She’s a Passerby, But Can See the Protagonist’s Halo

The following two days, Yan and Zhu Jue spent a calm and uneventful campus routine.

The Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays arrived, filling the campus with joy, and the dormitory was no exception. Who doesn’t love a holiday?

Yan was packing her luggage in the dormitory. Aside from a dress for taking photos, everything else was practical pants and comfortable sneakers, with outdoor shoes already on her feet.

This time, she was joining the off-road brand team from Bin City for a test drive to evaluate different vehicle models under various conditions like load capacity, road types, and speed, all to aid future development and improvements.

Yan didn’t bring a suitcase but instead opted for a massive hiking backpack that could hold a lot of items.

Chu Bingbing watched in awe as Yan packed. “That backpack is huge! Can you even carry it? If it’s too much, just transfer some stuff to Zhu Jue.”

Chu Bingbing had only seen foreigners in videos using such large backpacks for hiking and budget travel, carrying sleeping bags and gear. In China, most people were used to suitcases, so this was quite rare.

“No problem, we’ve used this before,” Yan replied. She only packed essentials: compressed clothes, a sun-protective jacket, a face mask, personal medication, sunscreen, and moisturizers. The bag wasn’t even full. The off-road team had told them to bring only personal items.

Neither Yan nor Zhu Jue were the type to fuss over luxury. Since they were tagging along for the test drive, hitching a ride with the team, Yan considered herself more like a relative on a free trip rather than a “board member.” She didn’t want to trouble others too much.

Given that they’d be testing different terrains and roads, Yan expected they’d mostly be sitting in the car, watching the scenery. In more developed areas, they’d stay in hotels, but in remote places, they’d have to camp or sleep in the car.

“So, your itinerary is all set?” Chu Bingbing asked, resting her chin on her hands.

“Yeah, but I have to attend a donation ceremony in Ning City, so I guess we won’t be together this time.”

Hearing Chu Bingbing’s words, Yan paused as she checked items off her list.

“That’s so soon,” she remarked. Even though it had only been a few days, the packed schedule made it feel like much longer.

“I’ll probably be back in Bin City only toward the end of the holiday. We’re going pretty far,” Yan said.

“I see. The ceremony is on the last day of the holiday. I plan to go early and spend a week exploring. They say you could spend a month in the capital and still not see everything. I’ll stay until the ceremony and then fly back to Ning City.”

Chu Bingbing glanced at her first-class train ticket.

Yan nodded. “We’ll see during winter break. We’ve only been away from home for a month, so no one’s eager to go back. It’ll be easier to visit during the holidays.”

Chu Bingbing hummed in agreement. It seemed she’d be alone in Ning City.

Yan thought for a moment. “You could ask Sui Sui if she’s free.”

For an event like the artifact donation ceremony, once the imperial scroll was donated to the Palace Museum, such a top-tier national treasure might not be displayed for years. For protection, replication, and research, it would likely be kept under wraps for a while.

After all, it was something from the princess’s family!

“Huh? Sui Sui? Is she available? I thought she had to attend her grandfather’s birthday banquet,” Chu Bingbing said.

“I’m not sure, but Sui Sui might be involved in some cultural programs later. You could take her along to network and make connections in advance,” Yan suggested.

Lin Lu had mentioned a program before, though Yan wasn’t clear on the details. She had already passed the contact information to Gu Jiasui, but Yan guessed that any program collaborating with official institutions would likely involve the Palace Museum.

“Oh, that’s great! I was worried about going alone. I’ll ask Sui Sui,” Chu Bingbing said, her eyes sparkling.

She understood Yan’s meaning: even if Gu Jiasui’s participation in the program wasn’t confirmed, bringing her along would help her gain exposure. While Chu Bingbing wasn’t exactly a sponsor of the Palace Museum, she could still support her roommate and make the trip more enjoyable. It was a win-win.

With her backpack ready, Yan and Zhu Jue were set to leave early with the team to avoid the holiday traffic. It was almost noon, and the other roommates were out.

Checking her watch, Yan saw a message from Zhu Jue on her phone. He was already downstairs. Yan didn’t wait for the others, double-checked her belongings, and covered her bed with a dust cloth.

“Bingbing, I’ve got to go. I’ll let everyone know in the group chat.”

“Bye, have fun!” Chu Bingbing watched as Yan walked out the door with a backpack taller than her head.

With so much gear, Yan and Zhu Jue called a car to take them to the meeting point with the off-road team.

Despite the heavy backpack, Yan was thrilled, her heart racing with excitement.

Sitting in the backseat of the car, Yan couldn’t contain her enthusiasm.

“Bingbing’s going to Ning City for the holiday, and Sui Sui will probably be in Bin City. Ding Ling and Yi Zhi are staying too. This time, we definitely won’t run into them.”

She counted on her fingers and looked at Zhu Jue, who nodded. “I’ve confirmed too. Brother Fan is spending time with his family, Ye Zi is live-streaming in Bin City, Yuan Ye and Brother Xiao are at school, and Chu Shen went home to open his shop.”

Yan nodded emphatically. The two of them clasped hands. Nine people—they could finally avoid these nine dazzling individuals for ten whole days. It was a rare opportunity.

As for Tan Dabao, Tan Xiaobao, and Xu Jiaojiao, they were all in Ning City, so Yan had no worries.

She rolled down the car window. The weather was perfect, and as she looked at the blue sky and white clouds outside, her mood soared.

“Director Yan, Director Zhu, welcome!” Manager Li greeted them with a beaming smile, surprised by their professional hiking gear.

He had expected these two young board members from wealthy families to bring a lot of luggage and had even instructed the team to take good care of them. But they looked surprisingly “ordinary.”

“Manager Li,” Yan said, slightly embarrassed.

“We’re just tagging along this time. You can call us by our names.”

The vehicle they were testing this time was the T-series, a super-luxury off-road car designed for all terrains.

Chu Bingbing’s car was called the “Overlord,” and to differentiate, this new model was named the “Land Dominator.”

Yan noticed that the Land Dominator looked similar to Chu Bingbing’s Overlord but had a different color. The paintwork seemed more intricate.

Under the sunlight, Yan blinked. “Is this… optical color change?”

She watched as the car’s surface seemed to shift colors with the sunlight.

Manager Li chuckled but didn’t explain. “Wait until we’re outdoors. You’ll see even more. Our Land Dominator lives up to its name.”

As the leaders of the testing team, Yan and Zhu Jue were invited into the multi-million-dollar luxury car’s massage chairs.

A lead off-road vehicle led the way, followed by several support vehicles. Yan and Zhu Jue settled in for the ride.

Their seats were directly behind the driver, with two separate massage chairs. Above them was a high-tech, ultra-thin smart screen that could be pulled out for convenience. With dedicated headphones, they could watch different movies without disturbing each other.

A touch-sensitive side table allowed Yan to charge her phone or place items with a simple flip. The car moved smoothly, and the champagne glass in the cup holder didn’t shake at all.

The off-road vehicle had a high chassis. Yan tapped the glass—it was likely bulletproof, like Chu Bingbing’s car.

The floor was covered in a finely detailed starry carpet, and the ceiling mimicked a starry sky, a standard feature in top-tier luxury cars worldwide.

The massage chairs could recline fully, with headrests and footrests for maximum comfort.

In short, riding in this car was pure luxury. Even if they hit traffic, it wouldn’t dampen the experience.

Yan noticed Manager Li in the passenger seat, holding a laptop connected to the Land Dominator’s internal system, monitoring real-time data.

She leaned over to glance at the computer in Manager Li's hands, unable to hide her admiration.

"This system is incredible."

Manager Li chuckled proudly, as did the professional test driver beside him.

"The system of the Land Dominator was recently upgraded by Chairman Tan. Not to brag, but in the domestic market, if we say we're second, who would dare claim first place?"

When Chairman Tan was mentioned, Yan noticed the fervent admiration in Manager Li's eyes, despite his age.

Manager Li sighed with emotion. "To be honest, when Jidao tried to poach me back then, I was quite arrogant. I heard the chairman and core developer were just kids, and I looked down on them. How foolish of me."

"But time and time again, I was awestruck. I finally realized that there are geniuses in this world who, once they emerge, bring about monumental changes. I was too narrow-minded back then."

"Would it be an exaggeration to say that our two Chairmen Tan are once-in-a-century geniuses?"

Yan's body stiffened slightly at Manager Li's words. Here it was again—that familiar feeling. Was Manager Li also one of those top-tier technical talents who had been utterly humbled and won over by Tan Dabao and Tan Xiaobao?

She maintained a mysterious smile and nodded. "Of course."

After all, they were the "little genius treasures"!

Jue Jue and I have been overshadowed by them since childhood. We understand their genius better than anyone.

After chatting for a while, Yan and Jue Jue reclined their massage chairs and comfortably watched a drama on the screen in the backseat.

While watching, they exchanged messages on their phones.

**[Yan]**: So comfy~~~ I feel a bit embarrassed about the soup today.

Before coming to Bin City, the Tan siblings had always kept a low profile. Despite being chairmen and core technical developers, they hadn’t brought a car home. The last time Yan and Zhu Jue rode in Chu Bingbing's car was their first experience, and this time it was an even deeper immersion.

Yan felt a bit guilty. As senior members of the team, they were naturally given the best seats, which might have disrupted the original plans.

Especially when she saw Manager Li had prepared red wine, whiskey, freshly squeezed juice, and more for them, she couldn’t help but think that Manager Li seemed to regard them as luxury-loving individuals.

**[Jue Jue]**: It’s rare to have their soup. Let’s gulp it down—compensation for the mental trauma from our childhood. [Gulping soup]

Yan burst out laughing at Jue Jue's message. That’s right, this was their compensation for the mental toll taken by Tan Dabao and Tan Xiaobao. Growing up, they had to act as both older siblings and friends, so enjoying the younger ones’ hospitality was only fair.

**[Yan]**: I’ll drink, drink, drink! [Drinking soup]

Being a soup enthusiast is something you get used to—first time awkward, second time natural!

Last night, the thought of leaving Bin City today had left Yan so excited she almost couldn’t sleep. After catching up on two episodes of the drama, she decided to take a nap.

She had already asked Manager Li earlier. To avoid the holiday crowds, they would drive far and only stop at a few rest areas along the way.

For the trip, Yan was dressed in a loose T-shirt and sweatpants. After adjusting the massage chair and taking off her shoes, she comfortably lay down.

Zhu Jue stood up, bent over, and took out a silk sleep mask from his backpack, smoothing her hair out of the way. He gently adjusted the headrest and touched her hand, noticing her skin felt cool from the car’s air conditioning.

"Should I get you a blanket?" he asked softly, pulling out a towel blanket from the top of his backpack and draping it over Yan’s abdomen.

Yan murmured "Mhm" with her eyes closed, sinking deeper into the massage chair, too comfortable to move.

For once, she let go of the pressures from her high-achieving roommates. Relaxed and soothed by the quiet car, Yan quickly fell asleep.

As for himself, Zhu Jue simply adjusted his massage chair slightly and lay down after checking the time.

While the two dozed off in the car, they were unaware that their impressive convoy had already attracted attention as it left Bin City.

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‍Land Dominator’s design bore a striking resemblance to the Jidao Tyrant, which had recently gone viral on social media. Coupled with its unique emblem and the escort of seven or eight million-dollar SUVs, it sparked widespread curiosity and soon trended online again.

"Damn, another Jidao? Is this a new model I haven’t seen before?"

"Look at the convoy around it. How much does this car cost? Even the rich have to take holidays during national breaks? Suddenly, I feel better about my life, hahaha!"

"This design is too cool. How hard do I have to work in this lifetime to afford something like this?"

When Yan woke up from her nap, the convoy had just pulled into the second planned rest stop for refueling.

She had slept so soundly that she didn’t even notice the first stop.

Removing her sleep mask, she ruffled her hair, put on her shoes, and muttered, "I need to use the restroom."

By then, the car had already parked in the rest area. Manager Li stepped out first and opened the specially designed door.

The door swung open like a grand entrance, and Manager Li, dressed in a suit, stood by to help Yan out.

Still groggy from sleep, Yan felt a bit unsteady stepping onto the ground due to the car’s height and the long ride. Thankfully, Manager Li was there to support her.

"Thank you, Manager Li," she said, while Zhu Jue, already out of the car, took her hand.

The rest of the convoy staff watched them with curiosity and respect. A sharp-looking female executive with gold-rimmed glasses approached to guide Yan, while Manager Li accompanied Zhu Jue.

"Chairman Yan, the restroom is this way. The food options here are quite extensive. Is there anything you’d like to have later?"

"Ah? Anything’s fine. Have you all eaten? Just get me some cold noodles or something simple," Yan replied casually, feeling awkward under the executive’s attentive demeanor.

"Of course. Any specific preferences for the cold noodles?"

"Uh, normal is fine."

Yan couldn’t wait to reach the restroom, finish her business, and get back to the car.

When they arrived, President Qin pulled out a selection of unopened tissues, wet wipes, sanitary pads, and tampons for Yan to choose from.

"Thanks, but I have my own," Yan said awkwardly before rushing into a stall.

Oh my, Manager Li, what on earth have you been telling them? This is way too thorough!

After washing her hands, Yan watched as President Qin handed her hand sanitizer, followed by a hand towel. She numbly used the items, applied some fragrant hand cream, and returned to the car under President Qin’s smiling escort.

Meanwhile, over a dozen other staff members from the convoy also offered their polite service.

Once back in the car, Yan collapsed into her seat. She glanced at Zhu Jue, and both of them wore equally pained expressions.

Yan’s lips twitched, imagining the kind of enthusiasm Manager Li must have showered on Zhu Jue.

She took a deep breath. "Manager Li, let’s just act normally. We’re ordinary people. Treat us like regular team members, not VIPs. If our presence disrupts your work, that wouldn’t be good."

Manager Li looked at them, then seemed to have an epiphany.

"I understand. Please rest assured, this is our team’s first time hosting chairmen, so we might have gone overboard. Chairman Yan, Chairman Zhu, I’ll make sure to adjust accordingly."

Manager Li’s serious "I understand" made it clear he realized his mistake. He shouldn’t have taken matters into his own hands.

Although Chairman Tan had instructed them to treat the two well, it was obvious that these young chairmen weren’t the typical spendthrift heirs. After all, they were top students admitted to Bin University on merit and had grown up alongside Chairman Tan. How could they be the flashy type?

When they arrived carrying large hiking backpacks, he should have canceled all these preparations. They probably wanted to keep a low profile, but he had inadvertently made things high-profile.

This time, it was likely that Chairman Yan and Chairman Zhu had been sent by the Tan siblings in Ning City to conduct an undercover inspection of the Bin City team. His over-the-top efforts might have come off as sycophantic, which could leave a bad impression.

This wasn’t right, not at all. It might even make the chairmen think their team was more focused on flattery than technical excellence.

Manager Li inwardly cursed his miscalculation and immediately began discussing the two directors' opinions with other executives, strategizing on how to handle the situation. Seeing Manager Li's confident demeanor, Yan felt a mix of anxiety and hope, silently wishing that the next time they got out of the car, things wouldn’t be so chaotic.

In the car, Yan was eating cold skin noodles bought by the team. Jue Jue had thoughtfully prepared adult bibs, and both of them tucked one in. Yan was wearing a loose black T-shirt today, and she proudly showed it off to Jue Jue.

"I'm wearing black today, so even if it gets dirty, it won’t show," she said smugly.

Zhu Jue chuckled. "You're so clever."

Yan tilted her chin up. "Of course, we’re both clever."

Yan had always had a habit of flicking sauce everywhere when eating noodles with chopsticks. Sometimes it landed on herself, and occasionally it even splattered onto those around her. Jue Jue had suffered from this since they were kids.

Despite growing up, Yan never managed to break the habit, and eating always required extra caution. Eventually, Jue Jue bought bibs that looped around their necks, and they started wearing them together, even in public. It wasn’t embarrassing—it was worth it to keep their clothes clean!

The cold skin noodles at the rest stop weren’t bad, but they weren’t particularly delicious either. Since they had been traveling by car for a while, Yan didn’t dare drink too much water. She ate about a third of the noodles, picking out all the cold skin and leaving the rest of the beef tendon and dan dan noodles for Jue Jue to finish.

After rinsing her mouth with water, Yan glanced at her phone, and her eyes widened in surprise.

What? The Extreme Motors convoy is trending too?

#Extreme Motors Luxury Cars Spotted Again in Bin City as Mysterious Tycoon Leaves for Vacation#

Yan watched a video taken from another car’s perspective, capturing the convoy and the imposing presence of the luxury vehicle they were in. Comments flooded in, with people marveling at the sight and asking if this was the same convoy as before.

Thankfully, she wasn’t visible in the car.

With the car speeding along the highway, Yan only glanced at her phone briefly. Looking at it too long made her feel nauseous and carsick. After sending her real-time location to her family, she lay back down to continue watching a TV series.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, who were already hundreds of kilometers away from Bin City, more videos of the Extreme Motors convoy were surfacing online.

...

Chu Bingbing had already boarded the Bin-Ning high-speed train. The business class cabin was completely private, offering a comfortable and undisturbed experience. Despite rumors of poor signal, her phone was connected to 5G, allowing her to freely browse videos and surf the internet with her headphones on.

At that moment, she noticed the trending topic about Extreme Motors and clicked on it out of curiosity.

Her Weibo account, CC123, had also received numerous @ mentions, with people asking her questions.

"Did another Extreme Motors owner make the news? I wonder what model it is," she thought.

Upon clicking, she saw a car that looked strikingly similar to her own "Overlord" model, accompanied by a convoy of vehicles. It immediately reminded her of Yan’s trip. "It must be Yan and her company’s team," she realized.

Yan had only told her roommates that she was hitching a ride with a friend’s convoy, but Chu Bingbing was the only one who knew the truth. During the car exhibition, Manager Li from Extreme Motors had even enthusiastically invited her to join the experience, but she had declined due to her involvement in the "Imperial Scrolls" donation ceremony.

As the only one privy to Yan’s little secret, Chu Bingbing felt a subtle sense of pride, even though their dorm relationship was close.

After watching the video of the convoy filmed from another car’s sunroof, another video automatically played.

"Huh? Another video of the Extreme Motors convoy?" This one seemed to be taken from a distance, with the camera zoomed in.

The person filming was speaking excitedly, "Oh my gosh, guys, isn’t this the Extreme Motors luxury car from Bin City that’s all over the news? The one worth tens of millions? I just ran into it at the Water City rest stop."

"Whoa, whoa, the owner’s getting out," the filmer said, clearly thrilled.

The zoom was close, and the clarity was decent. Chu Bingbing clearly saw the familiar Extreme Motors door open, and out stepped... Manager Li!

Followed by—

Yan and Zhu Jue!

Others might not recognize them, as the faces were slightly blurry, but Chu Bingbing knew instantly.

The comfortable travel outfit Yan was wearing today was something they had picked out together!

There was no mistaking it.

"A young girl and a guy got out. Wow, I wonder whose daughter and son they are. Each of them has an assistant accompanying them," the filmer commented.

Manager Li, acting like a butler, helped Yan out of the car, followed by a woman who looked like a professional attendant, attentively staying by Yan’s side.

Chu Bingbing: !!!

Yan had told her that she was just going on a test drive with the team.

But looking at the convoy of SUVs surrounding them, with the employees—both men and women—smiling as they watched Yan and Zhu Jue step out, it was clear they were the center of attention.

Yan and Zhu Jue walked forward casually, as if it were just another day.

"A test drive? More like a young lady going out with her entourage!"

"I don’t know what kind of family they’re from. With this kind of convoy, I thought they’d come over and tell me to stop filming, but no one came. I even parked nearby, and no one said anything about me filming with my phone," the filmer remarked, clearly impressed.

Chu Bingbing felt the same way.

The woman accompanying Yan was likely a private housekeeper, specially trained for such families.

When she saw Yan leaving with a large hiking backpack, she had thought Yan was really going on a hiking trip. But now it seemed like it was just a low-key disguise.

Thinking back, Manager Li from Extreme Motors was probably specially dispatched from Ning City to serve them.

And the staff? They looked like ordinary workers, but they were likely private bodyguards!

Chu Bingbing remembered reading online about how world-famous billionaire Borg and his wife would queue up at hot pot restaurants like regular people, while their bodyguards blended seamlessly into the crowd, only stepping in when necessary.

These uniformed SUV staff members, seemingly ordinary, were likely the same—the more ordinary they looked, the easier it was for Yan and Zhu Jue to blend in.

Chu Bingbing’s eyes sparkled with realization. Yan’s trip must have a deeper purpose. Since she brought that hiking backpack, it was likely they were visiting someone in a remote mountain area.

"A reclusive family hidden in the mountains?" she murmured to herself.

Now it made sense why the Extreme Motors exhibition ended on that specific day and why they only left Bin City today.

Because today was when Yan’s vacation started! Everything revolved around her schedule.

Since Yan was being so low-key, Chu Bingbing vowed not to reveal even a hint of her identity.

"Don’t worry, Yan! I’ll guard your secret," Chu Bingbing thought, feeling a sense of responsibility.