There was absolutely no need to worry about being late, as the driver, Uncle Lin, was very punctual.
He drove the Maybach and delivered Gu Yebai and Gao Hongyi to Shencheng Taoxian International Airport.
Whether he was driving or getting out to handle the luggage, even though he appeared to be in his 40s, his movements were clean and efficient.
He possessed a perfectionist’s sense of obsession, as if he had undergone military training.
Black suit, white gloves.
‘If we ran into any trouble, this man would definitely pull a Desert Eagle from under his seat like a secret agent,’ Gu Yebai thought.
“We have arrived.”
He pulled the luggage out of the trunk.
“Thank you, Uncle Lin.”
Gu Yebai subconsciously reached out to take the suitcase.
“No need, Young Master.”
Uncle Lin naturally held the suitcase firmly in his hand.
“I will handle the luggage. I’ll escort you and the young lady to the check-in gate.”
“But…”
“There is no need to feel embarrassed, Young Master. I am employed by the Gao Family. Serving you and Miss Gao is my duty.”
He paused, then looked at Gu Yebai with a gentle gaze.
“Actually, after seeing what you are like, Young Master, I feel happy from the bottom of my heart.”
“Although it is a bit rude for a servant like me to say this.”
“We watched the young lady grow up, and we were worried that the Young Master might bully her.”
“But you are an excellent person, Young Master.”
Uncle Lin smiled.
It wasn’t forced flattery; it came from the heart.
“It is clear that although you grew up in a poor family, you have a pure character. That is truly rare and commendable. For those of us employed by the Gao Family, it is a relief.”
The world changes, and sudden luck is not always a good thing.
Some people engage in retaliatory spending after winning the lottery, only to end up more destitute than before.
Others, upon soaring into the sky from the mire, cannot wait to look down on everyone else, taking arrogance for granted.
Since ancient times, there have been many who came from humble beginnings only to become a local scourge after gaining power.
“Now that I’ve met you in person, I can somewhat understand why the Master’s voice was so excited and thrilled when he mentioned you on the phone.”
His tone became a bit more solemn.
“Yesterday, when I took you and the young lady to the French restaurant, I told you ‘Welcome home.’ That was my duty as the Gao Family’s driver.”
“Now, before we part, please allow me to say it once more in a personal capacity.”
“Welcome home, Young Master.”
‘Welcome home…’
Gu Yebai repeated the words to himself.
His heart was a whirlwind of emotions.
The terminal of Shencheng Taoxian International Airport was just ahead.
Further inside was the area for checking baggage and collecting boarding passes.
“Young Master, Miss, I shall return the Maybach now.”
“I will see you again.”
Uncle Lin bowed slightly, his posture natural but not subservient.
“Once you arrive in Donghai, I will be responsible for your school commutes and daily travel.”
“Safe travels, Uncle Lin.”
Gu Yebai took the suitcase.
“Let’s go, Xiaobai.”
“We might not return to Dongling Province for a very, very long time.”
Gao Hongyi reached out and grabbed his wrist.
“Why the sudden change to Xiaobai?”
“Because with an Uncle Lin and an Uncle Bai, it feels like you two are from the same generation.”
She let out a soft laugh.
“So at least for now, it’s better to call you Xiaobai.”
“I feel like Xiaoxin’s dog.”
“Then you’re my puppy now. Good boy.”
“By the way, Xiaobai, is this your first time on a plane?”
“Yes.”
Gu Yebai nodded.
“I’ve barely even left Linchuan, let alone been on a plane.”
“I haven’t even been on a train.”
“There will be many opportunities for that in the future.”
Gao Hongyi hummed a tuneless little melody, her expression relaxed and natural.
She skillfully completed the entire process of check-in, checked baggage, and collecting boarding passes.
Her movements were as fluid as if she were repeating a long-accustomed routine.
In the eyes of others, this might have been a trivial matter.
But to Gu Yebai, it looked really cool.
When checking into the five-star hotel, she had looked perfectly at ease, as if returning to her own home.
In the French restaurant, she could use French to express her dissatisfaction to the chef.
She knew all kinds of table etiquette that he had never even heard of.
Before drinking red wine, she knew to use a decanter to let it breathe.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir, and the so-called tannins.
These words had never existed in Gu Yebai’s world.
Before this, he had always thought that red wine was just something you poured into a glass and drank as soon as you opened the bottle.
He also took it for granted that Lafite was the pinnacle of red wine, since everyone always talked about the ’82 Lafite.
But in reality, there were so many things he truly knew nothing about.
Both were 16 years old, and both were in the tenth grade.
Yet the lives they had lived were already on completely different tracks.
“Let’s go to the VIP lounge, Uncle Bai.”
“Our flight is in about 1 hour.”
“Or would Uncle Bai like to grab a Starbucks first?”
“No, there’s no need to trouble yourself.”
“Let’s just wait for the flight.”
Gu Yebai followed cautiously by Gao Hongyi’s side.
Despite being the same age, Gao Hongyi was like an older sister leading a younger brother.
Gu Yebai always seemed timid and hesitant, lacking Gao Hongyi’s presence entirely.
Her fair, slender hand kept a steady grip on Gu Yebai’s hand, and wherever they walked, pedestrians would instinctively make way.
This was an experience Gu Yebai had never had when walking alone.
Gao Hongyi was as beautiful as a movie star; she wasn’t flashy, but she had a powerful presence.
Standing next to her, he sometimes even had the illusion that he wasn’t at the airport, but had accidentally wandered into an idol drama.
Perhaps one day, the real male lead would burst in, and Gu Yebai would eventually return to his position as a background extra.
When they reached the boarding gate area, quite a few passengers had already gathered.
Not far away, a child was crying and screaming.
A middle-aged woman in her 40s had taken off her shoes and placed them on the seat next to her.
Her bare feet were pointed toward a man who was eating beef-flavored instant noodles with his head down.
The steam and pungent smell of the noodles slowly diffused through the air.
There were also people buried in their work on laptops, and others talking about business on the phone…
“This way, Uncle Bai.”
Gu Yebai was pulled into the VIP lounge.
It was a completely different world, even though they were in the same terminal.
In truth, Gu Yebai should have belonged to the other side.
The lounge was almost empty, and the seats were all sofas.
Besides that, there was plenty of free food and drink.
The soundproofing was also excellent.
There were no repeated announcements, no children crying, and no noise of suitcases dragging on the floor…
Gu Yebai realized something.
The tables in high-end restaurants were spaced further apart.
First-class cabins didn’t have middle seats.
Luxury hotels had separate entrances for suite guests.
In this crowded world, the most expensive thing one could buy was the distance between people.
“Get some rest, Uncle Bai.”
“It looks like you didn’t sleep well last night.”
“You know I didn’t sleep well?”
“Hehe.”
Of course she knew.
Last night, Gu Yebai had kept his back to her the entire time, like Tang Seng who had fallen into the Pansi Cave.
He had looked so terrified, as if he were truly afraid she would eat him.
Though she would eat him sooner or later, that look of his was truly endearing.