jdhmnovel Chapter 81 Silver Thorn
Chapter 81 Silver Thorn
Eric gripped the steering wheel of his beat-up Ford, the F150 emitting a dull roar.
"Boss, are you sure we're going to buy a Rolls-Royce in this piece of junk? We're not going to get kicked out, are we?" He patted the creaking steering wheel.
Ling Yun didn't even lift his eyelids. "Drive in and find a place to park."
Eric muttered something as he drove the car into the Rolls-Royce dealership's yard and parked it next to the entrance.
The two got out of the car, and Ling Yun smiled at Eric, saying, "Look at that dealership, it's decorated like an art gallery. Your secondhand pickup truck really does lower the Rolls-Royce's prestige."
Eric was speechless. It was clearly the boss who let him drive in, yet he said such things, which hit him right where it hurt.
The two men walked to the door, and the heavy glass door slowly opened. The doorman greeted them warmly, "Welcome, gentlemen, to Rolls-Royce!"
As the two entered the exhibition hall, the polished marble floor reflected the ceiling lights, and several display vehicles lay quietly under the spotlights like treasures, their shiny paint dazzling.
A sales consultant, dressed in a tailored suit and with his hair neatly combed, approached them. His gaze swept quickly and professionally over the two men. Eric was wearing a wrinkled plaid shirt and jeans, while Ling Yun was simply wearing a jacket and casual pants.
James showed no sign of anything amiss, only bowing slightly.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen. Welcome to the Rolls-Royce Beverly Hills dealership. I'm James, a sales consultant. Is there anything I can tell you?" His voice was deep and pleasant.
Eric nervously cleared his throat. James turned to Eric, thinking he was about to speak, but Eric didn't dare to say anything.
Ling Yun calmly replied from the side, "Take a look at Silver Thorn."
A slight hint of surprise flashed in James's eyes, but he quickly regained his professional demeanor: "Alright, gentlemen, please follow me."
He led the two people toward the imposing black sedan in the center of the exhibition hall.
Eric practically tiptoed over, afraid that the dust on the soles of his shoes would dirty the mirror-like floor.
He circled the Silver Spike once, his mouth slightly open, as if he wanted to reach out and touch the smooth paint, but he pulled his hand back halfway and awkwardly touched his nose.
"My...God..." he murmured in amazement, circling the car and staring at the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament on the hood. "Is this...really silver?"
James maintained his smile: "Yes, sir, the emblem has been polished." He gracefully opened the car door. "Sir, you can feel it."
Eric carefully entered the driver's seat as if he were afraid of breaking some precious treasure. His hands gently stroked the smooth walnut wood trim, his fingers ran over the cool metal air conditioning vents, and his body sank into the leather seat.
"Boss, this is even more comfortable than my sofa at home!" he whispered, gesturing excitedly to Ling Yun. "Boss, touch the wood paneling, smell this... my god, it's simply... simply..."
Ling Yun just smiled faintly. Although he had never owned such a high-end car in his previous life, things from this era still couldn't compare to those of later generations. This square, rectangular body really couldn't compare to the streamlined bodies of later generations.
The paint quality couldn't compare to that of luxury cars in later generations. Its only advantage was its powerful engine and lack of environmental concerns related to vehicle emissions.
Lingyun interrupted James, who was explaining the vehicle's specifications in detail, "Do you have any in stock? Black or gray."
James paused slightly. "We have a silver-grey one in stock, fully equipped." He listed the figures one by one: "$28, sir."
"How much?" Eric jumped up from the driver's seat, almost hitting the roof of the car. "Two hundred and eighty thousand?" He looked at Ling Yun, his eyes wide like saucers, his mouth agape.
Ling Yun ignored him, simply nodding to James. "Okay, get the paperwork done quickly, I need to drive away soon."
James's smile instantly became even more genuine and enthusiastic. "Yes, sir, please have a seat in the VIP lounge. We will get things done for you as quickly as possible."
"Do you have a license plate number you like? I'll help you get it done," James asked eagerly.
"WOCA911!" Ling Yun gave the number to James and asked him to handle it.
In the VIP room, Eric sat stiffly on the sofa, watching Ling Yun sign documents and transfer money through the bank. Exquisite pastries and champagne were laid out before him, but he had no appetite; his heart was pounding wildly.
"Boss, that's 28! Just like that, it's gone?" Eric's voice trembled slightly. "How many high-performance computers could that buy?"
Ling Yun took a sip of water and glanced at him: "It's just a car, don't make such a fuss."
The formalities were completed quickly. When the silver-gray Rolls-Royce Silver Spur stopped in the most conspicuous spot in front of the store, Eric looked at the smooth, glossy body and felt a little unreal.
James handed Ling Yun a classic key. Ling Yun opened the car door and got into the driver's seat. Eric quickly prepared to get in, but Ling Yun smiled and said, "Don't you want your Ford anymore?"
"Boss, how about I come back tomorrow?" Eric asked with a fawning expression.
"I have something to do later, you can drive it another day." As he spoke, Ling Yun started the vehicle.
"That heartless boss just dumped me..." Eric said, looking dejected.
"Don't talk nonsense. I'm not interested in men. If you keep talking like that, I'll dock your pay when we get back!" Ling Yun said through gritted teeth.
Eric didn't dare to reply and quickly ran off to get his Ford.
Lingyun left Beverly Hills and prepared to buy a suitable outfit for the banquet; sportswear or casual wear wouldn't be appropriate.
As he passed the street corner, he saw an inconspicuous shop with several Zhongshan suits hanging in the window, their cuts crisp and neat.
Lingyun parked his car and went to the shop, where a Chinese sign reading "Zhang's Tailor Shop" was hanging.
Lingyun pushed open the glass door of the tailor shop, and the bell on the door rang crisply.
The store is not large, but it is clean and orderly, and the air is filled with the smell of fabric and a faint smell of washing.
An elderly tailor wearing reading glasses was cutting fabric on the cutting board when he heard the sound and looked up.
"Sir, would you like some clothes made?" the old tailor asked, speaking with a Cantonese accent.
"Yes, I'd like to ask you to make me a Zhongshan suit, like the ones displayed in the glass case," Ling Yun stated his purpose directly.
"Oh? It's not often you see young people wearing Zhongshan suits these days," the old tailor said with a smile.
"I'm going to a banquet soon, so a formal suit isn't appropriate, nor is a casual outfit. A Zhongshan suit would be just right," Ling Yun explained.
"I have a good idea. The traditional Zhongshan suit has a top button on the front, which makes it look very serious when it's buttoned up." The old tailor gestured to the collar and front of the suit. "I can design it a little and make the top button hidden. If you need to keep the collar up, you can button it up. If you want to be more casual, you can unbutton it, leave the collar open, and wear a shirt underneath. It will look as relaxed as a jacket."
Ling Yun's eyes lit up. This change wasn't big, but it perfectly matched Ling Yun's idea.
"Okay, then we'll do as you say," Ling Yun nodded and said.
The old tailor took out samples of basic, heavy fabrics. "Take a look at these fabrics and choose one that suits your taste."
Lingyun carefully selected a thick, dark gray wool fabric.
The old tailor began taking his measurements, skillfully measuring his shoulders, arms, chest, waist, and legs with a tape measure, recording the data in a small notebook as he said, "Your right arm and right shoulder are noticeably more muscular."
"I practiced javelin throwing a lot in middle school, so my right arm is a bit thicker," Ling Yun said with a smile.
"Come back in three days to pick it up. I guarantee it will fit perfectly and won't disappoint you." The old tailor gave a faint smile.
Leaving the tailor shop and getting back into his car, Ling Yun's mind had completely calmed down. He felt ready; his meeting with Bill was not a pilgrimage, nor a plea for cooperation, but an equal dialogue.