The parking lot was filled with luxury cars, ranging from Mercedes-Benz and BMWs to top-tier RVs. Many were clearly privately owned, adorned with flashy decorations. It was evident these were purchased by the employees of Pengzhan Group, offering a glimpse into how well-paid they were.
By comparison, Lin Yi's monthly salary of 30,000 yuan suddenly didn't seem so extravagant.
Under Uncle Fu's guidance, Lin Yi was led to a deep blue Bentley. The car was meticulously maintained—whether it was newly purchased or just carefully taken care of, it looked brand new.
"Mr. Lin, please get in." Uncle Fu opened the front passenger door and gestured for Lin Yi to enter.
"You want me to sit in the front? What about the young lady later?" Lin Yi hesitated.
"The young lady always sits in the back. She has a schoolbag, so the front seat is inconvenient for her," Uncle Fu explained.
Lin Yi nodded and got into the car. Uncle Fu skillfully drove out of the underground parking lot.
At the exit, the security guards immediately stood to attention, their expressions solemn as they watched the car leave.
Uncle Fu's driving skills were steady and precise, but they were clearly the conventional sort—quite different from what Lin Yi had learned.
Lin Yi's driving training leaned heavily toward racing techniques. After all, as his old man often said: "It's not your fault if you can't win a fight, but if you can't run away, then you deserve whatever happens."
So Lin Yi had mastered all sorts of escape techniques. Though they were mostly tested against the old man himself, against others, Lin Yi always had the upper hand.
"Mr. Lin, do you know how to drive?" Uncle Fu asked as they waited at a red light, glancing at the quiet Lin Yi beside him.
Uncle Fu was an experienced driver who could usually tell at a glance whether someone had driving experience. But Lin Yi's calm demeanor revealed nothing, so Uncle Fu decided to ask directly.
"I know a little," Lin Yi replied modestly, deciding it was better to stay humble as a newcomer.
"Do you have a license?" Uncle Fu didn't probe further, knowing that Mr. Chu trusted this young man.
"Not yet," Lin Yi admitted. Though he had driven extensively, including racing abroad, he had no formal license. "I just turned 18 and haven't had the chance to get one."
"Alright, give me your ID, and I'll arrange for you to get a license. That way, if Mr. Chu or I are unavailable, you can drive the young lady to and from school," Uncle Fu said.
The car stopped near an opulent-looking school but didn't approach further. The Bentley was simply too conspicuous, and attracting undue attention wasn't ideal.
Lin Yi had already read up on the school. Songshan First High School was a private institution but not the stereotypical aristocratic school. It was a provincial key school that admitted students through entrance exams.
While there were some students from wealthy families who got in through connections, the majority were admitted based on merit. Thanks to the backing of three major corporations, the school's facilities and faculty were superior to its peers, ensuring a near-perfect graduation rate each year.
Of course, Lin Yi understood that this 100% success rate was somewhat exaggerated. Some students, especially the pampered ones, barely studied but still managed to get into universities thanks to their family connections.
The familiar sound of the school bell brought a fleeting sense of nostalgia to Lin Yi. How many years had it been since he last heard such a sound?
After a brief moment of distraction, Lin Yi composed himself and calmly observed the school's playground.
Before long, students began streaming out of the teaching buildings. Some wore uniforms, while others didn't. Unless there was a major event, the school didn't strictly enforce its dress code.
"That's the young lady," Uncle Fu suddenly said, pointing toward a group of male and female students walking out.
Lin Yi followed Uncle Fu's gaze and saw a tall, stunning girl. Although other girls surrounded her, Lin Yi immediately identified her as the young lady.
His old man had mentioned that Chu Mengyao was the school belle. A school belle was presumably the prettiest girl, unless Lin Yi's sense of aesthetics was off.
While the girl beside Chu Mengyao was also quite attractive, she was petite and didn't match the height described in the dossier. Still, she had the makings of a future school belle, destined to grow into a breathtaking beauty.
Chu Mengyao and her companion walked briskly toward the car, but a group of wealthy-looking boys followed closely behind.
"Mengyao, wait!" one of the boys called out, stepping in front of her. "Mengyao, I'm sincere about you. Please give me a chance!"
Chu Mengyao frowned in annoyance, glancing at the boy. "Zhong Pinliang, can you not be so annoying? I've told you I don't like you. Stop bothering me!"
"But—" Zhong Pinliang started, only to be shoved aside by Chu Mengyao, who strode toward the car.
Lin Yi was slightly surprised to see the other girl accompanying her also get into the car.
"Zhong Pinliang is so irritating. He pesters me every day—doesn't he ever get tired?" Chu Mengyao complained as she got into the car. Then, noticing Lin Yi in the passenger seat, she asked, "Who are you?"
"Hello, I'm Lin Yi," Lin Yi replied, trying to appear as amiable as possible. This young lady seemed temperamental.
"Lin Yi? Uncle Fu, what's he doing here?" Chu Mengyao asked, puzzled.
"Miss Chu, Mr. Lin is the study companion arranged by Mr. Chu," Uncle Fu explained.
"Study companion? Who needs a study companion? Didn't I say I wanted a shield? Look at him—how is he supposed to shield me from anyone?"
Chu Mengyao grew agitated, sizing up Lin Yi. His attire—a tank top and worn-out pants—made him look like a laborer. He was even scruffier than most construction workers, almost like he'd just returned from the wilds of Africa.
Uncle Fu broke into a cold sweat, wiping his forehead nervously. He glanced at Lin Yi, relieved to see no particular reaction.
Uncle Fu was well-acquainted with the situation, knowing how much effort it had taken to recruit Lin Yi—even the family patriarch had been involved.