We Barely Know Each Other, but I'm Living with a Stone-Faced Mechanic! - Chapter 4

Tao Ying taught visual communication design at Pu Normal University, where she was currently responsible for first-year students.

Tuesday was her busiest day of the week. A morning meeting was followed by two classes, and her afternoon schedule was packed. By the end of it, she barely had time to catch her breath.

At least she had a short break at noon.

After leaving the cafeteria, Tao Ying went straight out through the university gates. It was lunchtime, when most people were eating or resting. The auto shop shouldn’t be busy, making it the perfect time to visit.

Sure enough, when she arrived, only Xiao Fang was manning the shop.

Tao Ying couldn’t help wondering how Qin Zheng made any money. He didn’t seem to have a single proper employee.

Xiao Fang greeted her warmly. “Ms. Tao.”

“I’m looking for your boss,” Tao Ying said. “There’s a small problem with my car.”

“Have a seat. I’ll call him for you.”

She poured Tao Ying a glass of water, then thundered up the stairs.

Qin Zheng came down a moment later.

Tao Ying rose. Halfway to her feet, she met his gaze and gave him a polite smile. “Boss Qin, I need your help with something.”

“Problem with the car?” Qin Zheng took three stairs in one stride and stopped in front of her.

The clean scent of wild grass and trees washed over her. Beneath it ran a raw masculine edge—cool, lingering, and almost too forceful for the narrow space between them.

What an overpowering cologne. Tao Ying silently stepped back. “The driver’s seat won’t move back into position.”

“It won’t move?” Qin Zheng gestured for her to sit. “Neither the electric nor the manual adjustment works?”

She shook her head. “I tried both.”

His brows tightened. “Sorry. I should’ve adjusted it back for you that day.”

Tao Ying had gotten out first. Worried that her injured foot would make things difficult, he had followed her out and forgotten about the seat.

She paused, not expecting him to apologize before anything else.

It wasn’t his fault, though she had certainly been annoyed for a moment when she left home that morning.

“It’s fine. I’ll just have to trouble you to come take a look,” she said. “The dealership won’t make a house call, and having it towed would be making a production out of nothing.”

Jinhua Gardens was some distance from the university. Without her car, commuting was inconvenient. Qin Zheng had repaired it once already, so aside from the dealership, he was the only person she could ask.

“I understand. Eight times out of ten, something’s lodged in the track, but I’ll have to inspect it to be sure.”

“All right.” Relieved, Tao Ying asked, “When are you free, Boss Qin?”

He slowly gave her two words. “This evening.”

“That works.”

She had classes in the afternoon anyway, so evening was ideal.

With the matter settled, Tao Ying stood to leave. Qin Zheng suddenly asked, “Did you take a cab to work this morning?”

“Mm.”

“Your ankle…” His gaze dropped to her feet. “All better?”

His tone was so familiar, as if chatting with her came naturally. Then again, an appropriate amount of concern was key to maintaining customer relationships.

“Mm.” Tao Ying checked her watch. “I should get back to campus.”

Qin Zheng escorted her to the entrance, then stopped her again. “Ms. Tao.”

Tao Ying frowned. Couldn’t he say everything at once?

“Next time you need something, just message me on WeChat. You don’t have to come all the way over.” Amusement hovered in his eyes.

Tao Ying fell silent.

She had nearly forgotten that she’d deleted the shop’s contact.

“Boss Qin,” she said, quickly finding a solution, “why don’t you give me your contact details? It would be more convenient.”

His lips curved. “Sure.”

Tao Ying took out her phone. “Tell me the number. I’ll call you.”

Qin Zheng recited it. She saved the number, called, and hung up as soon as his phone rang. Only then did she relax. Crisis averted.

As Qin Zheng added her name, he asked, “What time do you finish work, Ms. Tao?”

“Five forty.”

“I’ll wait by your university gates at six.” He pointed toward a parking space on the left. “That black SUV is mine.”

After a moment’s thought, Tao Ying agreed. She was the one asking him for help. Refusing and insisting on taking a cab separately would only look affected.

She looked up at him. “I’ll go, then. I have classes this afternoon.”

“Take care, Ms. Tao.” Qin Zheng was all smiles.

He remained there even after she disappeared from view.

Xiao Fang poked her head out from behind him, her face alive with gossip. “Boss, have you fallen for her?”

Qin Zheng gave an ambiguous chuckle, neither admitting nor denying it.

He took out his phone and sent Tao Ying a message from the AAA Zhengtu Auto Repair account.

*Enjoy exclusive benefits on your next maintenance visit…*

A large exclamation mark immediately appeared, followed by a long system notice informing him that they were not contacts.

Qin Zheng laughed under his breath. She really had deleted him.

Back on campus, Tao Ying took a brief nap before carrying her lesson plan and notebook to class.

She taught four classes in a row without taking a single sip of water. By the time the students left, her lips had begun to crack. Rubbing her calves, she slowly made her way out of the classroom.

The multipurpose teaching building was close to the main gate, sparing her a long walk.

“Ms. Tao.”

Someone called from behind just as she reached the gate. Tao Ying turned and saw Ms. Qu, the new lecturer.

She smiled. “Finished for the day?”

“You didn’t drive today?” Ms. Qu asked.

“There’s a small problem with my car.”

“Didn’t you say the place across the road fixed it? Is Boss Qin not as skilled as he looks?”

“That’s not it.” Tao Ying didn’t want to explain at length, so she changed the subject. “Did you have classes all day too?”

“Yes. I’ve been standing all afternoon. My legs are killing me.”

“Soak your feet when you get home tonight.”

“Tonight, I’m—” Ms. Qu broke off abruptly, staring straight ahead.

“What is it?” Tao Ying paused too.

Ms. Qu’s mouth fell open. She hooked an arm through Tao Ying’s and whispered, “Is that man in sunglasses the owner of the shop across the street?”

Tao Ying turned. Qin Zheng was lounging against his car, sunglasses covering half his face and concealing his eyes. Everything about his posture radiated careless ease.

He looked nothing like an auto shop owner. Anyone who didn’t know better would have taken him for some wealthy family’s young master.

He was still wearing the same workwear-inspired outfit from that morning, a style few men could carry off. Tao Ying tilted her head slightly. “That’s him.”

“Why is he here?”

“Do you like him?” Tao Ying heard the excitement in Ms. Qu’s voice.

“Who doesn’t like a handsome man? They’re nice to look at.” Ms. Qu leaned closer. “You don’t like handsome men?”

Tao Ying gave a faint smile. He was certainly easy on the eyes.

Qin Zheng spotted them, removed his sunglasses, and walked over. Still several paces away, he greeted her. “Ms. Tao.”

Ms. Qu’s mouth rounded into an O. She stared at Tao Ying in disbelief. “You—you two…”

“There’s something wrong with my car, so I asked him to take a look,” Tao Ying explained calmly.

“Oh…” Ms. Qu’s excitement rose and crashed in the span of a breath.

“I’ll be going.” Tao Ying turned slightly toward her. “See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Qin Zheng reached the SUV first and opened the passenger door for her.

There were plenty of students and cars around the gates. Ignoring the looks cast her way, Tao Ying stepped onto the running board and climbed in.

Qin Zheng followed, pressed the accelerator, and merged into traffic.

After they passed the first intersection, he glanced to his right and drawled as though making idle conversation, “Ms. Tao, did you delete my shop’s WeChat account?”