Chapter 132: Ebony and Ivory Threads, and Crystal Strands

“Just call me brother; no need for ‘uncle.’ You and your sister are my generation. Or better yet, just use my name…” Lin Shenlu said as he looked ahead at the road.

“Got it…” He Ku’er stretched out the last syllable.

“Let’s get to the point. Drive safely on the highway,” Lin Shenlu reminded.

He Ku’er smiled and said, “I didn’t expect you to be so serious. Don’t be so strict when we’re out having fun; otherwise, the next three thousand kilometers will be miserable. Driving alone is boring. Can’t I just chat with you?”

“Uh…” Lin Shenlu was speechless.

Young people’s worlds really are different from his own.

“By the way, Uncle, do you think these white stockings look good on me today?” He Ku’er asked while driving.

“No, white stockings are lame,” Lin Shenlu snorted. “Who’s afraid of whom on the road? An experienced driver like me can’t be outplayed by a rookie like you. Got all your gear ready?”

“Oh, so you don’t like white stockings… no worries, I have over twenty pairs of all kinds in the trunk—black and white double stockings, pink ones, glittering lace, letter-patterned luminous ones, diamond fishnets... tight and semi-transparent, lace-edged, garter belts… oh, and a full-body crystal stocking too. Want to see any? I can change for you at the next service area…” He Ku’er continued enthusiastically.

“Suit yourself, I’m fine either way,” Lin Shenlu said with a light snort.

“Oh… Uncle, doesn’t your girlfriend travel with you?” He Ku’er asked.

“Heh, you tell me,” Lin Shenlu replied.

“Boring…” He Ku’er abruptly hung up.

Lin Shenlu smiled to himself.

That little girl is still trying to mess with me.

After a while, He Ku’er called again.

“What now?” Lin Shenlu answered.

“Nothing, just letting you know I’m going to Hangzhou first to visit some classmates for a day. We’ll meet in Xining tomorrow!” He Ku’er said.

“That means you’ll be driving several hundred kilometers more,” Lin Shenlu reminded.

“Uncle, don’t be so rigid. We’re out to have fun, no need to stick to the same route. Why not bring your girlfriend and come with me to Hangzhou? I’ll treat you to tofu with vegetables and sweet potato noodles. You won’t go hungry!” He Ku’er laughed.

Lin Shenlu considered the route—he planned to rest in Lanzhou that night. Lanzhou was still on his way. But this girl’s plan to go through Guangyuan to Hangzhou would add four or five hundred kilometers to her trip. And sweet potato noodles definitely weren’t as good as ramen…

“I’m not going. Let’s meet in Xining tomorrow. I’ll wait for you until the day after tomorrow, then we’ll set off together,” Lin Shenlu said.

He Ku’er tried to say something more but was cut off by Lin Shenlu hanging up.

This girl is too wild. Bringing her along might not have been such a wise choice.

That’s why Lin Qingchen had told him this in advance—after all, Lin Qingchen had taken care of her for so many years.

If it were someone else, Lin Shenlu would never have been so accommodating; he would have refused outright.

...

That evening, Lin Shenlu finally arrived in Lanzhou.

After driving for a whole day—about seven or eight hundred kilometers—his whole body ached, and his backside was numb from sitting so long.

At a service area before Lanzhou, An Muxi stepped out of the vehicle.

Having rested for six or seven hours in the car, An Muxi was full of energy.

“Why haven’t you caught up with that girl yet?” An Muxi asked with a smile.

“Caught up with whom? She already went to Hangzhou, said she’d meet us in Xining tomorrow,” Lin Shenlu sighed.

He had promised Lin Qingchen to look after the girl, but now she had disappeared.

“So no more white stockings, huh?” An Muxi chuckled.

“Muxi… you…” Lin Shenlu looked back at An Muxi in disbelief.

“The young master doesn’t like white stockings…”

An Muxi smiled. “What about the crystal ones? Or the diamond fishnets?”

“Ah, you heard that?” Lin Shenlu’s face flushed red.

“I didn’t want to, but the bed’s right next to your cabin, and your little window wasn’t properly closed…” An Muxi said with a mischievous grin as she walked ahead.

Lin Shenlu stood there, utterly embarrassed.

...

An Muxi led the way, Lin Shenlu followed behind.

Lighting a cigarette gently, Lin Shenlu walked quietly forward.

Under the night sky, he watched the neon lights flicker over the city.

He had heard this saying before:

The busier the city, the lonelier the people walking its streets.

In these big cities with everything one could ask for, there always seemed to be something missing.

That loneliness probably came from a lack of faith, a lack of belonging.

Fortunately, he was never truly alone.

An Muxi’s figure was like a lighthouse at sea, always guiding him forward.

Only then could Lin Shenlu keep moving without overthinking.

Lost in thought, his phone buzzed again with a voice message invitation.

He opened it instinctively.

It was He Ku’er.

Wasn’t she supposed to be dining with her classmates?

“What’s wrong?” Lin Shenlu asked.

He Ku’er’s voice was full of anxiety.

“Uncle, I lost my bank card… I have no money to pay the bill…”

“Don’t you still have your phone?” Lin Shenlu frowned.

“My WeChat payment limit’s been reached; I can’t spend any more,” He Ku’er said, clearly frustrated.

Lin Shenlu sighed in helplessness. Fortunately, Lin Qingchen had transferred him ten thousand yuan before leaving—money meant for taking care of He Ku’er.

Looks like it’s all going to be used up.

“How much do you need? I’ll transfer it to you…”

“That won’t help; my WeChat limit’s maxed out…” He Ku’er said, voice catching slightly.

It sounded like she was embarrassed not to be able to pay.

“Aren’t you at your classmate’s place… and you still have to pay?” Lin Shenlu was speechless.

Rich kids always seem to have people around who treat them like cash cows.

“Uncle, paying is urgent. Otherwise, I can’t leave the bar…” she said. “Help me think of something.”

Lin Shenlu sighed. “Send me your classmate’s WeChat so I can transfer money to her. How much do you need… Wait, if you’re out of money, ask your family or your sister. Why ask me?”

“I’m embarrassed… Besides, they told me to come out and experience life, not to spend money. The cash I had was all used up on food…” He Ku’er felt a bit relieved after finding a way out.

“Alright, added. How much?”

“Fourteen thousand…” He Ku’er whispered.

“What?!” Lin Shenlu was stunned.

“I… only opened a bottle of Black Spade A…” she said.

Big trouble, big trouble!

Lin Shenlu regretted ever agreeing to Lin Qingchen’s request to bring this troublemaker along.

Hadn’t Lin Qingchen said her cousin was a quiet, easygoing girl?

How many faces did this girl actually have?

The night breeze swept through Lanzhou’s streets, streetlights dim.

On this dreamy night, Lin Shenlu saw the city in a different light.

Lanzhou’s night was gentle; a bowl of ramen cost only fifteen yuan.

Hangzhou’s night was wild; a night at a bar cost fourteen thousand.

“Let’s go, it’s time to rest,” An Muxi reached out her hand, waiting for Lin Shenlu to catch up.