Chapter 38: Racing

“Him…?”

For a moment, Yu Xi didn’t catch onto who Meng Shen was referring to.

Meng Shen supplied, “Zhang Xingkuo.”

Enlightenment dawned on Yu Xi. Meng Shen must have caught a glimpse of the messages Zhang Xingkuo sent earlier that afternoon, which had prompted this sudden, unexpected comparison.

He couldn’t help but find it rather amusing. “Why are you acting just like Xiao Juan, starting to compete with Xingxing all of a sudden?”

This didn’t quite seem like something the usually detached Meng Shen would do.

Meng Shen kept his head lowered, remaining completely silent, though the tips of his ears continued to burn a furious crimson.

“Alright, the food is still in the pan, let’s eat first.” Seeing his sleeve was still held in a firm grip, Yu Xi used his fingertips to lightly prod Meng Shen’s abdomen, signaling for him to let go.

Meng Shen’s breath hitched instantly, his muscles tensing up further before he abruptly released his hold.

Yu Xi turned and stepped out of the room, entirely unaware that his light, casual touch had sent massive ripples through the other youth’s heart.

In November, the Solar Term of ‘Beginning of Winter’ arrived.

This was the season when Capital City boasted its most vibrant colors. The Ginkgo Avenue at Peking University was a magnificent spectacle of brilliant gold, with fallen leaves carpeting the ground to form a romantic, golden pathway.

Yu Xi had just wrapped up a task for the New Media Club here. Not in any hurry to leave, he pulled out his phone to snap a photograph, sending it to his mother and his friends.

The fastest responder in the group chat was Zhang Xingkuo, who seized every single opportunity to extend an invitation to meet.

Zhang Xingkuo:

[So beautiful.] [There’s a very famous maple forest near the racetrack where I’m competing the day after tomorrow. Do you want to come along and take a look, Xiao Xi?]

Sheng Yunjuan: 【That racetrack of yours is deep in the mountains, way too far from the city. Don’t make Xiao Xi suffer through a long car ride.】

Zhang Xingkuo: 【Is there ever an issue when I’m the one driving?】

Sheng Yunjuan: 【There isn’t much to see with that trashy racecar of yours anyway.】

Zhang Xingkuo: 【I didn’t invite you (smile) (poop)】

Meanwhile, the others sequentially quoted Yu Xi’s photograph to reply, praising his photography skills.

Stepping on the crisp, crackling ginkgo leaves, Yu Xi thanked everyone for their compliments. After a brief moment of consideration, he began to type.

Yu Xi: 【Sure, I have time the day after tomorrow @Zhang Xingkuo】

The moment he agreed, Sheng Yunjuan instantly flipped her stance: 【I’m going too.】

The others followed suit with a string of “+1” replies. Even though Zhang Xingkuo reluctantly sent a meme of a husky angrily biting the air, the matter was ultimately settled just like that—everyone would go watch the race together.

Zhang Xingkuo’s race this time wasn’t hosted by the FIA; it was merely a private organization arranged by enthusiasts within the circle, meant entirely for entertainment. The organizer was a fanatic car lover who had poured tens of millions into constructing a private track on a mountain. To persuade Zhang Xingkuo—a rising star among professional racers—to participate, offering high cash prizes and company shares wasn’t temptation enough. The organizer had gone so far as to offer up one of his prized possessions: a global limited-edition supercar.

With Zhang Xingkuo serving as the main attraction, a massive crowd of racing enthusiasts came to watch and participate. However, the venue enforced a strict entry threshold—those who attended were either renowned within the racing circle or exceptionally wealthy and influential.

The race was scheduled for the night. The moment one stepped into the venue, their emotions would be instantly stirred by the deafening roar of engines and the pulsing, rhythmic music, sending an exhilarating surge of dopamine through their system.

As a racer, Zhang Xingkuo had to arrive early to make preparations. Consequently, Yu Xi and the group accompanied him ahead of time, remaining in the lounge before the race commenced.

“It’s finally about to start, I’m almost falling asleep.” Sheng Yunjuan stretched lazily. To fit the occasion today, she wore a cool, fiery outfit—her top was so short that the slightest lift of her arm would expose her navel.

Yu Xi hurriedly reached out to pull her hem down. It wasn’t because he found it overly revealing, but rather out of genuine concern. “If your stomach catches a cold, you’ll get sick.”

It was already late autumn. Yu Xi had long since bundled up in a knit cardigan, and when a gust of wind blew past earlier, causing him to shrink back slightly, Gu Chuanzhou—who had come prepared—immediately draped a trench coat over him.

Wrapped in three layers himself, he couldn’t help but fret over Sheng Yunjuan.

“Do you want to wear this coat of mine?”

“No need, my health is fantastic.” Sheng Yunjuan grinned, leaning in to nuzzle against Yu Xi’s head. “Our Xiao Xi really acts like a little mother sometimes.”

The choice of words caused the tips of Yu Xi’s ears to flush red. “What do you mean, ‘little mother’…”

Standing nearby, Lin Shuhuai approached, his fingers gently brushing past the reddened skin of Yu Xi’s ear beneath his hair. He echoed with a polite, amused smile, “Those words are quite accurate. Xiao Xi is a little mother who knows how to take excellent care of people.”

Yu Xi cast a reproachful glance toward him, rubbing his ear which had grown itchy from the touch. Just as he was about to speak, his waist tightened as a firm force guided him in a different direction.

Utilizing a deft touch that effortlessly redirected his momentum, Gu Chuanzhou led him toward the seating area. “Xi Xi, sit here.”

With Zhang Xingkuo arranging everything, they occupied the absolute best VIP viewing spots in the spectator stands. Although it was a mountain circuit, this vantage point offered the clearest perspective of the cars launching from the grid and rocketing past the finish line.

Down below, Yu Xi could see that Zhang Xingkuo had already changed into his racing suit. After performing a final inspection of his car, he strode up toward the spectator stands.

Many people recognized him, calling out greetings and requesting photographs.

“Apologies, I have some personal matters to attend to.” Zhang Xingkuo rejected them with a bright smile, his large strides breaking past the crowd without a single pause, heading directly toward Yu Xi’s location.

“Xing…”

Before Yu Xi could fully process what was happening, Zhang Xingkuo arrived in front of him, reaching out to wrap an arm securely around his shoulder.

“I want to show you something!”

Clad in his red-and-black racing suit, he looked exceptionally distinct today—far more high-spirited and radiant than usual. His handsome features blazed with a confidence and a pride that seemed to look down upon everything. The racetrack was entirely his domain, a place where all the spotlights were destined to converge on him.

Yu Xi had only ever watched racing videos previously, and this was his first time witnessing Zhang Xingkuo in this element firsthand, leaving him momentarily dazed.

“Look!”

Zhang Xingkuo brought Yu Xi over to his vehicle, showcasing the items suspended inside the cockpit. They were two grass-woven grasshoppers—one a faded, weathered yellow, and the other a vibrant, crisp green.

The old grasshopper had been preserved for twelve years, having undergone special preservation treatments to prevent it from deteriorating.

“In the past, I always carried this old one with me during races. It felt like you were my guardian angel, my protective amulet… helping me seize victory time and time again.” Zhang Xingkuo held the woven grasshoppers with one hand while using his other to tightly clasp Yu Xi’s hand.

The gaze he directed toward Yu Xi was perpetually filled with a brilliant, scorching light, looking as though it burned solely because of him.

“Now that I have this new one as well, I’ll be even more unstoppable, absolutely invincible.”

…

Seeing the gift he had given being treasured to such an extent, it was difficult for Yu Xi to remain unmoved.

Thus, when Zhang Xingkuo mentioned that if he secured the championship, he hoped Yu Xi would grant him one request, Yu Xi agreed without a second thought.

“What did he say to you?”

Once he returned to his seat, his friends immediately questioned him.

Yu Xi related the conversation honestly.

Sheng Yunjuan’s brows knitted instantly. “Grant him one request? He’s actually raising conditions with you now; it feels like nothing good will come of it. Xiao Xi, you’re far too easy to coax. What if he proposes an incredibly excessive demand?”

The others either nodded in agreement or sank into deep thought.

Yu Xi shook his head. “Xingxing wouldn’t do that.”

Sheng Yunjuan grumbled softly, “He’s been full of mischievous ideas since we were kids.”

As the start of the race drew closer, during this brief period of waiting and casual chatting, a few individuals sauntered over to offer greetings.

Among the wealthy scions present, few failed to recognize Gu Chuanzhou and his companions. Seeking to establish some connections, they approached, only to meet with a cold reception and slink away deflated.

Amidst the clamor of the venue, snippets of hushed gossip occasionally drifted over.

“They really don’t think much of us at all…”

“Of course they don’t. Just think about the caliber of our families versus theirs. It’s already decent of them to offer a smile and a nod.”

“But who is that boy who looks so young? How come I’ve never seen him before?”

“I haven’t seen him either… It feels like his relationship with the few of them is highly unusual. Just a moment ago, Zhang Xingkuo actually pulled him into his car. Everyone in the circle knows Zhang Xingkuo protects his car like the apple of his eye—aside from his coach and navigator, he never lets anyone sit in the passenger seat.”

“His family background must be incredibly formidable, right? But even if it is, would it really warrant the heir of the Gu family sitting there to feed him water and wipe his mouth?”

“If it were me… it actually doesn’t seem entirely impossible. Don’t you think he looks incredibly beautiful?”

“I’m not a guy who likes guys! I can’t appreciate men. He’s just, well, a little bit beautiful… The mole on his cheek is quite unique though. Holy crap—he actually has dimples when he smiles!”

“…You claim you’re not into guys, yet you get this excited just because someone smiles?”

Twenty minutes later, the race was on the verge of commencing. The commentator hosting the event took the stage, the stands quieted down, and everyone’s attention shifted entirely toward the circuit.

The vehicles took their positions on the starting grid, each one unleashing a deafening roar like a loaded bullet poised to fire.

The five red lights illuminated in sequence, then vanished in an instant. Simultaneously, a massive boom echoed across the track as all the vehicles dissolved into blurs, rocketing forward!

Screams and the thunderous roar of engines pierced the night sky. Yu Xi couldn’t help but straighten his posture, his eyes tightly locked onto the car belonging to Zhang Xingkuo.

It resembled a hunting leopard, possessing an absolute speed advantage across the terrain as it fiercely sped at the very front of the pack.

Swiftly, with a sharp turn, its silhouette vanished from direct line of sight. However, a 360-degree broadcast screen stood in the center of the spectator stands, providing real-time, close-up tracking of each driver.

The mountain road was rugged and winding, featuring highly treacherous cliffside passes where a single miscalculation could prove fatal. Yet, Zhang Xingkuo was famously reckless on the track—no matter how perilous the environment, he would fearlessly give his absolute all.

A few other professional racers were participating in this match as well. While they trailed closely behind during the initial phases, they invariably showed hesitation upon reaching the sharp, tight corners. Utterly intimidated by Zhang Xingkuo’s sheer momentum, they didn’t dare engage in a dangerous duel, braking to slow down—by the time they sought to catch up again, he was already far out of reach.

The outcome of this race carried absolutely no suspense.

“Holy shit! Zhang Xingkuo drives like his life doesn’t matter!!”

“How did he pull off that consecutive S-curve? It looked like he didn’t slow down at all, just drifted hard right through it. Is he even human??”

“Too handsome… at this rate, who could possibly compete with him…”

“Look, quick! He’s almost here!”

Even though everyone already knew who the final champion would be, upon hearing the approaching roar of the engine, everyone present strained their necks, watching in eager anticipation.

The fiery-red racecar resembled a bolt of lightning, slicing through the final corner and bursting into everyone’s view.

Amidst the frantic waving of the checkered flag, he left the rest in his dust, rocketing across the finish line!

The crowd erupted into ecstatic cheers, chanting Zhang Xingkuo’s name.

After making his car carve a beautiful, sharp arc to a steady halt, Zhang Xingkuo stepped down from the vehicle. Lifting his helmet high, his burning, brilliant eyes locked onto a single individual.

Then, hoisting his signature, radiant grin, his lips parted.

Even though Yu Xi couldn’t hear the words, he recognized the lip movements perfectly.

He said: “Because of you, unstoppable and invincible.”