Chapter 23 Steady Hands On The Wheel

10 minutes to 6pm, Xue Ning's neighbours were treated to an unusual sight of a bright red sports car parked innocently in front of their dingy apartment complex. Random passersby gawked at the car, with some even bothering to take photos of such a rare occurrence.

Xue Ning only facepalmed at the sight of the car. It was so red that a bullfighter could have used it to enrage bulls. She hurriedly slid into the car, thankful for the tinted windows that hid Jingwei's face from nosy neighbours.

Luckily she hadn't worn the cocktail dress. Instead she had put on her black jeans, a black shirt along with an old leather jacket that had seen better days.

Of course, Xue Ning going into such an expensive car would already cause gossip to spread. But she didn't know how bad it could get until later.

"Woah, you're earlier than I expected. Are you that excited to meet me for dinner?" Jingwei asks as he smiles at her, one hand on the steering wheel, idly drumming along to the beat of the pop song playing from the car radio.

He was dressed in a full suit, but he wore no tie. Instead he left his collar and the top button free to reveal his tanned skin and collarbone. He was handsome enough that Xue Ning had to blink twice to recalibrate her senses. Perhaps this was a bad idea. Being in such close proximity with him dressed like this might lead her to trouble.

But free food. She can't say no to that.

"You're early too, so I could ask the same for you," she replies easily, sliding into the car and putting on her seat belt. The car even smelled expensive, the scent of clean leather and cologne mixing together to form a uniquely masculine scent. Her nose twitched. It was a lot more pleasant than whatever she smelt before at her old workplace.

"I asked you first," Jingwei says, looking at her intently. He had leaned even closer, and this new lack of distance from his gaze does strange things to her intestines, and she feels her face flushing. It must be indigestion.

"I'm hungry, sue me," she replies easily, deliberately looking away and pretending to busy herself with adjusting her hair in the rearview mirror, raising an eyebrow at a black car parked at the side. She hasn't seen that vehicle before.

"Can we go now? Your car is attracting a lot of attention."

"You're too broke, I'd feel bad if I were to sue you," he says, amused as easily drives the car out from the parking lot with only one hand on the steering wheel. Xue Ning is torn between feeling impressed and worried. "And yes, I suppose you can say that this dinner is the highlight of my entire month."

He shoots Xue Ning a grin, before turning to focus on the road.

"Use both hands when driving," she says, because she doesn't know how to reply to his words. This was Sun Jingwei's birthday month, he must have had so many celebratory meals - how could dinner with her be the highlight of his month?

Surely he was just being kind.

"I could do that," he winks at her. "But I always keep one of my hands free when I'm in a car with a pretty girl."

She gives him a deadpan look.

"Quit that bullshit and drive properly," she scolds. "I don't want to die before we even get to eat."

"Yes Ma'am," he gives her a one-handed salute, leaving only one hand on the wheel. She glares, and he makes a great show of putting his other hand on the wheel.

"I must tell you that I've been driving since I got my licence." Jingwei says reassuringly. "Driving one-handed is not a problem for me. I even race with one hand. I only don't drive drunk. That's when I get my chauffeur to drive."

"Good for you," she says, pleasantly surprised at his words. A lot of her old rich customers from the club would drive intoxicated if they could, if she hadn't called them cabs and got her co-workers to shove their sorry asses into the vehicle.

"So you see, I'm a responsible driver! I've been driving since I was 16!" He declares. "Don't worry, we'll get to our destination safely."

"I see, but shouldn't I be in-charge of driving you?" She asks, curious. "I'm technically working for you. It's weird to be driven by my boss."

"Nah, I like driving," he gives her another charming grin that makes him look very boyish. It gives Xue Ning flashbacks to her high school crush. "It makes me feel free, you know? Like nothing can catch you."

"I guess?" She has never driven anything fast enough to experience that feeling.

"Maybe later you'll drive me back, and you'll understand." Jingwei says.

"You're letting me drive your car?" Xue Ning blinks in surprise.

"Why not? You're working for me - what's mine is yours now." Jingwei says cheerfully. "Can you help me to change the radio channel until I find a song I like?"

"Sure," she says blankly, shifting through stations on autopilot. What's 'his' is 'hers'? Did he mix up the saying? It should have been the other way around - what's hers is his, wasn't it?

"Stop!" He yells, snapping her out of her thoughts. A soulful ballad reverberates through the car.

Even his sound system was state-of-the-art, allowing her to listen to the different musical instruments that make up the song. Rich people really have it good.

"By the way, I think you got the saying wrong," she says conversationally as Jingwei does his best to lipsync a high note.

"Huh? I'm pretty sure I know the lyrics to this song. It's one of my mother's favourites." He replies, frowning.

"No I don't mean the song! I meant with what you said - what's yours is mine. Shouldn't it be the other way around - what's mine is yours? Seeing that you are my boss, and you are paying me, and you even bought me a lot of outfits." Xue Ning says, counting each point with her fingers.

"Ah, but it goes both ways. You are mine - my girl - bodyguard, you are my bodyguard, so of course what's mine is yours. You're literally going to save me from possible death and dismemberment, I think you deserve some compensation for that." Jingwei replies quickly, nearly tripping over his words.

She frowns at the slight hiccup. A girl bodyguard? Was he looking down on her because she was a woman?

Well. She'd just have to prove that she was capable then, even with her limited experience and lack of training.

"I'll make sure I'll keep you safe," she promises, holding a fist up. "I might be smaller than you, but I pack one hell of a punch."

"I'd rather you'd be safe and well," Jingwei confesses glumly. "Hopefully they'll catch the ones responsible soon and then life will go back to normal."

"Don't worry, I'll be out of your hair soon enough," Xue Ning says, crossing her arms and leaning back into the seat. "You'll be able to sit with other girls and impress them by driving one-handed."

"So… does that mean you're impressed with my one-handed driving?" Jingwei asks, delighted.

"Is this the only thing you took from my words?" Xue Ning squawks.

"Why do you keep answering my question with a question?" Jingwei asks in return.

Xue Ning splutters and huffs, choosing to look everywhere else but at Sun Jingwei and the smug satisfaction radiating off him. She glances at the rearview mirror again and blinks in surprise.

Tailing them was the same black car from before.

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