“No need. My clothes are already wet, so you can use it first.”
Whether it was the people of Sucheng being particularly enthusiastic, or this female driver being exceptionally so.
The fare was eight yuan and fifty, and she was offering a guest an umbrella that looked at least eighty percent new.
As a man, Hu Jiasheng felt he couldn't possibly accept.
“If you won’t take the money, then I’ll have to refuse. Thank you.”
As he spoke and prepared to get out, the girl glanced back at him.
“Really, no need. We live quite close, and we might run into each other again. You can return it then.”
“Or you could leave your contact information. Then you can call me anytime you need a ride in the future.”
So that was the reason – to get contact information and maintain client relationships.
It just went to show how deep the schemes ran in every industry these days.
Hu Jiasheng didn't believe in genuine human kindness and naturally wouldn't casually give his contact details to a stranger.
Watching the payment complete automatically online, he said nothing more and pushed the door open to get out.
A furious wind and rainstorm swept in. With one step, water surged from his shoes up to his calves.
Hu Jiasheng was instantly drenched.
He quickened his pace, running towards the entrance of the outpatient hall. As he turned back to adjust his clothes and hair, he saw the girl also run down from the car.
She was wearing a plain black t-shirt and black shorts, her hair tied in a black ponytail. Her wet clothes weren't very noticeable.
He watched her stride through the water, holding an umbrella, and head straight towards two elderly people standing beside Hu Jiasheng.
“Need a ride? I have an umbrella, I can take you there.”
Standing beside Hu Jiasheng were an elderly couple, both likely over sixty years old. The woman looked frail and unwell.
The pair gazed wistfully at the rain-swept street. Seeing her approach and offer help, they were naturally delighted.
They asked her how much the ride would be. The girl explained that the platform calculated fares by mileage, and her word didn’t count. She assured them it would be fair and just, and she wouldn’t overcharge.
“My husband was just discharged from the hospital and ran into this weather. We also have luggage…”
“You get in first, I’ll help carry it.”
“Auntie, are you uncomfortable walking? I’ll carry you.”
With that, she handed the umbrella to the man, turned, and dashed back into the downpour.
She retrieved a thick jacket from her car, draped it over the auntie’s head, and crouched in front of her.
“You just recovered from an illness, don’t let your head get wet again. Hold on tight, I’ll carry you.”
She wasn’t tall; Hu Jiasheng estimated her to be no more than 1.6 meters. She looked slender and small, but surprisingly strong.
Facing the gale and rain, wading through the water, she actually carried the auntie into the car.
The old man, thin and shriveled, was dressed immaculately. He hesitated by the rain-swept pavement, afraid to step out.
The girl didn't mind. She turned back to carry him too.
“Uncle, why don’t I carry you over as well. Don’t want your shoes to get wet.”
“I’m not exactly light, young lady.”
“I’m strong, don’t worry. If not, you can come back down.”
Saying this, she bent down again.
After carrying him into the car, she made two more trips, loading the suitcase and various bags into the trunk.
Once everything was done, she was completely soaked, like a drowned rat.
Disregarding her appearance, she wiped the rain from her face, twisted her ponytail, and climbed back into the car.
Hu Jiasheng watched her, a profound sense of emotion washing over him.
To see a young woman work so desperately just to make a living made him suddenly feel that his own job wasn't that arduous.
At least the income from his hard work was incomparable to that of ordinary people.
He had been feeling pent-up frustration lately due to colleagues’ lack of cooperation and his unfamiliarity with the environment. Everything felt overwhelming, and he feared his condition might worsen, requiring another visit to the doctor upon returning to Nancheng. He found unexpected solace in this Didi driver.
Indeed, life was about one’s state of mind.
If one's spirit was good, their heart open, and their thoughts clear, then the world was filled with beauty, and every day was worthwhile.
Conversely, if one’s spirit was poor, their heart narrow, the world would seem gloomy, and life would merely be a matter of enduring time, devoid of meaning.
Hu Jiasheng fell into the latter category.
Under immense academic pressure since his teenage years, and driven by a desire to prove himself to his grandfather, he had developed depression.
Although his grandfather had hired renowned doctors to treat him, and he had actively cooperated, certain hidden sensitivities and vulnerabilities would subtly surface when faced with challenges.
No one knew this except himself.
Later, he was admitted to his ideal university and secured a dream job. His grandfather's approval grew, and he even had a decent relationship. Hu Jiasheng’s condition improved significantly.
It wasn't until he returned to the country, encountered Zhan Beijue’s incident, and took over Zhan Corporation, along with starting a relationship with Chen Jiaojiao, that his condition relapsed.
A series of misfortunes caused his illness to resurface.
He obtained medication from the psychiatry department, intending to manage it gradually based on his past experience and persevere.
At this point, he encountered the incident of Shen Miner’s murder.
Hearing that she later committed suicide, Hu Jiasheng was so distressed that he couldn't sleep, constantly questioning himself:
Why didn't I invite her into the car that day? Why didn't I insist on taking her home?
If I had insisted on taking her home, perhaps she wouldn't have encountered those bad people. Then, she wouldn't have met with misfortune.
She was so young, beautiful, and full of life. She lost her life because of my inaction.
During that period, his condition became so severe that doctors recommended hospitalization.
He refused to be admitted. Firstly, he didn’t want others to know he had such a shameful illness.
Secondly, he had returned to the country with a resolve to fight with all his might. To end up hospitalized after achieving nothing was unacceptable to his sense of failure.
Fortunately, his persistent efforts paid off. Zhan Beijue proactively gave him another opportunity to prove himself.
This time, no matter what, he had to make a stunning comeback.
He wanted his grandfather to know that Hu Jiasheng was not incompetent and was no less capable than Zhan Beijue.
He also wanted Zhan Beijue to know that what he could do, he could also do, but he simply disdained to compete.
Perhaps, after proving himself, he would choose to return to his previous life.
He wasn't good at interpersonal relationships; his previous beautiful fantasies were ultimately just that – fantasies.
He no longer wished to force himself into places where he couldn't integrate.
For the rest of his life, he would disregard others' opinions and simply strive for his own happiness.
In the past, he had always felt wronged.
He felt that he was born but not well cared for, not given the love he deserved, and was a rather tragic figure.
But today, looking at this young female driver striving so hard for ten or eight yuan, he felt he was being overly sentimental.
The community hospital in the old district was more dilapidated than he had imagined.
Young people, seeking fashion and convenient transportation, flocked to the city center and new districts, leaving only the old, weak, sick, and disabled.
Hospitals were inherently somber places. With few patients and outdated equipment, coupled with the fact that the clientele were all elderly, stepping inside felt like entering the underworld.