Chapter 14 Driving

Chapter 14 Driving

Chi Xiao reacted swiftly, kneeling down and wrapping his long arms around Miaomiao just as he began to slump, pulling him into his embrace.

Ming Can, her face pale with fright, rushed over to caress Miaomiao's cheeks and forehead. "Baby, what's wrong?"

Miaomiao, soft and limp, leaned against Chi Xiao's arm, pursing his lips. He slowly turned his body, burying his face in Chi Xiao's chest like a small animal hibernating in its den, ignoring the calls from the outside world.

Ming Can thoroughly examined Miaomiao from head to toe but found no signs of external injuries.

"Did you see what happened to him?" Ming Can asked Chi Xiao. "How could he suddenly pass out like that?"

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention," Chi Xiao paused before continuing, "The school clinic is right next to the basketball court; there should be a doctor on duty now."

Ming Can nodded repeatedly. "Let's go."

Chi Xiao stood up, holding Miaomiao, while Ming Can quickly retrieved Miaomiao's jacket from her backpack and helped him put it on.

As the number of people in the venue decreased, the temperature noticeably dropped. Chi Xiao was still wearing his basketball uniform, his slender arms exposed, making it seem as if he and the little boy were in different seasons.

Seeing Chi Xiao about to leave with Miaomiao, Ming Can suddenly called out, "Aren't you going to wear a jacket?"

Chi Xiao: "I'm not cold."

Ming Can: "It's almost zero degrees outside. I suggest you put one on."

Chi Xiao's jacket was a dark blue windbreaker, draped over a nearby table. With Miaomiao in his arms, it was inconvenient for him to put it on, so Ming Can picked it up without hesitation, opened it, and draped it over his shoulders, tiptoeing to reach him.

Chi Xiao slightly bent down.

As the thick fabric enveloped him, a faint scent of roses wafted through the air.

In December, North City was nearly pitch black by six o'clock.

The three of them walked into the school clinic, braving the cold wind.

Without bothering to register, Chi Xiao carried Miaomiao straight into the doctor's office where the on-duty physician was.

The clinic's bright lights shone directly from the ceiling, somewhat blinding.

Ming Can followed Chi Xiao into the office, urgently explaining Miaomiao's condition to the doctor.

The doctor asked her to calm down.

After a series of examinations, Miaomiao's breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure were all normal, leaving the doctor somewhat helpless. "This child probably just fell asleep."

Ming Can: "He's five and a half years old. How could he just fall asleep like that, as if he couldn't control himself?"

Doctor: "If he's too tired, it's possible he could fall asleep suddenly."

Ming Can: "But he didn't do any strenuous activities today..."

At that moment, Miaomiao, lying on the hospital bed, suddenly turned over, his eyes half-open, mumbling, "You guys are so noisy..."

His tone seemed to carry a hint of irritation at being woken up.

Ming Can: ...

She felt as if she had been tricked by a naughty child.

After complaining, Miaomiao fell back asleep. Ming Can finally believed he was fine and just sleeping. She couldn't help but walk over and roughly knead his face, trying to wake him up, but to no avail.

Chi Xiao, who had been standing silently beside them, suddenly said, "Let him sleep."

Ming Can: "But how will I get him home if he's asleep?"

As she spoke, her hand continued to playfully pinch Miaomiao's smooth cheeks.

Chi Xiao looked down at her, remaining silent for a moment before saying, "I can drive you home."

Ming Can responded instinctively, "No need to trouble you."

The place where she and Miaomiao were staying was known only to her aunt Ming Shu and the nanny. Even her closest friends didn't know the address, let alone someone like Chi Xiao, who was practically a stranger.

Miaomiao was sound asleep on the hospital bed. Ming Can sighed, bent down, and struggled to pick him up, passing by the young man and walking out of the office.

Arriving at the registration hall, which was empty, the cold winter night lay just beyond the door.

Ming Can temporarily placed Miaomiao on a chair and took out her phone to call a ride.

"Senior," she called out to Chi Xiao, asking, "Is it allowed for ride-sharing cars to enter the campus here?"

It was indeed allowed, provided they informed the security guards that they would leave immediately.

Chi Xiao did not respond immediately.

He knew Ming Can came from a wealthy family and assumed she would call her driver. However, she wanted to use a ride-sharing service instead.

After some consideration,

knowing she had no interest in him, Chi Xiao still offered, "Junior, my car is parked on campus. I can drive you home."

"It's really not necessary... Ah..." Ming Can's tongue twisted in her mouth, and she blinked a few times. "You can drive?"

Chi Xiao: "Yes."

Ming Can looked up at him, her dark eyes slightly dazed.

After picking up Miaomiao, she had always wanted to learn how to drive, but with her busy studies and the need to take care of the child, she couldn't find the time to go to the driving school.

So, when she heard Chi Xiao say that he could drive, Ming Can suddenly felt like it was exactly what she needed.

Thinking about it carefully.

Would it really matter if he knew where she and Miaomiao lived?

Ming Can pursed her lips and asked again, "When did you get your driver's license?"

Chi Xiao: "During the summer after the college entrance exam."

It had been more than two years since then.

Ming Can nodded: "Do you drive often?"

Chi Xiao: "Yes."

Ming Can: "What brand is your car?"

She asked several questions in a row, almost like a traffic police officer conducting an inspection. Chi Xiao found the scene somewhat peculiar, but he remained composed and calmly replied, "Lexus LS."

Not bad.

A very business-like car, priced around a million, not flashy, and wouldn't draw much attention. Ming Can, who now had a child to look after, hated drawing attention.

As far as she knew, this series should be a D-segment sedan, with ample rear space suitable for both business and family use.

Quickly, Ming Can made a decision: "Then I'll trouble Senior."

She smiled slightly, her eyes reflecting warmth, yet with a hint of pride, as if saying—

Alright, I'm giving you the chance to drive me home. Thank you for your kindness.

Chi Xiao nodded: "I'll go get the car."

His face remained calm and composed, his voice steady, making Ming Can feel like he was a deep pool; if a stone were thrown in, it would keep sinking without ever reaching the bottom.

Turning away, when he stepped out of the clinic, Chi Xiao's expression finally relaxed slightly, exhaling softly.

About ten minutes later.

A low-profile black car stopped at the clinic entrance.

Chi Xiao returned to the registration hall, bent down, and effortlessly picked up the sleeping Ming Miao.

In such a short time, he had changed from his basketball clothes into clean ones, with water droplets still clinging to his hair and temples, as if he had washed his head and face in the restroom.

He's quite hygienic.

Ming Can commented inwardly, following them out of the clinic.

The dim streetlights cast a hazy outline of the figures ahead. Only then did Ming Can notice that both the big and little one were wearing dark blue windbreakers today, looking like they were cut from the same mold.

Miaomiao's head rested on Chi Xiao's shoulder, forming a small bun of flesh.

His arm naturally circled Chi Xiao's shoulder, his closed eyelids slightly lifting. Seeing the familiar jawline and ear, he licked his lips and murmured, "Dad."

Chi Xiao's heart softened inexplicably, turning to look at him.

Missing his dad?

He couldn't help but wonder whose child this was, someone close enough for Ming Can to babysit.

Chi Xiao couldn't help but recall how Ming Can had taken care of Miaomiao on the basketball court and how worried she had looked when Miaomiao was seeing the doctor.

She seemed genuinely concerned and fond of this child.

Inside the car.

The interior was clean, spacious, with a minimalist and cool color scheme of black and gray.

Ming Can, who was sensitive to smells, usually took the most expensive private cars, but even then, she sometimes ended up in cars with strange odors.

Chi Xiao's car, however, had a faint scent of mint air freshener, completely free of any unpleasant smell, which was a significant plus.

Ming Can and Miaomiao sat in the back seat. Throughout the journey, Miaomiao slept soundly while Ming Can quietly observed Chi Xiao.

She watched how steady and skilled he was at driving, and also tried to understand what kind of person he was.

Despite being brothers, Chi Xiao and Chi Yao gave her very different impressions.

Chi Xiao seemed very independent, not like a pampered rich young master. He was quiet and reserved, either indifferent to everything or habitually self-controlled.

Ming Can gradually envisioned their future: marrying Chi Xiao under family pressure, living separately without affection, having a child, and sharing the responsibility of raising the child as a paper marriage.

It sounded quite liberating.

During rush hour, the traffic was congested, and the car moved slowly.

Suddenly, a long yawn came from beside her. Miaomiao fumbled with the seatbelt and opened his eyes, asking drowsily, "Where are we?"

"On our way home," Ming Can leaned over to straighten his rumpled clothes, "Your brother A Xiao is driving us home."

Miaomiao perked up a bit: "Is this his car? Why haven't I seen it before?"

"..." Ming Can said, "You seem half-asleep. Do you want to go back to sleep?"

Miaomiao was a bit sleepy but didn't want to sleep. His eyes roamed around the car, touching here and there.

In her mind, the system was advising him not to use his superpower today, as his two parents were too much to handle. Translating their true thoughts was simply too difficult for the little one.

Miaomiao then said to the system, "Uncle 33, I think my superpower is a bit broken. Dad's inner monologue keeps repeating the same sentence. How strange!"

System: "How can a superpower break? The problem lies with your dad."

Miaomiao: "Could it be... that Dad has been brainwashed by an alien called 'Contact Information'?"

System: "..."

Inside the car.

Chi Xiao glanced at Miaomiao through the rearview mirror. Suddenly, his hand extended from the steering wheel to grab a small object from the dashboard and asked Miaomiao, "Want to play with this?"

It was a lifelike wooden hedgehog.

Miaomiao took it with both hands. "Wow! What a cute little hedgehog! I love it!"

He acted as if he had never seen anything so fascinating before, holding it with great interest.

In another timeline.

His room was filled with all sorts of exquisite toys made by his father, so he was used to them by now!

Ming Can didn't know Chi Xiao could make crafts. The small object in Miaomiao's hands was indeed beautiful, even she found it new and interesting, so she didn't realize his excitement was feigned.

Chi Xiao thought Miaomiao was overreacting; it was just a wooden hedgehog after all.

After spending some time together, he even felt that Ming Can's little cousin seemed inexplicably close to him, as if he really liked this big brother.

In Chi Xiao's memory, he was not someone who could easily win over children.

He didn't need any child to like him either.

Before today, he thought children were annoying creatures, the farther away from him, the better.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, he actually felt a desire to please a certain child, hoping he would like him more.

"If you like it, I have others," Chi Xiao said. "I'll give them to you another day."

"Great!" Miaomiao blurted out, forgetting his current identity. "I want a puppy, like a corgi, and two kittens, one black and one white!"

Ming Can's temples throbbed, but it was too late to cover his mouth.

Chi Xiao: "Sure."

Seeing him agree so easily, Ming Can subconsciously assumed he had ready-made ones or could easily buy what Miaomiao wanted.

Then she heard Miaomiao ask, "When will you give them to me?"

Chi Xiao thought for a moment.

The air grew quiet for a second, and the rearview mirror reflected the girl's exasperated face and the child's mischievous smile.

Chi Xiao took a light breath and said softly, "Add me on contact information, and I'll let you know when they're done."

Hearing this, Miaomiao was momentarily stunned, unsure if his superpower was active.

But he did understand one thing—

Dad really likes adding people's contact information!

"Did you make it yourself?" Ming Can finally couldn't help asking. "This hedgehog, too?"

Chi Xiao: "Yes."

Ming Can was amazed. "Impressive."

Something stirred in Chi Xiao's eyes, and his gaze lingered on her face through the rearview mirror for a moment.

"139********" he recited his phone number.

It was the same as in the future, already saved in Ming Miao's smartwatch.

He pretended to fiddle with the smartwatch and made a call to the contact named "Dad."

"This is my number. Save it, big brother."

"Okay."

They arrived at their destination, and the car stopped. Chi Xiao got out first, walked around to open the door and grab their bags.

He was very gentlemanly and proper, but his expression management was lacking, making him seem distant, almost as if they owed him a million dollars.

"Thank you so much for today, Senior."

"It's no trouble."

"Really, thank you so much."

"It's nothing."

After some superficial exchanges, Ming Can led Miaomiao into the building’s entrance. After the electric glass door closed, both of them turned around simultaneously to look at the tall young man standing in the cold wind behind them.

Miaomiao waved goodbye, hopping and skipping.

Ming Can, on the other hand, had a complex expression. The polite social mask slipped away, her eyes filled with clear scrutiny and caution, just like the day they first met at the lecture. Her gaze was like a surgical knife, dissecting him piece by piece, meticulously analyzing every detail.

Back home,

Aunt Zhang had already prepared dinner and placed it in the refrigerator. Ming Can heated up a few dishes that Miaomiao loved, watched him finish eating, then made sure he washed up before going to bed.

It was still early. Ming Can sat at the bar in the living room with her laptop, tackling her assignments efficiently, finishing them one after another as deadlines approached.

Late into the night, when the city's neon lights faded and darkness enveloped the floor-to-ceiling windows, only silence remained.

Ming Can closed her laptop, resting her chin on her hand, beginning to ponder issues beyond her studies.

Before today, she was completely resistant to allowing Chi Xiao into her and Miaomiao's lives.

But now,

Her thoughts had shifted slightly.

The events of today felt like an unintentional test—she hadn't planned to test him; she simply wanted to introduce Miaomiao to him. Unexpectedly, through their brief interaction, she found that he had unknowingly crossed the lowest threshold in her heart, making her less resistant and open to other possibilities.

In other words, someone who was destined to be eliminated suddenly jumped onto the list for further consideration, gaining a chance to enter the evaluation period.

Ming Can organized her thoughts and concluded that this was indeed the case: Chi Xiao had entered her evaluation period.

Although this evaluation was one-sided—he didn’t even know he was being evaluated—and she wasn’t sure if someone like Chi Xiao could accept having a sudden biological son.

That would be something to consider later.

In summary, she would no longer reject Chi Xiao and would try to arrange for Miaomiao to see his father a few times a month based on Miaomiao's wishes, to alleviate his longing.

During this process, she would carefully consider whether to tell the truth to that man and involve him in raising the child.

For Ming Can, who had always been fiercely independent and avoided relationships with men, this was a groundbreaking change.

One of the reasons for this significant shift in her mindset was—

Chi Xiao could drive! And he drove quite well!

God knew how much Ming Can wished for a driver but couldn’t let outsiders see her life because of Miaomiao, so she had to struggle to get her own driver's license.

Unexpectedly, today, a ready-made driver and Miaomiao's biological father appeared.

If possible, Ming Can really wanted to hire him as a personal driver. This would fulfill Miaomiao's wish to see his dad every day and wouldn’t cause too much social impact if Miaomiao’s identity were accidentally revealed, since they were essentially in the same boat.

Thinking about this, Ming Can hopped off the bar stool, tiptoed into Miaomiao's room, picked up the children's smartwatch from the bedside table, opened the contact list, and found a certain person's phone number.

Before exploiting his labor,

She should at least build some rapport, right?

-

At A University, in the boys' dormitory,

Chi Xiao sat hunched over his desk, which was cleared and set up with cutting boards, several pieces of square pear wood and sandalwood, along with a pile of cutting and carving tools. He buried himself in his work, skillfully and meticulously crafting a small object.

His roommates were used to this scene.

Compared to chatting with people, the taciturn Chi Xiao preferred to spend his time working with wood.

The only strange thing was that he had played the entire basketball game earlier that evening, dunking so hard that the opposing team was left reeling. Logically, he should be exhausted, yet here he was, tirelessly working late into the night.

Just before lights out, Zhu Yida, who was closest to Chi Xiao, came over to see what he was doing.

"A kitten or puppy?" Zhu Yida asked. "Did you finish that thumb piano last time?"

Chi Xiao: "No."

Zhu Yida: "Why not continue with that? Kittens and puppies aren’t very technical. I think you’re better at making musical instruments."

Zhu Yida had visited Chi Xiao's house outside campus last year. The woodworking setup there was massive, resembling a professional workshop with many expensive woods drying, supposedly for making instruments. Unfortunately, Zhu Yida never saw where the finished instruments were stored.

Chi Xiao moved aside: "You're blocking my light."

Zhu Yida: "Alright, carry on."

A few minutes later, the lights-out bell rang. Chi Xiao put down his tools and went to wash up. When he returned, he heard a roommate loudly lamenting: "Damn it—I messed up again! This thing is cursed! How the hell do I fix it!"

Winter had arrived, and this guy decided to knit a scarf for his girlfriend. Originally planned to take two weeks, it had dragged on for nearly a month, and he had only completed half.

Chi Xiao happened to pass by.

Perhaps because he was in a good mood today, he didn’t walk away immediately. Instead, he glanced at the scarf in his roommate’s hands and offered advice: "You knitted this part wrong. You don’t need to undo it; just knit back to this point and use a crochet hook to fix it..."

"Oh... Is that how it works?"

"Yes."

"Crochet it here and then knit?"

"Yes."

"Holy shit! It worked! Brother Xiao, you’re amazing!"

The other two roommates had somehow gathered around, eyeing the two of them with a strange look, and gradually, peculiar smiles appeared on their faces.

Zhu Yida: "Old Chi, you can even knit scarves? Did you knit one for a girl before? Who was it? Who was it? Who was it?"

Chi Xiao’s lips twitched: "Get lost."

Zhu Yida watched his expression closely, his mouth slowly forming an O shape: "Holy shit, what’s that look? You didn’t chase her down even after giving her a scarf?"

"What? Is there actually a girl that Xiao Ge couldn’t get?"

"Wow, what kind of heart of stone must she have! So indifferent! I really want to meet her!"

...

Annoyed, Chi Xiao raised his hand and flicked off the dorm lights, returning to his seat with a blank face.

The room instantly plunged into darkness. With the main character gone, the guys lost interest and quickly quieted down.

After the lights went out, the dorm felt unusually cold. The two guys quickly dived under their blankets, leaving only Chi Xiao and Zhu Yida sitting below. The latter scratched his head in frustration, while the former sat like a thousand-year-old ice sculpture, not emitting a hint of warmth. He held his phone indifferently, skimming through papers, not really paying attention to what he was reading.

At that moment, Chi Xiao’s phone vibrated twice, and a new message popped up.

"WeChat Message: Sun Moon Volcano requests to add you as a friend"

...

The silence after the noise was most distinct.

Even the slightest movement of a molecule in the air seemed noticeable.

Zhu Yida, who was looking at his papers, suddenly turned his head: "Why are you smiling?"

Silence again.

After a moment.

Chi Xiao: "Did I smile?"

"Didn’t you fucking smile?" Zhu Yida lunged at him, grabbing his neck, "I thought you were in a bad mood, but you’re laughing here?"