The scorching heat of July felt like it could melt a person.
Nianyang ran onto the highway in one breath, only to see the bus spewing exhaust.
That was the only bus heading to town at noon, and she was just a step too late!
Nianyang's face turned pale, estimating that it would take at least half an hour to run from here to the school, there was no way she'd make it in time!
What should she do? Was she destined to repeat the tragic mistake of her previous life?
"Beep beep..."
Car horn sounds came from behind.
Nianyang turned around in surprise to see a sedan speeding towards her!
What a timely rescue! Nianyang ran straight towards the incoming sedan without hesitation.
"Screech——"
The driver was evidently shocked, reflexively hitting the brakes. Just as the car stopped, Nianyang nimbly opened the back door and jumped in.
"Who let you in?" Before she even realized the odd sensation, a cool, magnetic voice reached Nianyang's ears as soon as she sat down.
Nianyang shivered, feeling the temperature on her body drop.
Sitting in front of her was an astonishingly handsome man, his short hair neatly combed, his forehead broad, brows sharp, with cold eyes like ice. Below his high nose bridge, tightly pressed thin lips reflected his displeasure.
The man wore an iron-grey outfit, his face stern and imposing, exuding a sharp and fierce aura filled with aloofness and indifference.
He had a faint seaside scent on him, which was particularly pleasant, and a blue sail emblem on his chest. It was clear he was in the sea merchant business.
In the 1990s, sea merchanting was an industry poised for enormous wealth.
This was a bigshot!
[What are you waiting for, quickly pounce on him and take him over] A soft, adorable voice suddenly echoed in her mind, startling Nianyang so much she almost screamed.
Who, who is speaking?
"How long do you intend to sit on my lap?" Li Tingyan spoke again, his voice low, rich, and pleasant, with a slightly hoarse texture.
While Nianyang was studying him, he had also seized the chance to look her up and down.
The girl was wearing a faded school uniform, her appearance at first glance wasn't too appealing, but she had an excellent foundation. Her features were delicate and pretty, yet she looked malnourished and her body was skinny as a stick, light as a cat.
Nianyang then realized she was sitting on the man's lap, no wonder the sensation felt strange.
"I'm sorry." It was truly a moment of awkward embarrassment, how could she have ended up sitting on a man's lap like this, in an era where even holding hands demanded responsibility? Wouldn't he think she was a harasser?
Nianyang quickly scrambled off his lap, simultaneously ignoring the little voice she had just heard.
Li Tingyan's distinct bronze hand meticulously smoothed the wrinkles on his trousers, his lips touched and parted slightly, "Get out!"
He always disliked close contact with people, if it weren't for his habit of not hitting women, Nianyang would have been kicked out by him a long time ago!
Nianyang's face stiffened a bit, thinking this guy was really intimidating, what a waste of a handsome face. If it weren't for the urgency of the situation, she'd definitely roll her eyes at him!
"Uh, handsome..." Suddenly realizing the term hadn't become popular in this era, how should she address a man again?
Nianyang thought for a moment, bracing her hands on either side of Li Tingyan's thighs as she leaned forward slightly, speaking near his ear, "Hello, sir, I'm a student from the town's middle school. I need to take an important exam but I'm running late. Could you please do a kind deed and give me a ride?"
Her voice was as soft as a cat's meow, and as she spoke, her warm breath blew into his ear, causing a strong stirring in Li Tingyan's heart.
He looked down at her, noting the red marks on her darkened cheeks, clearly signs of being hit. An ache formed in his chest, and his large hand, which had dropped, suddenly moved, wanting to reach out and touch her face.
The sudden urge startled him, and he instantly clenched his fists tightly. He had always been indifferent and cold, yet he couldn't help but feel a sense of compassion towards this girl he had just met.
Such a feeling was truly strange, especially since when he trained his crew for overseas work, he pushed them to the brink without even batting an eye!
Li Tingyan didn't speak. Up front, Wang Donglai turned and said, "Hello, little girl, this is a government vehicle, not a taxi, and we have urgent matters to attend to. You'd better find someone else to take you."
"Why should a government vehicle matter? Shouldn't it be even more selfless? Besides, you two look like the kind of heroic figures who act for the greater good, helping with a small favor shouldn't be a problem!" Nianyang launched into full persuasion mode, capable of saying anything to achieve her goal.
You see, in her past life, she had even started a business empire in her spare time, opening various branches. The years of workplace grinding had made her a skilled talker, speaking appropriately to whomever she addressed.