A New Arc on the Racetrack

Chengdu International Circuit, two o'clock in the afternoon.

Su Jin sat in the pit garage, looking out at the track through the floor-to-ceiling glass.

Winter sunlight shone brilliantly, casting a faint halo over the asphalt. Several supercars were running warm-up laps, their roaring engines making her chest vibrate even through the glass.

She was dressed very differently from usual today.

She wore a black Alaïa fitted leather jacket, zipped only to her chest, revealing a thin cashmere layer underneath.

Below it was a pencil skirt from the same brand, falling just past her knees, with a small slit at the side that offered glimpses of her straight calves as she walked.

On her feet were black suede Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots with eight-centimeter heels, making her already slender legs look even more like a pair of pencils.

Instead of wearing her hair loose, she had tied it in a high ponytail, leaving her entire face exposed.

Her makeup was heavier than usual today-her eyeliner swept slightly upward, a thin layer of brown shadow dusted the outer corners of her eyes, and her lashes were curled and thick. On her lips was Armani matte lip lacquer in shade 400, a true red like a frozen flame.

A pair of Bulgari Serpenti earrings hung from her earlobes, coiled in the shape of snakes and set with tiny diamonds, swaying gently whenever she turned her head.

The Van Cleef & Arpels Bonheur watch on her wrist had been replaced with a Cartier Crash, its face warped into an irregular shape like a teardrop forgotten by time.

She sat there with her legs crossed, one hand propping up her chin, gazing at the track with an air of indifference.

Sunlight streamed in from the side, dividing her face into sharply contrasting light and shadow, outlining the striking height of her nose and making the red of her lips even more intense.

The others in the pit garage stole glances at her from time to time-the woman in the black leather jacket had barely spoken since she arrived, yet she alone had drawn all the room's presence to herself.

[Host,] Little Golden Egg popped up beside her ear, keeping its voice very low. [For today's look, this system gives you a hundred and one points. The extra point is for the lipstick-that true red is an absolute knockout.]

Su Jin ignored it, her gaze fixed on the track.

A silver Pagani had just swept through a bend, its rear end tracing a beautiful arc.

It was her car, unloaded from a trailer that morning and set up with the club staff's help, waiting for her to take it onto the track herself.

[Are you really going to drive?] Little Golden Egg was a little nervous. [This system scanned your driving skills. Although you exchanged for "Advanced Race Car Driving," that was on the theoretical level. This will be your first time putting it into practice. Why not let a coach take you around for a couple of laps first?]

Su Jin stood and picked up the helmet beside her.

"I'm already here."

Two

She walked out of the pit garage and headed toward the track along the pit lane.

The heels of her boots clicked crisply against the concrete, each step falling in a steady rhythm.

Several staff members tuning cars looked up, their gazes following her until she disappeared at the end of the lane.

The Pagani was already parked at the pit-lane exit, its silver body gleaming in the sun.

A man in a gray racing suit stood beside it. When he saw her approach, he immediately came over to meet her.

"Hello, Ms. Su. I'm a track coach here at the club. My surname is Han. Since this is your first visit, would you like me to take you around for a couple of laps so you can get familiar with the track?"

Su Jin glanced at him. He was in his early thirties, his skin tanned a healthy wheat color. His smile revealed a set of white teeth, and his eyes were as clear as if society had never given him a beating.

"No need," she said. "I'll do it myself."

Coach Han froze for a moment, his gaze lingering on her for a second. The outfit, the face, the car-no matter how he looked at her, she seemed less like someone here to race than someone here to shoot a magazine cover.

But he quickly recovered and nodded. "Then please be careful. If you have any problems, contact me over the radio at any time."

Su Jin put on her helmet, opened the car door, and climbed in.

The Pagani's cockpit was so low that sitting in it felt like lying on the ground.

She adjusted the seat and rearview mirror, fastened her seat belt, and gripped the steering wheel with both hands.

The wheel was wrapped in leather, smooth to the touch, and the buttons packed across it glinted in the sunlight.

[Host,] Little Golden Egg's voice sounded in her head, as nervous as a parent seeing a child off to an exam for the first time. [Can you really do this? Should this system temporarily add some skill points for you? Although there aren't quite enough points left, but-]

Su Jin ignored it and pressed the start button.

The engine roared to life behind her, and the entire car trembled slightly.

She pressed the clutch, shifted into first, and gently touched the accelerator. The car rolled out of the pit lane and joined the track.

The first bend was three hundred meters away, a ninety-degree right turn.

She glanced at the speedometer-sixty. Too slow.

She pressed the accelerator. The tachometer needle shot up, and her speed instantly soared to a hundred and twenty.

The bend rushed closer. She watched the turn-in point, then jerked the wheel at the last moment while tapping the brake-

The car leaned violently, its tires shrieking, but she held steady through the apex. As she came out of the bend, she floored the accelerator, and the engine roared, propelling her forward.

[Host!!!] Little Golden Egg screamed in her head. [You drifted through that bend! You drifted, do you know that?! You drifted on your first time on a track!]

Su Jin had no time to pay it any attention, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.

The second bend, the third, the fourth-she drove more smoothly and faster with each one.

The car was like a tamed beast, obeying her every command.

Sunlight flickered before her eyes, the wind howled in her ears, and the whole world narrowed to the roar of the engine and the scream of tires against the pavement.

At the end of the fifth lap, Coach Han's voice came over the radio, plainly stunned. "Ms. Su, have you... have you driven on a track before?"

Su Jin pressed the talk button. "No."

"Then your skill..." His voice faltered. "You're incredible."

Su Jin said nothing. The corners of her mouth curved upward as she pressed the accelerator and charged onward.

Three

At the end of the eighth lap, she drove back into the pit lane, switched off the engine, and removed her helmet.

Her hair was a little messy, a few stray strands damp with sweat and clinging to her forehead and cheeks.

Her makeup was still intact-the Armani lip lacquer was waterproof and sweatproof, and none of the true red had come off. Her eyeliner had not smudged either; if anything, the bit of sweat made it sit more closely against her skin. She lifted a hand and tucked the stray hairs behind her ears, revealing a face faintly flushed from exercise, the color showing through her skin making her whole face look fresh and vibrant.

Coach Han came up to her, the expression on his face beyond anything that could be described as shock.

"Ms. Su, with your skills, you could enter an amateur race right now." He took her helmet.

"I've been in this line of work for eight years, and I've never seen anyone clock lap times like that on their first time on a track."

Su Jin got out of the car and stretched her neck, her movements loose and languid after the exercise.

"It's a good car," she said.

"The car is one part of it, and your skill is another." Coach Han looked at her earnestly.

"Would you really not consider competing? The club has a friendly race next month. It's all people from the circle, and the skill level isn't much lower than in a professional race, but the atmosphere is more relaxed. It's perfect for someone like you-uh-"

He stopped, seemingly searching for the right words.

Su Jin finished for him. "Perfect for someone like me who doesn't look like she can drive?"

Caught out, Coach Han gave an awkward laugh. "No, no, that's not what I meant. I mean-you look like the type who should be sitting in the passenger seat taking pictures. I didn't expect you to drive so fiercely."

Su Jin was about to speak when a voice came from behind her.

"Coach Han was right. Your performance today really was a surprise, Ms. Su."

She turned around.

A man stood at the entrance to the pit garage. He was thirty-five or thirty-six, about 185 centimeters tall, and wore a black racing suit with the zipper open, revealing a gray T-shirt underneath.

His was not a refined sort of handsomeness, but a rugged, slightly rough-edged look: thick eyebrows, deep-set eyes, a high-bridged nose, and somewhat thin lips. When he smiled, one corner of his mouth tilted slightly, giving him a roguish air.

He came over with long strides and a natural aggressiveness. He stopped three paces in front of Su Jin, his gaze sweeping slowly over her face before settling on her over-the-knee boots for a second, then returning to her face.

"Chen Shen." He held out a hand. "One of the club's founders."

Su Jin reached out and shook it. His hand was dry and warm, with a thin layer of calluses on the pads of his fingers. His grip was neither too strong nor too weak, but just right.

"Su Jin."

Chen Shen withdrew his hand, his gaze still on her face, the roguish smile at the corner of his mouth deepening.

"I know. Pagani Huayra BC Roadster, Jing A9527. The whole club's been talking about a woman who came in driving a limited edition, looking like she stepped off a magazine cover. Now that I've seen you-"

He paused, letting his gaze travel over her once before saying unhurriedly:

"You're more beautiful than the stories say."

Su Jin looked at him without replying.

Chen Shen showed no embarrassment and continued, "I watched those laps you did from the control room. You hit your turn-in points precisely, accelerated hard coming out of the bends, and braked quite a bit later than I expected. At that level, it doesn't look like your first time on a track."

"It was my first time."

Chen Shen raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes, followed by even greater interest.

"Then where do you usually practice driving, Ms. Su?"

"I haven't practiced. I just drive to and from work."

Chen Shen stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly broke into a broad smile, revealing even white teeth.

"Ms. Su," he said, "do you know how many track veterans would want to bang their heads against a wall after hearing that?"

Su Jin did not smile. She just looked at him.

When Chen Shen finished laughing, he took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

"The club's having a get-together tonight, right next to the track. Food, drinks, and conversation," he said. "Everyone coming is from the circle: investors, people in industry, a few veteran racers, and a few pretty women who love driving just like you. Interested?"

Su Jin looked at him calmly.

Chen Shen did not look away. He simply let her look, his eyes openly candid-he was inviting her out, he was hitting on her, and he was being just that direct, neither pretending nor hiding it.

[Host,] Little Golden Egg's voice rang out. [This system scanned him. Chen Shen, thirty-seven years old, founder of Deep Blue Group, which makes new-energy batteries, with a net worth in the tens of billions. Unmarried, no public girlfriend. He likes racing and extreme sports, has a good reputation in the circle, and doesn't get involved in that messy stuff.]

After listening, Su Jin nodded slightly.

"What time?"

Chen Shen's eyes lit up. "Seven, at the clubhouse next door. When you arrive, say you're looking for me, and someone will bring you in."

Su Jin nodded and turned toward the pit garage.

After she had taken a few steps, his voice came from behind her. "Ms. Su."

She stopped but did not turn around.

"Your outfit today," he said, a smile in his voice, "suits that car very well."

Four

At seven that evening, Su Jin appeared at the private clubhouse beside the track.

She had changed clothes-her daytime racing outfit had been put away, replaced by a short black Balmain dress with the brand's signature padded shoulders. The hem fell just above her knees, revealing her long, straight legs.

Over it she wore a short, puffy, glossy down jacket from the same brand, with a subdued sheen.

On her feet were black patent-leather Gianvito Rossi stilettos with ten-centimeter heels, elevating her presence another notch.

She had changed her jewelry too: a pair of Chanel COCO CRUSH earrings in platinum set with diamonds hung from her earlobes;

Two bracelets were stacked on her wrist, a Cartier Love and a Van Cleef & Arpels four-leaf clover;

On the middle finger of her right hand was a Bulgari Serpenti ring, coiled like a snake and covered in tiny diamonds.

Her hair was down, falling over her shoulders with the ends curling slightly inward. Her makeup was lighter than during the day-her eyeshadow had been changed to earth tones, and on her lips was Tom Ford's slim black-and-gold lipstick in shade 16, Scarlet Rouge, a little more orange than true red, making her complexion look even fairer.

She entered the clubhouse and gave Chen Shen's name. Someone immediately led her through the lobby and into the VIP private room at the very back.

The room was large, more than two hundred square meters. Floor-to-ceiling glass covered one side, facing the track, which was lit up at night like a silver ribbon winding through the darkness.

On the other side were a bar and booths. Twenty or thirty people were scattered about, chatting in groups of three or five. Some held glasses of wine, some leaned by the windows admiring the view, and in the corner several men were playing at a few pool tables.

The moment she entered, the entire room fell silent for an instant.

It was not a deliberate silence, but an instinctive one-like a flock of chattering birds suddenly seeing one of their own with especially brilliant feathers fly in, falling silent together for a second before slowly resuming their clamor.

But once the noise returned, many more gazes followed her movements.

Su Jin paid them no mind. Standing at the door, she scanned the room and quickly found Chen Shen-he was leaning against the bar, talking to a few people with a glass of whiskey in his hand.

He saw her, his eyes brightened, and he said something to the people beside him before walking straight over.

"You're here." He stopped in front of her, looking her up and down without concealing the appreciation in his eyes.

"A change of clothes, a whole different feeling-fierce by day, glamorous by night. Ms. Su, just how many faces have you prepared for a single day?"

Su Jin did not respond to that. She simply asked, "Where's the drink?"

Chen Shen smiled and stepped aside, gesturing for her to go ahead. "This way. I had a special drink made for you."

Five

The bartender had been specially hired and was said to have worked for ten years at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hong Kong.

As soon as Su Jin sat down, he handed her a pale-gold cocktail with a thin slice of lemon on the rim.

"Ms. Su, President Chen specifically requested this. It's made with Hendrick's gin as the base, elderflower liqueur, fresh lime juice, and a little cucumber juice. It's refreshing and not very strong, suitable for a lady."

Su Jin took a sip. The fresh fragrance of cucumber and elderflower greeted her palate, followed by a hint of gin's distinctive juniper flavor. The sweet and sour were balanced, and it really did taste good.

"What do you think?" Chen Shen sat down beside her, holding his whiskey and watching her.

"Not bad."

Chen Shen smiled and gestured toward the people in the room. "Come on, I'll introduce you."

He led her through the crowd, introducing people one by one: President Zhang, who worked in investment; President Li, who worked in industry; President Wang, who worked in the internet sector; and several racers, some retired and some still active.

Everyone showed a keen interest in Su Jin-not because Chen Shen had brought her, but because she only had to stand there, without saying a word, to make it impossible to look away.

Her beauty was not singular or fixed, but fluid and ever-changing.

When she discussed the stock market with the investors, her eyes were sharp and assured; when she talked supply chains with the industrialists, a hint of thoughtfulness touched her lips; when she talked tracks with the racers, she suddenly came alive, her eyes bright as if a lamp had been lit inside them.

She could be cold, alluring, fierce, or serene-each state was so natural it did not seem like an act, as though countless faces had always been hidden in her bones, each waiting for a different occasion to awaken it.

"Ms. Su," President Zhang, the investor, said, looking at her with undisguised admiration, "what industry do you work in?"

"I make a few small investments," Su Jin said. "Hotels, guesthouses, art, that sort of thing."

"Small investments?" President Zhang laughed. "For anyone who can enter this circle, there's no such thing as a 'small investment.' You're too modest, Ms. Su."

President Li, who worked in industry, chimed in from beside them. "Ms. Su, I hear you acquired seven courtyard properties in Shuanglang? That's a great place. Have you thought about introducing a high-end health and wellness concept? I have resources; we could talk."

Su Jin raised her glass and clinked it against his. "Sure. Let's arrange a time later."

By the time she had made the rounds, she had seven or eight more business cards in her hand and more than a dozen friend requests on WeChat.

Chen Shen stayed by her side the whole time, occasionally adding a word, but mostly watching quietly, his gaze following the profile of her face, that roguish smile never leaving his lips.

Six

When they reached the corner, a man in a dark gray suit sat alone in a booth, holding a glass of red wine and gazing out at the illuminated track.

He was around fifty, with graying hair, but he was vigorous and alert, sitting ramrod straight, with the distinctive authority of someone accustomed to power radiating from him.

A cane lay beside him, its silver handle carved in the shape of an eagle.

Chen Shen led Su Jin over.

"Ms. Su, this is Elder Huo." His tone was more solemn than before. "Elder Huo is a senior member of our club and one of the first people in the country to take up racing. Elder Huo, this is Ms. Su Jin, a new member who just joined today. The Pagani is hers."

Elder Huo turned his head, his gaze settling on Su Jin's face.

That look was unlike any she had received before-it held neither amazement, appraisal, nor admiration, but scrutiny.

It was as though he were looking at a painting, or assessing an investment, with a faint, almost imperceptible trace of nostalgia.

"Su Jin." He repeated her name in a deep, resonant voice. "A good name."

Su Jin inclined her head slightly. "Hello, Elder Huo."

Elder Huo nodded and gestured toward the seat across from him. "Sit."

Su Jin sat down, with Chen Shen beside her.

Elder Huo's gaze never left her face. His scrutiny made her a little uncomfortable, but she didn't show it. She simply sat quietly and let him look.

After a full ten seconds, Elder Huo spoke.

"You look like an old acquaintance of mine," he said. "Someone I knew when I was young."

Su Jin raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Elder Huo looked away, picked up his glass of red wine, and took a sip as he gazed at the track outside the window.

"Back then, I was just like you young people, playing with cars, hitting bars, and meeting pretty girls." He smiled, a hint of self-mockery in his expression. "In the blink of an eye, decades have passed."

Chen Shen said from beside them, "Elder Huo is still the treasure that holds our club together. He goes out on the track a few times every year, and his lap times are faster than the young people's."

Elder Huo waved a hand. "I'm old. I can't do it anymore." He looked at Su Jin again. "Ms. Su, I heard it was your first time on the track today, and you already set a good lap time?"

"I was lucky," Su Jin said.

"Luck is part of strength too." Elder Huo looked at her, a deeper meaning in his gaze. "Little Chen, this young lady is good. Make sure you take good care of her."

Chen Shen immediately replied, "Don't worry, Elder Huo."

Elder Huo nodded, gave Su Jin another look, then stood up and picked up his cane.

"I should be going. At my age, I can't stay up late." He looked at Su Jin. "Ms. Su, if you ever need help with anything, you can come to me. This old man still has a little pull in the circle."

Su Jin stood and inclined her head slightly. "Thank you, Elder Huo."

Elder Huo waved a hand and slowly left the private room with his assistant supporting him.

After Elder Huo left, Chen Shen looked at her with a hint of curiosity.

"Elder Huo doesn't usually praise people lightly," he said. "You're the first young person he's called 'good' in the past few years."

Su Jin said nothing. She picked up her glass and took a sip.

Chen Shen leaned a little closer and lowered his voice. "Have you met Elder Huo before?"

"No," Su Jin said. "That was the first time."

Chen Shen stared at her for two seconds, then smiled, slipping back into his roguish manner.

"All right, never mind that." He raised his glass. "Here's to you-welcome to the club. Let's race together more often."

Su Jin clinked glasses with him and took a sip.

As she set down her glass, she noticed that Chen Shen was still looking at her face, his gaze filled with undisguised, sincere admiration.

"Ms. Su," he said, "I want to pursue you."

Su Jin was taken aback-not by what he said, but by the openness with which he said it.

There was no testing the waters, no beating around the bush, no playing hard to get. He just came straight out with it, as if he were saying the weather was nice today.

She looked at him without speaking.

Chen Shen didn't look away. He went on, "I know we've only just met, and it might be a little early to say this. But I'm the kind of person who says what's on his mind and doesn't hide things.

"I like you, and I want to pursue you. Whether you give me a chance is up to you. But I'll be serious about it."

When he finished, the corners of Su Jin's lips curved slightly.

"Mr. Chen," she said, "how many people have you pursued?"

Chen Shen thought about it seriously. "Three I pursued seriously. As for the ones I didn't, I never counted."

"What happened with those three?"

"Two turned me down. The other one accepted me, but we broke up later." He admitted it openly. "So my success rate isn't high, but when I pursue someone, I mean it."

Su Jin looked at him, a trace of interest appearing in her eyes-not because of his confession, but because of the man himself.

There was something very straightforward about him. He didn't pretend or hide. If he liked someone, he pursued them; if he failed, he accepted it. He was as open as a pool of clear water.

"Mr. Chen," she said, "I don't date."

Chen Shen was stunned. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said." Su Jin set down her glass and stood up. "I'm not interested in dating. If someone pursues me, I won't turn them away, but I won't enter a relationship with anyone.

"If you want to pursue me, you can. But you should know that even if you succeed, the result won't be what you're hoping for."

Chen Shen looked at her in silence for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.

"Ms. Su," he said, "hearing you say that makes me want to pursue you even more."

Su Jin ignored him and turned toward the door.

After a few steps, she stopped and looked back at him.

"Mr. Chen," she said, "is there another event at the track tomorrow?"

Chen Shen's eyes lit up. "Yes, there's a practice race in the morning. Are you coming?"

Su Jin nodded. "Then I'll see you in the morning."

With that, she pushed the door open and left.

By the time she returned to the hotel, it was nearly midnight.

Su Jin removed her makeup, took a shower, and stood in her robe before the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the night view. Chengdu's night was gentler than Beijing's. The lights weren't as densely packed, but there was a more leisurely air to it.

Her phone vibrated. It was a message from Chen Shen: Good night. See you tomorrow.

She didn't reply.

It vibrated again. This time it was Lu Shen: Still in Yunnan? Can you come to the reception next week?

She glanced at it and again gave no reply.

The third message was from Cheng Yan: I've arranged your visit to that art exhibition in Chengdu. Three in the afternoon the day after tomorrow. Do you need me to go with you?

She replied: No need. Just send me the address.

The fourth message was from Zhou Ye: I've finished scouting locations in Dali. I'll return to Beijing tomorrow and start putting the team together. Do you need someone to accompany you?

She replied: Not for now. Focus on things in Beijing first.

She put down her phone and looked out the window, suddenly remembering something.

[Host,] Little Golden Egg popped up. [When you met Elder Huo today, this system ran a scan. His initial favorability toward you was 60 points, but that scrutinizing look was strange. It wasn't the way a man looks at a woman. It was more like... the way an elder looks at someone younger.]

Su Jin frowned. "What do you mean?"

[This system isn't sure either. But he mentioned that you look like an old acquaintance of his, and that acquaintance-]

Little Golden Egg paused, its tone growing cautious:

[This system looked into Elder Huo's background. His name is Huo Zhenting, he's sixty-seven this year, and he's the founder of the Huo Group. His business interests span energy, real estate, shipping, and several other sectors, and his net worth is in the hundreds of billions. He had a wife when he was young. Her surname was Su, and she died in an accident thirty-five years ago, leaving no children.]

Su Jin's expression shifted slightly.

[That wife was said to be exceptionally beautiful, a renowned beauty in high society at the time.] Little Golden Egg's voice grew quieter and quieter. [Unfortunately, no photographs of her remain, so this system couldn't find out what she looked like. But, Host, when you faced Elder Huo today, this system picked up on the emotion in his eyes. It wasn't interest in a stranger, but nostalgia for someone from his past.]

Su Jin was silent for a long time.

Outside, the night grew deeper, and the city lights went out one by one. She stood before the glass, her reflection clear upon it. She had looked at that face herself for more than twenty years and had never thought there was anything special about it.

But now, she suddenly wanted to know whom that face really resembled.

[Host,] Little Golden Egg asked cautiously, [would you like this system to keep investigating?]

Su Jin thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"No need," she said. "If fate allows it, I'll find out in due course. If it doesn't, there's no point in digging it up."

[Then as for Elder Huo-]

"I'll let things take their course." She turned and walked toward the bedroom. "If he's someone from my past, he'll come looking for me. If he isn't, there's no point in me going to him."

[Host, that attitude of yours...]

"What about it?"

[Steady,] Little Golden Egg said. [Too steady for a twenty-five-year-old.]

Su Jin smiled, pulled back the covers, and lay down.

"I'm going to sleep. I'm racing tomorrow."

[Good night, Host.] Little Golden Egg floated in the air and said softly, [Sweet dreams.]

The lights went out, and the room fell into darkness.

Outside, the Chengdu night gently enveloped the city and the woman lying in bed, who had just entered a new world.