Chapter 77: Practicing Driving and Taking the Driving Test

Jiang Xiaoyu had stifled his private instructor at the driving school into internal injuries with his clumsiness, and even Master Jin had nearly been pissed into a dead cat by him.

Jin Ge knew Jiang Xiaoyu was learning to drive, so he specially took the beat-up Santana from the bureau during lunch break to accompany the cat cub for practice. In the end, this kid floored the accelerator that very day and smashed right through the Criminal Investigation Division’s gate.

Zhao Changhe angrily rebuked, “Jin Ge, even if you have a grudge against our Criminal Investigation Division, you can’t let your disciple drive and crash my gate, right?”

Jin Ge kept a straight face, pushed open the car door, climbed out from the passenger seat, and coldly said, “Jiang Xiaoyu, get out of the car!”

Jiang Xiaoyu was already driving with his heart in his throat, and Jin Ge’s dark expression scared him so much that he pursed his lips tightly and got out. “I said I didn’t want to drive, but you insisted.”

Jin Ge irritably replied, “Did I know you could mistake the gas for the brake?! Huh? What did I say? Two feet, two feet! Are you missing a leg or something?! Huh? Using one foot to cover clutch, gas, and brake?” His scalp tingled; it was the first time he’d seen someone try to stomp clutch, gas, and brake all with one foot. “And you’re supposed to be a cop! How did you even pass school? How did you get your diploma?”

Jiang Xiaoyu now had a dad and a wife cat, so his temper had grown bolder, and he dared to talk back. “Go ask the school. What are you asking me for?”

Jin Ge blew his mustache and glared, chasing after Jiang Xiaoyu as they went.

Zhao Changhe was still standing there waiting for Master Jin to discipline the culprit, only to see the two of them abandon the crashed vehicle right in front of the gate—one chasing the other as they both bolted. He suddenly realized something was off and roared, “Jin Ge, you bastard, get back here!”

No way was he turning back. Jin Ge munched on snacks he’d scrounged from the black cat cub, legs propped up as he said, “I can’t teach you anymore. Go find your instructor instead.”

Jiang Xiaoyu pursed his lips and muttered softly, “I didn’t ask you to teach me in the first place. You insisted.”

“Say that again!” Jin Ge made a move like he was going to hit him, and Jiang Xiaoyu stood up with a fierce face and walked off.

After work, he got into Ye Qingxu’s car before aggrievedly saying, “Dad, I don’t want to learn to drive anymore. I don’t need it.”

Ye Qingxu felt his kid was the best—smart and kind-hearted—but nobody was perfect. At the very least, when it came to Jiang Xiaoyu learning to drive, even he felt his scalp tingling…

Fortunately, there was still Ye Lian…

The wife cat sat elegantly in Jiang Xiaoyu’s passenger seat, completely unflustered and even sipping tea as he coaxed, “Yeah, don’t rush. We’ll take it slow. Mr. Ye should’ve signed you up for an automatic. Manuals are so tiring.”

Jiang Xiaoyu was tense, his long legs somehow feeling too short to reach the brake as he plastered himself to the steering wheel.

The car crawled along the mountain road, stalling every three steps. Yan Feilang and Liu Qingqing were off to the side munching melon seeds and watching the show, while Chen Yiqu dabbed sweat with a handkerchief. “What if something happens? Better let me take over. I’ve only got one old life left; I’ll keep this dummy company for practice.”

Seeing the little guy so nervous and dejected, Ye Lian had him pull over, pinched his cheeks to turn his face toward him, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Xiaoyu had never thought himself stupid. He’d entered the Welfare Institute at nine and only started formal schooling then. Everyone said he was at the bottom of the class, but he controlled his own scores. He skipped social activities and extra credits, keeping himself at average levels so he could slack off with the school’s stray cats.

After all, he’d known since he was little that standing out too much drew unwanted attention. So, just enough to pass was fine.

But now he couldn’t help doubting himself, turning into a cat ball on the driver’s seat. “Am I really that dumb… Even the instructors don’t want Dad’s red envelope anymore…”

Ye Lian chuckled and scooped him up. “Everyone has things they’re good at and not good at. Just like how Mr. Ye can’t cook, you can’t drive. Nothing strange about it, and it doesn’t mean you’re dumb.”

Jiang Xiaoyu huddled in the man’s arms, blinking his cat eyes up at him. “What about you? Do you have anything you’re bad at?”

Ye Lian was stumped for a moment, his gaze drifting. Under Jiang Xiaoyu’s increasingly suspicious stare, he cleared his throat. “Uncle’s not good at cooking either.” It was a lie; back in his youth, he’d spent two years at a military base, and his cooking had earned praise from his teammates.

Jiang Xiaoyu was a bit skeptical, eyes narrowing. “Really?” Over time, he’d noticed that whenever this old guy started calling himself “uncle,” his words weren’t entirely trustworthy.

Ye Lian pinched Jiang Xiaoyu’s fleshy ears and fiercely kissed his cat paws twice. “Real as it gets.”

“Disgusting! Cats walk on the ground!” Jiang Xiaoyu fluffed up in fury, yanked back his paws, jumped back into the driver’s seat, and started meowing curses with a red face.

After more than a week of daily early mornings and late nights, there was finally some progress. Ye Qingxu dropped the kid off for the subject two exam, his expression surprisingly excited, like some gap in his life was being filled.

“Go for it! Dad believes you can do it!”

Jiang Xiaoyu forced a smile and stiffly climbed into the car at the Vehicle Management Office, nearly moving hands and feet together.

Non-exam personnel weren’t allowed in, so Ye Qingxu waited by his car for the kid to finish. That’s when he noticed someone sidling up to him sneakily.

He coldly stepped aside a couple paces, but Wan Keyao followed with an ingratiating smile. “How’d it go?”

Ye Qingxu really didn’t want to deal with him, but Jiang Xiaoyu’s awful driving made him blurt out in bewilderment, “We both know how to drive—why’s this kid struggling so much? I passed subject two and three on the first try back in the day, and that was group practice with no real instructor.”

Wan Keyao stiffened, not daring to admit he’d failed subject three five or six times that summer after high school, wrecking the old man’s cars several times over…

Ye Qingxu eyed him suspiciously. Wan Keyao felt both thrilled and guilty under the stare, worried his tall, glorious image would be tarnished, so he staunchly refused to say the kid had inherited it from him.

After a while, examinees started trickling out. Seeing Jiang Xiaoyu come out looking defeated, Ye Qingxu’s heart sank. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

Jiang Xiaoyu hung his head, feeling embarrassed. “I couldn’t even reverse in… The car’s different from the training one…”

Ye Qingxu’s heart ached seeing the kid like this. He pulled him into a one-armed hug and comforted, “It’s fine. Just a driving test. We’ll try again another time.”

Wan Keyao chimed in, “Yeah, no big deal. If you really can’t get it, Dad’ll hire you some drivers.”

His casual “Dad” made Ye Qingxu’s face fall, but he didn’t make a scene in front of the kid.

Only then did Jiang Xiaoyu notice Wan Keyao. He sneakily glanced at Ye Qingxu, saw he was okay, and greeted, “Mr. Wan.”

Wan Keyao was a bit disappointed by the address but quickly perked up, smiling. “Let me treat you guys to lunch.”

Ye Qingxu didn’t want to agree at first, but with the old guy looking all pitiful and the kid’s eyes drifting uncertainly, it made him seem like the bad guy who only played good cop. He schooled his face and said, “Let’s go.”

Wan Keyao said he’d treat them, and upon hearing Ye Qingxu agree, he yanked open the passenger door and slid right in, telling his own driver through the window to head back first.

Ye Qingxu was utterly speechless at his shamelessness.

During lunch, while Ye Qingxu stepped away to the bathroom, Wan Keyao cut steaks for the father and son, placing Ye Qingxu’s on his seat before telling Jiang Xiaoyu, “Let me teach you to drive.”

Jiang Xiaoyu paused, then instinctively shook his head. “Thanks, but I’ll learn on my own slowly.” He absently poked at the steak Wan Keyao had cut for him, thinking the wife cat could teach him too—though with minimal results…

With Ye Qingxu gone, Wan Keyao was all reliability, his upper-class authority and presence returning as he said gravely, “I’ve got experience. I can definitely teach you well.” After all, he’d failed subject two and three a combined ten times back then.

His serious demeanor convinced Jiang Xiaoyu a bit. After hesitating, he nodded. “Then I’ll have to trouble you.”

Kids were easy to coax. Wan Keyao’s mouth nearly split into a grin; he couldn’t suppress the curve of his lips at all.

No wonder they said you learned faster with an experienced guide. Wan Keyao had been through it himself, so teaching came naturally. After tormenting so many people, Jiang Xiaoyu actually got the hang of it in just two short days under Wan Keyao.

The kid’s adoring gaze gave Wan Keyao immense satisfaction—more than any battlefield victory or money earned.

Teaching a child turned out to be such a joyful thing.

Driving home, a thought struck him, and he reined in his smile. If not for Jiang Fenghua’s foolish mistake, his kid would’ve grown up spoiled and pampered. He’d teach him everything he’d experienced himself—surfing the waves with him, skiing in the snow—instead of the kid growing up alone and struggling without experiencing anything.

Wan Keyao lowered the convertible’s roof, letting the cool wind blow away his irritation. Knowing the father-son duo disliked the smell of smoke, he’d been quitting both cigarettes and booze lately. With his heart now aflame, he pulled a cigarette from the storage compartment, stuck it in his mouth, held it there for a bit, then cursed under his breath and tossed it without lighting up.

Jiang Fenghua was his mother; he couldn’t do anything to her. But Si Xiaoshan—he wasn’t going to let him off anymore.

—

Jiang Xiaoyu finally passed subject two. Ye Lian accompanied him practicing subject three on the mountain road, somewhat shocked by the little guy’s sudden leap in driving skill. Sitting in the passenger seat and watching his much more relaxed posture, he couldn’t help but smile and ask, “How’d you suddenly get it?”

Jiang Xiaoyu’s eyes sparkled brightly, clearly in a great mood. “Mr. Wan taught me. He’s amazing—just a few pointers on the key points and I got it.”

Ye Lian raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? Who would’ve thought.” With Wan Keyao’s personality, he could actually teach patiently?

Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t catch the sarcasm in Ye Lian’s tone. He floored the clutch to slow down and park. “I think I can pass the third stage this time!” He’d failed twice before, but this time he felt confident.

Ye Lian pinched his pale, tender ear tip, his tone lazy and teasing as he coaxed, “Our Little Yu is so awesome. What reward do you want after the test?”

He leaned close to Jiang Xiaoyu’s ear, his warm breath brushing the sensitive spot behind it, making the young man shiver slightly.

“Re… reward?” Jiang Xiaoyu nervously swallowed, his cheeks gradually flushing red. He unconsciously licked his lips, his eyes flickering with shyness and a hint of anticipation.

From childhood to now, he’d never really gotten any rewards… Jin Ge would offer some words of encouragement when his exam results were good, but as a rough guy, the most he’d do was take Jiang Xiaoyu to the roadside for skewers and barbecue.

“Mm, a reward.” Ye Lian chuckled lightly, his slender fingers sliding from Jiang Xiaoyu’s ear tip down to his neck. “Anything you want.”

The man’s deliberately lowered voice was like it was wrapped in honey—sweet and sticky, yet carrying a fatally seductive pull. As he murmured, he deliberately rubbed the pad of his finger over the pulsing artery on Jiang Xiaoyu’s neck, teasing his nerves like plucking a qin string.

Jiang Xiaoyu felt a numbing tingle all over, like an electric current shooting straight down from where Ye Lian touched, stirring up a flush of red. He instinctively tilted his head back to escape the man’s teasing, only to fully expose his vulnerable throat right in front of him.

“An-anything’s fine… Don’t touch anymore, it feels so weird.” Jiang Xiaoyu pleaded, his voice unwittingly soft and sticky, the corners of his eyes tinged pink as he looked up with wet eyes.

Ye Lian’s gaze deepened, and he hissed softly, feeling like he’d lost control and gone too far. He withdrew his hand and sat up straight like a proper gentleman. “Did you like the Little Cat Doll from last time? It’s from an IP series—how about I buy you a whole wall of them?”

His attitude shift was so abrupt that Jiang Xiaoyu was left dazed, blinking stupidly as he couldn’t process what Ye Lian was saying for a moment.

“Li-Little… Cat Doll?” Jiang Xiaoyu repeated uncertainly, tilting his head and thinking for a long time before nodding as realization dawned. “Oh, oh, the one you gave me last time… The orange-and-white one, and the black one. Pretty… pretty cute.”

His tone was still soft and drawn out, the flush on his cheeks not fully faded. The way he looked while speaking made Ye Lian’s heart both melt and itch. How could someone with such a handsome face do something so cute?

“Mm.” Ye Lian forced himself to look away, spouting some nonsense he himself found pointless. “The one I gave you last time.”

Both of them were in their first relationship. Ye Lian was sly and had a wicked streak, always wanting to tease Jiang Xiaoyu. But after teasing, he’d remind himself that he was older and Jiang Xiaoyu was too young, so he’d hold back.

He endured it with great difficulty, but Jiang Xiaoyu felt like Wife Cat’s attitude was hot and cold. With a sulky face, he squatted in front of a bunch of fluffy creatures and asked, “What do you guys think is going on with this cat?”

The cats and dogs knew all about it and chimed in: “It’s not the season yet! Cats/dogs’ mating period is in spring. That cat’s probably just marking territory first—wait till spring, then the boss can go pursue!”

“Right! When dogs haven’t been fixed yet and meet a little female dog, they’re like that! Leave some urine, tease a bit then run—it’s just that they like ’em!”

“Yeah, the weather’s cooling down—who knows when spring will come?” A bunch of neutered creatures sighed wistfully here, reminiscing about their wild past.

Jiang Xiaoyu nodded solemnly with a straight face, convinced that was exactly it.

Ye Lian: …This is killing me.

—

After an autumn rain, the temperature dropped several degrees. Withered phoenix tree leaves were battered to the ground by rain and wind, then crushed under tires and feet.

Jiang Fenghua watched, feeling just like those fallen leaves—despised by all. These days, she’d been washing her face with tears. If not for A-Da’s secretly snapped photos to ease her longing now and then, she wouldn’t know how to get through the days.

Wan Qianli’s spirits had improved a bit. Though his mind was still foggy, he could now recognize people—not for nothing did Wan Keyao dramatically call it a medical miracle. Curly-Haired Old Cat rested his head on Jiang Fenghua’s lap and called out to the photo she held: “Baby.”

Jiang Fenghua wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “Are you missing Little Yu too? You’re luckier than me—he doesn’t hate you.” She stroked Old Cat’s frail body and murmured, “I asked A-Yao—if Little Ye and Little Yu can accept it, how about sending you over? Let you see your grandson.”

Wan Qianli seemed to understand, letting out a “mm” sound, but his eyes held worry for his wife.

“I’m fine. This is my sin.” Jiang Fenghua grew sentimental again. “I just hope my days of atonement aren’t too long.”

The Jiang Xiaoyu they were thinking of had finally gotten his driver’s license. On his first day driving to work, he was full of doubts: “Dad… What if I hit someone?”

Ye Qingxu put food and drinks in the passenger seat for him and comforted, “Drive slow, take the suburban road. You won’t hit anyone.”

Jiang Xiaoyu’s heart pounded, but he also felt he couldn’t rely too much on Dad anymore. He was a grown-up now and could drive himself to work. Trembling slightly, he released the handbrake and pulled onto the road under Ye Qingxu’s relieved gaze.

He’d originally worried about being cut off or honked at impatiently, but once on the road, all the other vehicles kept a good eight hundred meters away. Forget cutting him off—even tailing this car made them break out in cold sweat.

The husband in the passenger seat, accompanying his newbie wife on her first drive, shivered as he said, “Stay farther from the car ahead.”

“Wha? Oh, it’s got an intern sticker too. Another learner. What model is that? That blue is so cool!”

Seeing her floor the gas to catch up and look, the husband nearly had a heart attack. “Stay away from him! Aah, forget intern or not! If you crash into that car, we’ll be poor our whole lives! You spendthrift woman, stay away from him!”

Oblivious, Jiang Xiaoyu drove tensely all the way into the work parking lot before finally relaxing. “Seems not too hard. Jiang Xiaoyu, you got this!” Alone, he childishly pumped his fist to encourage himself, then grabbed the bento bag from the passenger seat and got out.

In the office parking lot, most cars were ten- or twenty-thousand-yuan business vans. Nicer ones were B-class sedans driven by office staff. Suddenly, this car showed up—everyone couldn’t help staring. And when they saw who got out, their eyeballs nearly popped out.

“Isn’t that from the Case Handling Office?”

“Yeah, seems like Jiang Xiaoyu. But… this is way too flashy, right? Even Lu Wanhui from Criminal Investigation Division with his rich family wouldn’t dare drive this to work. What’s this guy’s background?”

“I bet he’s done for—leadership’s gonna call him in for a talk soon.”

Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t quite catch it, just knowing they were talking about him. But he didn’t care. For one, he habitually ignored others’ stares; for another, this car was a gift from his other father, who said it was just an ordinary car, not expensive—perfect for commuting.

Ye Qingxu hadn’t raised Jiang Xiaoyu, but at this age, he was obedient with no rebellious phase, fully trusting his dad’s words.

Immersed in the thrill of successfully driving into work, he grabbed his bento bag and headed lightly into the Case Handling Office.