Koenigsegg as a ride-hailing service
After a long while, the man spoke in an incredulous tone, "I called DiDi, and you didn't drive here. Are you planning to carry me?"
Xu Ning was completely flustered!
You called DiDi?
Usually, when someone says they called DiDi, it's most likely for a ride-hailing service, not a Designated Driving service, as the scale of the two is incomparable.
"You called DiDi Express?"
Xu Ning's tone still held a glimmer of hope; perhaps the car owner was someone who liked to joke.
However, the car owner's confident reply completely shattered Xu Ning's illusion.
"What else?"
Xu Ning took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down and remain composed.
"Sir, could you please check your order? Did you call DiDi ride-hailing or DiDi Designated Driving?"
The man was stunned, his face full of surprise and absolute disbelief.
Muttering, "How could I have called the wrong one?" he opened his phone app.
The next second, he stood frozen on the spot.
When he looked up again, his embarrassment was visible.
"Uh... I think I made a mistake!"
"I should have called DiDi Express, but how did I end up calling DiDi Designated Driving?"
"What should I do?"
"Brother, I'm so sorry for making you come all this way for nothing!"
Knowing it was his own mistake, the man apologized repeatedly to Xu Ning.
Xu Ning sighed helplessly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Was the very first order on the DiDi Designated Driving platform this wild?
He had no doubt that this was absolutely due to the system's powerful influence; otherwise, how could he encounter such bizarre things with every order?
According to the platform's rules, if a driver arrives at the designated location and the order is canceled, a cancellation fee of 1 yuan per minute can only be charged for waiting over ten minutes.
If this standard is not met, there is no cancellation fee.
And from the time Xu Ning marked himself as arrived until now, it hadn't even been ten minutes.
In other words, it was all for nothing, with no compensation at all.
This was probably direct proof that the platform favored users and treated drivers like beasts of burden!
There was nothing he could do but accept his bad luck.
What else could he do?
"Brother, I'm really sorry for delaying you."
"How about I give you some compensation?"
The man indeed felt bad. Thinking that designated drivers rely on these evening jobs to support their families, and he had delayed the man for so long, he felt he should make up for it somehow.
"No need, just cancel the order!"
Xu Ning smiled and waved his hand. Since these were the platform's rules, reasonable or not, he had to follow them.
Otherwise, if the car owner complained later, he would be in a lot of trouble.
Just as he turned to leave, a thought suddenly came to him like a flash of inspiration.
The car owner didn't have a car, but I do!
Wouldn't it be simpler if I just drove him back in my own car?
This idea made Xu Ning want to applaud himself.
He turned back, smiling at the man, and said, "My car is nearby. How about I just drive you back?"
The man was taken aback by Xu Ning's words, feeling a bit slow to react.
A designated driver driving his own car to take me back?
What kind of situation was this!
Xu Ning saw that the man was a bit muddled from drinking and slow to react, so he smiled and said, "Just consider it a Designated Driving service, and pay me the Designated Driving fee. You'll even save on gas!"
The man thought about Xu Ning's words and realized it made perfect sense!
What was there to object to then? His goal was to get home, after all.
And roughly calculating, he wouldn't pay much more.
The starting fare for a taxi in the Imperial Capital was 13 yuan, with a mileage fee of 2.3 yuan, plus a 20% surcharge after 11 PM.
From here to his home was about 8 kilometers, usually 25 yuan by taxi, and 30 yuan at night.
The starting fare for Designated Driving for 8 kilometers was 35 yuan, which was only about 5 yuan more.
He had already said he wanted to compensate the designated driver, and five yuan felt too little!
"Okay, go get your car. I'll wait for you here!" the man said, smiling at Xu Ning.
Seeing him so agreeable, Xu Ning didn't delay and quickly went to the parking lot of Lis Private Kitchen nearby to drive out his Koenigsegg.
The engine roared like a wild beast, and it quickly arrived in front of the man.
The man at this point didn't know that this incredibly cool supercar belonged to the designated driver from earlier; he just thought the car was too handsome.
His eyes were fixed on the sports car, as if he couldn't tear them away.
This was a Koenigsegg ONE!
Limited to 6 units worldwide!
He had only ever seen it online through a screen, and he never expected to see it on the streets of the Imperial Capital today!
A wealthy young master out and about?
He fantasized about how great it would be if he also had such a handsome supercar.
At the very least, to have a chance to drive it or sit in it!
But just then, the supercar's door opened, and Xu Ning stepped out of the driver's seat.
"Sir, please get in!" Xu Ning smiled and gestured with his hand.
The man was startled, his eyes wide, feeling like he couldn't catch his breath, his face flushed red.
His heart was already like a raging storm, a volcano erupting violently!
How could this be?
It must be fake, right?
How could a designated driver drive a Koenigsegg?
The incredibility was as absurd as an Arabian prince begging on the streets!
However, the car was right in front of him, and no matter how unbelievable he found it, he had to accept this preposterous fact.
He got into the car in a daze, touching the seat, the door, and then the seemingly unremarkable but undoubtedly expensive interior, a strong sense of unreality surged into his heart.
He was actually sitting in a 50-million-yuan supercar, a Koenigsegg?
If he told his colleagues about his amazing experience at work tomorrow, they would probably think he was drunk and delusional.
Unfortunately, he didn't have the chance to drive it himself.
In fact, normally Xu Ning wouldn't mind letting him drive, but he had been drinking, so it was better not to.
Soon, with the supercar's unparalleled acceleration, they arrived at the destination the man had ordered.
Xu Ning swiped right on the order interface, ending the trip.
At the same time, the trip also ended on the man's phone, entering the settlement interface.
35 yuan, no more, no less, exactly the starting fare.
The man vaguely completed the payment, then disembarked in a daze.
"This trip has ended!"
"Please take your belongings with you and walk carefully!"
"We hope to serve you again!"
"Finally, we sincerely wish you a pleasant life!"
Xu Ning also got out of the car and politely said to the customer.
Normally, a designated driver wouldn't need to say "take your belongings," as the car usually belongs to the owner.
But who would have thought that today he would receive a "ride-hailing" order!
"Goodbye!"
"I'll find you again next time!"
The customer waved to Xu Ning, his expression still seemingly not fully recovered from the shock.
Xu Ning got in the car and drove away, leaving the customer standing there, his gaze wandering, lost in thought.