Chapter 24: Ye Chen Breaks the Record

Racing is a contest of time and skill, a test of how completely the driver can command the machine. Ye Chen and Wei Young launched almost simultaneously, but Wei Young, thanks to his precise timing and mastery of the racing mindset, shot ahead instantly. Ye Chen was different; he’d never competed in a race before, though he was intimately familiar with sports cars. He remembered a stretch in the Golden Triangle, pushing a Batmobile to nearly three hundred kilometers per hour.

The Z4, under Ye Chen’s command, shot forward like a streak, its speed fierce as it tailed the back of Wei Young’s Ferrari. The two cars chased each other, neck and neck, but the Ferrari had the advantage at the start and on the straights, its power just edging out the Z4—a difference reflected in their prices. Even a GT3 came in at only around three million, while Wei Young’s Ferrari cost over four million. That million difference was more than just for show.

Ye Chen shifted gears with lightning speed, foot steady on the accelerator, utterly calm. His eyes were locked on the Ferrari ahead. Xiangming Mountain’s road was just two lanes wide, with a usual speed limit of fifty for safety, yet now it was the stage for a scene of breakneck speed. The Ferrari, with its roaring engine, ignited the mountain road, while Ye Chen’s Z4 followed in relentless pursuit.

“You…” Li Ruo was frightened by Ye Chen’s movements; his manipulation of the controls was far more intense than hers. To him, the clutch, accelerator, and brake—every component on the dashboard—became an extension of his will. She hadn’t had much faith in the Z4, agreeing to the race only on a whim, never expecting Ye Chen could drive it to such heights. The BMW hugged the Ferrari’s tail, leaving her wide-eyed and speechless, her mind swept up in the thrill.

“Damn!” Wei Young’s face was tense, a sheen of cold sweat on his brow. From the start, the fiery Z4 behind clung to him relentlessly, making him uneasy. When had Li Ruo become so formidable? He dared not dwell on it, nor could he afford distraction—the first turn was fast approaching. He braced himself, using both feet; slowing for the curve was normal, and he had no desire to die—one slip and he’d plunge off the cliff to certain doom.

But then, Ye Chen’s Z4 didn’t slow. Instead, he slammed the accelerator, hurtling forward. Li Ruo wanted to warn him to slow down for the bend. She knew real racers often took the lead in the turns, and Ye Chen was waiting for just such an opportunity—to use the first curve to shake off Wei Young and dash for the finish, with two more bends to recover should this one fail.

Li Ruo watched, terrified, palms sweating. At this speed, was he courting death? It was too late to stop him now; better to trust him than distract him with her fear.

Suddenly, the car shuddered, as if out of control, sliding toward the edge. Ye Chen squinted, the flaming Z4 skimming past the decelerating Ferrari. Through the window, he caught a glimpse of Wei Young’s horrified face.

“Aah!” Li Ruo could no longer contain her terror and screamed aloud.

She could feel the car losing traction, the tires slipping with nothing to grip. All she could do was pray: God, please, don’t let anything happen—I’m not done living yet.

The Z4 howled, and Ye Chen felt the immense pressure. It had been ages since he’d raced like this, and now, facing such a neurotic sports car, the sensation was both daunting and exhilarating. Without nerves of steel, who would dare push the Z4 to its limits?

Bang!

With a thunderous noise, Ye Chen eased off the gas. The tires found purchase, friction restored. After a ten-meter skid, the Z4 was running neck and neck with the Ferrari. As soon as the BMW regained traction, Ye Chen floored it, bursting out of the bend in a blaze of red, leaving Wei Young stunned behind.

Li Ruo covered her eyes, unable to watch this dance of death. She curled up, trembling, just hoping that if she went over the edge, at least it would be quick. Then, a surge of force pinned her back; she felt the car’s grip return. Peeking through her fingers, she saw they were tearing down the road at blistering speed.

“Oh my God, how… how did you do that?” Li Ruo stared at Ye Chen in awe, disbelief and shock on her face. The situation had seemed hopeless, yet he had pulled them through.

“It’s simple,” Ye Chen replied with a sly grin, a little boastful, though secretly thrilled. The beautiful woman beside him gazed up, hoping to glean a secret or two.

“Tell me!” Li Ruo exclaimed, straightening up, inadvertently revealing a little more of her fair, ample chest, her excitement barely contained as she almost bounced from her seat.

“I’ll explain later!” Ye Chen laughed, stepping on the gas and vanishing along the Xiangming Mountain track.

At the foot of the mountain, a group of lackeys gathered, eyes fixed on the final triple curve, stopwatches and signal devices in hand, reflective vests gleaming. Clutching walkie-talkies, they clustered together.

“How much faster do you think Wei Young will be than that chick this time?”

“At least a minute, I’d say.”

“No way it’s that much! The Z4 can’t be that far behind the Ferrari, can it?”

As they bantered, a howl echoed down the mountain. The group tensed, eyes glued to the curve, fingers on stopwatches, a taut wire strung across the road to trigger the timers as the cars flew by.

“Here they come!” someone shouted.

“Ready, quick—get ready! Wei Young’s car should be first!”

Eyes wide, they stared at the mountain exit, ready for Wei Young’s arrival. Two beams of light appeared, weaving back and forth—signaling the racers’ imminent approach.

The Z4’s roar filled the night, its blazing headlights searing their eyes. Squinting past the glare, they stared in disbelief.

“My God… isn’t that Li Ruo’s Z4? How—?”

“Where’s Wei Young? Where’s the 599? Why isn’t it here?”

Every neck craned, but the Ferrari was nowhere in sight. Clearly, against all odds, Wei Young had lost. In the final stretch, Ye Chen floored the accelerator, the downhill rush sending the heavy BMW diving through the night air. The exhilaration surged through him; Ye Chen relished the long-lost thrill, stomping the pedal to the floor.

Whoosh—

The Z4 shot across the finish line at full speed. Silence fell. The crowd stood frozen, watching the BMW vanish into the darkness. The timekeeper stared at his stopwatch, then exclaimed, “Holy crap! Record—he broke the record!”

“What?! How much, say it—how much?”

“Three minutes… three minutes and fifteen seconds!”

“Oh God, he broke the Xiangming Mountain record!”

They gaped at the stopwatch, some even suspecting it was faulty. As the crowd buzzed, Wei Young’s 599 finally crossed the line, screeching to a stop after a long distance. Everyone swarmed around.

“Wei Young, how was it?”

“She broke the record!”

The news only soured Wei Young further. He jumped out, scowling. “Yeah, I know.”

“So, does she get the 599?” someone asked.

“Hmph, not that easy!” Wei Young lit a cigarette, frustration etched on his face. He hadn’t expected such a performance from that girl. Even a real F1 driver would struggle to break that record here. Cigarette dangling from his lips, he swept a chilly gaze over the crowd. “Did any of you actually see who was driving?”

His question made them exchange glances. All their attention had been on the speed, not the driver. They shook their heads. Wei Young’s expression darkened. “I don’t think things are that simple. With Li Ruo’s third-rate driving, there’s no way she could improve so much overnight.”

“Then… what are you saying?” a lackey asked, drawing closer.

“Hmph, it must have something to do with that security guard!” Wei Young replied, climbing into his car and leaving the group baffled in his wake.