Chapter 35: Opportunity

But dwelling on it now is useless; after all, if you aren't enthusiastic about leaving work on time, there must be something wrong with your head. Better hurry—didn't you see how fast Manager Wang bolted the moment the clock struck?

Lin Ye stuffed the Tank 700’s key into his pocket and left the office. He hadn't walked more than a few steps into the underground garage before he spotted the pitch-black Tank 700.

He circled the vehicle twice, peering here and patting there, clicking his tongue in appreciation. Look at those rugged body lines, that masculine aesthetic, the TRO forged wheels, and the Black Bear MT tires—this was, quite simply, Lin Ye’s dream car.

Well, nothing more to be said. Since it’s a company-provided vehicle, Lin Ye certainly couldn't refuse such a kind gesture from his employer. He would just have to graciously accept this Tank 700.

Mind you, if one were to be technical, this Tank 700 wasn't even as expensive as the Mercedes the company had provided before. But price wasn't really the point; the point was that Lin Ye loved the Tank 700.

As Lin Ye gently pressed the accelerator, the 3.0T six-cylinder engine began to reveal its true potential.

While stopped at a red light, Lin Ye gazed out the window, lost in thought. Based on the situation this morning, Su Qing had made her stance quite clear.

The marital relationship between them still existed, as she had already pointed out that the altered divorce agreement held no legal weight.

This meant that upon waking up and seeing him, Su Qing was not repulsed; she had, in fact, accepted him as her husband.

Otherwise, when he kissed her earlier today, she surely would have resisted with all her might. Summing it all up, since Su Qing had feelings for him and he had already kissed her, he needed to show the resolve of a man!

First step: try asking her out for dinner! Yes, that was exactly right! It was a perfect beginning.

"Beep!" The harsh blare of a car horn snapped Lin Ye back to reality. He realized he was sitting at a traffic light, not at a restaurant having dinner with Su Qing.

Lin Ye parked the car in a space beneath his apartment building and took out his phone, ready to send Su Qing a message to ask if she was free for dinner. Besides, he was living alone and hadn't cooked, so he’d have to buy something to eat anyway.

Up to this point, everything was going perfectly—so smoothly that Lin Ye felt like he was dreaming. If things followed their usual course, a complication was bound to arise now.

It wasn't exactly a catastrophe, but Lin Ye suddenly realized he didn't actually have Su Qing's contact information.

Right, how could he have her contact details?

At the very beginning, Su Qing had been in a coma. He visited the hospital every day, so he had no need for a number—she was always right there in the hospital, unable to go anywhere.

Later... later he signed the divorce papers and took a hairpin that belonged to her. From that point on, their paths were like two intersecting lines in the same space.

After a brief intersection, they moved off in opposite directions. He encountered her once more at the hospital, but he was too afraid to face his own destitute self and fled in a panic.

Finally, fate seemed to favor him once more; the meeting at the coffee shop confirmed Su Qing's feelings and helped him find himself. He was overjoyed—so happy that he had imagined a future with her, imagined everything they would do together.

Yet, he had forgotten to ask for her contact information. In an instant, his mood felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over him, cooling his spirits completely.

Without a way to contact her, finding someone in a city was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Lin Ye slumped in the driver's seat, staring blankly at the distant sky.

The good mood of the morning had vanished. How could he have forgotten to ask for her number? Heaven had clearly given him the chance.

He was the one who had thrown away the opportunity that had been placed right in his hands; he had no one else to blame.

Night slowly descended, the last traces of the sunset's glow quietly fading away. The once light-blue sky gradually deepened into a dark indigo.

Stars began to twinkle in the firmament like countless diamonds scattered across the curtain of night. A gentle breeze carrying a hint of chill slipped into the car through the half-opened window.

Streetlights flickered on one by one, draping the city in a hazy veil of light. For a moment, the world grew strangely quiet.

Suddenly, the aroma of coffee drifted from a cup held by a woman passing by his car, caught by a stray gust of wind and carried straight into the vehicle.

Lin Ye’s nose twitched. He caught the faint scent of coffee. Although he hadn't had much experience with the drink, he could tell that this aroma was far inferior to the cup Su Qing had shared with him that morning.

A spark ignited in the depths of his eyes, growing brighter by the second. That was it! Su Qing had said she often went to that coffee shop.

If he parked his car in front of the shop and spent his time off sitting in the vehicle, wouldn't the probability of finding her increase?

With that thought, Lin Ye’s spirits lifted instantly. The sudden flare of the Tank 700’s headlights startled a passerby on their way home.

Although this Tank 700 had only met him today, to Lin Ye, nothing could provide him with more comfort at this moment. At the very least, if he parked in front of the coffee shop, he had a place to sleep, didn't he?

The car rolled to a stop at the curb in front of the café. There were no marked parking spots, but based on the fact that he had left the car there for hours that morning without getting a ticket or being towed, it seemed to be a permissible spot. Besides, he would be in the car all night; even if the police came, they likely wouldn't slap a ticket on a car they could see was occupied.

It was only seven in the evening. The amber light spilling from the café cast a glow onto the sidewalk.

Lin Ye was somewhat surprised; there were far more people in the shop now than when he and Su Qing were there. At the very least, it wasn't like the morning, when they were the only two people in the entire place.

Seeing the café, images of holding Su Qing in his arms earlier that day involuntarily flooded his mind. He unconsciously licked his lips, as if savoring a lingering memory.

Should he... go in and have a cup of chocolate cocoa?

In truth, compared to coffee, Lin Ye preferred chocolate cocoa. When it came to drinks, he had a bit of a sweet tooth.

Aside from that one cup of coffee this morning, he couldn't even remember the last time he’d had one.