After his eighteenth birthday, the first thing Luo Zhi did was to get his driver’s license.

His birthday was when the summer sun had just started to get scorching hot. The timing was perfect—it was still a dozen or so days before the summer vacation, but the weather was already very hot. Not many people were willing to bake under the sun, so getting his license was very smooth.

The day he got his driver’s license, Luo Zhi treated himself to a huge table full of morning tea.

His car had long since been fully serviced, inside and out. It had never missed its annual inspection, was washed sparkling clean, and waited for him in the parking lot, looking incredibly proud.

He no longer needed to find a designated driver or hire a chauffeur. Luo Zhi was worried about not being smooth at the beginning. He and the car practiced together on empty, deserted roads late at night. He quickly became very proficient, able to handle it with ease, whether fast or slow.

Even so, Luo Zhi had never raced his car.

His car had always been with him. Even when it later became one of the pieces of evidence used to accuse him of being “ostentatious” and “using his family background to oppress others,” Luo Zhi had never been willing to change its paint job or exterior decorations.

He couldn’t even bear to drive it on roads that were in poor condition. When the weather was bad, he would let the car stay safely in the garage. His most stress-relieving activity was to go to the car wash to wash his car.

The car wash owner was already very familiar with him. He would hand him the water gun to do it himself and come over to tease him when he had a moment. “Little brother, you’re so polite even with a car?”

The owner had seen people who loved their cars. Young people with new cars would indeed treat them like treasures for many days, immediately touching up even the smallest chip in the paint.

But a situation like Luo Zhi’s, where he came to modify and clean the car himself at eighteen, and five years had passed without a single scratch, was indeed quite rare.

Luo Zhi smiled and agreed, continuing to focus on applying foam to the car.

“By the way, didn’t you ask before?”

The owner came over to help him and suddenly remembered. “I asked someone. Your car model can be fitted with a trailer RV, and your license allows you to drive it.”

Luo Zhi had just changed his sponge. Hearing him mention this, he paused his action. “Can it be custom-made?”

“Yes, but the construction period is long, about half a year to a year,” the owner asked casually. “Can you wait?”

Luo Zhi nodded. He placed his hand on the clean car body, gently caressed it, and carefully wiped the foam off with the sponge.

…

“Let’s work hard,” Luo Zhi sat under the moon after returning home and specifically discussed it with his car.

He leaned against the car, his head resting on the car door, and discussed it with it. “Let’s build a home.”

Later, Luo Zhi and his car worked hard together, going to many car shows to see many finished products.

He spent about a few weeks researching the relevant information about trailer RVs and made his own design drawings.

Later, he was ready to find someone to custom-make the trailer RV part and had also asked the owner to contact the relevant manufacturers.

And then, a little accident happened.

…

A car horn honked crisply.

Ming Chi was suddenly pulled back to his senses. The blurry fragments were also stirred by the whirlpool in his consciousness, and the image suddenly disappeared.

He saw the urging smile in his grandpa’s eyes. His own eyes lit up as well. He bowed deeply again, grabbed his jacket, turned, and quickly went downstairs.

He walked faster and faster. By the time he reached the door, Ming Chi couldn’t help but start running.

After the surgery, Ming Chi had been strictly following the doctor’s orders for rehabilitation. The most reckless he had been was that time chasing Xiang Luan, when he had walked a considerable distance with his cane, but he had not yet tried to run.

But running didn’t seem that difficult.

Just like when he was twelve. He had accidentally broken his right leg and had been in a cast for two months.

He hadn’t been active for too long. Walking slowly was fine, but when he started running again, his feet felt light, and he could barely remember how to apply force.

But he remembered as he ran—especially when he was running because he was impatient, because he had to rush to open the most desired gift.

Ming Chi ran to the car. He clutched the car keys and steadied himself with his hands on his knees.

Ming Chi looked at the car in front of him carefully.

The sky had already darkened. It wasn’t clear enough from the terrace. It was only when he ran here that he finally confirmed that the modifications and paint job on the car were almost identical to what he remembered.

He actually hadn’t expected this at all. After all, it wasn’t strange for limited-edition car models of the same model and the same batch to be identical, but it was unlikely that they had made two cars with the same modifications back then.

Ming Chi walked over and gently touched the car body.

The heir of this multinational group was also there, smiling and nodding at Ming Chi.

“Some time ago, the cruise company discussed a collaboration with our family,” the heir walked over and explained to Ming Chi. “It was a good opportunity, so this car was mentioned.”

The heir was older than Ming Chi and had many contacts in the country. He had managed to find out the specific situation through various channels and had wanted to find an opportunity to give this car to Ming Chi back then.

Later, the old gentleman was inspired by the painting. According to the industry’s rules, Ming Chi should be given remuneration or a share of the profits. It just so happened that their family was cooperating with the cruise company on exhibition booths and counters. During a break in the business talks, the heir had proactively brought up this matter.

The design of that batch of jewelry was quite stunning and was fully booked before it even went on sale. To be honest, the price of a car was not enough. They were actually getting a good deal by paying this way.

When the heir was talking to Mr. Ming, he had also honestly and politely said so.

A few days later, Mr. Ming had someone send back a very detailed modification design, with detailed instructions for the paint job requirements, and also attached a re-photographed sketch.

Because the requirements from the other side were quite detailed, the modifications were also done carefully. As for the more subtle details that perhaps only he himself would know, Ming Chi would have to make further modifications himself.

“The rest is up to you,” the heir opened the car door and gestured behind him. “It’s yours. You know best what to do.”

Ming Chi nodded. He placed his hand on the car door and thanked him solemnly again.

The heir smiled and waved his hands repeatedly, gave him a firm pat on the shoulder, and didn’t stay any longer, quickly entering the restaurant.

The parking lot became quiet.

His car was also quiet.

Brand new color-changing glass was embedded in the car door. The entire car was clean and shiny. A bright red cloth strip was tied to the wheel hub, fluttering majestically in the wind.

Ming Chi walked slowly around the car. He wasn’t in a hurry to get in, looking at the paint job seriously.

The day of the bonfire concert on the beach.

He had returned to the cruise ship with Mr. Shadow and Uncle Lu, had a late-night snack and fruit wine together.

That night, they had talked about being drunk, being a chatterbox, and gifts. He had drunk a couple of sips of the wine he had mixed for Mr. Shadow, and at some point, a drawing board and sketch paper had suddenly appeared in his hands.

That night, Ming Chi had held that drawing board, unable to stop talking in detail about his gift.

He had told Mr. Shadow how he and his aunt would lie in the car, each resting their head on an arm, opening the sunroof to comfortably watch the stars. He talked about how he and his aunt had modified the car, how they had discussed the paint color scheme together.

He remembered saying a lot, so much that he couldn’t quite remember it all by the end. He just held that drawing in his arms, talking himself into a state of warmth and happiness.

Ming Chi was even warmer and happier now than he was then.

Every detail was in his mind. He could slowly find all the things he had lost in the past with his old friend, but there was no rush for this matter.

Ming Chi reached into the right pocket of his jacket, fumbled around, and sure enough, he touched a small, hard-covered document.

While recuperating at the villa, Ming Chi had practiced with the family car. During breaks from his rehabilitation, he had found time to retake his driver’s license test.

He didn’t have any very clear ideas at that time. He had heard from Uncle Lu that driving a car and piloting a ship had some things in common, and had also heard that Mr. Shadow wanted to learn to drive, so he had proactively taken on the roles of both instructor and student.

Ming Chi opened the car door and sat in the driver’s seat.

Ming Chi took a deep breath, rested his head back on the seat, and closed his eyes for a moment.

All the controls were in their familiar places. Ming Chi fumbled for the switch to open the sunroof, then also lowered all four windows. Light and wind rushed in together.

He opened his eyes and saw the countless twinkling stars.

He saw a firework.

…

Ming Chi’s eyes lit up.

He adjusted the seat, switched back to driving mode, and looked up.

The old gentleman was with the heir, standing on the terrace, smiling and waving at him, signaling him not to run back again.

Ming Chi pursed his lips. He put on his jacket, also waved back vigorously, inserted the key, and started the car.

The engine roared to life, and the seatbelt held him.

He might have forgotten many things, but the feel of driving it, honed through practice, was not forgotten at all. Ming Chi was still skilled and nimble. He placed his hands on the steering wheel and patted it a couple of times.

“…Let me tell you something a bit mysterious.”

The car wash owner’s voice emerged from his memory. Amidst the sound of washing the car, the other person had chatted with him casually. “People who drive a lot have a kind of ‘feel’ that only they know.”

“You can drive other cars, but your own car is always the smoothest to drive. Even if you switch to an identical one, the feel might not be the same.”

The car wash owner had just served a customer and pointed him out. “Look at that person just now. He’s one of them.”

The car wash owner lowered his voice. “His car of many years was scrapped. He doesn’t want a new one. He’s been hanging around the used car dealerships these days, trying to find one that’s similar.”

He put down the water gun and asked the car wash owner, “Did he find one?”

The car wash owner shook his head. “Not yet. It’s not that easy to find… If he really can’t find one, he’ll just have to get used to a new car.”

“Driving a new car on the road is definitely cool. But if you drive all year round, you’ll know it’s actually not that comfortable. Nothing feels right, and you just feel awkward all over.”

“If you can find one with the exact same feel, there’s a saying in our trade: it’s your old friend who couldn’t bear to be scrapped and came back, wanting to work with you for another ten years.”

The car wash owner said, “If that’s really the case, even if it’s a bit more expensive, you’d definitely have to grit your teeth and buy it.”

…

Ming Chi held the steering wheel and greeted his old friend softly.

Uncle Lu only dropped him off, not picked him up. The family car had already gone back in advance. The little mister who had to drive back himself didn’t really know the way, but no matter how bad his sense of direction was, it wasn’t that bad.

He didn’t need to look at the direction of the fireworks to remember how to get home.

This road was a coastal highway. Once on it, it led straight to the pier. There weren’t many cars at night, and it was very quiet. The gentle evening wind blew in, and the light from the streetlights was a warm, orange-yellow.

One side of the road was the beach. The view was wide, and the scenery was good. The water reflected the lights from the shore.

Ming Chi saw another firework burst open in the silent, clear night sky. Its reflection fell perfectly into the shallow part of the beach where the tide had come in.

Perfect for chasing.

Ming Chi pulled the car over to the side of the road, took out his phone, and took a picture like someone marking a spot on a boat to find a lost sword, then put it back in the storage compartment.

The gentleman who was setting off fireworks to show him the way was still at the only fork in the road.

This road was very easy to find. Ming Chi found it right away. He calmly dimmed the headlights, slowed down, and came to a stop in front of this kind-hearted signpost of a gentleman.

Ming Weiting was holding the firework in his hand. When he looked up, he saw the little mister who had successfully found his way home stop in front of him.

Ming Chi lowered the driver’s side window all the way.

He raised the corners of his mouth, cleared his throat, and spoke quite seriously, “Excuse me, sir, need a ride?”

Ming Weiting was already cooperating very well. He nodded and put away the firework. “Yes.”

Ming Weiting walked around to the passenger side. Ming Chi had already leaned over and opened the passenger door for him. “Where are you going?”

Ming Weiting pulled down the seatbelt. “To the place the little mister wants to take me.”

Ming Chi turned the headlights back to bright. Hearing this, his chest also filled up. He rested his hand on the steering wheel and turned his head.

“Try not to drive more than a hundred kilometers away.”

The ship still had to leave, after all. Mr. Ming pondered for a moment, then pragmatically added, “If you get lost for more than an hour, you can let the hitchhiker help you with directions.”

Ming Chi laughed out loud. He suddenly couldn’t help it. He unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to hug his Mr. Shadow.

Ming Chi buried his head in Ming Weiting’s collar.

There was the smell of fresh sea breeze and a hint of fireworks, a bit cool, which slowly warmed up in his exhaled breath.

Someone had been waiting here for a not-so-short time, waiting for him to come home.

Setting off fireworks for him to see here.

Ming Weiting hugged him back, patted his back gently, and summarized in a low voice, “I was careless.”

“The little mister’s car has GPS,” Ming Weiting had seen the screen. “You won’t get lost, and you can find your way home on your own.”

Ming Chi couldn’t help but raise the corners of his mouth. “It’s a bit complicated. I haven’t learned how to use it yet.”

Even Mr. Shadow couldn’t be fooled by this kind of lie. Ming Weiting stroked his hair and looked into Ming Chi’s eyes. “Haven’t learned yet?”

“Haven’t learned,” Ming Chi nodded confidently. “I’m in great need of a manual navigation intelligent system.”

Ming Weiting was slightly stunned, figured out the meaning of this phrase, and his eyes were filled with the little mister’s smile. “Where are we going?”

When he got off the ship, he had actually asked Uncle Lu for a map of the vicinity and had roughly memorized the locations and routes on it.

This wasn’t a tourist city, and there weren’t many places to play. But if Ming Chi had a destination, he could indeed help with navigation.

Ming Chi propped himself up with his arm, sat back in the driver’s seat, pulled out his phone, and opened that picture. “Here.”

Ming Weiting took it and looked at it carefully.

The photo was taken perfectly. The silent sky and water were enveloped in the night. There were smooth pebbles on the shallow beach, and a single firework bloomed simultaneously in the sky and on the water’s surface.

Perfect for chasing.

“It’s on the way here,” Ming Chi fastened his seatbelt. “We’ll turn back and look for it slowly.”

“The thirty-seventh happy thing: Mister helped me find my car again. The feel is exactly the same as before, and we’re sitting in the car together now.”

Ming Chi looked at him, his eyes curving into a smile. “The thirty-eighth happy thing: the weather is great tonight, and I want to take Mister to chase fireworks.”