"Hey, old Yang! That's cheating. You can't move that piece over there!"
"Hmph! What cheating? If I say I can, then I can!!"In a small restaurant, several tab drivers were gathered for their hourly break.
They liked to sum up their entire two 15- minute breaks and 30-minute break times to relax a bit in this chaotic city.
But of course, not everyone could take their breaks at the same time, or else there won't be any cabs running across the place
Well, the city had over 2000 cab drivers. And in this small restaurant, only 6 of them gathered in their usual spot.
The many servers and workers already knew them well. They had even been coming here for well over 20 years now.
They were the sort of loyal customers that patronized the small establishment. Thus, the people working here were more than happy to let the group have fun in one corner they typically kept for them during this particular break time.
It was funny to say that even if the group was working the late-night shift, they would call up those in the restaurant and inform them of their arrival.
Hey... Local customers had perks, especially those who have been coming here for over 25 years, watching the restaurant switch hands from a father to a son.
"Hahahahhaha~ old Yang is at it again."
"Aye... The old cheat always likes inventing his own rules. Old man, I won't play with you anymore if you don't play fairly."
Old man Yang pulled his hat down with a cheeky smile. He was the same man who drove Dorian earlier.
Well, he admitted he liked to annoy his fingers when playing. Maybe it was just to tease or enjoy his time with them, but he did it so often that everyone was used to it.
They threatened him all the time that they would never play with him again. Yet, they were always the ones bringing him over.
Hey... Want this what the young people call Tsunderes?
~Ding.
Everyone's phone gave a single note sound alarm at the same time.
7 minutes before their break was over.
Time to pay out, use the bathroom if need be, and get back into their cabs.
"Clarissa."
"Yes, uncles... Are you good to go? Would you like to pay or put it on your tab?" The waitress was also used to them.
This group was one of the few people with tabs in this restaurant.
That's not to say there weren't customers coming in. But this restaurant wasn't a high-end one, nothing fancy about it.
That said, the group had tabs here. But they were a strange bunch. People had tabs to come back and pay later if they forgot their wallets.
But in these people's case, they have given a surplus of money, placing thousands of Vyns on their tabs every new year.
For example, they could put 5,000 Vyns on their tabs. And whether they come over, they eat and the amount deducted.
"My bill comes up to 15.67 Vyns?" Old man Yang waved his hands casually. "Round up to 20; keep the rest as your tip, missy."
"Right!" The waitress's face glowed happily. "I'll bring your receipt."
She also had to keep a copy of his tab order as evidence and proof that no one was stealing anyone from his tab.
Old man Yang slapped his bell, very satisfied. "Alright, I can't wait for you slow pokes... I'm off."
With that, he left the group, who were either heading to the bathroom or still waiting for their receipts to be brought.
"I wonder if that boy is okay out there?" Old man Yang murmured, thinking of Dorian.
His car was parked a little further, with that place being the only available parking spot.
He left the restaurant and was already crossing the road when out of nowhere, a truck appeared inches away from his face.
What?
Old Man Yang's face turned pale seeing death so close. He could also see the raw panic on the truck driver's face.
The breaks weren't working! And it was already too late for Yang to reel himself back.
But just when he thought he would die, he felt a strange force tugging him.
Bamm!!
A thundering sound echoed out, shocking many around.
The truck crashed into 2 cars lined up. Its speed slowed. But what finally halted it was a long light pole.
Everyone stared at the scene with open mouths.
Good heavens... Truck-kun strikes again! But this time, he failed.
"Old Yang!!!"
"Old Yang!... Are you alright?"
Old man Yang's friends, who saw the whole ordeal, rushed to him alongside several others.
"Sir... Are you okay?"
"Sir. look at my fingers; how many am I holding up?"
"Old Yang, we should take you to the hospital!"
"Blah, blah, blah~."
Everyone's words seemed to be going at a very slow pace as Old man Yang sat in a daze, all words seeming slow in motion.
And then, he felt something hot burning his pockets.
Amid the shock from everyone, he stood hastily, reaching for his pockets, only to draw out a small layer of black ash.
Old Man Yang's face turned pale, knowing precisely what had happened.
He didn't want to believe it, but the evidence was staring him right in the face. No one knows how truly close he was to death.
During that time, time stopped completely as he saw his surroundings but knew he couldn't save himself. And then it happened.
Something higher and yanked him away. He flew backward, and the drive nestled him, making his fall soft.
He knew what he felt. It wasn't ordinary.
Old man Yang's ball rolled up and down his throat, feeling the ashes in his hand to be fairy dust.
Should he store them in a bottle?
He knew it should be that mysterious paper that burnt in his pockets after saving him. And then... He recalled Dorian's words.
[Don't take it off until after 6 P.M.]
He began his shift at 1 P.M.
The time now was 5:59.
Coincidence? No.
"Old Yang?..." His friends and many others were worried, seeing him so focused on a pile of black ashes.
He wouldn't have lost his sanity from too much shock.
"Old Yang, why did we take you to the hospital?"
"Hospital? I'm perfectly fine. So forget about it." Old man Yang flexes his body, quickly thanking the crowd and everyone else for caring while rushing to his cab.
Why was he running?
Because he just saw Dorian's call but wanted to answer with everyone around him.
Some tried to stop him, but he made a fuss about having somewhere urgent he needed to be.
More urgent than your life?
The left-hand onlookers were speechless about the old man's actions, and his friends looked at each other in worry.
Was it safe to leave him on the road in this state?
They felt they should call their company and inform them about the incident. Maybe someone can call Old man Yang to give him a day off.
Driving customers in such a state was dangerous. In fact, driving at all was dangerous.
Who knew if he would crash into other vehicles in this state?
No! It was best he went home and rested for the day. Not just for everyone's sake but for his sake as well.
As his friends, they were also worried about him.
With that, they took out their phones.
[XXXX Employee Services. How can I help you?]
"Employee 73990. I want to file an urgent report."
[ _ ]
...
Bam!
Old man Yang closed his doors tightly to make sure no one had followed him over.
Ring!~
He took a deep breath, finally accepting tge phone call.
"Y--yes, I'm here."
"Hmmm... Pickup."
Ah-
"Of course! Of course! I'll be right over!"
Tut...
Old man Yang carefully placed his phone away, put on his seat belt, and drove off.
Everyone outside was also focused on the truck driver, who had no severe injuries, guys lost a tooth and had blood oozing from his forehead.
The vehicles he smashed into also had no civilians in them, and apart from the Truck driver and himself, no one else was involved.
That's good.
During his ride, he got a call from his superior telling him to lay off for the day.
Someone had recorded the whole thing, and now, a few news reporters were on the scene.
It was funny how fast those people could smell news. His superior praised him for his fast reaction of jumping back in the nick of time.
But that's not what happened.
Old man Yang thinned his lips, not commenting further on it. If you tell others, they would think he was so affected by the accident that he was beginning to grow mad.
He would be taken for a psychological reassessment.
Vrmmm~
He arrived to see Dorian calmly approaching his vehicle.
Ah!-
He stepped out and opened the door.
"Sir..." He no longer called Dorian 'kid.'
His hand trembled as he gave Dorian a deep bow.
"Sir, thank you for saving my life!"
Hmmm...
Dorian entered his vehicle, and like that, the 2 drove off.
The old man asked all he wanted to, feeling the entire thing unreal. He also bought a few more talisman papers and held them like gold.
So there are really mysterious forces in this world?
Today was an eye-opener for the old man.
But while his side was now safe and calm, back in the Tian estate, things were about to get heated up.
Alice smiled, knowing today was the day her partner would attack!!!
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