The Unlucky Driver

When it was time to say goodbye, Commander Chu spoke with Chen Hao alone for quite a while longer. Only after they had exchanged phone numbers did he reluctantly let him leave. They also agreed to meet at Zhonghai City First People's Hospital the next day to visit Chu Mengling together.

At Commander Chu's insistence, Qiao Shan drove his military vehicle and served as Chen Hao's chauffeur.

On the way, Qiao Shan, who was usually reserved and cold, seemed completely transformed by what Chen Hao had done that day. They chatted about all sorts of amusing things, especially stories from Qiao Shan's army days.

Qiao Shan had followed Commander Chu into the army as a child and spent decades in the thick of things. Their bond truly was like that of a father and son.

Through their conversation, Chen Hao also learned that Commander Chu's real name was Chu Jinliang. He was a major contributor to the founding of Huaxia. Although he had stepped down from his position in the military region, his standing in both military and political circles remained extraordinary.

When he heard that Chen Hao was currently unemployed, Qiao Shan took the opportunity to suggest, "Since you haven't found a job yet, Chen, why not come work at our military region? Commander Chu happens to need a medical attendant. As for pay, just name your price."

Although the offer was tempting, military life certainly wouldn't suit Chen Hao. He could only decline politely. "Thanks, Brother Qiao. I'll think about it."

They soon reached their destination. After stopping the car, Qiao Shan looked at the neighborhood before him and asked curiously, "Brother Qiao, is this where you live?"

Chen Hao smiled, opened the door, and got out. "I'm renting a place here."

Watching Chen Hao walk away, Qiao Shan looked thoroughly puzzled. With the skills and abilities Chen Hao had displayed that day, how could he possibly be living in a rented room in Zhonghai City?

After pondering it for a while without finding an answer, Qiao Shan could only drive away.

After closing his door, Chen Hao lit a cigarette and sat on the bed, looking somewhat dejected.

Night had already fallen. As he gazed at the stars scattered beyond his window, Chen Hao slowly sank into thought.

So much had happened that day, particularly with Commander Chu. He had never imagined he would have a chance to meet someone of that stature. With the commander's backing, the road ahead would become easier and easier.

What saddened Chen Hao, however, was Sun Jiaqi.

A full five years of romance had ended just like that. It seemed that without money and material comforts to support it, love was so pale and powerless.

Suddenly, Chen Hao slapped himself hard on the head.

"Damn it, I can call immortals my brothers now, and I'm still getting hung up on love?"

Chen Hao immediately opened the Heavenly Court Chat Group. After searching around, he finally found Matchmaker, who rarely showed up in the chat.

"Matchmaker, Matchmaker, are you there? This humble immortal has something urgent to ask you."

Before long, Matchmaker replied, "I'm busy. Stop bothering me."

"Damn, aren't you full of yourself," Chen Hao muttered under his breath, then typed back, "I have an urgent matter to discuss. The reward will be generous."

"What reward?"

Seeing Matchmaker's reply, Chen Hao started wondering why every immortal was such a snob. Were they all obsessed with money?

His WeChat wallet currently held only a few points of Daoist Merit, and he had gotten those using his red-packet-grabbing cheat.

Although he still didn't know the value of Daoist Merit, he doubted a few points would interest Matchmaker.

Looking around, Chen Hao suddenly spotted an apple on the table. He scanned it with WeChat and sent it straight to Matchmaker.

You gifted Matchmaker an apple.

The instant it went through, Chen Hao regretted it. The Heavenly Court produced divine treasures like immortality peaches. Wasn't sending an apple just asking to embarrass himself?

Just as Chen Hao was typing an explanation, Matchmaker suddenly sent a message. "Fellow immortal, where did you obtain such a divine treasure? This thing is absolutely delicious, every bit as good as an immortality peach!"

"What?!" Chen Hao was instantly stunned. Could immortality peaches be the only fruit grown in the Heavenly Court? If so, hadn't he just stumbled upon a whole new opportunity?

Suppressing his shock, Chen Hao put on a lofty air. "This fruit is called the sacred fruit. I obtained it from a hidden realm. It blossoms once every thousand years and bears fruit once every ten thousand. Consuming it enhances immortal power and prolongs life. It's an essential gift for honoring your elders and celebrating the holidays."

That torrent of nonsense completely bewildered Matchmaker, leaving him utterly awestruck. He kept clamoring for another, but Chen Hao refused.

"Matchmaker, I've never shared such a divine treasure with anyone before. You're the first. If you want more in the future, I can find a way, but today you must do me a small favor," Chen Hao shamelessly bluffed.

With the apple paving the way, how could Matchmaker refuse? "Whatever it is, fellow immortal, just say the word. As long as it's within my power, I'll do everything I can."

After thinking for a moment, Chen Hao composed his message. "Matchmaker, don't you oversee the romantic fates of all living beings in the Three Realms? Could you check this humble immortal's romantic fate?"

Matchmaker immediately sent a string of mischievous grinning emojis, then said, "No problem. Sorry for the trouble, but please send me your birth date and time."

Chen Hao paused, replied that he would be a moment, and called his mother.

Since graduating, Chen Hao had been wandering far from home and had never gone back. His mother was beside herself with excitement when she saw her son's call. "Oh, son, what made you suddenly think to call your mom? How have you been? Is work going well? Are you coming home for New Year's this year?"

Chen Hao wasn't in the mood to answer those questions right now. "Mom, let's talk about that in a couple of days. Send me my birth date and time first. I need them urgently."

After getting his birth details, Chen Hao sent them straight to Matchmaker.

Matchmaker replied, "Wait a moment," then went silent.

Several full minutes passed before Matchmaker finally replied, "Fellow immortal, why does tracing your thread of fate show that you're actually in the mortal world?"

Of course, Chen Hao had anticipated that question. "I'm currently in a hidden realm, outside the Three Realms and beyond the Five Elements. You must have read it wrong, Matchmaker. None of that matters. The important thing is, did you see who my thread of fate connects to?"

Matchmaker replied, "I did, but I can't tell you. Revealing heaven's secrets will get me struck by lightning."

"Lightning, my ass!" Chen Hao was seething. He offered all sorts of tempting rewards, but none could loosen Matchmaker's tongue.

"Although I can't reveal who he is, I can tell you his name has two characters. And tomorrow, you'll form your first romantic bond with him."

"Him!" Chen Hao shuddered and couldn't help glancing down at his crotch. "Matchmaker, you're kidding, right? I've always been straight. How could it be a man?"

"Hehe, sorry. Habitual typo. I meant her, not him."

Chen Hao let out a huge sigh of relief and began thinking. Her name had two characters. It seemed Sun Jiaqi really wasn't worthy of him after all.

The thought that he would meet her tomorrow filled Chen Hao with anticipation.

After an exhausting day, Chen Hao slept especially soundly. There was just one thing that troubled him: in the past, even ten hours of sleep hadn't felt like enough, but things were different now.

Ever since swallowing the expired Low-Quality Qi-Nourishing Pill, his physical condition had improved tremendously. Two or three hours of sleep left him full of energy.

Up bright and early, Chen Hao ran downstairs, had a bowl of soy milk and some fried dough sticks at a roadside bun shop, then hailed a taxi to Zhonghai City First People's Hospital.

As soon as he got in, Chen Hao recognized the driver. "Hey, what a coincidence!"

The taxi driver paused, then recognition dawned on him. "Oh, it's you! What a coincidence."

This taxi driver was none other than the man who had driven Chen Hao when he rescued Chu Mengling.

Not long after Chen Hao got in, the driver began talking up his heroics that day. He must have seen the video circulating online too.

As they chatted, the car gradually made its way onto the elevated expressway.

Since Zhonghai City First People's Hospital was in Jiangdu District, Chen Hao had to cross two districts to reach it. The trip would take a good hour or so.

While the two were chatting and laughing, the taxi driver suddenly shouted, "Watch out!" He slammed on the brakes. A loud crash rang out, jolting the car several times.

The sudden impact once again sent Chen Hao's face smacking squarely into the front seat, and blood spurted from his nose.

"Damn it, not again!"

Chen Hao was furious. The driver had slammed him into the seat the last time, and now it had happened again on his second ride. Was he doing it on purpose?

Just as Chen Hao angrily prepared to confront the driver, he suddenly noticed that their taxi seemed to have rear-ended another car. Worse, it was a Bentley.

He muttered to himself, wondering whether he and this driver were simply incompatible. Every time they met, something inevitably went wrong.

Once he got out and looked, he saw that, damn it, it was a five-car pileup. Worse still, the cars ahead were all luxury models—Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, BMW. He couldn't help breaking into a cold sweat on the driver's behalf. Hopefully his insurance would cover the damages.

Since the five-car pileup was in the fast lane, the entire elevated expressway immediately became jammed, with horns blaring nonstop.

The taxi driver looked miserable too. He hurriedly took out his warning triangle, then went up to the drivers of the other four cars and apologized over and over.

The Bentley driver was a young woman in a black business suit, with her hair tied in a ponytail. Her exceptionally pretty, alluring features certainly caught Chen Hao's attention.

Despite her car being hit, the woman didn't seem particularly angry. She merely took a look, then got back in to wait for the traffic police.

The others were different. With ugly expressions, they hurled abuse at the taxi driver, who could only endure it helplessly.

Especially the young man at the very front, driving a modified BMW M5. He wore loose hip-hop clothes and a stud earring, and didn't look like a decent person at all.

The moment the man with the stud earring got out, he unleashed a torrent of abuse at the driver. "Are you fucking asking to die? Do you even know how to drive? Do you know how expensive my car is? Just my fucking luck, running into an idiot like you. Hurry up and call the police. If you hold up my business, I'll have someone fucking kill you."

"I'm terribly sorry, terribly sorry. I've already called the police. Please wait a little longer." Although the driver was angry inside, the sight of the man's million-plus luxury car instantly deflated him. Someone like that was either a rich heir or a person with power and influence, far beyond what a man like him could afford to offend.

After finishing his tirade, the man with the stud earring was about to leave when he suddenly noticed the beautiful woman sitting in the Bentley.

"Well, well, if it isn't Miss Liu."