We Barely Know Each Other, but I'm Living with a Stone-Faced Mechanic! - Chapter 5

Tao Ying had assumed the matter was over and Qin Zheng would never notice. Instead, she had been caught red-handed.

And trapped in his car, she had nowhere to hide.

“Did I?” She laughed awkwardly. “My finger must have slipped.”

“Your finger slipped…” Qin Zheng’s lips curved soundlessly.

Tao Ying cleared her throat. “Who’s responsible for that account?”

What she really wanted to ask was how he had found out.

“Xiao Fang.” They stopped at another red light. Qin Zheng stared ahead without blinking. “She thought her service wasn’t good enough. She’s devastated, you know.”

Tao Ying felt a stab of guilt. Xiao Fang was wonderful—warm, gracious, and attentive.

“I’ll add it back,” she said, suppressing her embarrassment.

“Just search the number I gave you at noon.”

“Oh.” Tao Ying copied his number and opened WeChat. Just as the profile appeared, she abruptly turned to look at him.

“What?” Qin Zheng sensed her gaze.

“Nothing.”

After turning it over in her mind, Tao Ying understood. The number he had given her must be his work number, which meant its WeChat account was AAA Zhengtu Auto Repair.

She pasted the number and added the contact directly. No verification was required.

In that case, Qin Zheng’s earlier attentiveness had probably just been a way to retain customers. She still remembered Dr. Zhao saying the service was exceptional.

Business was difficult these days, and every shop needed a distinctive selling point. So far, Qin Zheng’s seemed to be putting service above all else.

Still, Tao Ying believed skill should be the foundation of an auto repair business. Otherwise, no amount of service could make it seem trustworthy. If she hadn’t been at risk of a blowout that day, she never would have chosen the nearest shop.

Having driven to Jinhua Gardens once, Qin Zheng knew the route.

Tao Ying finished work relatively early, so the parking spaces weren’t full yet. There was still one available for his SUV.

Once they got out, Tao Ying opened her driver’s door and stepped aside.

Qin Zheng bent into the car, bracing one hand on the doorframe while reaching beneath the seat with the other. He tried both the manual and electric controls. The seat didn’t move, though the low hum of the servo motor came from underneath.

After inspecting it, he said, “The motor is running, so the power supply, switches, and control system are fine. It must be mechanically jammed.”

Mechanically jammed? Tao Ying suddenly remembered something.

“About two weeks ago, I dropped a coin while searching through my bag. I never found it. Could that be the cause?”

Qin Zheng glanced at her. “Almost certainly.”

He asked her to move farther aside, then gripped the floor mat and gently lifted it.

“Could you get the tool kit from my car?”

Tao Ying agreed and retrieved it from the back seat of his SUV.

Qin Zheng thanked her, took out a compact explosion-proof flashlight, and aimed it into the narrow gap beside the track. He moved the beam slowly, checking every inch.

It didn’t take long to find the problem. The coin was wedged in the stop groove.

Relieved to know the cause, Tao Ying said, “I should’ve searched until I found it.”

“It’s fine. Just a minor issue.” He looked at her. “Come help me for a second.”

She stepped closer. “What should I do?”

Qin Zheng had her tap the forward-adjustment button while he worked the coin loose from the groove.

“Just a light press.”

Tao Ying immediately did as instructed.

Using the faint force of the running motor, Qin Zheng eased debris away from the coin’s edge with a plastic pry tool. They worked well together. After several attempts, he finally let out a breath.

There was a click. The seat shifted forward slightly, and the resistance disappeared at once.

Tao Ying brightened. “It moved.”

“Not done yet. Hand me the brush from my tool kit.” Qin Zheng extended a hand. “I’ll clean out the debris, or it’ll jam again.”

Tao Ying placed the brush in his hand. Without looking back, his fingers closed around something soft.

Qin Zheng turned sharply. “Sorry.”

He had grabbed her hand.

“It’s fine.”

It had clearly been an accident, so Tao Ying let it go.

Qin Zheng took the brush properly and returned to work.

The sky was growing dark. The old streetlights in the complex flickered on, their dim yellow glow settling around him and sketching the steady outline of his figure in light and shadow.

When he worked, all his usual languor vanished. His movements were efficient, his hands practiced, his expression focused and calm. Every trace of his roguish air fell away.

Tao Ying watched in silence, and some of her prejudice quietly fell away.

Once the groove was clean, Qin Zheng packed up his tools. He was too tall to crouch in the tight space without brushing against things, and his clothes were streaked with dust. He merely patted them down, unconcerned.

“Done. The seat will adjust normally now. Try not to put loose odds and ends beside it in the future.”

Tao Ying nodded. “Understood. Thank you for coming today. How much do I owe you? I’ll send it now.”

Qin Zheng laughed. Why was she always trying to throw money at him?

“What are you laughing at?” Tao Ying was puzzled. Had she said something funny?

“No charge.” Still smiling, he asked, “Forgive the rude question, but how much do you earn a month, Ms. Tao?”

She stared at him. If he knew it was rude, why ask?

“I don’t mean anything by it. It’s just that every time I do what I’m supposed to do, you try to settle it with money.”

Tao Ying was even more confused. “Isn’t paying you what I’m supposed to do?”

“You really don’t need to.” Qin Zheng made it sound as though the job was too trivial to charge for. “No parts, no materials. It doesn’t count as a repair. How could I take your money?”

“Then…” Tao Ying still felt indebted.

“If you really want to be polite—”

“Tao Ying!”

An angry shout cut him off.

Qin Zheng instinctively moved Tao Ying behind him. When he turned, he met a contemptuous, hostile gaze.

The newcomer was in her fifties. Her face showed the marks of age, though she dressed with care. On closer inspection, she bore a clear resemblance to Tao Ying.

“Mom?” Tao Ying leaned out from behind Qin Zheng. “Why are you here?”

“Don’t call me Mom.” Li Meijuan scowled, her expression dark. “I can’t get you to go on the blind dates I arrange because of this penniless boy?”

“What does he have besides that face? Every man your sister introduced was an outstanding young professional. They have money, they have—”

“Mom!” Tao Ying’s gaze chilled as she cut her off. “Show some courtesy.”

Knowing the woman’s identity, Qin Zheng couldn’t easily intervene.

Li Meijuan snorted. “I’ll wait upstairs. Get inside.”

At a loss, Tao Ying pressed her knuckles to her brow.

After a moment, she looked up at Qin Zheng. “I’m sorry. I apologize on her behalf.”

“It’s fine.” He didn’t seem bothered.

“I’m truly sorry.” Tao Ying couldn’t let it go.

“Really, it’s fine.”

It wasn’t his place to get involved in a quarrel between mother and daughter. Qin Zheng gathered his tool kit and said easily, “I’ll get going.”

“Wait.” Acting on impulse, Tao Ying stopped him.

He tipped his head slightly. “Something else?”

“When I have time…” She hesitated. “May I treat you to dinner?”

Qin Zheng had done nothing to deserve Li Meijuan’s abuse.

“Don’t force yourself,” he said, seeing through her and saying so.

“I’m not.” Tao Ying met his eyes and spoke decisively. “There are two reasons: one is to thank you, and the other is to apologize. I hope you’ll accept.”

“All right.” Qin Zheng chuckled and took her at her word. “Then what are you planning to treat me to, Ms. Tao?”

Li Meijuan was still upstairs, so Tao Ying couldn’t linger. “I’ll contact you tomorrow.”

“Good.” His smile lifted. “I’ll be waiting.”