One Journey After Another in the West Wind

A down-on-her-luck heiress returning from abroad vs. a tough, cold car dealership owner. A sweet but resilient young woman vs. a cunning fox of a man. Road-trip encounter | Self-drive tour of Inner Mongolia | A crush goes off the rails, then turns into love over time | No cheating [Thank you for adding this to your reading list! Xiao Lin is updating daily in September! ❤] Xia Qingwei went to study in the United States at thirteen. Her plan was to finish college and graduate school, then return home to inherit the family business. An unexpected turn of events shattered all those plans: her father was imprisoned and died suddenly, leaving her saddled with enormous debts. Hoping to find a way out, she boarded a train alone for Inner Mongolia, with debt collectors hot on her heels. In the chaos of her escape at the station, she dove into an off-road vehicle whose door happened to be open. She pulled a coat over her conspicuous pink hair, hoping to pass unnoticed. A chill ran down the back of her neck as someone abruptly yanked the coat away. Xia Qingwei looked up and met a pair of eyes full of impatience. A stern, hard-featured face, sharply sculpted brows, broad shoulders and a narrow waist. At 187 centimeters tall, he had an imposing presence. “Save one life and you’ll earn immeasurable merit!” “Get lost. I don’t believe in Buddha.” As soon as he finished speaking, he hauled her out of the car. Their first meeting was hurried and humiliating. After a roundabout journey, Xia Qingwei arrived in Ordos. She struggled to pay off her debts, and with empty pockets, she was nearly left homeless. She ran into Xie Linfeng again. When she learned he owned a local car dealership, she asked him for a job washing cars. With meals and a place to stay included, she managed to get back on her feet. She had fallen for him at first sight, but the longer they spent together, the more her rosy image of him crumbled. He was arrogant, sharp-tongued, and petty. He was also prejudiced against rich kids, and he found fault with her at every turn, even though she was already bankrupt. Xia Qingwei quickly lost interest. No matter how handsome he was, his terrible temper was a dealbreaker. Her pride still ran deep. In three months, she got her domestic driver’s license, explored the roads of Inner Mongolia, and started her own bespoke self-drive tour company. The spring rain among the apricot blossoms at Wusutu, the summer-night stars over Huitengxile, the golden autumn forests of Daqing Mountain, and the frozen Yellow River at Laoniu Bay. Friends from her old social circle came to visit after hearing about her, as did clients who showed up to mock her. Xia Qingwei kept her cool. “Pay me, and we can work something out.” Only Xie Linfeng couldn’t stand it. He rejected a rude client on her behalf without asking, leaving her to turn around and placate the man. “You’re pretty patient with him. Where’s that temper you had when I said a few words and you stormed out of the house?” Xie Linfeng said. “I’m making money. Nothing wrong with that.” “When you were washing cars, you’d glare at customers just for looking at you a second too long. Now someone’s walking all over you, and you’re still smiling.” Xia Qingwei froze. She could hear the emotion he was struggling to hide in his voice, and she studied him. Xie Linfeng turned his face away. “It annoys me.” “What annoys you? He isn’t picking on you.” “I hate the way he looks at you.” Xia Qingwei looked up and teased him. “So, you like me?” “Not really.” He scoffed. “He’s the one who likes you.” “I know.” “You know that and you still smile at him?” For once, Xie Linfeng was too annoyed to come up with a reply. Xia Qingwei’s eyes curved as she beamed at him. “I smiled at you, too.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “I’m smiling at you out of pure politeness.” Xie Linfeng let out a helpless laugh. “Fine, Xia Qingwei. You’re the most polite person in the world.” Theme: Victory belongs to the most resilient.