6: Chapter 6 The Provincial Party Secretary's Daughter

At eight the next morning, Zhang Huaijing picked up Jian Yun in Wang Shuting's Mercedes-Benz E300L.

She was wearing ultra-short denim shorts, revealing a pair of long, straight, fair legs.

Her upper body was clad in a white short-sleeved T-shirt that was a bit short; a slight tip of her toes would reveal her fair, tender abdomen and slender, supple waist, which was devoid of any excess fat.

Her hair was in twin braids, she wore large sunglasses, and she was sucking on a lollipop.

Carrying a cute pink bag on her back, a large white suitcase stood by her feet.

She looked just like a beautiful little lolita.

Seeing the car approach, she hopped and waved at Zhang Huaijing, shouting excitedly, "Brother Jing, Brother Jing!"

Zhang Huaijing parked the car and got out to help her put the large suitcase into the trunk. Jian Yun said with a grin, "Brother Jing, you're so amazing, you're so strong!"

Seeing her trying to climb into the passenger seat, Zhang Huaijing said, "Lass, sit in the back."

"Why?" She took off her sunglasses and stared at him with wide, watery eyes.

"No reason." She had grown up; she was so young and beautiful that if they were seen sitting too close together, it would spark more gossip.

"I insist on sitting in the front." Jian Yun lifted her small face, gave a huff, and climbed in.

Zhang Huaijing was helpless and could only let her be.

After the car hit the road, Jian Yun asked, "Brother Jing, this car is quite pretty. Is it Wang Shuting's?"

"Yes."

"When are you two getting a divorce?"

"That's not your concern. Think about how to study hard and make progress every day once you get to school."

Jian Yun took the lollipop out of her mouth and pouted angrily, "How boring. You put on a long face the moment we meet and keep lecturing me. I'm already eighteen. Zhang Huaijing, let me tell you, you're not as cute as you used to be."

Zhang Huaijing let out a chuckle. "When was I ever cute?"

"You used to tease me all the time, dress up as a ghost to scare me, and even taught me how to play basketball. You even lifted me up so I could complete the only dunk of my life."

"I definitely can't lift you now." Zhang Huaijing turned his head to glance at her. This glance was troublesome; her long legs, like white marble, stretched across the car, gleaming so brightly that he couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart.

She seemed to catch the unusual look in his eyes. Her face flushed slightly as she crossed her long legs—her pride and joy—into an even more enticing curve.

"I'm less than 90 pounds, you know. When we get to school, I'll give you a chance to try again." Her voice became increasingly sweet and coquettish.

Zhang Huaijing shook his head, kept his eyes on the road, and focused on driving.

"You still haven't answered me. When are you and Wang Shuting getting divorced?"

"We've already divorced. Everything is settled. We just need to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau next Monday to exchange for the green booklets."

"Really?" Jian Yun was overjoyed. Her reclining body seemed to spring upright as she leaned toward him. Seeing his serious expression, she laughed genuinely and freely. "Haha, that's wonderful! Brother Jing is finally free!"

"Hey, Jian Yun, do you really want your Brother Jing to be a bachelor that badly?"

"Yes. Wang Shuting doesn't deserve you at all."

Zhang Huaijing gave an "oh" and asked, "In what way does she not deserve me?"

"She's not that pretty, she's not gentle, and she has a bad temper. Of course she's not a match for my handsome, refined, and elegant Brother Jing."

Zhang Huaijing's scalp tingled. He said solemnly, "It's fine to call me Brother Jing occasionally when we're alone, but you can't call me that in front of others. It's not appropriate."

"What's wrong with it? You're only seventeen years older than me. Should I call you 'Uncle'? You don't look like an uncle anyway; you look like a handsome guy in his twenties." She blinked her large eyes mischievously.

"Seventeen years isn't a big gap? You're joking."

"If I say it's not big, it's not big."

Seeing her pouting and acting coquettishly, Zhang Huaijing found her quite cute and smiled. "And another thing, with all this 'Brother Jing' talk, people will think you're Huang Rong."

"Oh right, you're 'Jing-gege,' haha."

While they were talking, the car suddenly stopped.

Zhang Huaijing commanded in an unquestionable tone, "Wait for me in the car for a few minutes. Don't go anywhere." With that, he got out.

Jian Yun looked around, and her expression changed instantly. It turned out he had brought her to the train station. She got out of the car and grabbed Zhang Huaijing, who was about to buy a ticket. "What are you doing? I'm not taking the train."

"Huxia University is very far from here—five hundred kilometers. Driving is unsafe and takes too long. Taking the train is much better. I'll buy you a sleeper ticket so you can get some sleep," Zhang Huaijing comforted her gently.

"Are you going?"

Zhang Huaijing looked at the Mercedes. If he were going, there would have been no need to drive this car over; he couldn't hide it. He said, "Lass, you're an eighteen-year-old woman now. You can travel on your own. Besides, Changsha isn't that far."

"You just said it was far! Liar! I don't want to take the train; I want you to drive me. Look at your sister—beautiful as a flower, pure and cute—going to a completely strange place alone for the first time. Are you really okay with that? Aren't you afraid I'll be bullied by bad people? Have you completely ignored what my dad told you?" Jian Yun was on the verge of tears as she spoke.

Remembering the earnest instructions his old leader had given before going away, Zhang Huaijing's heart softened. He sighed and said, "I have to handle divorce matters this week, do a work handover, and have farewell drinks with friends before heading to my new post. I really don't have time. How about this: I'll arrange a driver to take this Mercedes and personally drive you there, help you with the enrollment procedures, and get you settled into your dorm. Okay?"

"No! I want you to take me!" Jian Yun was like an unyielding revolutionary martyr, staring down her 'executioner,' Zhang Huaijing, with a look of deathly defiance.

However, Zhang Huaijing still didn't put down his metaphorical butcher's knife and refused to take her himself.

She grew anxious, let go of Zhang Huaijing, and started walking forward.

"Jian Yun, what are you doing?"

"I'm walking there!"

"Are you crazy?" Zhang Huaijing shouted, chasing after her for a few steps.

"None of your business!" She had the temper of a spoiled young lady—stubborn and headstrong—and she walked dozens of meters without looking back.

Zhang Huaijing shook his head helplessly, restarted the car, and followed her. When he got close, he shouted, "Get in, Young Mistress!"

"Are you taking me?"

"I'll take you. Even if I have to work myself to death on the highway, I'll get you to Changsha. Happy now?"

"Hmph, that's more like it." Her face, which had been clouded with gloom just a moment ago, was now radiant with sunshine.

"I really can't do anything with you."

"I knew Brother Jing wouldn't ignore me!" Like a rabbit, she nimbly slipped into the passenger seat. "Drive, Brother Jing!"

She looked at him prettily, her smile brimming with a young girl's innocence and mischief.

They stopped and started along the way, chatting and laughing, and didn't arrive at the gate of Huxia University until after two in the afternoon. However, private cars were not allowed onto the campus.

Zhang Huaijing said, "Take your documents and go handle the enrollment procedures first. Once your dorm is assigned, I'll help you move your luggage in."

"Okay."

Jian Yun got out of the car and entered the gatehouse, which was built in an ancient style. In less than three minutes, she returned dejectedly and said pitifully, "Brother Jing, I made a mistake. Registration is on the 3rd and 4th. We came early, so I can't enroll, and there's no dorm to stay in."