Baiheng's eyes were sharp as she rounded the corner.
She immediately spotted the vehicles lined up waiting,
and standing right in the middle of the road was someone she'd recognize even if turned to ashes.
She slammed her foot on the accelerator—at that moment, she felt the urge to perish together with this person.
"Baiheng!" Yingxing's shout finally snapped her out of it.
Baiheng's right foot lifted from the accelerator and stomped on the brake instead.
"Screech…"
After a long, grating sound of tires skidding against the ground,
the car came to a stop just before it could touch Shuhu.
Shuhu, completely unfazed, merely smirked at the two in the car.
Baiheng and Yingxing stepped out one after another, their faces filled with fury.
"Baiheng? Got your driver's license back, huh?" Shuhu flashed a trademark villainous grin.
"And you, Blade! Tsk! So, are you two planning to team up, or are you just sharing a ride?
I've got extra cars here. What do you say? Wanna join the fun?"
"Not interested!" Yingxing didn't spare Shuhu another glance.
"Fine then! If you're not into my high-tech toys, I'll just have my lackeys drive 'em!
Such famous actors, yet you prefer riding an AE… Hiss… What model was it again?"
Shuhu stroked his chin as he walked to the back of the car, "86???"
Then he burst into laughter, "86? What year is it now?"
A lackey scurried over, bowing obsequiously, "Boss, the 86's been discontinued. This thing's probably older than you!"
"How dare you! Why're you shouting so loud? What if Miss Baiheng hears? Won't she be heartbroken? What if something happens? She won't even be able to find replacement parts!" Shuhu glared viciously at his underling.
"Miss Bai's already dumb enough, and you're teasing her? Go buy her some melon seeds!"
The lackey immediately put on a pitiful expression.
"My bad, my bad, Miss Baiheng!
I've got connections at Fengtian—can get you a discount on the latest AECS5!
Sure, 'when mountains and rivers end, and the road seems lost, buy a Fengtian that won't stop,'
but at least you won't have to worry about the engine smoking mid-drive! Hahaha!"
Faced with Shuhu and his lackey's taunts, Yingxing clenched his fists.
But he knew racing was about skill, about dominance—it was a battle of wills.
In a competition, anger was useless!
"Baiheng, don't let them provoke you. Get in the car and show them what you're made of!"
Baiheng gave Yingxing a firm nod.
But Shuhu interrupted again, "Want me to move my car? Give you the front position?"
"No need!" Baiheng shot Shuhu a glare and returned to the driver's seat.
Yingxing surveyed the road. "I'll be your navigator. This car's just been repaired—it needs breaking in. But trust me,
control the RPM and angle strictly, and it'll be fine!"
"Got it!" Baiheng fastened her seatbelt, ready to go.
...
Before long,
a lit sign at the starting line displayed a countdown.
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
"Go!"
Tires screeched against the pavement as three cars shot forward.
As expected, Shuhu's high-performance car had overwhelming power, pulling ahead from the start.
Meanwhile, Baiheng's 86 was even slower than usual off the line.
"Don't rush. Keep the RPM under 12,000—let the oil and engine sync properly."
Baiheng nodded, suppressing her urge to floor the accelerator.
"Even with my skills, there's no skipping the break-in period.
So, we'll warm up the 86 in the first half and catch up later!"
"Mm!" Baiheng held back her excitement and followed Yingxing's guidance.
—
Less than a few minutes into the race, Shuhu was already far ahead.
From his driver's seat, he merely swayed the steering wheel slightly.
His car was equipped with the latest AI driving system,
capable of real-time road analysis, driving suggestions,
and even projecting the optimal racing line onto the windshield.
It was the pinnacle of tech-driven racing.
He'd even entered another lackey in the race with the same car model, instructing him to deliberately slow down and block Baiheng's path.
Though, for now, it was unnecessary—
Baiheng was too far behind to close the gap.
"Hahaha!" Shuhu glanced elegantly out the window. "I'm the true Drift Mountain King! You think your decades-old relic can compete?
Baiheng, times have changed!
What do you have against me? Yingxing? Or should I call you Blade? Hehehe!
A chef ignoring recipes to study war tactics?
You're already actors—why meddle in this?
But fine. When I win, I'll ride on your fame to boost my own!"
—
Meanwhile, Baiheng stole a glance at Yingxing.
He hadn't given her any instructions for a while.
Yingxing's eyes were closed, his ears faintly twitching—
he was listening. Listening to the car's voice.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally opened his eyes.
"It's ready! The 86 says it's broken in. Go all out!"
"Hehehe!" Baiheng flashed a bright grin. "Been waiting for this.
Counterattack begins!"
Suddenly, she slammed the accelerator, and Yingxing was pressed into his seat by the sheer force.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Yingxing smiled faintly at her.
He didn't say a word.
No one knew this road better than Baiheng.
Even during her three-year driving ban,
she'd simulated driving techniques day after day,
running this course through her mind 36,000 times.
True to form,
Baiheng found the perfect speed, the perfect line, the perfect technique,
closing the gap bit by bit.
—
Shuhu, now relaxed, heard his lackey's panicked voice through his earpiece.
"Boss, boss! The AE86's catching up!"
"Catching up? Are you dreaming?" Shuhu paused, then smirked.
Well, it was Baiheng, after all. Good thing he'd prepared!
No fun if there wasn't any suspense, right?
"So what if she's catching up? I've got plenty in store for her. Aren't you right behind her?
Block her!"
"Got it!" But the lackey's voice turned terrified the next second. "Boss, there's a ghost in the car!
'Fate brings us together! Heard someone's up to no good here? My friend?'"
"Huh? What the—? Hey!" Shuhu yelled into the earpiece, but no response came.
—
In the lackey's car, he was drenched in sweat as a pixelated doodle filled the central screen.
An AI-generated voice chirped,
"Relax, my friend! I'm just a little artificial intelligence—Prometheus!
Sure, it's a race, but your system's so advanced! Let me take the wheel!"
The lackey sobbed.
"Please, oh mighty one, spare me!
I quit! Don't take control!"