Qi Xu’s face was full of guilt: “I was wrong, assuming you were like other women.”

I didn’t know what other women were like, but I knew I couldn’t get angry now.

“It’s fine.” I pulled him along, head down, mood flat.

Even with the misunderstanding cleared, my heart felt heavy.
I despised being treated differently, deep down.

But I had to accept it—I was weak.

“Xiaxia,” Qi Xu called softly.

A shiver ran through me, goosebumps spreading from my spine to my arms, scalp tingling.

“I need your genuine actions, not treating me like a stiff employer.”

I yanked my hand away!

He chuckled: “Mad?”

I shrugged: “No. Feeling anything yet?”

“Almost there.”

Another toy stall appeared, with a remote-control car identical to the last.
Qi Xu noticed too, picking it up.

“Boss, I’ll take it.”

“100.”

I froze: “Don’t buy it! I can’t afford to treat you to more food.”

He ignored me, scanning to pay.

The vendor’s eyes lit up: “Batteries?”

“Yes.”

“105.”

I suspected he made at least 50 in profit—wholesale markets sold these cheaper!

Qi Xu finished paying.
I glared resentfully: “That’s 50 more than the meal. I can’t treat you to anything else.”

“It’s an apology gift. Next time, my treat?”

I shook my head: “No need.”

He handed me the car.
I hugged the box, smiling genuinely: “Thanks.”

Qi Xu’s lips parted, standing dazed.

He wanted my authentic self, right?

“Come on.” I quickened my pace, casually climbing the stairs beside a shop on the pedestrian street.

The second floor had shops too, but it was unpopular, barely rented, and mostly empty.

The dim environment, with old, flickering lights, was spacious but deserted.

Another reason for the emptiness: the stairwell reeked of urine…

People relieved themselves here, unable to find a bathroom.
Not me—I had more civic sense.

Qi Xu sniffed, his face shifting.

I opened the car’s packaging, installed batteries, and tested the controller.
Nothing moved—broken?

“Scammer! Let’s get a refund!”

“The controller needs batteries too,” Qi Xu corrected, taking it, adding batteries, flipping the switch, and pushing forward…

The SUV moved!

“Wow!” My eyes sparkled, watching it.
He handed me the controller: “Here.”

“Thanks.” I pushed the joystick—forward, backward, left, right—the car zoomed!

“So fast!” I followed it slowly.

Owning a remote-control car—wish fulfilled!

I drove it full speed, swerving it back to my feet, joy overwhelming my worries.

Recalling kids’ four-wheelers from childhood, I ran forward: “Charge! Cyclone Sprint!”

Qi Xu watched, a smile creeping onto his face.

“Cyclone Sprint Tornado…” I slipped, crashing down!

“Hey!” He ran toward me.

I stood quickly: “Cyclone Sprint Tornado!”

He reached me: “You okay?”

“Fine, I’m tough. Wanna try?” I offered the controller.

He exhaled, relieved: “Did you go to school while scavenging?”

“Not anymore.” I drove the car, gazing into the distance: “My parents came back for me.”

He nodded: “Good.”

“Yeah… fly!”

Playing, my stomach growled—hungry.

I pretended not to notice, but Qi Xu heard: “Let’s eat.”

“No need.”

One, I was broke.
Two, he’d already given a gift; I was too embarrassed to let him spend more.

“You’re embarrassed because you’re broke, right?” he said.

I paused, sighing: “Yeah.”

He laughed: “Two broke people going all out for each other—that’s something only first love does.”

His laugh was relieved.

“When they learned I was rich, their attitudes changed. Dating was on my dime; if they ran out, they’d ask for more. Angry? Buy a bag to appease. Over time, every woman felt the same—no spark.”

I didn’t get it, unsure how to respond.

He studied me: “You’re captivating—I can’t tell if it’s uniqueness or innocence.”

I tensed, stepping back: “I’m not dating!”

He tapped his mouth: “You can shoot the ad, but I have a condition.”

My eyes lit up: “What? Tell me!”

Heart pounding, this meant he’d felt first love!

He pulled out a cigarette, lighting one: “That industry’s not for you. Even Disney—its hidden filth equals clean to outsiders. If the ad does well, join my company as an exclusive model. I’ll pay more than Disney’s early offers.”

I blinked, stunned—was this a chance to make big money?

Escape or earn big—which to choose?

“I’ll… think about it?”

“No problem.” He exhaled smoke to the right, chuckling: “Heh…”

He shook his head, cryptic.

People were too complex—I couldn’t read him.
I stressed: “No funny business, right?”

“Nope. If I wanted that, this place is perfect.”

True—the dim second floor was deserted.
I’d been reckless, chasing the car without thinking.

A bad guy, and I’d be done for.

I swallowed hard: “Can we go back?”

“No food?”

I pursed my lips: “Work’s priority. I’ve got homework.”

“A 10-second ad should take two days, unless you’re terrible. Start tomorrow. I’ll tell Zhu.” He opened WeChat, then looked at me: “Add me?”

I nodded, friending him, and he messaged Zhu.

It was past 8:30 PM.
He asked what I wanted to eat.
Wanting speed, I chose noodle soup, but the chef was slow.
By 9:00, I was full.

“Where’s home? I’ll drive you,” he said, grabbing his keys.

“I told them I was at the library. Drop me at the city center one.”

Saves cab fare.

“Alright.”

At the library, I messaged Lin Yinyin.
Qi Xu didn’t leave, parking by the road, smoking.

Lin Yinyin replied fast: “Be there soon.”

I waved at Qi Xu to leave.

He shook his head: “I’ll go when you’re in the car.”

Enduring mosquito bites, I stomped.
Three minutes later, a white car pulled up.

Its unique design—I recognized it from the mansion’s lot.

So fast?
She’d been nearby!

Dangerous—if she’d waited at the library, I’d be caught.

Lin Yinyin lowered the window: “Zhixia!”

Qi Xu peered out, eyeing the car.
I hugged the car, ignoring him, opened the door, and got in.

Lin Yinyin smiled: “Where’s Zeng Xin and that boy?”

“They left.”

She noticed the toy: “Oh, just bought?”

I grinned: “Yeah, it’s super fast.”

She froze, then laughed: “Because you like cars, or toys like this?”

“Toys.”

The white car drove back to the gloomy mansion.
I set the car on the ground—its big wheels glided over the grass, perfect for this terrain.

“Charge!” It sped ahead; I followed.

It zoomed up the slope by the mansion’s entrance.
Lost in joy, I aimed to drive it to my room, but a sharp turn sent it inside, where I saw a dark, menacing face.

My smile vanished.
I grabbed the car and ran to my room.