Are You Sure She Ever Existed?

"What's wrong with Xiao Die?" Shen Fu saw Xiao Die seemed to be in a daze; she was already naive enough.

"Oh, nothing," Xiao Die returned the phone. "That actress looks a lot like an old friend I used to know. I must have been mistaken."

The girl in Zhao Ya's fan group then said: "I heard Luo Wen is the son of a real estate magnate in Zhejiang Province, and her mother used to be a dancer."

Hearing this, Xiao Die's expression changed once again. She quietly memorized the name Luo Wen. Her unusual behavior was all observed by Shen Fu, and he, too, took note of the name Luo Wen.

***

At the driving test site, Kao Er had not yet appeared. Xiao Die happily prepared for the exam, while Shen Fu helped carry both their bags. Unable to carry everything, he hung them over his shoulder, looking a bit odd, but fortunately, no one recognized his face.

The waiting room for the exam was off-limits to outsiders, but Shen Fu could get close to the test track. After asking around, a driver led him to a nearby area. Shen Fu plopped down by the roadside. Around him were others waiting for test-takers, some lovers, some parents, and even instructors.

Soon, the first batch of test-takers began. Shen Fu had a good view from his position, able to observe from the starting point to the finish line. The first person to get in the car made a mistake, seemingly an error with the turn signal. After another attempt, she still couldn't start the car and had to get out. The subsequent test-takers had an easier time; as long as they could start the car, passing the test on this deserted road with little traffic was quite easy.

When the first car completed the test and stopped, a young man stepped out, excitedly rushing towards Shen Fu. Shen Fu saw a woman in her fifties nearby, dressed very fashionably and elegantly, also approaching the young man. Shen Fu nodded to himself, thinking, "What a scene of a loving mother and filial son, still coming to cheer for her son taking his driving test at this age." Then he saw them excitedly embrace and kiss passionately.

Shen Fu was stunned: "Uh..." The young man was handed a car key by the woman, which looked like it belonged to a Ferrari. No need for any effort at all, how nice. Shen Fu suddenly remembered President Bai. He wondered if his dream of buying a villa depended on her. How much overseas assets did President Bai actually have?

Xiao Ya's test number seemed quite high. Half an hour later, Shen Fu saw her get out of the car at the finish line, sign her name, and calmly pass. Shen Fu waved to her, and they both sat slumped by the roadside, waiting for Xiao Die. Xiao Ya took out her phone and began reviewing theory part four, preparing for the next exam.

Shen Fu asked her: "Did Xiao Die ask to wear glasses?"
"Huh, why wear glasses? She's not nearsighted, is she?" Xiao Ya didn't understand.
"Oh, nothing, she just thought wearing glasses would make it easier to pass the test." Shen Fu brushed it off.

He didn't know if it was a telepathic connection, but he felt that one of the cars currently being tested on the road looked very much like it was being driven by Xiao Die. His gaze followed that car; very good, driving steadily, going straight without issues, turn signals not forgotten, parked perfectly by the roadside!

The car door opened! It was indeed his wife, but what Shen Fu didn't expect was that, just as she was about to succeed, she... she didn't close the car door! Getting out of the car without closing the door meant she failed! Shen Fu couldn't believe Xiao Die would make such a basic mistake, but she really didn't close the door, just smiled and walked towards him.

She failed the test! Xiao Ya was also stunned: "Did she see you and get so happy that she forgot this step?" Was he being blamed again? Shen Fu looked at Xiao Die suspiciously. Suddenly, she squatted down, holding her head. He quickly ran over: "Xiao Die!"

When Shen Fu helped her up, she had gradually calmed down, looked up at him, and asked: "Do you have my glasses?"
"Kao Er?"
"It's me."

Shen Fu couldn't help but complain: "Why did you come out at this time? Xiao Die was taking her test, and now she failed!"
"She did it on purpose," Kao Er said.
"Huh?"

Bai Kao Er repeated: "She did it on purpose. She had already passed, but she hoped I could also take the test once. I like taking driving tests because I can take them twice."
"Did she communicate directly with you?"
"No, I can infer," Kao Er pushed up her glasses, saying with an air of wisdom, "Xiao Die is a good person. She knew how much I valued this exam and also realized I was trying to step out, so she gave up an easy victory to give me a chance. This is something only she would do."

Having said that, Kao Er left. She would not let down the opportunity Xiao Die had given her. Shen Fu and Xiao Ya continued to patiently wait for the second test session. Kao Er was incredibly calm, even taking the opportunity to study more theory questions. Finally, as the test session was about to end, Kao Er completed the exam with a perfect score, and most importantly, she closed the car door.

Shen Fu ran over to hug her, intending to kiss her a few times to see if he could call Xiao Die back, but Kao Er dodged him. He helped her wipe her glasses. Kao Er, wearing glasses, looked docile and delicate, even more naive than Xiao Die.

Xiao Ya wondered: "Xiao Die, why are you still wearing glasses?"
Bai Kao Er: "Just for decoration."

After lunch, they continued to wait for the theory test. Xiao Ya went in first. Kao Er looked at Shen Fu and asked: "You wanted to kiss me?"
"Oh my, you saw through me, how embarrassing."
Bai Kao Er "oh"-ed: "Don't do that again."

Shen Fu saw that she didn't blush or get flustered at all, so he asked: "Don't you want to know why I wanted to kiss you?"
Bai Kao Er: "Not interested."
Shen Fu still didn't give up: "Are you sure you have the ability to know?"
"Is it someone's secret?"
"Xiao Die and Sister Nan both know."

Kao Er shook her head: "That's too brain-draining. If you tell me directly, I can save time to think about technical issues of landing on the moon."
Shen Fu chuckled, then told her the truth. "Now that I've told you, will you cooperate with me?"
"No, it's boring."

Shen Fu threw up his hands: "I feel quite disadvantaged."
"But I saved brainpower to think about going to the moon..."
"I don't care much," Shen Fu interrupted, "Or, can you help me with something? Find in your memory how Ke Ke Yao Yao opened my safe?"
"Who is Ke Ke Yao Yao?"
"The ninth persona that recently appeared, a little girl."

Kao Er closed her eyes. After a while, sweat beaded on her forehead. She opened her eyes and asked: "Are you sure that so-called Ke Ke Yao Yao ever existed? There's no such person in our memories..."