The lifesaver

Seventy li south of the Imperial Capital's urban center lay a paradise for street racers.

After midnight, the place was a riot of noise.

Engines roared, people screamed, and curses rang out one after another.

When Hua Jian arrived, things were just starting to get lively: scantily clad girls, all kinds of luxury sports cars, and, most importantly...

His gaze settled. There he was.

Jiang Yueming took a hard drag on his cigarette and said, sounding somewhat bored, "Young Master Qin, what's with you today? Who pissed you off? I'll go deal with him."

"You'll deal with him?" Qin Ci snorted. "With that pig brain of yours, he could toy with you until you're dead."

Jiang Yueming bristled at that and immediately said, "Hey, Young Master Qin, who's so fucking cocky? I might not have much else, but I've got money. Let's see who toys with whom."

Qin Ci shot him a cold glare and cursed, "Idiot."

"Hey, why are you..."

"Are you Young Master Jiang? I took your job and came to tune your car."

At the voice, Jiang Yueming forgot about arguing with Qin Ci. He immediately hopped out of the car. "Finally."

The man before him wore all black, with the hood of his black sweatshirt pulled over a black baseball cap, hiding most of his face in shadow.

The roadside lights were dim, offering only a hazy glimpse of the newcomer's sharp jaw and tightly pressed thin lips.

Suddenly, Jiang Yueming was in no hurry.

"You're the one Old Feng recommended? What's your name?" His gaze traveled slowly over the newcomer before finally settling on his face. "Take off your hat."

Hua Jian frowned. "Sorry, Young Master Jiang. I'm only here to tune the car."

A vicious glint flashed in Jiang Yueming's eyes. "Cut the crap."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly reached for Hua Jian's hat. Startled, Hua Jian instinctively raised a hand to block him.

Jiang Yueming was used to throwing his weight around. Apart from Qin Ci, he feared no one, and no one dared defy him.

The moment Hua Jian blocked him, he flew into a rage. "Who the hell do you think you are, stopping me?"

Qin Ci looked over with a frown, his expression impatient. "Are you all idiots? Go help Young Master Jiang."

Jiang Yueming was 181 centimeters tall. From a distance, it wasn't obvious, but once he approached Hua Jian, the difference in their heights became clear.

He was nearly half a head shorter than Hua Jian.

At those words, several tall men nearby immediately closed in.

Jiang Yueming sneered, ready to watch this man get taught a lesson.

Then he froze. The man before him took off his own hat and smiled. "Young Master Jiang, it's a misunderstanding."

Even Qin Ci, lounging off to the side, visibly paused.

The man before them was simply too good-looking.

Beneath the dim yellow light, the black-clad man's face was so pale it seemed to glow.

Yet it was so dark here that anyone even a little farther away couldn't really make out his features. Still, the men surrounding him and Qin Ci all knew he was exceptionally handsome.

The cigarette in Jiang Yueming's left hand burned his fingers. He snapped out of his daze, tossed the butt away, and muttered a curse.

That interruption eased the tension.

"Young Master Jiang, I'm just here to make a little money. I didn't mean any disrespect."

The man-no, the young man-held up both hands as he explained.

That familiar gesture made Qin Ci's brows draw together, only to relax again a moment later.

Impossible. The handsome man before him, dressed in black cargo pants and combat boots, couldn't possibly have anything to do with that burden who dressed like shit.

"Young Master Jiang, cars are coming up from the foot of the mountain."

Jiang Yueming's expression immediately tightened.

"Fuck, it must be Cui Zhao's people. Hurry up!" As he spoke, he pointed at Hua Jian. "You too. Move!"

Both Jiang Yueming's and Qin Ci's cars were top-of-the-line and already thoroughly broken in.

Their drivers were ready, and just then, Cui Zhao's convoy came roaring up from the foot of the mountain.

When Cui Zhao and his group arrived, Qin Ci and Jiang Yueming stood at the front.

Hua Jian quietly backed away.

Cui Zhao was very tall, with delicate, feminine features. A cigarette hung from his mouth as he sneered, "Young Master Qin, all this fuss just to play house?"

Qin Ci said coldly, "To mark the anniversary of your death."

A vicious look flashed through Cui Zhao's eyes.

"In that case, let's race a lap and see whose death anniversary it'll be."

"Fine."

Their race had been put off for a long time. With Shu Yao present last time, the two had ended up at an impasse.

Cui Zhao ground his cigarette out hard beneath his foot while Qin Ci watched him coldly.

It was utterly quiet around them, and everyone who had come with either side looked tense.

"Young Master Qin, you're bringing a woman along for the race? Can you even get it up for a woman?"

Cui Zhao suddenly laughed. At his words, the lackeys behind him all doubled over with laughter.

Qin Ci looked at the two slick-haired, powdered boys beside him and frowned in disgust. "Cui Zhao, you act like this and still claim you like Shu Yao?"

Cui Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly. "Young Master Qin really keeps himself pure. Saving yourself for Shu Yao?"

"Tsk, Young Master Qin, if you can't handle it, don't play. Our boss Cui never brings women along when he races."

"Exactly. Don't tell us Young Master Qin doesn't have anyone worth showing off?"

Both Qin Ci and Jiang Yueming looked displeased.

Jiang Yueming was straight, so he always brought women along when he raced.

As for Qin Ci, he never brought anyone.

That meant their side consisted entirely of rich brats they regularly hung out with, along with the women those men had brought.

If they really had to...

Suddenly, Jiang Yueming's eyes lit up. He whipped around to look behind him, and his gaze quickly settled.

A chill immediately ran down Hua Jian's back.

A few minutes later, Hua Jian sat stiff-faced in Qin Ci's passenger seat, staring into the darkness ahead with a tense expression.

"You don't have to be so nervous. We're just having some fun."

Only once Qin Ci actually started driving did the frustration of the past two days ease a little.

Hua Jian didn't want to talk to him. This stretch of road was poorly lit, and Qin Ci kept pressing the accelerator. The roar of the engine sent Hua Jian's adrenaline surging.

Fuck, this idiot hadn't even fastened his seat belt.

Just then, a crash thundered from behind. Without a seat belt, Qin Ci was thrown sharply forward by the impact.

The sharp pain in his chin instantly snapped him back to his senses.

"Fuck you, Cui Zhao! You dare ram me!"

The dark mood that had just lifted instantly came rushing back. Beside him, Hua Jian said urgently, "Qin Ci, there's another car on the right."

Qin Ci glanced at the right-side mirror and saw the car there. Cui Zhao himself was driving.

The corners of his mouth abruptly curled upward, and an intense sense of danger swept over Hua Jian.

"Fuck, Qin Ci, don't do anything crazy!"

Unfortunately, Qin Ci didn't listen.

The next second, Qin Ci slammed on the brakes and wrenched the steering wheel hard to the right. The car hugging their right side had no time to react.

Qin Ci, you lunatic!

Hua Jian felt an impact even more violent than the last. He squeezed his eyes shut and clung desperately to the grab handle above him. After the two cars collided, their braking car was shoved into several spins.

A stray thought crossed his mind: It's a fucking miracle this idiot Qin Ci managed to last another two years before Cui Zhao got him killed!

Qin Ci abruptly looked over. The world around him shook violently, and the last thing he saw was that impossibly beautiful face.

Before he lost consciousness, he thought that a grown man actually had a tiny, pale red mole beneath the corner of his eye.

"Hiss!"

"Go get the doctor! The young master's awake."

When Qin Ci woke again, his entire body hurt, especially his head.

Three days had passed since his race with Cui Zhao. Only by listening to the housekeeper, Aunt Feng, chatter on did Qin Ci piece together what had happened that day.

"Did that bastard Cui Zhao die?"

"Oh, young master, you mustn't say things like that. He was racing you, after all. If he really died, it would bring bad luck on you too."

Qin Ci frowned in disappointment, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "What about the man in my passenger seat when the accident happened? How is he?"

Aunt Feng thought for a moment before realization dawned. "You mean that young man who looked like an angel? He really was lucky to survive. Such a terrible crash, and he only suffered a few minor scrapes. He and Xue Pan brought you to the hospital, and I haven't seen him since."

"Who?" Qin Ci paused. "Who's Xue Pan?"

Aunt Feng set the fruit plate beside his hand and continued chattering. "I hear he's a little lackey who runs with Young Master Jiang. Thank goodness he was there this time. He'd only just dragged you and that angel out of the car when it caught fire."

"Oh, and young master, Mr. Qin said Xue Pan saved your life. Once you've recovered, you must thank him properly."