Chapter 127 Vagabond
Hearing the manager's words, Olivia hesitated a bit. The manager, eager to seize the moment, pulled her along to test drive a car.
"Sir, ma'am, I'll take you for a test drive right now. This Corolla has great power and handling. You can really get a feel for it," the manager said.
Olivia had no choice but to nod and follow the manager to the test drive area, with Luca walking beside her, his eyes fixed on her the whole time.
The test drive went smoothly. Olivia found the Corolla easy to handle, with enough power and plenty of space, making it a good fit for picking up and dropping off kids.
"So, what do you think? Is this car okay?" Luca asked.
"It's not bad. It suits me pretty well," Olivia nodded.
"The safety features on this car are decent, but there are a few other models that are better for family use and have higher safety ratings," Luca said. "Let me show you some others."
With that, he took Olivia to the nearby Honda dealership. The salespeople there had a much better attitude, warmly introducing them to different models.
Luca explained the Civic and CR-V in detail to Olivia, breaking down the pros and cons of each, from safety features to interior space, fuel efficiency, and maintenance costs. He knew what he was talking about.
Olivia listened carefully and had to admit that Luca was really knowledgeable in this area. His advice was practical and helpful.
"I think the CR-V is pretty good. It has more space than the Corolla and offers more comprehensive safety features. Though it's a bit pricier, the value for money is better," Luca said.
After test-driving the CR-V, Olivia felt satisfied. The space was indeed bigger, and it was more comfortable to sit in.
"How much is this car after the discount?" Olivia asked.
The salesperson quickly replied, "After the discount, it's around 30,000. If you reserve it today, we can also throw in some accessories and a maintenance package."
Olivia thought it over. Thirty thousand was a little over her budget, but this car did seem more suitable for her needs.
"I'll think about it," Olivia said.
"If you like it, I can help negotiate the price and make sure you get the best discount," Luca offered.
"No thanks, I'll handle it myself," Olivia declined. She didn't want to owe Luca any favors.
Luca didn't push her and just said, "Alright, if you can't get a good deal, let me know anytime."
After they left the dealership, Olivia turned to Luca and said, "Thanks for helping me today. I'll look around a bit more on my own. I won't trouble you further."
"I'll stick with you. What if something like earlier happens again?" Luca said.
"No need, I can handle it myself," Olivia shook her head. "I'm heading off now."
With that, she turned and walked toward another car dealership without looking back.
Luca watched her go, feeling a bit disappointed, but he didn't follow her right away.
He knew he couldn't push too hard and had to take it slow.
However, Luca didn't leave. Instead, he and his assistant followed behind Olivia at a distance, keeping an eye on her.
Olivia entered another nearby dealership. She hadn't been browsing for more than a couple of minutes when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Sophia, asking if she had time in the afternoon to review some design drafts.
While replying to the message, she walked out of the store, planning to head back to her studio to finish some work before returning to look at cars.
The street outside the dealership was a bit secluded. A few old, beat-up vans were parked by the roadside, and under the shade of some trees, a few homeless men were crouched down, sorting through scraps.
Olivia didn't pay much attention and walked quickly, just wanting to get to the main road to catch a taxi.
But as she passed the shaded area, a scruffy homeless man, reeking of a bad odor, suddenly stood up and blocked her path.
"Hey, lady, spare some change. I haven't eaten in days," the man said in a hoarse voice, staring at her intently while clutching a dirty plastic bag.
Olivia's heart raced. She instinctively took a step back, pulled out her wallet, and grabbed some cash to get rid of him. "I've only got a few bucks here. Take it and buy some food."
She handed over the money, hoping to leave quickly.
But after taking the cash, the man didn't move. Instead, he stepped closer and reached out to grab her arm. "Just this much? Come on, give me a bit more. I wanna buy some booze."
"No, I don't have any more money," Olivia said, forcefully dodging his hand and turning to run.
"Stop right there!" The man wouldn't let her go. He chased after her and grabbed the strap of her canvas bag. "You're dressed so nice, no way you've got no money. Hand over more!"
The bag was yanked tightly, and Olivia stumbled, nearly falling over.
She was scared and angry, tugging at the strap with all her strength. "Let go of me! I'll call the police!"
"Call the police? Go ahead, I'm not scared!" The man was strong, holding onto the strap tightly with a menacing look in his eyes. "You're not leaving until you give me more money!"
Olivia's heart was pounding, and she was on the verge of tears. She never imagined she'd run into something like this.
Just then, a tall figure rushed over, shoving the homeless man away and shielding Olivia behind him.
"Let her go!"
It was Luca's voice.
Olivia froze for a moment, not expecting that he'd been following her all along.
The homeless man staggered from the push. Seeing Luca dressed neatly and exuding a strong presence, he felt a bit intimidated but still tried to act tough. "This is none of your business! Stay out of it!"
"She's with me. You think I'd stay out of it?" Luca's gaze was icy, his aura so intimidating that the man couldn't meet his eyes. "Get lost now, or you'll regret it."
Hearing this, the man's expression changed. He waved his fist and cursed, "Who the hell do you think you are, meddling in my business?"
"Fuck off," Luca said coldly, his voice low and chilling.
That completely enraged the man. Feeling humiliated by this "pretty boy," he swung his fist at Luca's chest.
Olivia gasped in fear, instinctively reaching to pull Luca back, but it was too late.
To her surprise, Luca dodged the punch with ease, grabbed the man's wrist, and twisted it hard.
"Ah!" The man screamed in pain as his arm was bent backward, his whole body doubling over, his fierce look turning into one of agony.
Luca's eyes were cold, and he didn't loosen his grip. His tone grew even darker. "Still wanna fight?"
The man was in so much pain that tears welled up in his eyes. He struggled to break free, but Luca's grip was like iron, impossible to escape.
"Let go! Let go! It hurts!" the man yelled, swinging his other hand to hit Luca's face.
Luca lifted his leg and kicked the man in the knee. The man's leg buckled, and he fell to the ground with a thud, grimacing in pain.
The whole thing was over in less than a minute. The man was completely subdued.
Olivia was stunned. She never imagined Luca could fight so well. She'd been worried he'd get hurt, but clearly, she'd underestimated him.
"Get out of here. If I catch you bothering anyone again, I'll break your legs," Luca said, releasing his grip. The threat in his voice made the man tremble.
The homeless man scrambled to his feet, not even bothering to pick up his scraps. Clutching his arm and knee, he limped away as fast as he could. He glanced back from a distance but didn't dare come closer.