Chapter 1, Working Late into the Night

Both individuals gazed straight ahead at the road. After leaving the national highway, the road conditions deteriorated significantly, with some areas being pockmarked and even less smooth than dirt roads, prompting them to proceed with caution. After traveling a certain distance, the road conditions gradually improved, yet they remained the only ones on the two-way road, leading to an unintentional increase in speed, and both individuals in the vehicle felt much more relaxed.

"Sure, no problem." The girl did not hesitate and opened her small bag to take out the money.

It was pitch black outside the car, with nothing much to see. Tan Xuan caught a glimpse of the girl looking at photos on her phone, and considering her state, he made a rough guess in his mind. Thus, he tried to strike up a conversation, saying: "You are quite bold. Not only did you take the train alone, but you also took a taxi out of the city in the middle of the night, and even got into an unlicensed cab. Aren't you afraid of encountering bad people?"

Hehe... Tan Xuan smiled and shook his head, not expecting that the other party had already taken precautions. He then deliberately struck back, saying: "Which villain does bad things while considering the consequences? If they know it's illegal and still do it, can they still be called a villain? Tsk! Haven't you seen the news? How many girls have gone missing for no reason, especially those who are good-looking? If something really happens, even if the case is solved, you are still a victim. Even if justice is served, you won't be able to see it..." If something really happens, even if the case is solved, you are still a victim. Even if justice is served, you won't be able to see it..."

Having exited the expressway, it was indeed as Tan Xuan had said; there were no other vehicles in sight on the road, only their car traveling alone. Once they turned from the national road to the provincial road, not to mention other vehicles, even road signs were a rare sight.

"You dare! Go ahead and try." The girl showed no signs of backing down, provocatively puffing out her chest, further revealing her not-so-obvious figure under the constraint of the seatbelt

The girl did not speak, she merely shook her head, lowered her head to light up her phone and glanced at it twice, her eyes glimmering slightly before she hurriedly turned her head to look out of the car window again

Eight people died, no, to be precise, nine, including a pregnant woman. There were no survivors from the three accidents. Tan Xuan continued to explain nonchalantly, "This incident has been quite sensationalized, with people saying that the water ghosts there are looking for substitutes. The rumors are quite vivid, so no one is willing to drive through there at night; no one wants to become the fourth accident..."

Tan Xuan knew that his words had upset others, and he explained with a smile: "I didn't mean anything else, it's just that there weren't many cars on the road, and having someone to talk to can help alleviate the boredom."

Jiangzhou, a city that cannot be definitively classified as large or small. It is considered small because it is not on the same level as Kyoto or Magic City, and it even has a considerable gap compared to Ice City and Liudou. However, it is deemed not small because it is the provincial capital. Although it may not compare to first-tier cities in certain aspects, its nightlife is equally vibrant and diverse, not to be outdone.

Tan Xuan felt very uncomfortable being watched, especially at this late hour, with someone beside him staring at him with wide eyes. Finally, unable to endure it any longer, he turned his head and glared at the girl, sternly shouting: "What are you looking at?"

Is anyone going to the East Market

Where are you going, buddy

Ah..." The girl let out a scream, closing her eyes in despair, unable to bear the sight of this tragic event. After a moment, she opened her eyes again, then swung her fist to strike Tan Xuan, crying out loudly: "You hit someone, didn't you see? You murderer, hurry up and stop the car, let's see how that person is, there might still be hope..."

Finally, Tan Xuan broke the silence in the car and asked, "Are you in a hurry to get home so late because there is something urgent at home?"

Tan Xuan did not ask the girl to take out money by the roadside, but directly leaned over to open the car door, "Get in, just pay when we arrive."

Tan Xuan felt intimidated, the girl decided to take her leave, leaning back in her seat, staring blankly at the limited brightness ahead of the car, as well as the reflection of her own defeated face in the glass

Tan Xuan did not get out of the car, still fiddling with his phone. Each line has its own rules; he cannot cross boundaries, otherwise he could easily be blocked here by a group of taxis that are "famous for their service." He can only wait for someone to place an order or for the taxis to be too busy, hoping to pick up a passenger who has been overlooked.

"Then why are you trembling?" Tan Xuan continued to question.

Fortunately, Tan Xuan did not stray too far from the car; he simply took out a cigarette and started smoking

"What a weirdo!" the girl muttered softly, then secretly let out a sigh of relief

The girl was even more puzzled, "Then why don't they go? If they have money, why not earn it? Are they all fools, or are they afraid that earning too much money will burn their hands?"

The girl shook her head and weakly denied, "No."

Ah... the girl was stunned, and when she looked at Tan Xuan, her eyes clearly showed some panic, and her body subtly leaned towards the car door

"You are making money at the cost of your life." The girl did not mind that Tan Xuan used her words to retort her. She crossed her arms in front of her body, seemingly feeling a bit cold from the air conditioning in the car, which gave her a slight chill and a bit of an urge to go to the restroom

This ... ... '' Tan Xuan was unable to refute.

Tan Xuan glared at the girl and said irritably, "What’s going on? I was about to ask you the same thing. How could you fall asleep and then start shouting and grabbing my steering wheel?"

The girl suddenly covered her mouth with her hand, trembling all over as she looked at Tan Xuan, stammering, "I... we... can't... have encountered... a ghost, right? Didn't you say... those few car accidents were... cars falling into the river, and there was a pregnant woman, here..."

Are you out of your mind? Tan Xuan finally spoke, then pushed away the girl who was about to fall on top of him. At the same time, he slammed on the brakes, and after a violent screeching of tires, the car finally came to a stop

The girl was startled and recalled the several car accidents mentioned by Tan Xuan, instantly feeling flustered. She hurriedly ran back to the car and quickly shut the door tightly.

But I didn't fall asleep, I really saw a woman trying to stop a car. She was wearing a white dress, and her lower abdomen was slightly protruding. I clearly remember her expression when you hit her; she was terrified, her face turned pale, and in her eyes...

Tan Xuan's comforting words were truly heart-wrenching. What does it mean to be safe? Is it that one does not even qualify to be targeted by bad people? This is too insulting. Angered, the girl gritted her teeth and shot Tan Xuan a fierce glare. Unfortunately, the light in the car was limited, and Tan Xuan did not see it at all; otherwise, that gaze filled with murderous intent would surely have made him wish for a thousand cuts.

"The place I am going to is far, they are not going, can you go?" the girl said with a pleading expression

After a moment of silence, the girl turned to Tan Xuan again and said, "You don't seem very old; why haven't you found a proper job and instead become a black taxi driver?"

Tan Xuan did not show any signs of joy; he simply pressed down a section of the car window and said to the young girl who was bending over to look inside: "Isn't there a taxi ahead? You can ask them; I am a ride-hailing service."

At this moment, near the exit of the train station, there are two clearly defined areas for taxis and ride-hailing cars, with one having a large queue and the other barely forming a line. Although both are engaged in the same business of transporting passengers, there exists a hierarchy of disdain among them. Taxi drivers look down upon ride-hailing drivers, viewing them as merely a group of former illegal cab drivers who have changed their title. Conversely, ride-hailing drivers disdain those who work as chauffeurs, as they still own their own vehicles, while the latter are seen as merely "fishing with empty nets".

"How do we stop the car ahead? Slow down!" the girl suddenly pointed ahead and reminded.

"What’s wrong? Are you afraid to go out?" The man beside her, though not particularly handsome, was quite young, with a chiseled face and delicate features that did not suggest any ill intentions, which gave the girl a bit of confidence.

The girl turned her head to look at Tan Xuan, and after a moment of silence, she asked: "Are you a bad person?"

"You just received cash, right? Does your platform support cash payments?" The girl continued to mock, "If you're going to drive an unlicensed taxi, just do it. Why the need to hide? I can't report you anyway. At least you're much better than those taxi drivers who refuse to take passengers and act all disdainful. If I weren't in such a hurry to get home, I would have reported them."

"What ghosts are there? It's just you being so jumpy." Tan Xuan pushed the girl's hand away, and instead of driving off, he opened the car door and got out.

The term "illegal taxi driver" made Tan Xuan quite displeased. He corrected her, saying: "Miss, I formally declare to you that I am a ride-hailing driver, registered on a legitimate platform, not an illegal taxi driver"

Tan Xuan chuckled softly and replied, "They are afraid the road is too long and they won't be able to return."

Tan Xuan raised his right hand and pushed the girl back, while his left hand gripped the steering wheel, pressing the accelerator hard. Not only did he not slow down, but he also accelerated and charged straight ahead.

"Where are you going?" The girl became even more flustered when she saw Tan Xuan get out of the car. With just the two of them, she did not want to be too far from him, but she was even more afraid to get out of the car. She had seen nothing when she got out earlier, but now she was even more terrified of encountering that woman again after getting out.

Tan Xuan parked the car by the roadside, opened the door, and sat inside while fiddling with his phone, complaining that he should not have taken the job of picking someone up from the train station. If he were in another place, he would have already completed several rides by this time, but at the train station, there are many wolves and little meat, making it difficult to find work for his ride-hailing service. If it weren't for the fact that there is a high-speed train arriving soon, giving him a chance to try his luck, he would have left this place long ago.

The car was very quiet, with two people inside: one driving and the other staring blankly out the window, occasionally glancing down at their phone, each remaining undisturbed by the other. The host's cheerful voice on the radio failed to create any atmosphere; instead, as time passed, the urgency on the girl's face became increasingly evident

I think those people are quite pitiful; life is too fragile, it can be gone in an instant. One must pay attention to safety while driving, especially at night, as it is not only a responsibility to oneself but also to one's family. The girl, after providing an irrelevant explanation, quickly changed the subject, asking, "Then how do you dare to go? Others are afraid; aren't you afraid?"

"Don't..." The girl screamed heart-wrenchingly, then frantically tried to pull at Tan Xuan. No matter how hard she struggled, she could not break free from Tan Xuan's right hand. Meanwhile, the vehicle beneath her was getting closer and closer to the one in front, and in an instant, it was right in front of her, allowing her to see the person's face.

The girl did not continue speaking, seemingly frightened by Tan Xuan's words, her face turned pale, and her body trembled slightly

Before Tan Xuan could respond, the girl shot him a glance and pouted, shaking her phone at him. "Do you think I'm foolish? I sent your license plate number to my friends before getting in the car. We live in a society governed by the rule of law. If anything were to happen to me, you wouldn't be able to escape. You should think twice about any wrongdoing you might consider."

Master, does this vehicle go?

... ...

The girl did not speak; she unfastened her seatbelt, pushed open the car door, and got out, running towards the back. However, she quickly stood there in shock by the side of the car, for under the dim moonlight, there were no cars on the road, nor any people, whether alive, injured, or dead; not even a shadow could be seen. Only an unusually quiet road lay before her, pristine and clean, which did not resemble a scene where a tragedy had occurred, except for the guardrail by the roadside, which seemed somewhat crooked. Looking further, there was a silent river beside the road, its surface under the moonlight resembling a bright white ribbon, with no visible ends, and this section of the river was the widest, as if it had formed a knot. Only an unusually quiet road lay before her, pristine and clean, which did not resemble a scene where a tragedy had occurred, except for the guardrail by the roadside, which seemed somewhat crooked. Looking further, there was a silent river beside the road, its surface under the moonlight resembling a bright white ribbon, with no visible ends, and this section of the river was the widest, as if it had formed a knot.

Tan Xuan observed the girl once more. She appeared to be quite young, with a delicate face and a tall figure, but her expression was filled with worry, indicating that she was genuinely in a hurry. Otherwise, she would not have gotten off the train alone in the middle of the night and rushed to take a taxi out of the city. Understanding the urgency of others, especially when it could also be profitable, Tan Xuan did not refuse again.

I wasn't scared to death by a ghost; I almost died because of you. Let me have a smoke to calm down.

The girl listened in confusion and teased, "What does that mean? How can we not go back? Does the taxi also require accommodation and meals? Let me make it clear to you, I will only cover the fare, and I won't take care of anything else."

Tan Xuan seemed not to have heard the girl's words, showing no sign of slowing down, only a barely perceptible cold smile appeared on his face

When Tan Xuan was planning to change positions at the car door, someone knocked on the right window and asked.

The clamor of the day does not diminish with the sun's departure; by the time the moon rises in the south, those who have indulged in food and drink begin their next round of release. The people, accustomed to the brilliance of neon lights, have long forgotten the ancient adage of rising with the sun and resting with its setting. On the streets, cars whiz by, intermingled with the drunken shouts and screams of men and women, while the streetlights and the colorful neon along the roadside cast a kaleidoscope of colors on the faces of those still searching for a place to belong—red, green, white...

Night, for some people, marks the end of a long day, while for others, it is merely the beginning of a new day of life. Of course, some individuals seek to enjoy life, while others are simply striving to survive.

"Cut it out, I won't fall for your tricks." Tan Xuan did not dare to look any longer and immediately pretended to be serious while driving.

The car gradually distanced itself from the hustle and bustle, and also from the dazzling lights. Before long, the roadside was left with only vehicles, with no people in sight. Once on the ring road, it felt as if one had been thrown directly into darkness, with only a few scattered vehicles still proclaiming that they were not alone.

"Just to Tongyu County's town." Before Tan Xuan could finish speaking, the girl hurriedly replied, as if she were afraid he might suddenly change his mind.

The girl was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Did you say I was asleep?"

The car fell silent once again, but this time it was different from the previous silence. This time, Tan Xuan was driving, and the girl was looking at Tan Xuan without any hint of avoidance, as if she wanted to regain some face in this manner

The night road is not entirely shrouded in darkness; the bright full moon in the sky casts a grayish light over the vast ground, creating a hazy and indistinct scene. Everything appears blurred yet not entirely unclear, with only the beam of light in front of the vehicle being the most dazzling.

What just happened?" the girl asked in a stammer, her eyes wide with panic as she stared at Tan Xuan.

What? Tongyu County! Tan Xuan called out, then shook his head vigorously, "I'm sorry, I can't go either. You might want to ask someone else." As he spoke, Tan Xuan began to close the car window, and now he finally understood why she had been rejected by so many drivers; it was not a matter of distance.

Both surprised and annoyed, the girl's mood eased considerably. Although there was still anxiety in her eyes, the frown on her face had mostly dissipated. The girl counted out five hundred yuan from her bag and handed it to Tan Xuan, still speaking in an unfriendly tone: "Here, this is for the fare. Don't beat around the bush; I don't want you to worry later about me not having money to give you."

This statement is incorrect; I did not rush you, so why are you in such a hurry? Words aside, however, Tan Xuan did not slow down at all, giving the girl no chance to be polite.

You need not worry today; bad people are unlikely to say such things to you. Generally, bad people are motivated by money or lust; you... you are quite safe.

Tan Xuan did not care about the girl's tone of voice and slowly said: "There have been three serious accidents on the provincial road to Tongyu in the past month, all occurring at night, and they all happened in the same place where vehicles broke through the guardrail and fell into the river"

"Hmph! What are you pretending to be a hero for? It is your duty to ensure my safe arrival at my destination." The girl retorted to Tan Xuan, then adjusted her sitting posture and shifted her gaze to the window

"Alright, thank you." The girl was quite straightforward; obediently, she returned to her backpack and directly sat down in the passenger seat. Without needing to say much more, she fastened her seatbelt, and Tan Xuan immediately started the car.

Seeing the girl was frightened, Tan Xuan's mood improved significantly, so he decided to stop while he was ahead

You see, the driver is waving at us, and the driver is a woman. It seems her car has broken down at this late hour... You need to brake!" Seeing that Tan Xuan did not respond, the girl became anxious, her quiet reminders turning into loud shouts, but Tan Xuan remained unresponsive, as if deaf, still maintaining that same demeanor, with no movement in his hands.

Having grown accustomed to bluster, Tan Xuan smiled and remained silent

"Don't..." the girl shouted, then directly shoved her hand into the car, preventing the window from closing. She pleaded, "Big brother, there are no other cars behind, I am in a hurry to get home, please, okay? I can pay double the fare."

Tan Xuan chuckled and said, "What is there to be afraid of? It would be foolish not to earn money. Besides, running one order earns double the profit; I certainly do not mind having too much money on my hands"

The girl then asked: "Why is it that when I asked so many drivers at the train station, they were all quite enthusiastic at first, but when they heard I was going to Tongyu, none of them wanted to go? I am even willing to pay more for the fare. What is it? Are taxi drivers afraid of long distances?"

I am going to Tongyu County," the girl said softly, her eyes filled with longing

If you haven't fallen asleep, then what kind of madness are you indulging in? You say there are cars and people, but look around, where are the cars? Where are the people? You even claim that I hit someone and need to turn aside, but this is the only road, and if you turn, you'll fall into the river. If you don't want to live, don't drag me down with you; I am still in my prime youth, with a bright future ahead of me

"Which worker is afraid of a long journey, as long as they are paid?" Tan Xuan replied

"Are you calling me out? Do you believe that I can make you regret it for a lifetime?" Tan Xuan feigned a bit of ferocity

"Miss, would you like a ride?"

It is fine to go only as far as Tongyu County; I cannot go any further down, as I am not familiar with the roads at night

Indeed, it is merely people scaring one another, there is no need to be afraid

Tongyu County is more than 100 kilometers away from Jiangzhou. First, take the expressway, then the national road, and finally there is a section of provincial road. Including tolls, it will cost around 300. Considering it will likely be an empty return trip late at night, you need to give me 500 for me to go.

"Let’s hurry and drive away," the girl pleaded, grasping Tan Xuan's arm, as it was not suitable to stay here for long; she was thoroughly frightened.

"Are you still using ride-hailing services?" The girl scoffed disdainfully, "I didn't order your car online, did I? And you still claim it's a legitimate platform?"

The girl did not speak, only looking at Tan Xuan with a face full of panic. Now, hearing Tan Xuan speak made her feel much closer to him. Regardless of whether the words were good or bad, having someone talk was certainly better than silence. Of course, it would be even better if he could drive away from here right now

"Are you crazy? Hurry up and stop, we're going to crash..." the girl shouted loudly, seeing that Tan Xuan remained expressionless and showed no intention of slowing down. At that moment, the car and the person in front of her were getting closer and closer in her eyes. In her urgency, she disregarded everything else and directly reached out to grab the steering wheel.

Tan Xuan noticed the girl's nervousness, smiled slightly, and reassured her: "Rest assured, having taken your money, I guarantee to get you home safely. Young people, I may not boast about other abilities, but I certainly have a spirit of determination."

At 10:50, the area around the exit began to swell with people. The drivers, who had originally been joking and chatting in groups of three or two, surged towards the exit, instantly surrounding it to the point where not a drop of water could pass through. In an instant, the vicinity of the exit became even noisier than a vegetable market

The vehicles at the exit continued to leave one after another, yet Tan Xuan still had not received a dispatch. The number of people exiting had dwindled, but there were still quite a few cars by the roadside. Only a few groups remained negotiating prices with the drivers, and some empty vehicles had already begun to depart. Tan Xuan realized that she had been waiting in vain.

You ... ...

"What, are you scared?" Tan Xuan asked deliberately, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth

Tan Xuan rested his hand on the roof of the car, facing the road behind him. He glanced at the water surface beside him, a faint cold smile appearing on his face. Without pulling out the cigarette in his hand, he casually flicked the entire cigarette onto the ground behind the car, then returned to the car and drove away

Do not speak any further; instead, focus on driving.

The interior of the car fell silent once again; not only did the two people inside stop talking, but even the car's broadcast became intermittent due to signal issues, creating an even more oppressive atmosphere that added a touch of eeriness, which was ultimately directly interrupted by Tan Xuan.

"Three car accidents!" The girl gasped upon hearing this and asked, "That's quite serious; in what way is it serious?"

"How far?" Tan Xuan asked. He had already noticed this girl; she had asked every car that had not left yet, and he did not expect her to come to him now. He also understood that there was nothing good left after being picked over by a group of people, though he did not voice it, he was already somewhat resistant in his heart.