Chapter 76 To learn more about Jiang Mingxu's past...

Chapter 76

Two hours later, Jin Ran and Jiang Xuli, looking embarrassed, were "led" out by the traffic police, following Jiang Mingxu.

Jin Ran was so embarrassed that she wanted to crawl into a hole.

She was so focused on finding someone in Dongping Town that she forgot about the rule that minors can't drive. This was partly due to her lack of knowledge about the issue, and partly because Jiang Xuli often rode a motorcycle to school in City A, which subconsciously made her accept the rule.

Today, after being "educated" by the traffic police, I learned that motorcycles are motor vehicles and that one must be at least 18 years old to obtain a driver's license.

The only saving grace was that it wasn't in City A; otherwise, it would have been incredibly embarrassing for her students to find out.

Jin Ran thought Jiang Mingxu would be angry, but the man didn't say anything from beginning to end.

This made the two "culprits" very cautious.

Jin Ran secretly winked at Jiang Xuli, who then forced himself to speak: "Dad, it was my fault today."

Jiang Mingxu hummed in agreement and said directly, "Put your car in the garage when you get back."

Jiang Xuli felt a pang of heartache, but he also understood that there was no room for negotiation. If his father didn't know, so be it; but now that he did, he would never let him touch that motorcycle again, at least not until he was an adult.

So he dejectedly agreed.

Jin Ran breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, "My friend is dead, but I am."

Jiang Mingxu didn't feel much better and turned to look at her again.

Jin Ran's heart tightened, and she quickly smiled apologetically, "...I'll definitely keep an eye on him from now on!"

Jiang Xuli: "?"

Jiang Mingxu nodded in satisfaction.

The car was parked on the side of the road, and Jin Ran opened the car door only to find that there was someone inside.

Her gaze fell on the other person's legs, and she had already guessed his identity. Sure enough, Jiang Mingxu introduced him: "This is Uncle He, who sponsored my schooling."

Jin Ran called out "Uncle He" and then introduced herself: "My name is Jin Ran, you can just call me Xiao Jin."

Jiang Xuli also called out "Grandpa He".

Uncle He was seventy years old, his hair was already gray, but he still had the air of a businessman. He said with a smile, "I was going to the hospital for a check-up, and Mingxu insisted on giving me a ride on the way."

Jin Ran then said, "He rarely drives, and it's difficult for me to even ask him to drive. Today, thanks to you, I'm able to let him be my driver. Please grant my wish and don't let him get away with it."

This remark was mostly humorous, since Xiao Sun hadn't come with them to Yushan this time, and Jiang Mingxu had been driving the whole time. But her funny comment eased Uncle He's discomfort.

Uncle He laughed: "No wonder he seemed different this time. It turns out he's influenced by his surroundings."

At his age, he's seen all kinds of people. While he may not be a master at judging people, he can still tell the difference between nine out of ten. Jin Ran is a simple-minded person with clear, bright eyes. She doesn't have many hidden agendas and is genuinely concerned about this old man she just met.

Jiang Mingxu was somewhat helpless, but Jin Ran became interested and couldn't help but ask, "What was he like before?"

Uncle He deliberately put on a stern face: "It's prickly, like an ice cube."

Seeing this, Jin Ran chuckled, not expecting Uncle He to be such a joker: "So he's not an ice cube anymore?"

Uncle He smiled and said, "It's still ice now, but I can see it starting to melt."

Jin Ran was taken aback.

More than a decade has passed, but Uncle He still remembers the scene when he first met Jiang Mingxu.

That day, he was troubled by business matters. After leaving the drinking party, he didn't leave immediately. He found a corner to smoke and saw a waiter from the restaurant's kitchen squatting by the back door dealing with garbage, holding a book in one hand.

To be honest, the scene wasn't very appealing; you could smell the trash can from a distance in the summer heat. But Uncle He suddenly became curious.

He guessed that he must be reading a popular martial arts novel or something about romance that young people like, but when he got closer, he found that it was a book on advanced mathematics.

When it started raining, the waiter's first reaction was to protect the books in his hands, not caring that he himself was getting wet.

This action led Uncle He to decide to sponsor Jiang Mingxu.

When the car arrived at the hospital, Jiang Mingxu went to complete the admission procedures, while Jin Ran and Jiang Xuli waited with Uncle He in the rest area.

“I used to worry that this child was too cold, too solitary, and too smart. Such a person may achieve certain success in his career, but he may have a difficult life.”

Later, his fears proved to be largely true.

"But seeing you this time puts my mind at ease."

Jin Ran's eyes flickered: "What does this have to do with me?"

Uncle He smiled kindly, but his eyes looked like those of a thousand-year-old fox: "I just received a call from the police. It's the first time I've ever seen this kid so nervous. You know, once a person gets close to people, they can be down-to-earth."

...

After accompanying Uncle He through his check-up, the results were quite good. His injured leg had improved, and the bone was not crooked. The pain was probably due to the change of seasons. The doctor prescribed medication and instructed him to come for physiotherapy every week before letting him leave.

It was already evening when they took Uncle He back. Just then, Uncle He's daughter came over and thanked them profusely, inviting them upstairs for dinner, but Jiang Mingxu politely declined.

The family of three returned to the hotel.

There were no special arrangements. Jiang Mingxu asked them what they wanted to eat, and Jin Ran, remembering what Uncle He had said, suggested eating the delicacies he had eaten before.

Jiang Mingxu: "I don't know if there are any left."

After all, he hadn't stayed in Xihai Town for long, and more than a decade had passed since then.

Even so, I still tried to find them based on my memory. Most of the shops had changed and been replaced by newer milk tea shops and barbecue shops, but there were a few that I missed.

"Their food is delicious and inexpensive; I used to eat here often."

Jin Ran looked up and saw a rice noodle shop called Wang Po Rice Noodles. Compared to other shops, it did show some signs of age.

Jiang Mingxu looked at Jin Ran, who nodded decisively: "This is an old brand, right? I have to give it a try."

As for Jiang Xuli's opinion, he had already gotten used to being ignored by his father.

He followed silently, ready to quietly be a heartless food-bragging person, but his dad suddenly turned around and said, "If you don't like it, you don't have to force yourself. You can go eat something else."

It was clear that Jiang Mingxu rarely spoke words of concern like this, and Jiang Xuli's first reaction was to think it was sarcasm. However, upon seeing his father's slightly furrowed brows, he realized what was going on and was momentarily speechless.

After a moment's hesitation, he said, "...Actually, I'd also like to try the things you used to eat."

Jiang Mingxu smiled and said, "Then come in together."

Actually, the taste wasn't particularly good. After tasting it, Jinran felt that the rice noodles were a bit salty, as if they contained cowpeas and pickled kelp.

In addition, there are more noodles than vegetables, and you can even get a second bowl of noodles for just one yuan after finishing a bowl of rice noodles. Even so, each person only needs to pay six yuan in the end, which is quite a bargain for people who just want to fill their stomachs.

Jin Ran and Jiang Xuli both finished eating in the end, showing great courtesy.

However, after returning to the hotel, Jiang Xuli secretly ordered two cups of milk tea. Afraid that his father would be upset if he found out, he secretly left them at the front desk and sent a message to Jin Ran asking her to come and get them.

After a while, Jin Ran finally sent an OK emoji.

Jiang Xuli didn't think much of it. He took his milk tea back to his room with peace of mind. He was leaving tomorrow morning, so he needed to pack his luggage in advance.

Unbeknownst to them, the two people next door were not in the room.

/

This wasn't Jin Ran's first time at a bar.

During her college years, she went to a few bars with her roommates out of curiosity, but they were all quiet bars where the music was mainly lyrical and folk.

As soon as she entered, she was dazzled by the colorful lights and couldn't help but look for Jiang Mingxu's location. He had already come over and reached out to take her hand: "Follow me."

Jin Ran immediately felt relieved.

It was also "Wang Po Rice Noodles" that made her suddenly want to learn more about Jiang Mingxu's past, so on her last night before leaving, she wanted to visit the place where he used to work.

In the past, Jiang Mingxu would definitely have refused, but now, looking into Jin Ran's bright eyes, he found himself unable to say no.

As soon as the two sat down, a bartender came over to promote their drinks.

The other person was not old, but looked about the same age as Jiang Xuli. He was wearing the work uniform that the bar had given them together, and he spoke in a warm and flattering manner, with a maturity and slickness that did not match his age.

However, considering they were leaving the next morning, they ultimately decided not to buy anything. After the bartender left with the drinks, Jin Ran couldn't help but glance at Jiang Mingxu—the man had cold, stern eyes, slightly pursed lips, and exuded an aura of unapproachability. How could someone like him have worked in a bar back then? How did he manage to sell the drinks?

Thinking this way, I asked this question.

To everyone's surprise, Jiang Mingxu was anything but modest: "It depends on your face."

Jin Ran: "..."

Seeing Jin Ran's speechless expression, Jiang Mingxu's lips curled up, and for a moment he didn't seem so indifferent anymore.

He was telling the truth. Besides men, there were also women who came to the bar, including many women who were willing to spend money on drinks. He was always good-looking, and those wealthy women were willing to give him face. Sometimes he could earn several hundred yuan in commission in one night.

Jin Ran felt increasingly uneasy as she listened.

The image of a pitiful, oppressed woman that she had imagined did not appear. Instead, a group of wealthy women were taking care of her business, which she found quite nice.

Although she knew it was a good thing that Jiang Mingxu hadn't suffered, she felt inexplicably strange. She hummed, suddenly put her water glass on the table, raised her chin, and said, "Pour me a glass of water. There'll be a reward for a good one."

Jiang Mingxu raised his eyebrows slightly.

"What reward?"

He acted naturally, without showing any shyness. Jin Ran snorted again: "Don't forget you still owe me two payments."

Jiang Mingxu: "Are you sure you want to exchange it for a reward?"

"Just tell me if you're willing or not!"

In response, her slender fingers picked up the glass kettle, slowly poured a glass of warm water, and pushed it towards her.

"That's it?" Jin Ran deliberately made things difficult. "I spent so much money, and you expect me to drink it myself?"

Jiang Mingxu chuckled softly and actually picked up the water glass and held it to her lips: "You're right, we can't let the guests take the initiative."

The two were close, and the deep voice exploded in her ear, arousing a tingling, itchy feeling. Jin Ran felt as if her cheeks were freshly steamed white bread.

After Jiang Mingxu finished feeding her the water, he didn't retreat. His gaze was deep, and he casually wiped a drop of water from the corner of her lips with his fingertips. Jin Ran paused, her eyelashes trembling slightly as she closed her eyes.

"It's you?!"

A surprised male voice suddenly interrupted, nearly causing Jin Ran's heart to stop. She instinctively pushed the person away and turned around to see a young man staring at her with delight: "I didn't expect to meet you here!"

In the corner, Jiang Mingxu, who had been pushed aside, raised his eyes and looked at the newcomer with a chilling gaze.