36 Car racing 2

Today, Leng Qing was dressed in a gray T-shirt paired with black trousers, topped with a black biker jacket he often wore. He stood expressionless beside a black Pagani, blending seamlessly with the dim night around him.

If Ye Chen's charm lay in his unruly arrogance and cold aloofness, then Leng Qing's allure carried a bone-chilling sharpness. At first glance, his frosty yet striking face might captivate, but most wouldn't dare look twice, fearing the dark, oppressive aura he exuded might devour them.

However, Xiao Wan was an exception. She walked over as if completely unfazed by the intimidating air around him, punching him lightly in the stomach. "What are you doing here?" she scolded.

"Racing," Leng Qing said briefly, rubbing the spot where she hit him.

"Racing my foot! Who told you to come? And where did you get this car?"

"Borrowed it."

"You! Take it back right now! I forbid you to race!" Xiao Wan stomped her foot angrily. "Street racing is dangerous! You've only ever raced motorcycles before and have no experience with cars. What if something happens?"

Leng Qing glanced at Chen Xin, who was sitting in his car, and replied, "Does he have any experience?"

"That's different! He's my boyfriend, and you… you're nothing!" Xiao Wan fumed, shoving him. "Go home now, or I'll never speak to you again!"

Leng Qing didn't budge. He held her hands, stopping her attempts to push him away. "I always listen to you, but not this time. I have to race today."

"You—!"

Xiao Wan wanted to argue more, but Leng Qing had already walked around her and got into the sports car, starting the engine.

Xiao Wan tried to stop him, but Chen Xin rolled down the window and said, "It's okay, Xiao Wan. Let him race with us."

She looked at Chen Xin, then at Leng Qing, before finally storming over to Leng Qing's car in a huff. "Fine! Mark my words—I'll never speak to you again!"

Leng Qing didn't respond or look at her, gripping the steering wheel with a single-minded determination to win tonight.

Xiao Wan stomped her foot angrily and stepped aside, declaring, "I'm not being the starter anymore! Someone else can do it; I'm done!"

The surrounding crowd began murmuring, but no one dared to take her place. Chen Xin smiled helplessly, got out of his car, and walked over to her, pulling her into a hug. "What's wrong? Didn't you always say you wanted to try being the starter?"

Xiao Wan pouted and pointed at Leng Qing's car. "Look at him! He's just here to mess things up! He's so annoying!"

Chen Xin glanced at Leng Qing, then turned back to her with a gentle smile. "You're worried he'll get hurt? Don't worry, the route is safe, and all the obstacles have been cleared. It's just a casual race—nothing will happen."

"But…"

"Also, Xiao Wan, you have to understand. For men, pride and winning matter a lot. If you stop him now, he'll carry that regret with him. You're his good friend—don't you want to support him?"

Xiao Wan hesitated, her expression softening slightly. At that moment, Ye Chen stuck his head out of his car and yelled, "Alright, alright! Don't worry—I'll go easy on your little fling and make sure he doesn't lose too badly. Are you going to start the race or not? We're wasting time!"

Furious, Xiao Wan stormed over to Ye Chen's car and smacked his head several times. "You dare win against Leng Qing? I'll pluck your hair out right now!"

Ye Chen yelped in pain while Chen Xin quickly pulled Xiao Wan away. Ye Chen clutched his head in indignation. "Damn it! Why am I always the one getting hurt?"

After much persuasion from Chen Xin, Xiao Wan reluctantly agreed to let all four of them race. She returned to the middle of the track, reaching under her tight T-shirt to pull out her bra. But just as she was about to take it off, Chen Xin shot out of his car and yelled, "Lin Xiao Wan! Stop!"

Not only Chen Xin, but the other three men in their cars also looked ready to jump out to stop her. How could they forget the iconic street-racing opening scene: the hot female starter tossing her bra to signal the start?

"What are you doing? Let me take it off!" Xiao Wan protested, trying to push Chen Xin's hands away from her chest.

But Chen Xin remained firm, his expression serious. "No throwing bras! Is this why you wanted to be the starter?"

"Of course! I even wore sexy black lace lingerie just for this!" Xiao Wan said matter-of-factly. "You've seen it—you even said it looked good on me!"

Chen Xin blushed as he recalled that piece of lingerie and the time she had worn it, sprawled on the bed, teasing him. "That's even more reason not to throw it! That lingerie is for my eyes only!"

"But how else am I supposed to start the race?"

In the background, Ye Chen stuck his head out again, yelling, "What the hell! You don't need to throw a bra to start the race! Chen Xin, get your chaos magnet of a girlfriend out of here!"

Just as Xiao Wan was about to teach Ye Chen another lesson, a soft female voice interrupted. "If you can't use a bra, how about this?"

Xiao Wan turned to see a sweet-looking blonde woman with golden curls holding out a pink scarf.

"Katherine…" Xiao Wan murmured, memories of a certain someone flooding her mind and leaving her momentarily dazed.

"Xiao Wan, it's been a while," Katherine said with a gentle smile. "Come on, start the race. Everyone's waiting."

Xiao Wan snapped out of her daze, nodded, and took the scarf. "Alright."

Chen Xin let out a sigh of relief and returned to his car, parked second from the left. To his left was Nathan, while Ye Chen and Leng Qing were on his right. As Chen Xin started his engine, he glanced at Nathan, who was glaring at him.

Noticing the gaze, Nathan fiddled with the pendant hanging from his rearview mirror. Upon closer inspection, Chen Xin realized it wasn't a pendant but a massive diamond ring—the one Xiao Wan had thrown into the river.

So, he'd fished it out? Was Nathan trying to provoke him?

Chen Xin chuckled, tugging his T-shirt collar down to reveal the bite mark Xiao Wan had left on his shoulder that morning. Then, he shot Nathan a casual glance, as if saying, "The ring she discarded means nothing. What matters is me."

Infuriated, Nathan slammed his steering wheel, ready to race off. Xiao Wan immediately noticed and shouted, "Don't even think about jumping the start!"

Standing in the middle of the track, Xiao Wan tied the pink scarf into a bow, then struck a pose like a runway model. With all eyes on her, she shouted, "Three, two, one—Go!"

The pink scarf was tossed high into the air as she shouted the signal.

The four men simultaneously floored their accelerators. The cars launched forward so fast that to the untrained eye, it was impossible to tell who had taken the lead.

However, the racers inside their vehicles could clearly feel the differences. Nathan and Chen Xin shot forward neck and neck, while Ye Chen and Leng Qing lagged slightly behind.

Ye Chen wasn't surprised by Nathan and Chen Xin's faster start since his own take-offs were often a little slow. But what shocked him was that Leng Qing, a newcomer, was keeping pace with him.

"Damn, I've been racing for years. There's no way I'm letting some rookie show me up!" Ye Chen muttered. If he ended up in last place, Lin Xiaowan would never let him live it down. Determined, he accelerated sharply, overtaking Leng Qing's Pagani.

Leng Qing glanced at Ye Chen without expression. His hands moved skillfully—gear shift, accelerator—his actions seamless. His black supercar shot forward like a bolt of darkness, overtaking Ye Chen with ease.

"Damn, this kid is really gunning for it," Ye Chen cursed, adrenaline pumping. "Alright, rookie. Time for me to show you how it's done!"

The two engaged in a fierce chase, gradually closing the gap between themselves and the frontrunners, Chen Xin and Nathan.

Up ahead, Chen Xin and Nathan were locked in their own battle. The circular track gave Nathan a natural advantage on the inner lane, allowing him a shorter route. While Chen Xin could have followed closely behind Nathan to draft, doing so would make it nearly impossible to overtake him later.

Instead, Chen Xin opted to run side by side with Nathan, each vying for the lead in a relentless exchange.

Chen Xin knew this strategy wouldn't create a decisive gap between them. The race could come down to a final sprint, a gamble he wasn't willing to take. He wanted to win convincingly.

With that thought, Chen Xin floored the accelerator, pushing his modified Koenigsegg to its maximum speed. The road blurred into a tunnel of light and shadow. In that moment, Chen Xin felt an exhilarating rush—this was what racing was all about.

Meanwhile, Nathan refused to give up and accelerated as well, but he had missed the optimal window to catch Chen Xin. To make matters worse, as he focused on Chen Xin, a black Pagani suddenly roared up from behind, overtaking him in a single swift move.

Nathan turned in shock, catching a glimpse of Leng Qing's cold, impassive face as he sped by.

Nathan's hands trembled slightly on the wheel. The memory of Leng Qing's constant presence during his past relationship with Xiaowan resurfaced. Even when Nathan and Xiaowan had been inseparable, Leng Qing had lingered like an unshakable shadow.

As Nathan hesitated, Ye Chen surged past him. Glancing at Nathan with confusion, Ye Chen's expression seemed to say, "What's wrong with you? This isn't like you. Snap out of it and catch up!"

By the time Nathan recovered, it was too late. The lead trio had left him far behind, effectively ending his chances of winning.

Further ahead, Ye Chen cautiously increased his speed, eventually catching sight of Chen Xin and Leng Qing's taillights. But with only a quarter of the race left, Ye Chen knew he had no chance of winning. Still, there was no way he would let that rookie Leng Qing beat him!

He pushed his car to its limit, determined to close the gap.

Chen Xin, leading the race, was fully immersed in the thrill of the moment. The deserted track stretched before him, quiet and serene, a stark contrast to the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

This peace was shattered by the roar of another engine.

Glancing in his rearview mirror, Chen Xin expected to see Nathan. Instead, he was surprised to find Leng Qing closing in. Their eyes met briefly in the mirror. Leng Qing's gaze was dark, almost abyssal, filled with an unspoken threat: he would stop at nothing to overtake Chen Xin.

Chen Xin smirked and tugged at his shirt collar, deliberately revealing the bite mark Xiaowan had left on his shoulder.

As expected, this provoked Leng Qing. His eyes narrowed as he gripped the wheel tighter, slamming the accelerator. He wasn't just aiming to overtake—he wanted to crash into Chen Xin.

The two cars approached the final sharp turn, neck and neck. Once through the turn, it was a straight shot to the finish line where Xiaowan was waiting.

Chen Xin navigated the turn smoothly, but Leng Qing made no attempt to adjust his trajectory. He was heading straight for Chen Xin.

Realizing Leng Qing's intentions, Chen Xin reacted swiftly, skillfully dodging at the last second. His car skidded safely across the finish line.

Leng Qing wasn't as fortunate. His car slammed into a roadside barrier before spinning out onto a nearby field.

Xiaowan had been cheering excitedly as Chen Xin crossed the finish line, but her joy turned to horror when she saw Leng Qing's crash.

"Leng Qing!" she screamed, rushing toward his car.

Chen Xin quickly followed. Leng Qing's car was smoking, the front crumpled, and the driver's door jammed shut. He struggled to free himself as the heat inside the vehicle grew unbearable.

"Leng Qing!" Xiaowan cried, tugging desperately at the mangled door. Her eyes reddened with tears when it refused to budge.

"I'm fine! Don't worry about me!" Leng Qing shouted, trying to reassure her.

Just as he prepared to smash a window with the headrest, Chen Xin appeared, hefting a large rock.

"Move back," Chen Xin instructed.

Leng Qing hesitated, glaring at him. But Xiaowan's frantic shouts finally made him relent, scooting backward.

Without hesitation, Chen Xin swung the rock, shattering the window. Glass shards scattered as Xiaowan reached in.

"Leng Qing! Grab my hand!" she yelled.

Coldqing looked at her tenderly, a gaze that seemed to span eternity. Grasping Xiao Wan's wrist, he climbed out of the car and, once on the ground, couldn't resist lightly hugging her.

However, Xiao Wan immediately shoved him away and delivered a fierce slap across his face, tears streaming down as she ran off.

Chen Xin glanced at Coldqing before turning to chase after Xiao Wan. Meanwhile, other racing enthusiasts rushed over, extinguishing the faint sparks on the car's hood with fire extinguishers, preventing further damage to the supercar.

At that moment, Ye Chen and Nathan also reached the finish line. Both assumed the crowd would be cheering for the champion. However, upon stepping out of their cars, they noticed something amiss. Xiao Wan was crying in Chen Xin's arms, and Coldqing stood next to his wrecked car, head lowered, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a woman pointed at Coldqing and shouted, "Oh my God! Your arm is bleeding so much! Didn't you notice?"

Coldqing glanced at his left arm, now soaked in blood, and only then realized why it felt slightly painful. After a moment of hesitation, he walked toward Xiao Wan, intending to say something, but she spoke first, "Chen Xin, can you take him to the hospital?"

"…Sure," Chen Xin nodded and turned to Coldqing. "You're hurt. It looks serious. You should get it checked out at the hospital."

Coldqing stared at Xiao Wan for a few seconds before silently nodding and getting into Chen Xin's car.

Xiao Wan, with red-rimmed eyes, then approached Ye Chen, saying, "Take me. Let's follow Chen Xin to the hospital."

Startled by her tearful appearance, Ye Chen quickly opened the car door for her. Once both cars had left, Nathan also quietly drove after them.

The intense race ended with such an imperfect conclusion that the spectators felt a bit unsatisfied. The white woman who had handed Xiao Wan the scarf earlier, Katherine, watched her leave and remarked enviously, "She hasn't changed at all—always the most treasured person in every man's eyes."

At the hospital, Chen Xin, Ye Chen, and Nathan sat with Xiao Wan in the waiting area. Xiao Wan leaned against Chen Xin's chest, red-eyed and silent, occasionally wiping her tears.

After a while, a nurse approached them. "Who came with Mr. Coldqing?"

Xiao Wan immediately stood up. "It's me. Nurse, how is he?"

"Follow me; the doctor will explain," the nurse said, gesturing for her to follow. Xiao Wan quickly complied. The other three men tried to follow but were stopped. "The patient needs rest. It's not convenient for so many visitors at once," the nurse said firmly.

The men reluctantly sat back down.

Inside the hospital room, Coldqing's left arm was bandaged, and he lay on the bed, looking pale. Xiao Wan forced herself to look away and asked the doctor, "Is he okay?"

"His left arm is fractured, but aside from some minor abrasions, there are no other serious injuries," the doctor replied. "Miss, please persuade your boyfriend to stop participating in street racing. It's extremely dangerous. Do you know how many people in the U.S. get injured every year because of it?"

Xiao Wan shot a glare at Coldqing and said, "He's not my boyfriend. But thank you. I'll make sure he's careful in the future."

The doctor nodded. "Alright. I'll leave you two to talk privately."

After the doctor and nurse left, Xiao Wan approached the bed and slapped Coldqing hard again, then turned to leave.

But before she could, Coldqing grabbed her wrist with his uninjured hand.

"I'm sorry," Coldqing said in a low voice. "I know I was wrong."

"You know you're wrong? What nonsense!" Xiao Wan's suppressed anger erupted as she shouted through her tears, "How many times have I told you not to do dangerous things for me? You never listen! Do you think you're protecting me? Taking care of me? I don't want that! I just want you to live safely and soundly. Do you even understand that?"

"I understand, but I can't do it," Coldqing said earnestly, locking eyes with her. "Because you're not mine yet. If making you mine means risking my life, so be it—"

"Don't you dare say that! Are you trying to drive me mad?" Xiao Wan yelled, hitting him with her fists. But Coldqing wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into an embrace.

"I'm sorry," he murmured deeply.

"You don't understand anything…" Xiao Wan felt all her strength drain away. Leaning weakly against his chest, she cried. "You know you're my most important family besides Grandma. Why do you keep making me worry about you like this?"

"I promise I'll never do it again. Really." Coldqing's voice was soft, and he lowered his head, intending to plant a kiss on her hair. But just as he looked up, he noticed Chen Xin standing outside the glass door of the hospital room.

Chen Xin glared coldly at him, silently warning him not to touch what belonged to him.

But Coldqing was not one to back down from a mere look. He narrowed his eyes and gently kissed Xiao Wan's head while maintaining direct eye contact with Chen Xin. His dark gaze was filled with defiance and challenge.

Still sobbing, Xiao Wan didn't notice his subtle provocation.

Chen Xin clenched his fists, about to storm in, but someone grabbed his shoulder.

He turned around and saw that it was Nathan. He tried to shake him off, but Nathan shook his head and said quietly, "Don't rush in now. You won't win. Trust me—I've been through this."

Startled by Nathan's words, Chen Xin hesitated. Nathan gestured toward an empty stairwell. "Let's talk there."

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Xin glanced into the room, seeing Xiao Wan standing up from the bedside, and then followed Nathan into the stairwell.

"What do you want to say?"

Chen Xin asked curtly, clearly lacking any fondness for Nathan, Xiao Wan's ex-boyfriend.

Nathan smiled faintly. "First, congratulations on winning the race tonight. Winning on your first try is impressive. I admire your talent."

"Thanks," Chen Xin replied tersely. "But I doubt you brought me here just to compliment me. Get to the point. I need to get back to Xiao Wan."

"It's about her," Nathan said, his expression serious. "It's about Coldqing."

Chen Xin frowned slightly. "If you think I'll doubt Xiao Wan after what I just saw and let you drive a wedge between us, you're wrong. I won't. I know Coldqing is important to Xiao Wan as a friend—"

"Just a friend?" Nathan let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, God. You're exactly like I was back then. Every time I saw Coldqing around her, I'd comfort myself by thinking the same thing. He's just a friend, someone who helped her through her toughest times. I shouldn't ask her to distance herself from him. But what happened? Xiao Wan still left me."

Chen Xin's expression remained stoic. "Xiao Wan left you because you were unfaithful. It had nothing to do with Coldqing."

"I know that was the main reason," Nathan admitted, guilt flickering in his eyes. "But, Chen Xin, you have to admit: Xiao Wan has had many boyfriends over the years, yet Coldqing has always been by her side. Doesn't that strike you as a bit… special? One day, she might leave you too, but Coldqing will still be there. Today, you beat me. But you'll never beat him—"

Before Nathan could finish, Chen Xin grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.

Nathan chuckled lightly. "I thought you'd keep up that unshakable, calm demeanor. Seems Coldqing really is your Achilles' heel. So why pretend to be so indifferent?"

Chen Xin released him, turning to leave. "If that's all you have to say, goodbye."

"It's not nonsense," Nathan said, watching his retreating figure. "I'm telling you this: if you want Xiao Wan to stay with you forever, you'll need to find a way to get Coldqing out of her life."

Chen Xin paused briefly before walking away without a word.