Ma Lan, who’d never taken such an insult, put her hands on her hips and glared, “Driving some rubbish Bentley and acting all high and mighty? Go ask around, my husband used to be the executive vice president of the Jinling Calligraphy and Painting Association, ask them who doesn’t know he drives a 2B-edition Cullinan!”
Xiao Changkun hurriedly corrected, “Not 2B, not 2B, it’s BB, the BB-edition Cullinan!”
Ma Lan waved impatiently, “Same thing, isn’t it? Means the same.”
The man clearly didn’t take Ma Lan seriously either, turning to Xiao Churan with a smarmy smile, “Miss, these must be your parents, yeah? Do them a favour and tell them, at their age, they shouldn’t be so vain.”
With that, he called to the flashy woman beside him, “Darling, let’s go, get through customs and relax in the first-class lounge.”
The woman, seeing her husband come out on top, felt immensely proud, saying seductively, “Alright, love, I told you, don’t stoop to arguing with poor folk, you can’t reason with them.”
The man laughed heartily, put his arm around her, and strutted off happily.
As he left, Xiao Changkun looked up, shouting furiously at his retreating figure, “Oi, don’t you walk away! Look at this, my photo with my car, look! See if it’s a Cullinan, see if I’m boasting!”
Seeing the man not even glance back, Xiao Changkun stomped in rage, “Look, will you! Open your bloody eyes and look properly!”
Xiao Churan, mortified, stepped forward, “Dad, that’s enough, stop harping on it. You shouldn’t have brought the car key out in the first place.”
Xiao Churan’s embarrassment wasn’t from being gawked at or mocked by strangers, but from her parents flaunting things gained through Ye Chen’s status in public, which felt utterly shameful. Especially knowing they’d said they weren’t driving to the airport, yet her father had secretly pocketed the car key, she knew exactly what he was up to.
That middle-aged man was spot on, her dad must have thought carrying the key would add some shine to his image when he pulled it out.
Such vain behaviour left Xiao Churan deeply disappointed.
Ye Chen, unfazed, stayed silent, mostly finding his father-in-law’s key-carrying antics hilarious, content to watch him make a fool of himself.
Seeing neither his daughter nor son-in-law supported him, Xiao Changkun felt his face burn, realising sneaking the key was indeed a bit childish.
What started as a joyful holiday outing had turned sour with a stranger’s mockery, leaving Xiao Changkun thoroughly depressed. Looking at the Rolls-Royce key in his hand, the treasure that usually brought him such satisfaction now felt like a hot potato, neither to keep nor discard.
He quickly pulled out his phone and called President Pei, “Oi, Old Pei, where are you? I’m off on holiday today, didn’t drive, but accidentally brought my car key. How about you give me your address, I’ll get a local courier to send it over, you keep it for me.”
President Pei was puzzled, “If you brought it, just keep it, it’s not heavy. Sending it to me with a courier, that’s extra expense, what’s the point?”
Xiao Changkun said reluctantly, “You know how flashy that key is, I don’t want people seeing it, yeah? Otherwise, at security, I’d have to pull it out, and they’d think I’m showing off on purpose.”
Pei casually suggested, “Just put it in your luggage, don’t take it out, security won’t make you dig out a car key from your bag for inspection.”
“Ugh…” Xiao Changkun sighed, thoroughly dejected, “Alright then, I’ll shove it in the bag, hanging up now, Old Pei.”
He ended the call, unzipped his small carry-on bag, and with a look of disdain, stuffed the Rolls-Royce key through the gap.
Ye Chen found it amusing but held back his laughter. Seeing Xiao Changkun sort the key, he waved, “Alright, it’s getting late, let’s head in!”
