Chapter 286

With a bang, Jiang Nian slammed the car door shut.

"Hey, boss, don't close it yet."

"Huh?" Jiang Nian looked blankly at Lao Tian. "Coach, how do you practice driving if the door's closed?"

Tian Yongsheng sat speechless for a long while, thinking: You two really are teacher and student.

"Cough, cough—first you need to adjust the seat, boss."

At this, Jiang Nian let out an "Oh."

He glanced down and realized the seat was quite narrow—only because he had no chest, it wasn't the classic steering-wheel-feeding-baby position.

"How do you adjust it?"

"There's a switch here; adjust the seat to a comfortable position," Lao Tian said, then added, "Just don't lie down."

Watching from the side, Qian Bao raised an eyebrow, thinking: Is he hinting at me?

"Hah, I didn't mean you, boss," Coach Lao Tian, a man of propriety, told Qian Bao. "This seat needs fixing—it slides down whenever you move."

Jiang Nian adjusted the seat to a comfortable position and leaned back against the driver's seat.

"What's next?"

Then Coach Lao Tian carefully explained the steps of driving: how to turn the steering wheel, how to release the clutch, and all the key points.

He didn't care whether Jiang Nian could remember—he just dumped it all out in a flood.

Normally, a brand-new driver couldn't remember any of it. But today's young people were smart—they'd watched videos or asked others beforehand.

Better to teach too much than too little; it's just a bit more talking.

Jiang Nian hadn't previewed anything, but because he listened so carefully, he memorized it all.

Seeing Jiang Nian's dazed expression, Lao Tian knew he hadn't previewed. Good thing—he hadn't. Otherwise, what was he even doing as a coach?

Cheerleader? Or mood-setter?

Unlike ordinary coaches, Lao Tian actually hoped his students would rely on him more—meaning they'd remember him fondly, build up more goodwill.

Ideally, every time they saw a driver's license, they'd think of gentle Coach Lao Tian.

Boss—awesome!! (salute)

The first item of Subject Two is reverse parking; the first step is to drive the car out. Just turn on the ignition, let the car move forward, then turn the steering wheel.

Jiang Nian's first attempt was slightly clumsy.

Qian Bao watched with arms crossed, surprised to find Jiang Nian didn't stall on startup—and he'd completed the entire reverse parking maneuver. She felt deflated.

"You said you never practiced!"

On the second try, Jiang Nian's reverse parking was visibly more skilled.

Not only were both sides perfectly aligned, but even the exact timing of steering at the designated points was flawless—perfectly executed.

This was impossible.

Not just Qian Bao was stunned—Coach Lao Tian was equally baffled.

Dude, you—

Coach Lao Tian silently got out of the car and lit a cigarette.

"Boss, drive yourself."

"Alright." Jiang Nian reversed again—and it was still perfect.

Now Lao Tian fell silent. After a long pause, he couldn't help asking.

"Boss, do you know how to drive?"

Hearing this, Qian Bao walked over and chimed in.

"Yeah, yeah, you definitely practiced secretly. Maybe you've driven your family's car before, or even trained for Subject Two long ago."

Jiang Nian listened as Qian Bao rattled on, hearing only one word: jealousy. He sighed.

"Teacher, do you know how to treat impurities in iron-chain steel?"

Qian Bao was baffled.

"I'm not a science student—how do I treat them?"

Jiang Nian grinned. "You still have to refine it."

"You traitorous disciple!" Qian Bao instantly gritted her teeth, unleashing a flurry of imaginary punches. "You're the one who needs more practice—what's so impressive about driving?!"

Jiang Nian laughed. "You're flustered."

Then came a storm of furious pink fists.

A short distance away, Lao Tian watched them fighting, crouched down, and finished his entire cigarette.

He smoked until the ember glowed bright enough to ignite, still unable to figure out whether Jiang Nian truly didn't know how to drive—or was pretending. He stubbed the cigarette on the cement, stood up, and said:

"Next customer, please."

Normally, he gave 1v1 private lessons—the kind where VIP clients could summon him anytime. He rarely served two clients at once.

But since both customers didn't mind, he didn't care either.

Qian Bao no longer practiced reverse parking—her confidence shattered. This time, she practiced parallel parking, partly to give Jiang Nian a chance.

Jiang Nian watched from the side, learning faster each time.

"Drive straight, yes, keep going forward. When the bottom of the rearview mirror passes the red line, brake—then check the right rearview mirror."

"Boss, look at the right rearview mirror."

"Oh, oh, right side." Qian Bao turned her head to the right.

Jiang Nian watched from the side. When it was his turn, Coach Lao Tian explained again in detail, sitting in the passenger seat and guiding him through the entire process.

"Remember it?"

"Uh, I think so," Jiang Nian said uncertainly, pausing to think. "I remember the steps—I just don't know if I can actually do them."

Qian Bao in the backseat heard this and spoke directly.

"Take it slow."

Tian Yongsheng got out of the car; he still felt fairly at ease with Jiang Nian. He wasn't worried he'd fail to brake or panic and jerk the steering wheel.

"You drive it once yourself, Boss."

Qian Bao didn't get out—she sat in the backseat, planning to observe Jiang Nian's condition firsthand.

"You drive."

Jiang Nian didn't even frown. "Okay."

Parallel parking—still as precise as if rehearsed.

Qian Bao fell silent.

Coach Lao Tian stood to the side, silently lighting a cigarette.

Wait, am I an NPC now?

Coach Lao Tian took two puffs, then tucked the cigarette away and walked over, knocking twice on the car door.

"Boss, tell me honestly—can you drive?"

Jiang Nian finally cracked. "Do you think I can drive a Jaguar?"

Qian Bao in the backseat immediately sucked in a breath, excitedly saying:

"You said you couldn't drive!"

"Teacher, by Jaguar I mean—" Jiang Nian stopped halfway, turned to look at the coach, "I swear, I've never learned."

Coach Lao Tian was baffled, scratching his head.

"In all my years teaching, I've never met a student with talent like yours, Boss."

Qian Bao was even more confused. She got out automatically and squatted by the roadside, pulling up grass.

So miserable.

All my hard-earned reputation is gone.

They weren't the only ones practicing on the driving school grounds—two other coaches each had four or five students practicing Subject Two, and their treatment was far more ordinary.

Constant shouting and scolding.

"See that tree? Hit it!"

"Ah, Coach, that's not good!"

"You know it's bad—then why aren't you braking? Brake!"

"But, Coach, where's the brake?"

"On my face."

Several other students and the neighboring coach were watching the spectacle. Forget civilized driving—just keeping their composure was impressive.

Qian Bao stood at the parallel parking area, tall and stylishly dressed.

She immediately drew many glances; several men had been staring this way for a long time, but dared not approach because the coach was nearby.

After half an hour, Coach Lao Tian saw Jiang Nian had mastered hill starts and S-curves. Just then, someone called him for tea, so he decided to completely step back.

Now Qian Bao was driving, with Jiang Nian sitting in the front passenger seat watching.

If anything went wrong, just hit the brake.

Jiang Nian learned from Qian Bao that she had already completed all of Subject Two, but was still practicing because her maneuvers were slightly unsteady.

"Teacher, you're amazing."

Qian Bao, tense, gripped the steering wheel with both hands, glanced at him.

"Don't talk to the driver—are you trying to die?"

"I'm not afraid—the passenger seat has a brake," Jiang Nian grinned. "Teacher, keep driving. I've already finished Subject Two—I can take the test right now."

Qian Bao was furious, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"Oh, Jiang Nian, the headlights seem broken—could you go check?"

"Not going. You're a bad woman," Jiang Nian's grin grew bolder; he glanced ahead and warned, "Teacher, someone's blocking the road ahead."

Hearing this, Qian Bao grew nervous too.

"What do we do?"

"Hit them!"

"Don't say nonsense—should I brake?"

Jiang Nian said, "Honk. They'll move."

"Where's the horn?" Qian Bao was flustered.

"In my mouth—BEEP BEEP BEEP!!"

Friendly book recommendation: *Infiltrating Konoha, Part-Time Hokage*

A major masterpiece by a new Naruto author who previously wrote Naruto: The Cultivator Creates Konoha, and various Tsunade Naruto stories.