Chapter 3
With a troubled heart, I strummed a string, not noticing that the cigarette had already burned down to more than half. It was only when the exposed part of my ankle was scorched by the falling ashes of the cigarette that I came to my senses
Given the current situation, she is somewhat indecisive
Fortunately, after a brief silence, the other party quickly got to the point: "What is it?"
The other party was straightforward, not beating around the bush, and said directly: "To the west of the ancient Shule River Valley, there is a large Shaliang. My car's shock absorber broke, and both the car and I ended up on the Shaliang."
That end is quiet
Therefore, the other party does not speak, she also remains silent, and she certainly will not ask questions like "Did we know each other before?" which could easily lead to misunderstandings.
Before the call was connected, she languidly leaned against the cushion, playing with the cigarette case while mentally rehearsing how to persuade the other party to join her in the search and rescue effort
At this point, the cause of the vehicle malfunction was immediately clear—the shock absorber of the cruiser had burst
Qu Yixian calmed down for a moment, turned off the engine, and pulled the handbrake
The issue of the shock absorber can vary greatly in magnitude
As long as it is a G-Class, even if it has been modified, it is still quite delicate
Who would normally be willing to drive a luxury vehicle like the G-Class to such places? The more dilapidated the car, the better; they don't feel a hint of regret when it gets stuck or damaged.
This voice is unexpectedly pleasant, carrying warmth and depth, and has an inexplicable ear-catching quality
She could not help but secretly observe him. Her gaze shifted from the black naval cap marked with "81", with a tassel painted directly above the brim, to the tattoo on the exposed section of his arm as he rolled up his sleeves, and she began to form a vague guess.
She instinctively raised her wrist to check the time; it had been exactly half an hour since the last phone call, neither a minute more nor a minute less
Until the call was disconnected, Qu Yiqian was still somewhat at a loss.
Although she was not very satisfied with the other party's vehicle, Qu Yiqian had not forgotten that she was currently in need of assistance from others
She cleared her throat lightly, contemplating whether to greet first
The sand surface is somewhat hot, with a thin layer of fabric separating her from the continuous surge of heat pressing against her skin
The reinforcements Yuan Ye found for her are not the charming and delightful second generation heirs; this is clearly someone who can deal with her, a king of hell!
The cage formed between the underside of the vehicle and the ground is akin to a furnace. At this moment, she resembles a slice of meat wrapped in a layer of tin foil, being grilled over charcoal, with intense heat and even pressure applied.
She gazed into the distance at the increasingly approaching black, shiny off-road vehicle, which stood in stark contrast to the desert sand. As it drew near, coming to within a hair's breadth of the sand sorghum, she finally discerned that the formidable, rugged black shell four-wheel drive was, in fact, a modified G-Class.
After inspection, the shock absorber has a slight oil leak
In the distance, as the sunlight began to cast its old, dim yellow hue, a black-shell off-road vehicle emerged from behind layers of Gobi desert after rounding a dirt platform
Qu Yi Xian suddenly felt a sense of despair
She lightly bit the cigarette and mumbled indistinctly, "Just a waste of time"
When the call was connected, she cleared her throat and said, "Hello."
It is now more than an hour earlier than the agreed time, and Qu Yiqian cannot fly. The fact that a call is coming at this moment clearly indicates that there is an issue requiring assistance.
It faces the wind, with the dust raised by the car resembling thousands of troops galloping forward, while the earthen mounds of the Gobi behind have become a backdrop to this solitary rider's dust.
Qu Yixian sat back in the car and dialed the string of numbers that Yuan Ye had just given her
Suddenly, she curled the corners of her lips and smiled
The tire pressure of all four wheels is normal, and there are no signs of scratches or detachment on the bumper. Clearly, the strange noise just now is unrelated to the car body; it is an issue with the vehicle's chassis.
After about twenty minutes, Qu Yiqian's patience ran out. Unable to stay in the car, she kicked the door and climbed onto the roof in a few swift movements
Qu Yi Xian intends to be more reserved, especially when in a position of needing something from others
That gaze was as tangible as substance, yet seemed to exert an invisible pressure, momentarily constricting her throat
Qu Yi Xian was momentarily taken aback.
If this person is not exaggerating, then they are cursing her
So, stay where you are, I will arrive in half an hour
The man has a tall and slender figure, wearing a black baseball cap. Although his facial features are not clearly visible, his overall demeanor is capable and composed, exuding an air of restraint and an unfathomable depth that is not easily discernible.
The portable jack is compact in size, yet when faced with soft sandy surfaces, its supporting function seems somewhat inadequate. However, having it is better than not having it at all; at least when a string is bent, one does not have to worry about the car's protective plate unexpectedly crashing down while the vehicle is being inspected for faults underneath.
How could she forget him
The man's voice dropped a few more tones: "Have you checked the chassis?"
The chassis of the vehicle was coated with mud and sand splashed up when it emerged from the valley, and after drying, it mixed with the fine sand accumulated during the rapid journey. The wrench vibrated and knocked off debris, which fell like sand, raising clouds of dust.
However, to be fair, a surname like "Fu," which is disadvantageous everywhere, should not leave her completely without any impression
Traveling alone on a bicycle into the desert is already a taboo, especially considering the current changed circumstances, she finds herself in an extremely disadvantaged position
He did not appear to exert himself, nor did he seem awkward as he descended the sandy slope without a stable footing. From the moment Qu Yiqian saw him get out of the car to the moment this man silently appeared on the sandy ridge, the entire process took no more than two minutes
She lightly flicked the slender body of the cigarette with her curved fingers, just about to bring the cigarette tip to her lips, when suddenly she lowered her gaze, her eyes landing on the cigarette butt, and slightly paused.
He pondered for a moment and said, "The shock absorber is leaking oil, which affects the suspension components and increases fuel consumption. What are your plans?"
Leaning against the car door, she exhaled a puff of white smoke and squinted at the rear wheel. Her gaze was unfriendly, as if she could dismantle the car frame into a heap of scrap metal.
She was about to extend a hand of friendship, but unexpectedly, the man suddenly turned his gaze, his eyes behind the sunglasses directly falling from her brows to the work badge on her chest, surveying silently
The radio was unable to receive a signal, and the channel was filled with a harsh static noise. She patiently retrieved the USB drive that Yuan Ye had given her for her last birthday and plugged it into the socket
She just... was flirted with by someone, right
After getting out of the car, she circled around to inspect it.
She opened the trunk and pulled out a jack from the innermost layer to lift the chassis
The wind carried fine sand, swirling the gravel on the ground, causing the cruiser, which was halted in the sandstorm, to make a soft sound as it was gently struck.
She completely forgot the admiration and agreement she felt earlier when she thought the other person was an expert, and was filled with exasperation, thinking: "The person Yuan Ye brought in better not be a second-generation rich kid who only knows how to waste money and create chaos!"
"Who is it?" The man's voice was clear and deep, neither hurried nor slow
He looks quite like a retired Navy SEAL, with skills that are quite impressive
The song is somewhat old, but the melody is quite nice. I am not sure which era this Cantonese classic is from
In the vast and desolate wilderness, it feels quite awkward to stand here together in silence.
Upon hearing a single string plucked, one can immediately tell that the other party is an expert
From initially being at a loss to now, she has managed to step half a foot into the repair shop, marking her entry into the field
If she were to seek help from Yuan Ye, there is an 80 to 90 percent chance that she would wait in place for the convoy to pick her up, first retreating from the desert. She had chased all the way from Yumen Pass to here, and her beloved car had been damaged; it was simply unacceptable to retreat like this.
Driving on the sand ridge is somewhat challenging, but for an adult man, ascending a sand slope is still quite effortless
She brushed off the ash and straightened her lazy posture a bit: "Let's start."
Qu Yi Xian stood rigid, alert and defensive as he allowed him to scrutinize.
If it weren't for the absence of the sizzling sound of barbecued meat in her ears, she would almost be able to smell the aroma of the perfectly charred and tender skewers
In the midst of the swirling sandstorm, the howling sound of the engine rushed forth, accompanied by the scorching heat waves baked dry by the desert, searing Qu Yiqian's throat, as if he had swallowed a mouthful of scalding grit and dust
The cruiser is likely to run aground and wait for a tow.
At best, it merely affects the shock absorption effect; at worst, it can lead to the destruction of the vehicle and loss of life
When the car was parked under the sandbeam, she also climbed the car frame and jumped down from the roof.
As the day gradually turns to dusk, the wind begins to rise in this desert
Over the years of running the circuit, I have encountered, to varying degrees, inclement weather, poor road conditions, and times when I did not check the almanac before heading out. I have experienced flat tires, lost screws, getting stuck, and all sorts of mishaps.
Half an hour, just enough time to tune a string and listen to a few songs
Qu Yi Xian hesitated for a moment, his fingertip lingering on the call button for a long time, unable to make a decision.
She furrowed her brows, expressing her disdain while gripping the bike frame for support, sliding a few inches further under the vehicle.
She bent down, being selective, and chose a wrench before crawling under the car
The temperature beneath the vehicle is scorching, and there is a slight oil leak.
Crawling out from under the car, Qu Yiqian got into the vehicle and took a pack of cigarettes
She felt that her judgment of this young man was too superficial ... ! ... His asking her to wait in place for half an hour was not flirting with her at all, but rather a show of authority!
In that fleeting moment, a sense of inexplicable familiarity surged within her, almost leading her to believe that she and the other person were acquainted.
Qu Yixian gently tapped the frame with a wrench in hand
However, continuing to pursue it further is even more unrealistic
The other party let out a light scoff, and before Qu Yiqian could fully comprehend, he spoke in a serious tone, warning her: "The depth of the sand dunes is unknown; your misjudgment in getting stuck is a minor issue. If you are not careful while going downhill, a tilt or axle break could occur, and you would directly meet your end heroically in the sand dunes."
The string of the instrument also fell silent for a few seconds
She decided to retract what she had just said
Qu Yiyan felt her ears warming up, and unconsciously lowered her volume by several degrees when introducing herself: "Is this Mr. Fu? I am Qu Yiyan from the Xinghui Car Team."