Stepping out of the finance office, the two of them each held a freshly issued driving test guide.
"Want to come over to my place for lunch?" Wang Zihao asked, checking the time on his phone. It was exactly 11:00 a.m.Going to the hospital for the medical check now was obviously too late.
"No need. Next time," Chen Yansen replied casually.
He flicked the brand-new guide into the bike basket with a clatter, mounted his bicycle, and rode straight toward the city.
Wang Zihao hurried after him, frowning."Earlier there were too many people, so I didn't dare ask… Why did you pick Coach Huang? Didn't Sister Zhang warn you? He's famous for his bad temper."
Most people deliberately chose patient instructors.Chen Yansen did the opposite.
"He has the highest pass rate," Chen Yansen said calmly. "That means his teaching is solid."
He paused, then added lightly,"More importantly, he has the fewest students."
Fewer students meant more practice time.More practice time meant faster test scheduling.Faster scheduling meant one thing—
A guaranteed driver's license before September.
What he didn't say was the real reason.
Coach Huang—Huang Boxiang—had scolded countless students to tears, yet had never been fired. Why?
Because his older brother owned the driving school.
In his previous life, Huang Boxiang had been his instructor.
"Or maybe," Wang Zihao said suspiciously, "he scared all the dumb students away, so the pass rate just looks high?"
Chen Yansen stared at him for a moment… then nodded solemnly.
"You're frighteningly intelligent."
"Damn it!"Wang Zihao's face fell. "Then I really need to switch instructors!"
"But you said it yourself," Chen Yansen countered smoothly."He only targets the stupid and clumsy. You don't fall into either category."
Wang Zihao froze… then straightened up proudly.
"That's true."
Confidence instantly restored, he grinned from ear to ear.
At Qipan Street, the two parted ways—one heading north, the other turning right.
This time, Wang Zihao confirmed three times that the medical check was after 2 p.m. before finally riding off.
Chen Yansen pedaled toward Beiyi Lane at an unhurried pace.
"Old Chen probably hasn't eaten yet," he muttered. "Might as well freeload a meal."
When he parked his bike, he saw Chen Guobin sitting on a small stool, holding a boxed lunch and reading the newspaper.
Old Chen could cook.
Unfortunately, his cooking tasted like a battlefield casualty.
Since middle school, Chen Yansen had tactically avoided eating at home—rotating between Wang Zihao's house and the school cafeteria.
"Registered already?" Chen Guobin asked, pausing his chopsticks.
"Yeah. Going to the county hospital this afternoon with Wang Zihao."
Chen Yansen pulled out a folding stool and sat opposite him, his gaze drifting toward the lunchbox.
"You didn't eat?"
"Thought it'd been a while since we ate together."
His tone was casual, but Chen Guobin's heart softened.
"Then let's eat out," Old Chen suggested.
"No need."Chen Yansen pointed at the rice. "Just order another one of that."
Chen Guobin didn't argue. He took out his phone and called a nearby stall.
As the call ended, Chen Yansen casually put down his magazine.
"I heard the higher-ups plan to push tourism development. The old residential buildings near the salt company are likely to be included in the demolition zone."
Chen Guobin scoffed immediately.
"Rumors. Same trick as five years ago. They fooled people into buying those broken houses in the west of the city. Whoever buys now is asking to be cheated."
Reasonable.Completely reasonable.
"Do you remember Mengjie from my class?" Chen Yansen asked.
"The short one? Looked like a boy?" Chen Guobin recalled slowly.
"Her father is the president of the Agricultural and Livestock Bank in Anfeng Town."
Chen Yansen lowered his voice deliberately.
Chen Guobin's posture straightened.
"Is she reliable?"
"Absolutely."Chen Yansen replied smoothly. "She's my girlfriend now."
"Pfft—what?!"
Rice sprayed across the table.
Chen Guobin stared at his son like he'd been struck by lightning.
"If a future father-in-law wouldn't lie to his son-in-law," Chen Yansen continued calmly,"then I suggest you buy both units upstairs and wait for compensation."
After a long pause—
"I'll… look into it," Chen Guobin said stiffly.
But his gaze grew increasingly strange.
His son… dating a bank president's daughter?
And a tomboy, at that?
Before he could process further—
"Old Chen! Your lunch is here!"
"I'm coming!" Chen Guobin shouted.
Chen Yansen pressed him back down."I'll grab it."
Watching his son's back, Chen Guobin murmured,"Seems like finding a partner really makes people grow up…"
Then panic struck.
Wait—what if they want him as a live-in son-in-law?
"No. No way."
He squirmed on the stool like a cat on hot bricks.
"Got a nail stuck in your butt?" Chen Yansen teased upon returning.
"No! Absolutely not!"
"Old Chen," Chen Yansen said seriously while eating,"you should find a wife. Takeout every day isn't healthy."
"And you're still eating it!" Chen Guobin snapped.
"I'll only eat like this for a year or two," Chen Yansen replied calmly."What about you? Planning to eat like this forever?"
That did it.
"Eat and get out! How did I raise someone like you?!"
"Alright, alright—I'm going!"
Chen Yansen finished his meal in record time and fled.
He wasn't pushing demolition property for profit.
He was doing it because Old Chen would never ask him for money—even if Chen Yansen became impossibly rich.
Stubborn to the bone.
Riding away under the warm summer breeze, Chen Yansen whistled softly.
"Old Chen… I'm working very hard to make you a self-made millionaire."