247: Chapter 247 Too Cheap

After listening, Chen Fan shook his head: "This one won't do."

Qiao Linlin's eyes dimmed instantly. She thought Chen Fan considered it too expensive; after all, 280,000 wasn't a small amount for a car, and her earlier excitement was suddenly dampened by more than half.

But she quickly adjusted. The gloom on her face flashed by, and she immediately recovered her usual carefree spirit, smiling as she said: "Then let's change to another one; there are cheaper ones over there."

Chen Fan felt a bit helpless: "That's not what I meant. I meant this one is too cheap."

Qiao Linlin was stunned, her eyes widening slightly, thinking she had misheard.

"Is over 200,000 still considered cheap?" She looked at Chen Fan, her tone filled with obvious disbelief.

Chen Fan ignored her and turned to the Saleswoman: "Take her to look at the 5 Series or the X3. Let's aim for a budget of over 500,000."

The Saleswoman's eyes lit up. She nodded quickly, gestured with her hand, and bowed even lower than before: "Miss, please come this way. The 5 Series and X3 are both in the inner showroom. Let me take you to see them."

The Saleswoman led them into the showroom, where the cars parked were clearly a grade higher than those outside.

"Sir, Miss, these are all our store's best-selling models." The Saleswoman stood beside a car and pointed to a sedan: "This is the 525Li Luxury Edition, with a 2.5-liter inline-six engine, a wheelbase of over 3 meters, and very spacious rear seating. The guide price is 556,000, and the on-the-road price is about 620,000."

She then turned to point at the 320i convertible next to it: "This is the 320i Convertible Coupe, with a 2.0-liter engine and a hardtop convertible that opens and closes in just over 20 seconds. The guide price is 584,000, and the on-the-road price is about 650,000."

Qiao Linlin's gaze settled on that silver convertible, and her feet moved toward it unconsciously.

The car body was low and sleek, with lines flowing smoothly from the front to the rear, like a cheetah crouching on the ground, ready to sprint.

She walked to the side, bent down to look at the frameless doors and the low stance of the car, then straightened up, her eyes landing on the kidney grille, filled with an undisguised fondness.

Standing in front of the convertible, she gently stroked the door handle, looked back at Chen Fan, her lips moving as if to say something, but then she swallowed the words.

Chen Fan noticed the change in her eyes: "Do you like this one?"

Qiao Linlin bit her lip, her gaze lingering on the convertible for two more seconds, then she shook her head and turned to walk toward the champagne-colored 520i nearby.

"Let's go with this one." Her voice was a little softer than before, and she tapped the door of the 520i twice: "The 5 Series is a bit more composed."

Chen Fan looked at her: "Didn't you like that convertible quite a bit just now?"

Qiao Linlin shook her head: "I do like it, but I'm not going for a joyride every day. I have to go to work at the company every day. What would it look like if I drove a convertible there?"

Chen Fan was silent for two seconds, then nodded and looked at the Saleswoman: "Then this one, the 520i. Do you have one in stock?"

The Saleswoman was stunned for a moment, a flash of surprise in her eyes, and then she said: "Sir, you are very lucky. We happen to have one in stock that just arrived at the store yesterday and hasn't been entered into the system yet. White, beige interior, standard configuration. Do you think that's okay?"

Chen Fan looked at Qiao Linlin.

Qiao Linlin pursed her lips, the corners of her mouth curved up, and she nodded.

"We'll take this one," Chen Fan said.

The Saleswoman nodded quickly, her smile deepening. Her pen wrote rapidly on the order book, and her voice was a pitch higher than before: "Alright, sir, 520i Leading Edition, guide price 418,600, on-the-road price about 470,000 to 480,000. It's in stock; you can drive it away once the paperwork is done. Please come this way—"

Chen Fan didn't move; he looked at Qiao Linlin: "You go sign."

Qiao Linlin followed the Saleswoman toward the VIP area.

Over an hour later, Qiao Linlin signed her name on the contract.

After signing, she put down the pen, leaned back on the sofa, and stared at the contract for several seconds, the corners of her mouth curving up unconsciously.

Chen Fan took his bank card out of his pocket and handed it over.

The Saleswoman took it with both hands, her movements smooth and practiced—swiping the card, printing the receipt—the whole process took less than two minutes.

When she handed back the bank card and the receipt, her tone was even more respectful than before: "Mr. Chen, the paperwork is complete."

Chen Fan took the card, put it back into his wallet, and stood up.

"Mr. Chen, Ms. Qiao, congratulations on your new car." The Saleswoman handed over the bank card and receipt, then took two keys from the drawer and presented them to Qiao Linlin with both hands: "These are the car keys. The car is ready in the delivery area and can be driven away at any time."

Chen Fan glanced at her and asked casually: "Can you drive it away yourself?"

"I'm not really confident enough to drive it alone," Qiao Linlin said, staring at Chen Fan with her big, wide eyes.

Chen Fan looked at her and sighed helplessly, then turned to the Saleswoman: "Can you find someone here to help me drive the car I parked outside back to my company? Then just leave the car keys at the front desk."

The Saleswoman nodded repeatedly, her tone eager: "No problem at all, Mr. Chen. I will drive it over for you myself and ensure it is delivered safely. Just give me the company address."

Chen Fan nodded, handed his Range Rover key to the Saleswoman, and then told her the address.

The Saleswoman took the key with both hands and nodded solemnly: "Alright, Mr. Chen, don't worry, I will definitely deliver it safely."

Chen Fan and Qiao Linlin arrived at the delivery area.

A white BMW 520i was parked quietly in the delivery bay, its body gleaming with a soft luster in the sunlight, and the kidney grille was bright enough to reflect a person's image.

The temporary license plate on the front of the car was already attached, and temporary plates were also on both the front and rear windshields.

Qiao Linlin stood beside the car, her eyes shining as if they contained stars.

She walked around the car, her fingers gently brushing over the door handle, then crouched down to look at the wheels. When she stood up, there was a dazed look on her face.

She had sat in Chen Fan's porsche cayenne and the newly purchased white Range Rover. Both of those cars were several times more expensive than this BMW, with more luxurious interiors and more powerful engines, and the feeling of sitting inside them was completely different.

But those weren't hers.

But this one was different.

This one belonged to her.

Qiao Linlin opened the driver's side door and sat in.

Chen Fan also opened the passenger door, sat in, fastened his seatbelt, leaned back against the seat, and looked at her: "Don't be nervous, take it slow."

Qiao Linlin nodded, her fingers gripping the steering wheel, then releasing, then gripping it tight again.

She adjusted the seat forward a little, adjusted the rearview mirror, and checked the gear position again.

"Start the engine," Chen Fan said.

Qiao Linlin pressed the start button. The engine hummed, and the car body vibrated slightly.

"Put it in D gear, release the brake, and gently press the accelerator."

Qiao Linlin followed his instructions, and the car slowly slid forward, moving so slowly it was like it was crawling.