Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Jiang Liu, I Want to Tell You 1 Thing

The manager did some quick math. It seemed manageable. He gritted his teeth and nodded. "Alright! It’s a deal! We’ll throw them in!"

The group sat in the office and talked for a while longer.

After signing the papers, they went to inspect the car.

He checked the dates on the tires, door pillars, and glass, making sure they all matched up.

He gave it a thorough inspection.

The protective film on the interior was still intact. There was a bit of dirt on the tires, likely from transport, and the tire whiskers were still there.

Everything was in order.

Jiang Liu swiped his card, and 319,800 yuan was deducted.

Of that, the 4S shop had helped him purchase the insurance, which cost over 6,000 yuan.

Insurance for a new car is usually expensive.

For the window tinting and floor mats, he’d have to pick them up from a workshop partnered with the 4S shop.

As for the dash cam, the shop had them in stock on their shelves.

Jiang Liu picked out a 360-brand dash cam.

"Mr. Jiang, here are all the documents for your vehicle purchase. Please take a look."

"Okay."

Jiang Liu took the plastic document folder and opened it. Inside were the invoice, certificate of conformity, "Three Guarantees" service booklet, owner’s manual, and two car keys.

"I’ll send the electronic insurance policy to your WeChat. Please drive carefully today. The insurance will activate after midnight tonight."

"Alright, got it."

Jiang Liu took the car keys, a wide grin spreading across his face.

This was the first car that was truly his.

Previously, if he wanted to drive, he had to depend on Yang Yixue’s mood.

Now he had his own car. He could drive it whenever he wanted, and he wouldn’t have to worry about a few dings or scratches.

Another fifty minutes passed.

With Manager Xu’s guidance, Jiang Liu drove over with Jun Qingmeng.

They quickly registered the vehicle’s information at the agency and drew for a license plate number.

Out of a hundred options, the two of them got lucky and picked a great number.

The license plate was Jin M: 888K9.

A plate number like that could sell for over 10,000 yuan in South City.

After paying another fifty yuan, the vehicle management office issued a temporary paper plate.

Manager Chen saw them off cheerfully at the entrance of the 4S shop. "Goodbye, Mr. Jiang! Drive safe! I wish you two a long and happy life together!"

Jiang Liu paused for a second, then said, "Alright, goodbye."

He was in a hurry to get back and make baozi.

He could earn 20,000 yuan in a single night.

On the way, Jiang Liu drove steadily. He turned to glance at the quiet Jun Qingmeng and asked with concern, "How are you feeling now?"

"Your face looks a little flushed."

"Ah, my face is red?"

Jun Qingmeng touched her face, then shook her head, feeling a bit flustered. Her voice was quiet. "I’m fine. It’s nothing, don’t worry about me."

She had just been daydreaming about the blush-worthy life they’d have after she successfully confessed to Jiang Liu.

She hadn’t even noticed her own face was blushing.

’That’s right, I want to confess to Jiang Liu,’ she thought. But she was too shy and nervous.

Jiang Liu didn’t overthink it. He just nodded and focused on driving. "If you’re not feeling well, don’t push yourself. Just tell me. It wouldn’t take more than a few minutes to take you home."

Jun Qingmeng decided to just ignore him.

’What a handsome blockhead!!’

「Three o’clock.」

Jiang Liu returned home and took ingredients from his "all-powerful" refrigerator.

Then he loaded them into the trunk, drove to the shop, and started preparing.

He planned to bring the two stainless steel barrels from the shop home tonight so he could transport the drinks to the shop every day.

Despite the muggy weather, a long line had formed outside the shop as usual.

This strange spectacle attracted the attention of many passersby.

Jiang Liu parked the car across the street and got out, carrying the ingredients.

The entire line turned in unison to stare at Jiang Liu in disbelief.

’Boss Jiang bought a car already?’

’That car doesn’t look cheap. It must be at least a few hundred thousand.’

An auntie in the line exclaimed in surprise, "Xiao Jiang, is that your car?!"

Jiang Liu smiled and nodded, replying to the auntie, "Just bought it this afternoon. Want me to take you for a spin?"

The auntie snapped, "A spin? My foot! Hurry up and make the baozi! My old man has been nagging me about it all afternoon!"

The office workers and employees from nearby businesses shouted excitedly:

"That’s a BYD, a domestic car! Our homegrown cars are getting better and better now, not much different from the big foreign brands. Boss Jiang is a patriot!"

"Damn! Brother Jiang actually bought a car! I bet one of the parts in there was paid for by me."

"Hahahaha, I come here every day and give Brother Jiang plenty of money in support! Maybe that front tire is mine."

They weren’t angry. On the contrary, they were happy and even felt a sense of pride.

As long as Boss Jiang was living well, they could rest easy.

’Just keep making those delicious baozi and juices every day, and don’t get lazy!’

Jiang Liu, feeling quite pleased with himself, led Jun Qingmeng inside, carrying the ingredients and unlocking the door.

Having a car versus not having one were two completely different worlds.

Before, he’d have to carry dozens of pounds of filling, and his arms would be sore by the time he got to the shop.

It was so much easier now.

Plus, there was a charging station nearby.

Charging was very convenient!

Jun Qingmeng wasn’t one to sit idle either. As soon as they got to the shop, she started mopping the floor for Jiang Liu.

She put her head down and worked with a huff and a puff.

Jiang Liu was working in the kitchen. When he came out, he couldn’t help but smile wryly. He walked over and took the mop from her. "Qingmeng, you should just sit and rest. Or you could go browse the nearby shops, buy yourself a snack if you see something you like. You’re sick and you’re still working... honestly."

"Jiang Liu, I..." Jun Qingmeng tried to insist.

Jiang Liu cut her off, deliberately putting on a stern face.

"If you don’t listen to me, I’ll send you home, believe it or not."

"When you’re sick, you need to rest properly. You told me yourself you came out to take your mind off things. Be good, do something you enjoy, and don’t tire yourself out. Otherwise, if Tongtong found out I was mistreating you, wouldn’t she raise hell with me?"

At his last half-joking words, Jun Qingmeng couldn’t help but laugh.

It was beautiful. Truly beautiful.

’But the thing I like to do is help you share your burden...’ Jun Qingmeng really wanted to shout this, but sadly, she didn’t have the courage.

But she was still very, very happy, because the person she liked was caring for her.

"Okay, fine, Jiang Liu..." Jun Qingmeng nodded, bit her lip, and was just about to voice a little of what was on her mind.

Suddenly, Xue Guang, wearing a *Pleasant Goat* apron, walked in and yelled at the top of his lungs:

"You’re here, Jiang Liu? Remember to save thirty-five baozi for that handsome guy next door, okay? And two bottles of juice, any kind will do."

The words on the tip of Jun Qingmeng’s tongue were swallowed back down. Her heart was pounding. She stole a glance at Jiang Liu, straightened her posture, and sat down guiltily, fidgeting with her hands.

’It’s okay, take it slow. Now’s not the right time...’

Jiang Liu nodded seriously. "Don’t worry, I’ll definitely save them for you."

"Haha, great! Last time I brought your baozi for my mom to try, she was blown away, you know? At first she said she didn’t want any, but afterward, she kept calling me, raving about your baozi."

Xue Guang offered a few more words of praise and left in a good mood.

Ever since Jiang Liu opened his baozi shop next door, Xue Guang’s mood had never been better.

The junk he used to eat was nothing compared to the amazing food he was eating now.

「After Xue Guang left.」

The shop grew quiet.

Jiang Liu brought a cup of hot water, placed it on the table in front of Jun Qingmeng, and sat across from her, asking with concern, "It’s five o’clock. Isn’t it time for you to take your medicine?"

Jun Qingmeng’s heart melted, even if this was just the kind of concern that didn’t cross the line between friends. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

She didn’t answer Jiang Liu’s question.

Instead, Jun Qingmeng bit her lower lip and looked Jiang Liu straight in the eyes, speaking seriously.

"Jiang Liu, there’s something I have to tell you!"

The clamor outside the door continued unabated.

But in Jun Qingmeng’s nervous world, this moment was silent.

In her heart, there was only Jiang Liu.

"How about tonight? I haven’t finished making the baozi yet. Time is tight and the mission is heavy," Jiang Liu said with a smile as he stood up. "Besides, the most important thing for you right now is to take your medicine on time."

’You take it! You take it!!...’ Jun Qingmeng pouted, feeling wronged.

"What, afraid the medicine is bitter?"

Jiang Liu chuckled and patted her shoulder.

"Come on. You’re a grown-up, not a little kid. Do I have to supervise you just to take your medicine?"

Jun Qingmeng could only suppress the love bubbling up in her heart, letting out a nasal "mhm" that was thick from her cold.

It sounded a bit like a loli’s voice.

「Five-fifty.」

The noise at the shop entrance grew even louder.

All sorts of people were there—uncles and aunties, students and office workers.

They stood on their tiptoes, peering into the shop from their places in line.

"Is it ready yet!?"

"Come on, hurry up! Boss Jiang must be slacking off today. The juice is usually out by now."

"Do you think Boss Jiang will come out with any new delicacies?" a young person asked curiously.

A discussion immediately broke out in the line.

"No way!"

"The baozi and juice are already freaking incredible. I don’t think Boss Jiang can top them."

"I’ll forever call the baozi and juice ’Daddy’!"

"Obviously not. Use your brain. If he had something new, Boss Jiang would have made it for us already. Why would he hide it? Is he afraid of being arrested as a secret agent? Haha."

"I can only say that baozi and juice this delicious are a rare find in this world. This is already Brother Jiang’s peak."

Actually, in the customers’ hearts, they were already more than satisfied.

Or perhaps, they didn’t dare to hope for too much more.