blind? How do you ride a bike like that? Didn’t you see this is a brand-new Gemstone Jet? Look, you scratched my car—how are you going to compensate me?”

Fury flashed in Wang Guocheng’s eyes, but he kept his composure and replied politely,

“Miss, it was clearly your speed that knocked us down and sent us to the ground. How is it now our fault for scratching your car?

You should look closely—this is a pedestrian street. You’re breaking the rules by driving here, and now you’re playing the victim, accusing us instead?”

It was the first time Fan Xiaoyou saw Wang Guocheng rattle off such a barrage of words. As she raised her eyes to confront the woman, she recognized the heavily made-up, perfume-drenched figure in a DIOR suit—it was none other than Tang Ling, who had clashed with her not long ago.

Before Fan Xiaoyou could speak, Tang Ling chimed in, “Oh, so it’s you! Fan Xiaoyou, have you changed your taste now? No more luxury cars, now you’re riding this boring bike. Your standards are really slipping.”

Fan Xiaoyou, seeing Tang Ling’s aggressive stance, didn’t want to argue. “Tang Ling, you know you’re in the wrong today. Please don’t be so unreasonable.”

She pulled Wang Guocheng toward the toppled bicycle, ready to set it upright, when Tang Ling, leaning against her car, sneered,

“Fan Xiaoyou, who do you think you are? What do you mean I’m being unreasonable? Let me tell you, today I’m making it clear—you scratched my car and still want to leave? No way…”

Fan Xiaoyou was indignant at Tang Ling’s escalating demands. She had never liked Tang Ling’s ways and, unable to hold back, shouted,

“Tang Ling, don’t be so excessive! You were clearly in the wrong. How dare you try to blame me?”

Tang Ling raised her voice arrogantly, “Fan Xiaoyou, mind your manners. I’m not the Tang Ling you used to know. This car was just bought for me by my godfather.

If he hears about this and gets in a good mood, half of Kangcheng might tremble. Don’t say I didn’t warn you—your company could suffer and go under along with you, haha…” With that, Tang Ling laughed wildly nearby.