It’s normal to have skills in Wangwang, right?

Chapter 396 Changing the Route to France

The morning sunlight gently waking Liu Lingyin through the gap in the curtains. She groggily checked the time. Liu Lingyin had slept soundly until dawn in her Brighton hotel. The feeling of staying in bed was so comfortable that she lingered there for a while before getting up to wash up.

Allen, Tristan, and Ryoga Echizen set off almost at dawn.

Running along the smooth path beside the pebble beach, the morning sea breeze, carrying the fresh coolness of a night's rest, brushes against my cheeks, dispelling the last trace of sleepiness.

In the distance, the horizon where the sea meets the sky is tinged with the pale light of dawn, gradually turning golden-red by the rising sun. The waves lap against the shore rhythmically, their sound both soothing and powerful.

Running through the air, breathing in the negative ions, with the ever-extending, beautiful coastline and the gradually awakening city silhouettes before my eyes, was truly exhilarating and invigorating. After a few laps, a light sweat appeared, but my spirits remained even more invigorated.

After Liu Lingyin finished washing up and changing her clothes, she sat by the window, enjoying the sea view while sending a group text message to the three of them:

Good morning, handsome guys! Have you had breakfast yet? Want to eat together?

Allen and his friends had just finished their morning run and were walking back with light steps.

Allen's phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out, glanced at it, and a smile appeared on his face. He quickly replied, "We just got back from our run. See you at the hotel restaurant in ten minutes!" Allen replied to Liu Lingyin's message on her behalf.

Ten minutes later, the four met in the hotel's bright and spacious restaurant.

We chose a window seat with a view of the garden, and the table was quickly filled with a classic English breakfast set: roasted tomatoes, fried eggs, sausages, bacon, baked beans, roasted mushrooms, crispy toast, and fragrant coffee or black tea. We ate and chatted, sharing our morning's experiences and planning the day's itinerary, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

However, this moment of leisure was interrupted by a cell phone ringing. It was Tristan calling. He smiled apologetically and walked aside to answer it.

At first, the conversation was relaxed in French, but soon his brow furrowed slightly, and his tone became serious and brief. A few minutes later, he hung up the phone and returned, his face showing obvious regret.

“I’m sorry, friends,” Tristan said helplessly, spreading his hands. “My dear parents have summoned me back to France immediately. I’m afraid… I won’t be able to accompany you to Germany as originally planned.”

There was a moment of silence at the dining table.

As a friend, Allen couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Has something happened?"

"It's nothing, my dad just fell down. He's fine, but he got a cut on his face."

"Oh my god! Your dad's job requires good looks! What are we going to do?"

"That's why they called me back to save the day!"

"Is this okay? It won't break the contract?"

Tristan smoothed his bangs and retorted with nonchalant confidence, "Ha! Putting aside the fact that my dad had an accident during filming, with a face like mine, they would be secretly delighted after my dad just sent my photo to them. How could they possibly refuse?"

Allen glanced at his friend's handsome, unchanging face and nodded in agreement: "That's true."

Tristan apologized to Liu Lingyin with a look of regret: "I'm so sorry, Lingyin! I was supposed to go to Germany with you, but..."

Allen and Ryoga Echizen remained calm and did not express their opinions, but their eyes were both on Rin.

Liu Lingyin blinked, swallowed the toast in her mouth, and spoke first, her tone relaxed:

"What's the big deal! Tristan, isn't your home in France? We didn't originally plan to travel anywhere! We just happened to be drawn for Germany. Now we're just changing our plans from Germany to France, and there's no problem with that! Even if we go to France first and then Germany, it's still a trip, isn't it?"

She looked at Allen and Longa, "Right? We can totally change our route, send Tristan back first, spend a few days in France, and then go to Germany. Anyway, we're driving, so we have the time. It doesn't matter where we go, right?"

"Or are you saying that you, as the host, don't welcome us? Hmm?" Liu Lingyin said, winking playfully at Tristan.

"Welcome, of course you're welcome!"

Allen's eyes lit up, and he immediately agreed: "Lingyin is right! Tristan, we'll go back to France with you!"

Ryoga Echizen nodded, lazily pulling out an orange from somewhere and fiddling with it as he replied, "I have no objections. French food is quite good; I haven't had it in a long time." This was his way of expressing support for the new route.

Tristan was surprised that his friends changed their plans so readily. A smile flashed in his blue eyes, and a warm smile spread across his face: "That's great! My home is in Paris, and I'll definitely be a good tour guide! I'll show you some authentic French cuisine."

"Then it's settled!" Liu Lingyin happily agreed. "Let's eat quickly, then go back and pack our bags. We'll leave right away!"

The change of plans brought a touch of fresh excitement. After breakfast, the four of them efficiently returned to their rooms to pack. A short while later, Allen's car, fully loaded with Liu Lingyin's shopping haul, started up again and drove away from the hotel parking lot.

The four of them either have UK visas or frequently travel the world, so it's quite convenient for them to travel to France.

Allen called his father and mother to let them know that their travel itinerary had been changed to go to France first.

The planned trip to Germany seemed destined to fall apart upon arrival in the romantic city of Paris. The four of them had barely left the airport when Tristan's phone started ringing with text messages. Filled with apologies, he hurriedly hailed a taxi to deal with his unexpected emergency, leaving only a promise to "return as soon as possible."

Fortunately, there was Allen, a "quasi-local" who had studied in France for several years. He naturally took on the role of tour guide for his cousin, Liu Lingyin, who was visiting Paris for the first time.

"Coming to Paris, this is of course the first stop!" Allen pointed to the towering, hollowed-out iron structure in the distance, his tone filled with undeniable certainty.

Thus, the Eiffel Tower became the starting point of their Paris trip. Queuing, climbing the tower, and as the elevator ascended, the entire city of Paris unfolded like a magnificent scroll beneath their feet. The Seine meandered like a jade ribbon, the gray-blue roofs of Haussmannian buildings stood side by side, and in the distance, landmarks such as Notre Dame Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe were faintly visible. The breathtaking view from the top was truly exhilarating. There was a restaurant on the second floor of the tower, so they decided to have lunch there. After enjoying the 360-degree city view from the top, they could then enjoy a simple French meal on the second floor—not particularly amazing, but with a wonderful atmosphere.

However, even after they finished their Eiffel Tower tour and returned to the ground, strolling on the green lawn of Champ de Mars, Tristan's expected phone call to rendezvous never came. His messages only received the reply, "Sorry, it will take a little longer."

"It seems like things are getting complicated on Tristan's end." Allen glanced at his phone, frowning slightly.

Just as Liu Lingyin was about to offer a few words of comfort, another cell phone rang—this time it was Echizen Ryoga.

He walked aside to answer the call, and after a brief exchange, he returned with his usual slightly amused yet apologetic expression.

“Lingyin, Allen,” he said, scratching the orange in his hand, his tone casual but a little embarrassed, “a friend of mine happens to be in France too. He heard I was in Paris and insisted I come over, and I couldn’t refuse.” He waved his phone. “Looks like I’ll have to leave the team for a bit. I’ll contact you guys later.”

Although Liu Lingyin was somewhat surprised, she quickly came to terms with it. Long Ya was a free spirit by nature, so it was perfectly normal for her to be invited by friends.

As for that 'Gatherer,' it's hard to say whether he's an ordinary Gatherer, since he knows quite a few people from all walks of life, and he's even associated with some delinquent teenagers from Europe and America.

She waved her hand generously: "It's okay, you go ahead and have fun. Alan and I will just wander around on our own. Paris is so big, we're sure there's somewhere to do!"

Allen nodded: "Keep in touch."

So, in Paris, what was originally a trip for four turned into a solo adventure for the brother and sister. They strolled along the Seine, crossed the Pont des Arts, and enjoyed the street performers' shows, quite leisurely and carefree. However, the planned, more in-depth exploration of Paris, led by Tristan, was temporarily put on hold.

They strolled around the outskirts of the Musée d'Orsay and found a café in the Latin Quarter to sit for a while. As time passed, not only was there no news of Tristan, but even Ryoga Echizen seemed to have been "detained" by a friend, with very little information coming from him.

“These two guys…” Allen looked at the still quiet call screen on his phone and shook his head helplessly.

It wasn't until the setting sun began to gild the buildings of Paris that Allen's phone suddenly vibrated urgently. The caller ID showed Tristan.

Allen quickly answered the phone, and Liu Lingyin leaned closer with concern. However, the voice on the other end wasn't Tristan's usual clear and composed voice, but rather a weak and painful gasp:

"Allen... I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'll have to break my promise."

"Tristan, what's wrong? What happened?"

"It's nothing... I just accidentally got a minor injury..."

"What?! You're injured? Is it serious? Where are you now?" Allen's heart jumped, and he asked repeatedly.

"It's alright... just a dislocated arm and some abrasions... it's all taken care of... nothing serious..." Tristan's voice was broken, with the faint sounds of a hospital in the background.

"Stop talking, just tell me which hospital you're in, and we'll be right there!" Allen made a quick decision, asking for the exact address and floor.

After hearing the name of the hospital from Tristan, he hung up the phone. The brother and sister exchanged a glance, both seeing worry and a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes. This trip had truly been full of unexpected situations.

"Let's go to the hospital!" Allen flagged down a taxi and quickly gave them the hospital address.

Allen quickly gave the hospital address, and the taxi driver—a dark-skinned middle-aged man wearing a baseball cap—glanced at the anxious brother and sister in the rearview mirror, nodded knowingly, and said in accented but clear English, "Hold on tight."

Just as the car door closed and locked, Allen remembered something and quickly added, "Sir, we have an emergency. A friend is waiting at the hospital. If you can get here as soon as possible, we'll pay double the fare!"

These words seemed to trigger some hidden switch. The driver's previously slightly tired eyes suddenly lit up with a fanatical light, and an excited smile spread across his lips.

"Double? No, young men, today I'll show you the speed of Paris!" Before he finished speaking, his hands were already rapidly pressing several inconspicuous buttons below the center console.

**Click! Click! Buzz—!**

A slight mechanical hum and electronic notification sound rang out. Liu Lingyin and Allen were astonished to feel the seats beneath them suddenly become more enveloping. Several panels in the otherwise ordinary taxi interior slid open automatically, revealing a simple instrument panel with a faint blue backlight and several seemingly professional-looking knobs! A very deep, pre-turbocharger whirring sound also emanated from the car.

"You...you are...?" Allen was speechless.

Without turning his head, the driver smugly patted the steering wheel: "Don't worry, it's legally modified (probably)! I'm a huge fan of Taxi! Buckle up, fasten your seatbelts! Let's have a real-life version!"

"Wait, wait! There's no need to be so..." fast.

Before Liu Lingyin could finish her persuasion, the driver had already slammed the accelerator pedal (or rather, the specially tuned accelerator pedal) all the way down!

boom--!

The powerful acceleration, like a sledgehammer, instantly pressed the siblings firmly into their supportive sports seats. The scenery outside the window abruptly changed from a slow-moving flow to a blurry mass of color! This seemingly ordinary Peugeot taxi unleashed acceleration comparable to a top-tier supercar, weaving through the Parisian evening traffic like a yellow lightning bolt, overtaking and cutting in with incredible agility and speed!

"Ah—!" Liu Lingyin cried out sharply, just like Allen, gripping the overhead armrest and the door handle tightly with both hands, her knuckles turning white from the force. Her stomach churned, and the scene before her eyes spun and receded rapidly. Centrifugal force pressed them tightly to one side of the seat, then violently hurled them to the other side.

"Too fast! Slow down! Ouch!" Allen's exclamation was drowned out by the jolting and the roar of the engine.

The driver, however, seemed to have entered a state of perfect harmony with the car, humming the theme song from "Taxi" as he sang. The steering wheel was like a toy in his hands, and every turn was precise and swift, tearing a path through the traffic.

Such an arrogant speed, defying the laws of physics, naturally attracted attention quickly. A piercing siren blared from behind, and two black-and-white police cars, flashing blue and red lights, attempted to give chase.

"Oh ho! I have company now!" The driver became even more excited and performed another dazzling maneuver. The taxi's exhaust note suddenly changed, and its speed increased again! It nimbly darted into the alley, rushed onto the sidewalk (briefly and dangerously avoiding pedestrians), and even briefly took off using a gentle slope. When it landed, it was surprisingly stable, instantly leaving the unsuspecting police car far behind.

The chase that followed turned into a real-life version of "Fast & Furious" on the streets of Paris. Sirens wailed, engines roared, and tires screeched against the pavement. Liu Lingyin and Allen, pale as ghosts in the back seat, could only close their eyes and frantically pray that this insane journey would end soon, and began to deeply regret suggesting they pay more.

After countless breathtaking sharp turns, drifts (yes, this taxi can actually drift!), and near-collision overtaking maneuvers, the driver executed a beautiful fishtail maneuver, bringing the tires to a precise stop at the brightly lit entrance of the hospital's emergency department.

"We're here! How was that, fast enough?" The driver turned around, took off his hat, and revealed a bright, slightly boastful smile, with only a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

Liu Lingyin and Allen were deathly pale, their lips trembling slightly, and their stomachs churning. Still shaken, they loosened their fingers, which were almost embedded in the armrests, stiffly unbuckled their seatbelts, and sluggishly got out of the car.

“Money…fare…” Allen’s voice trembled as he took out his wallet and handed over a sum of money far exceeding the normal fare. Now he just wanted to end his contact with this “fan driver” as soon as possible.

"Thanks! I wish your friend a speedy recovery!" The driver readily accepted the money, waved to the still-breathing brother and sister, and then, with a not-so-exaggerated but still powerful engine roar, the yellow taxi quickly merged into traffic and disappeared into the Parisian night, as if the street race just now was just an illusion.

Liu Lingyin leaned against a pillar at the hospital entrance, took a few deep breaths of the cool air, and took out the homemade mints she had wanted to get in the car but couldn't, putting them in her mouth to barely suppress the nausea and dizziness.

Allen wasn't much better off. He pressed his temples hard, took the mint candy Liu Lingyin handed him, and a cool sensation instantly spread from his mouth, easing his throbbing temples.

“Next time… I’ll never say ‘add more money’ again…” Allen concluded with lingering fear.

The two exchanged a bitter smile, both seeing the lingering fear and paleness on each other's faces. But now was not the time to dwell on their "taxi nightmare." They quickly composed themselves and strode into the hospital, heading to the floors and wards provided by Tristan.

However, their faces at this moment, rather than showing concern for their friend, also showed a pallor, as if they had just experienced the baptism of extreme speed. I wonder if they will give Tristan a shock when they meet him later.