In the car, Yi Ci was fidgeting nonstop.
Yi Hansheng: “Are you a worm?”
Yi Ci: “I am.”
“?”
“Then you’re an old worm.”
Yi Hansheng: “…You brat! After one summer, your guts have grown, huh? Daring to talk back now?”
Yi Ci rolled his eyes. “As if I wasn’t daring before. What does that have to do with summer?”
“You!” Yi Hansheng, usually eloquent, found himself at a loss.
Though with this annoying son, it was bound to happen often.
“You’re in your senior year now, time to focus. I may have money to send you abroad for college, but all the options are shady schools…”
“Wait,” Yi Ci turned to scrutinize his dad. “Why do they have to be shady schools?”
“Any school that takes money to get you in is shady, right?”
“No, no, no, that’s only because you wouldn’t be paying enough. With enough cash, I could waltz into Harvard or Oxford.”
“Huh?”
Yi Ci turned serious. “I did the math. It’s not even that expensive; just about the price of two domestic libraries—but in USD.”
Yi Hansheng gave him a flick on the forehead. “What nonsense are you thinking of? Two libraries? USD? You think money grows on trees?”
Yi Ci covered his head, eyes wide. “Jeez! Old man, can’t you just talk without hitting me?”
“My teeth are itching to!”
Yi Ci shrugged. “Fine, hit me then. I’d rather be hit than bitten.”
Yi Hansheng: “…”
The driver chuckled from the front seat. “Sir, you and young master have such a great relationship.”
Yi Hansheng: “Cut it out!”
Yi Ci: “Knock it off!”
Then, in unison: “Who’s got a good relationship with him?!”
The two looked at each other, huffed, and turned their heads to look out the windows, showing only the backs of their heads.
The driver couldn’t help but laugh.
After a while, Yi Ci didn’t turn his head, still gazing out the window as he said, “I know you’re stingy and wouldn’t waste money on me. And those shady colleges are beneath me, so I figured I’d stay in China. That way, I can annoy you every day!”
Yi Hansheng’s mouth twitched up but flattened just as quickly. “Brat! You think you can annoy me? Dream on!”
“Old man, I’m warning you, don’t get cocky! Or I’ll—”
Halfway through his threat, he stopped abruptly.
Yi Hansheng raised an eyebrow. “You’ll what?”
Yi Ci didn’t answer.
The man instinctively turned to look and saw his silly son staring out the window, eyes wide.
Following his gaze, Yi Hansheng saw a tall, slender girl with long legs, one hand in her pocket, carrying a backpack, walking casually toward the school gate.
With the crowded road ahead, the car had come to a halt.
Seeing the girl now slightly ahead, Yi Ci panicked. “Old Huang! Old Huang! Open the door! Quickly—”
The driver, Old Huang, instinctively unlocked it.
Yi Ci grabbed his bag, jumped out without even shutting the door, and dashed toward the girl.
“Jiang Fuyue—wait up!”
He ran faster than he did to collect his allowance.
Yi Hansheng clicked his tongue, closed the door, and looked out the window at his son’s back. The kid had caught up and was now walking alongside the girl, talking animatedly.
He was doing most of the talking, looking over at her constantly, while she walked with a cool, distant air, even from behind.
“Has that brat finally discovered romance?”
The driver, Old Huang, chuckled. “I’ve never seen the young master this enthusiastic about any other girl.”
Right? He dropped his dad the moment he saw her and went chasing after her.
“Interesting,” Yi Hansheng rubbed his chin. “But why does it look like he’s just chasing her one-sidedly?”
“These days, young girls are more reserved.” Even Old Huang could see it.
Yi Hansheng thought to himself. Does his kid really lack appeal?
Seeing his son might actually be catching feelings, should he consider raising his allowance?
…
Yi Ci, unaware of this possible financial windfall, was now walking next to Jiang Fuyue, grinning ear to ear. “…So, are you coming?”
Jiang Fuyue: “Depends. If I don’t have any other plans.”
Yi Ci was inviting her to his birthday party this weekend.
“But…I asked you first. Can’t you spare an afternoon for me?”
Jiang Fuyue didn’t commit.
“Come on, we’re teammates, right? Besides, you’re the first friend I invited. Give me some face?”
Jiang Fuyue thought for a moment. “As long as there’s no test, tutoring, or other obligations.”
“There definitely won’t be! Who tests on weekends? And with your level, you’re practically set to be our city’s science valedictorian this year. You should be the one tutoring others!”
Jiang Fuyue’s mouth twitched.
“Alright, I’ll take that as a ‘yes’! You have to come this weekend! By the way, I don’t have your WeChat yet. Can we add each other, so I can send you the address?”
Jiang Fuyue opened her QR code for him to scan.
Yi Ci kept his composure, but his hands were shaking.
He added her! He really added her! From now on, his goddess was in his friend list! Incredible!
“Excuse me, students, please line up here for appearance check before entering the school gate.”
Jiang Fuyue and Yi Ci shifted to the back of the line.
“Hey, how was your summer break?” Yi Ci tried to make conversation.
Jiang Fuyue: “Training, competitions, meals, sleep.”
“…Oh.”
That was it?
Just that?
Yi Ci’s mouth twitched. “Aren’t you going to ask me?”
“Oh, so how was your summer?” she asked, her tone calm, gaze clear.
Yi Ci suddenly felt at a loss.
Still, he happily replied, “I traveled around Southeast Asia, then went skiing in Europe with my dad. I also picked up a new hobby.”
When he mentioned “new hobby,” his eyes sparkled.
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”
Seeing her finally respond, he was thrilled and struck a pose like he was pulling a handbrake and taking a sharp turn, complete with sound effects. “Vroom vroom vroom—guess?”
“Racing.”
“Whoa…How did you know?!”
Jiang Fuyue’s mouth twitched again. “…Isn’t it obvious?”
“…Oh.” So, smart girls are hard to impress because they know too much, leaving no room for further conversation.
But Yi Ci wasn’t giving up. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Do you know the types of racing?”
Jiang Fuyue looked at him.
Yi Ci raised his eyebrows, thinking he finally had a chance to show off.
“Well, there’s…”
Jiang Fuyue began, “Usually, there’s track and off-road racing. Track racing includes drifting, Formula racing, touring car racing, sports car racing, GT endurance racing, short-course rally, off-road circuit racing, and drag racing. Off-road racing includes rally racing, mountain racing, beach racing, and mud racing.”
Yi Ci’s jaw dropped.
Jiang Fuyue continued, “The most common and widely known is Formula racing, where cars must be built according to rules set by the FIA, covering body structure, length and width, minimum weight, engine displacement, cylinder number, fuel capacity, electronics, tire distance, and size.”
Yi Ci started to feel dizzy.
Jiang Fuyue went on: “Grand Prix Formula One, also known as F1, requires engines with a 1.6L displacement, six cylinders, and a turbocharger; the chassis is made from carbon fiber with a minimum ground clearance of 50-70 millimeters; the car body is low with wide wheels, fully exposed, hence the term ‘open wheel.’”
Yi Ci’s scalp tingled.
Finally, Jiang Fuyue asked, smiling, “…Anything else you’d like to know?”
“N-no…”
In reality, he was terrified.
Yi Ci quietly wiped the cold sweat from his palms, then his forehead. “Heh…It’s actually kinda hot out, isn’t it?”
Jiang Fuyue: “?”
Hot?
It was early autumn, with a cool breeze, mild sunshine—warm but not intense.
The weather was quite comfortable.
“Are you feeling too tense?”
Yi Ci instantly denied it, his voice rising. “Tense? Me? Why would I be tense?”
“But your face is pale, you’re sweating, breathing fast, looking exhilarated—all signs that you’re nervous.”
Yi Ci: “…” I want to die.
“Ahem! Suddenly remembered—I may still have a cold. Ugh, I’m feeling faint. Could you…give me a hand?”
