The afternoon bell echoed through the golden corridors of Fuyuan Academy, releasing a tide of students into the crisp sunlight. Luxury sedans and family cars filled the long driveway, their engines purring as chauffeurs hurried to open doors for their young masters and mistresses.
But when the Phantom IX Sport, gleaming in obsidian black, rolled out through the school gate, the air itself seemed to shift.
The vehicle was sleek, otherworldly, its silver emblem catching the light like a crest of nobility. The murmurs started immediately.
"Whoa, whose car is that?"
"Is that… a Phantom? That's hundreds of millions!"
"Didn't you know, that's Su Ning latest ride, you should have seen her drive in this morning, it was so cool."
"No way..."
Inside the car, Su Ning sat calmly behind the wheel, her fingers resting lightly on the steering as if she was born for it. Beside her, Chen Anya could barely contain her excitement. Even after spending several afternoons together, she still wasn't used to how effortlessly Su Ning carried her quiet power.
"Are we really going to my house first?" she asked, clutching her schoolbag on her lap.
Su Ning gave a small nod, her expression serene. "Yes. Your father should be home by now."
The car glided out of the academy's gates, leaving behind a dozen pairs of stunned eyes and murmured envy.
The moment the Phantom IX Sport car turned into the lane, people began peeking through windows and pulling out phones. A car like that didn't belong there.
When they pulled up in front of a small, paint-chipped building, Chen Wei was already outside waiting.
He wore a freshly ironed shirt, tucked neatly into dark trousers, the same pair of shoes he had worn for years polished to a shine. His hands fidgeted nervously at his sides, his heart pounding louder than the car's quiet hum.
When the door swung open and Su Ning stepped out, he felt that strange mix of pride and disbelief again.
"Uncle Chen," Su Ning greeted gently, her tone respectful but calm.
Chen Wei smiled, still slightly shy in her presence. "Ah, Miss Su—no, Ningning. You're here."
She nodded, eyes glinting with quiet warmth. "Let's go pick Aunt Liu next."
Although this was the second time he was entering the car, he still hesitated before entering the car, staring at its sleek interior like a man stepping into another world.
The soft leather, the faint scent of new luxury, the polished screen on the dashboard, it was all so far from the factory dust he was used to.
Even as the door closed behind him, he sat stiffly, careful not to leave any mark or crease on the seats.
"Dad, relax!" Chen Anya laughed. "It's not made of glass."
He chuckled awkwardly, rubbing his hands together. "This car probably costs more than our entire street, Anya. I'd rather not breathe too loud."
Su Ning smiled faintly as she started the engine. "You'll get used to it."
He turned to her, confused. "Used to it? I don't think I ever could."
Her eyes stayed on the road. "You'll understand soon."
The drive to Liu Ting's workplace took half an hour, she worked as a cleaner in a medium-sized private firm. The building itself was a six floor building, simple, painted white, looking elegant.
At that moment, Liu Ting's colleagues who were also cleaners and were trickling out of the front doors, chatting as they removed gloves and aprons.
Other employees had left an hour ago, leaving cleaners like them to make sure the company was sparkling before they left.
A voice sliced through the crowd.
"Everyone, make way! Don't just stand there drooling."
The woman's tone was sharp, commanding.
It was Lu Mengmeng — the company boss's wife.
Around the same age as Liu Ting, but worlds apart in attitude, she loved flaunting her husband's wealth like a crown.
Today, she wore a designer suit in blush pink, her wrists flashing her new golden bracelets.
Behind her was her brand-new Porsche 911, still shining with showroom polish. She'd been boasting about it all afternoon, her laughter echoing through the halls.
"So my husband said, 'Mengmeng, pick whichever color you like,'" she was saying as the employees chuckled politely. "Of course, I chose the limited edition, why settle for less?"
The chatter halted abruptly when a deep engine hum filled the street.
Heads turned.
The Phantom IX Sport pulled up smoothly in front of the building, its sleek surface gleaming like black silk. Even its tires seemed too refined for the cracked concrete road.
"Who's that?" someone whispered.
"Only a super rich heir could afford such a a car."
"Of course. That's not just any car — that's royal-level luxury!"
Lu Mengmeng's smile froze the moment the Phantom IX stopped in front of them.
The contrast was painful, her luxury, suddenly ordinary.
Some of the cleaners whispered nervously.
"Her Porsche suddenly looks cheap."
"Did you see that car's emblem? Even rich families can't afford it."
Lu Mengmeng turned red. "Hmph, what's the big deal? Probably some spoiled young master showing off."
That's when Liu Ting appeared, wiping her hands on her apron. Her face was still flushed from work, strands of hair escaping her ponytail. She was about to wave goodbye to her colleagues when the familiar black car stopped in front of the building.
Everyone turned.
Liu Ting smiled as she took her worn handbag and moved towards the car.
Lu Mengmeng's brows furrowed. She stepped forward sharply. "Liu Ting! Stop right there! You can't just approach someone else's car like that. Do you want to offend the owner?"
Liu Ting blinked, confused. "It's—"
"I said don't move!" Lu Mengmeng snapped. "People like us should know our place. A car like that, someone could think you're trying to scratch it."
The others exchanged glances, unsure what to say.
Then, to everyone's shock, the rear door opened
A calm, refined voice spoke from inside. "Aunt Liu, come in."
Even seated, her presence was commanding, quiet, composed, and untouchably elegant.
The door of the passenger's seat opened. Chen Anya's cheerful face peeked out.
"Mum! Hurry, get in! We're late!"
For a moment, silence swallowed the crowd.
Disbelief and shock rippled through.
"Did she just call from inside that car?"
"No way. That's her daughter?"
Liu Ting froze for a heartbeat, then smiled faintly and nodded. "Alright."
Before anyone could stop her, she walked past Lu Mengmeng, her every step steady and unhurried.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as she slipped gracefully into the backseat.
Chen Anya leaned over, closed the door with a click — and the car purred to life.
Within seconds, the Phantom IX sped away, leaving only a trail of soft wind and disbelief in its wake.
Lu Mengmeng stood rooted, mouth open, utterly speechless.
Her Porsche suddenly looked like a toy.
The cleaners she'd been bragging and looking down on, moments ago exchanged looks, whispering under their breath.
"So that's Liu Ting's ride?"
"She said her daughter's friend was coming to pick her up…"
"But who is that girl and how did Liu Ting's daughter know someone like her?"
"Did you see her? She looked like she belonged in a magazine!"
Lu Mengmeng's face turned an ugly shade of crimson. She clenched her handbag tightly, forcing out a laugh that sounded more like a cough. "Tch, probably some rented car. These poor people like to show off sometimes."
But no one was listening anymore.
They were still staring down the road where the black car had disappeared, leaving behind the faint scent of luxury and a story they would be talking about for weeks.
Inside the car, Chen Wei and Liu Ting sat in stunned silence, still processing what had just happened.
Chen Anya was grinning ear to ear, unable to contain herself. "Mum, you should've seen their faces!"
Liu Ting shook her head slowly, her heart full but unsure how to express it. "Ningning, I don't know what to say, coming to pick us like this… this is too much."
Su Ning glanced at her through the rearview mirror, her tone calm but warm. "You'll understand when we arrive."
Chen Wei looked between them. "Arrive… where?"
Su Ning smiled, eyes glinting like moonlight. "Home."
None of them knew what she meant.