"Hello, Mr. Jiang, we've prepared your car for you."
As Jiang Hai and the others entered, the manager, who had been informed earlier, approached with a smile. The privileges of wealth in the United States often left ordinary people feeling a bit envious.
"That's great. Besides picking up the car today, I'm also here to look at what other cars to buy. But first, let me check on my own car!" Jiang Hai said with a smile, clearly familiar with the manager. Without hesitation, the manager returned the smile and led Jiang Hai into the adjacent garage.
Jiang Hai gazed at his old vehicle with mixed emotions. That bulletproof car had actually been damaged by a deer—hard to believe, but true. The deer had charged with such force that its antlers punctured the engine, leaving him powerless to stop it.
Now, facing the brand-new replacement, Jiang Hai patted the door appreciatively and nodded at the manager. The repairs were excellent—almost like getting a new car, but it still had Jiang Hai's unique touch.
"This car is perfectly repaired. I'll drive it soon. But I do need to buy another car. Let's go check them out!" Jiang Hai said happily, glancing at Qi Jie. The manager smiled knowingly and led the group toward the showroom, fully expecting Jiang Hai to conduct some business.
Just as they stepped out of the garage, a car suddenly sped toward them. Initially, Jiang Hai and the others paid it little attention, but as it came closer, panic set in—especially when sharp-eyed Jiang Hai noticed there was no driver inside.
"Hey, watch out! That car's driverless! Get out of the way!" Jiang Hai shouted.
Robbins-Garcia and Philemon-Turner, who were nearby, quickly jumped aside. Qi Jie pulled her sister to safety, and although Darlene and Marian were shocked, Azarina immediately dodged as well. Jiang Hai himself barely avoided being hit.
Just as they braced for a crash into the garage, the car slowed and stopped right in front of them. Everyone froze, exchanging confused looks.
The manager, who had been just as frightened moments ago, hurried over with a grim expression. A collision at that speed—around ten miles per hour—could have caused injuries or worse, and the liability would have fallen on him.
Approaching the car, he expected to find a child who had accidentally started it and lost control. Instead, he was stunned—there was no one inside.
"What on earth...?" The warm sun on his skin did nothing to calm the chill creeping up his spine. He glanced nervously at Jiang Hai and the others, who were equally unsettled by the strange scene.
If the car were unattended, it might have rolled forward because the handbrake wasn't engaged. But how had it stopped perfectly by itself?
"Honestly, I think I'm better off not buying this one," Jiang Hai muttered, already thinking of leaving. Sometimes it's better not to believe than to find out the hard way—and after all, Jiang Hai was no stranger to the supernatural.
"Uh, haha... okay," the manager replied with an awkward smile. He didn't want to lose the customer but had no explanation for what had just happened. It was frightening, and Jiang Hai's reaction was understandable.
"Manager, no one got hurt, right?" Just as the manager was about to usher everyone away, a staff member from the dealership hurried over. Relieved to see everyone safe, he added,
"If there's nothing urgent, let's talk later. For now, let's just leave this car here—it's a real ghost."
The manager sighed in relief, muttering under his breath as he eyed the car.
"Ghost? No, that's the autopilot feature," the employee laughed.
"Autopilot?" Jiang Hai paused, curiosity piqued. What was that about?
"This is a fully electric Tesla, a new model. It's like a smartphone on wheels that can bind to its owner. The latest summoning function lets you call it to you—just like that."
Though the employee didn't know Jiang Hai personally, he recognized the importance of the customer and sensed their unease. He took out his phone and began demonstrating.
The car, which had been motionless, started up again. A woman's voice came from the vehicle as it set a route on the map. Then, right before Jiang Hai and the others, the car smoothly pulled forward and stopped precisely in front of the employee without veering or hitting anything.
"Interesting!" Jiang Hai mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"Emil, show Mr. Jiang around," the manager said, now more confident. The employee happily began explaining.
Tesla, an American company based in California, is known for pioneering advanced electric vehicles. Their models have gained popularity worldwide, especially in Europe where governments offer subsidies.
Not only do they reduce pollution, but their sleek design is widely admired. However, they're not without drawbacks—chiefly, their speed and charging limitations.
The battery can power the car for over 500 kilometers, but a full charge from empty takes over ten hours. Fast charging shortens battery life and still requires around four and a half hours. Unlike traditional gas stations, where refueling takes minutes, charging demands patience.
The cars aren't especially fast either. Though capable of 250 km/h theoretically, their practical top speed hovers around 140 km/h.
Still, the tech feels cutting-edge—worth every penny despite limitations. Jiang Hai was genuinely impressed.
Imagine, in the future, simply telling your phone to summon your car after dinner, and it comes right to your side. That convenience alone made the choice of this car very appealing.
Besides the S Series sedan—which targets competitors like the BMW 5 Series and ranges from around 60,000 to 120,000 USD—Tesla offers the X Series SUV and the R Series sports car. The SUV is slightly pricier than the sedan, while the sports model starts at about 90,000 USD and can approach 200,000 USD.
Although Jiang Hai couldn't afford the high-end sports car, seeing the excitement in Qi Jie and the others' eyes, he decided to buy a set: a sedan, an SUV, and a sports car. After all, money wasn't an issue for him.
The staff were thrilled to close such a big sale.
Buying cars in the U.S. was incredibly convenient—all paperwork was handled in the dealership, meaning you could just pay and drive off. After getting plates and insurance, Jiang Hai drove one car, Azarina another, and Qi Jie took the third. A line of six vehicles headed back to the manor.
Meanwhile, Jiang Hai's beloved War Shield was returned to the dealership staff—too cumbersome for everyday driving, it was better suited for tougher terrain.
Back at the manor, Jiang Hai noticed that the outer wall, previously damaged by the deer, had already been repaired.
Afra and the others had prepared food and waited eagerly for Jiang Hai's return.
Robbins-Garcia and the others didn't come inside—they knew better than to intrude. After they left, the atmosphere was lively again. The villa had been unusually quiet during Jiang Hai's absence, even making Afra and friends feel something was missing.
They were most excited to see him back, especially since he'd never been gone so long before.
That night, Qi Jie and Qi Ya went to bed early, exhausted and wanting to give Afra and Jiang Hai some privacy. The lights in Jiang Hai's room remained on late into the night.
Only the next afternoon did Jiang Hai and friends emerge, their secret activities well known by now. Afra and the others continued to show their devotion, using their unique talents to please Jiang Hai.
For them, their purpose was simple: to serve Jiang Hai—not as central figures in his life, but as a safe outlet. Just being near him was enough.
It's often said that gentleness is the tomb of heroes. Jiang Hai was no hero, but here, in this peaceful place, he was content.
For three days straight, Jiang Hai and his friends shared intimacy, with even Qi Jie and Qi Ya joining in.
Only Darlene, Marianne, and Azarina—who had long harbored feelings for Jiang Hai—had yet to engage in such relationships with him. Naturally, they were bolder in the villa's relaxed environment.
Time flew by. Early March passed quickly, and as the weather warmed, Winthrop's grandest annual event approached: the Poseidon Festival.
The festival marked the time to honor Poseidon and herald the season for sea fishing.
Unknowingly, Jiang Hai had been raising fish for nearly a year—it was almost time for harvest.