Chapter 32

After this incident, Jiang Muti’s actions were considered officially settled. Previously, Jiang Yunjuan had turned a blind eye, but later, he helped his sister clean up the mess.

As for that family, they likely ended up forgotten in some corner, never to appear in front of the Yun siblings again.

The Yun family’s matters were now over, but Jiang Muti’s own issues weren’t so easy to handle.

After all, Father Jiang had been in charge of the family for a lifetime, and although he wasn’t exactly young, he was still strong enough to be in charge. Therefore, everything had to be done very carefully.

That said, it was Jiang Yunjuan who took care of the actual work, and Jiang Muti’s role was really quite limited.

However, she knew her own strengths and weaknesses. Although their goals were the same, meddling when it wasn’t her area of expertise would be a mistake.

So, no matter how lost she felt, she could only patiently focus on handling her own matters and trust her brother with the rest.

However, as their engagement partners, both families were clearly dissatisfied with the frequency of school meetings.

To be honest, Jiang Muti found running into Zhou Lu too often at school already quite annoying. Their classes were diagonally across from each other, and they would bump into each other one or two times a day in the hallway.

She suspected that the Zhou family kept an eye on the school’s happenings, knowing that Zhou Lu was still tangled up with Li Xi, and so they had already planned his schedule for the holidays accordingly.

But Jiang Muti wasn’t happy about it. She felt like she was being dragged into Zhou Lu’s mess.

After being arranged to have a meal with him alone that weekend, she didn’t hold back and scolded him as soon as they met.

“Did I do something wrong? Why do I have to spend my holiday staring at your face? I thought we were at least half allies in this matter. I don’t expect you to make any great progress, but at least don’t drag me down!”

“To be honest, I feel like every minute of this is a total waste of time.”

Zhou Lu wasn’t happy either. “How is this my fault? Who knew the adults would have so many issues? We’ve been so obedient, saying whatever they ask, but now they still want to push us? Isn’t that annoying?”

Jiang Muti couldn’t help but laugh in anger. “Obedient? That’s me! Don’t drag yourself into this, okay? Have you no shame? What you’re doing is called compliance on the surface but defiance behind their backs. Only a fool like your parents would let you get away with it.”

“Then what can I do? I can’t really break up with Li Xi during this time, can I? As long as we’re together, it’s impossible to keep it a secret,” Zhou Lu replied confidently.

Jiang Muti felt a sourness in her mouth. “Fine, fine. Let’s not discuss this anymore. I was naive to expect you to handle your own business well, knowing you’re this stupid.”

“Let’s agree on one thing, though—Li Xi isn’t going to suddenly show up today, right? To be honest, I’m getting tired of this situation. If it happens again, I’ll lose my temper.”

Zhou Lu waved his hand. “She won’t. I’m not stupid. She’s still upset with you, and I’m not going to make trouble for myself.”

At least there was some agreement on this point.

Both of them sighed in exhaustion. “Well, let’s get started then!”

“What did your parents say? My family just let me go out with you today.”

Zhou Lu answered, “Basically, we have dinner, then go watch a movie or a concert in the afternoon. We could also go to a sports field or a racetrack, and then eat something random in the evening. The day will just pass like that.”

“Tch! Fine.” Jiang Muti said, “Actually, all of that sounds pretty fun. I wish Yun Cheng and Yun Duo were here to join me.”

Zhou Lu wasn’t about to back down. “Well, I think it’d be better if my girlfriend was the one accompanying me.”

“However, just wait and see. If either of us dares to call someone unnecessary to join us, we’ll definitely get slapped.”

“The one getting slapped is you.” Jiang Muti rolled her eyes. “My parents aren’t even home, so how could they slap me? Even if I asked my brother to do it, he’d just scratch me lightly and let it go.”

“Damn! Having a brother is so impressive, huh? Well, I’ve got a sister.”

“Will your sister stop your parents from beating you or help you smooth things over when they do?”

“Nope. Every time I get beaten, she’s delighted. Sometimes, when my mom wants to hit me with a feather duster, she immediately hands my mom a golf club.”

After saying this, Zhou Lu fell into a state of depression. “Having a brother is so nice.”

Jiang Muti couldn’t help but laugh. “Forget it, that depends on the person. If you were my brother’s younger sibling, you probably wouldn’t even live to adulthood.”

After this back-and-forth teasing, the atmosphere became a bit lighter.

The two were dropped off at the reserved restaurant by the driver. The restaurant’s head chef was a world-renowned culinary master, with branches worldwide, and he had recently come to this city.

It was a rare opportunity to taste his dishes, so many high-society people had made reservations early, though most of them ended up disappointed.

The satisfaction brought by the food washed away some of their earlier frustrations. During the meal, they didn’t talk much, each engrossed in their phones. It was the first time they sat together so quietly without any noise or arguing.

Indeed, phones were a great invention.

The meal dragged on for over two hours before they finally stood up.

Zhou Lu asked, “Cinema? Sports field? Racetrack? Or maybe an amusement park?”

Jiang Muti replied, “It’s best not to go to places that everyone can access. Amusement parks and cinemas are off the list.”

Although he was asking for her opinion, Zhou Lu was curious. “Why? You’re not afraid of running into someone you know, are you?”

He laughed at her cautiousness. “How could that be? Do you think the whole city is our school? We could run into people anywhere.”

Jiang Muti raised an eyebrow, thinking that if she were with someone else, she wouldn’t think this way.

But with Zhou Lu, things were different. When she was with the male lead, there was always the chance of triggering some dramatic plotline.

The atmosphere was nice now, and they were both content being quiet companions for the day. But if they ran into someone and ended up caught in a dramatic love triangle, she’d have to kill someone.

In the end, none of the places mentioned were chosen. Jiang Muti said, “I heard you race cars, right?”

“Is it fun?”

Zhou Lu immediately perked up. Basketball and racing were his favorites, and everyone knew that.

“It’s fun, really fun, especially when—”

He paused, looking at her cautiously. “You’re not thinking of going to the racetrack, are you?”

“I’m telling you, do you really think I’m stupid just because I don’t argue with you every time? If my parents find out I took you to the racetrack, they’ll beat me.”

At this point, Jiang Muti was genuinely interested. “Well, if I turn around and leave right now, then spread the word that you were texting your still-not-broken-up girlfriend during our date, do you think your parents will just slap you? They’ll beat you worse, believe me?”

Zhou Lu gave her a thumbs-up. “Alright, you’re tough, but you can look, just don’t touch the steering wheel.”

Jiang Muti responded, “Do you think girls don’t enjoy the thrill of controlling speed?”

In her past life, she had played racing games with friends, though she was pretty much a beginner. But that didn’t stop her from enjoying the thrill every time she played.

In this life, the original person didn’t have such a broad interest. Plus, these places were usually members-only. When she wanted to play, she had to get past her brother first, which was a hassle.

So, she took this chance to ask Zhou Lu to take her there, and then asked him, “Have you ever raced on mountain roads?”

Zhou Lu didn’t answer right away, his eyes slightly awkward.

Jiang Muti understood. He had raced before, but after being caught by his parents and getting a beating, his dream of being an expert driver had vanished like smoke.

Understanding! How many children’s dreams die at the hands of their parents’ feather dusters and clothes poles?

At the racetrack, because there weren’t any events recently, it was quite peaceful. Although there were many amateur enthusiasts who came back to play, the area was so large that the crowd was sparse, in small groups here and there.

Zhou Lu picked up his gear, and as soon as he changed into his racing suit, he saw Jiang Muti had also changed and come out.

He was surprised. “Didn’t you say you couldn’t get in the car? Where did you get the clothes?”

This place wasn’t open to the public, and they wouldn’t let in outsiders except during races. Members’ clothing and equipment were stored here for safekeeping, and there were no rental options.

Jiang Muti replied, “I ran into a pretty lady, she’s really nice, with an even better figure. She lent them to me.”

Just then, a short-haired woman walked over. She looked a little older than them, probably in her early twenties.

But she had a charming, cool aura, likely of Eastern European descent, with especially deep eyes. She was even more handsome than most guys.

She walked straight up to Jiang Muti, gave her a once-over, and whistled. “Not bad, little beauty! If you need anything, I’d definitely stay for you.”

Jiang Muti proudly shrugged her shoulders. “How should I return the clothes to you?”

The short-haired woman casually replied, “Just leave them in the changing room. My number’s on them, and they’ll take care of it.”

Jiang Muti naturally thanked her again and watched the figure in the black leather jacket disappear out the door.

She couldn’t help but marvel, “When women get handsome, they really leave men in the dust. They’re considerate, generous, graceful, and don’t skimp on compliments.”

Then she turned and glanced at Zhou Lu, her expression saying it all.

Zhou Lu was furious, gritting his teeth. “What does this have to do with me? I’m not your boyfriend, you can’t compare me to her, can you?”

Jiang Muti shuddered. “Just talk, don’t make me throw up. But don’t feel so bitter. Look at how you handle relationships. Tsk, tsk! If you could have just half the effort that lady has, you wouldn’t have messed things up like this.”

As they arrived at the racetrack, Zhou Lu had his own car stored there, which was much better than the track’s cars, and not just one car.

Jiang Muti, of course, wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to use a better one. They each got into their cars, and Zhou Lu took off first.

He was fast, his skills were refined, while Jiang Muti was just an amateur having fun, so within a few seconds, he had already pulled ahead.

Fortunately, she wasn’t racing him. She was just enjoying the feeling of speed, something she couldn’t experience on regular streets.

If she were really competing with someone, they could probably just pick anyone here and easily beat her, which would drive her crazy.

After playing for a while, Jiang Muti stopped first and went back to the control center. She didn’t even check the timer, no point in looking.

She took off her helmet and placed it aside, loosening her tangled hair to let the wind pass through and give it some air.

Then, she heard someone call her from behind: “Jiang Muti?”

Jiang Muti turned around and saw Ji Feishi in a white racing suit. He was tall and slender, with a clean, refined aura, which was a stark contrast to the usual school uniforms or sports jerseys she typically saw him in.

He looked striking in a completely different style, radiating a charm all his own.

Jiang Muti was just admiring how this person could look good in anything, always giving off a fresh, appealing vibe.

He walked over to her, his mood seemingly quite good upon seeing her. “I didn’t expect you’d come back here to play. Did you come with Yun Cheng and the others?”

Before she could respond, a race car stopped nearby, the door opened, and someone stepped out.

Ji Feishi instinctively thought it was Yun Cheng, but the next second, the person removed their helmet and it turned out to be Zhou Lu—

No, it was Zhou Lu after all.

Ji Feishi’s expression changed. What had looked like a casual, barely noticeable excitement earlier seemed to evaporate in an instant.

However, Zhou Lu didn’t immediately notice him. He quickly walked up to Jiang Muti.

He said, “You said you’ve never learned to drive? You’ve never touched a car and yet you dared to drive a race car? Are you crazy? I get it, today you’re determined to make me get a beating, right?”

When they were racing earlier, they had used the in-car communication system to talk, and Jiang Muti had accidentally let slip that she hadn’t learned to drive.

For families like theirs, with so many luxury cars and a large yard, it was easy to pick up driving on their private track. Usually, they didn’t even wait until a certain age to start driving. Jiang Muti had learned to drive in her past life, but in this one, she hadn’t touched the steering wheel much.

The original owner hadn’t learned to drive at all, but when it came to situations where her own experience conflicted with the original owner’s, she would try to stick to the original owner’s experience when talking to others.

However, when driving, she got too carried away with the thrill and forgot about the logic. She ended up acting like a daring person who had never touched the steering wheel, yet boldly jumped into a race car.

Zhou Lu almost had a heart attack. Although she wasn’t going fast, and even if she crashed or flipped the car, with all the security measures, nothing serious would happen, it was still terrifying.

He continued scolding her, “You really know how to act. You looked so comfortable, like you knew exactly what you were doing. Hey, can you tell the difference between the gas pedal and the brake? When you’re in a hurry, you won’t mess up the left and right pedals, will you?”

Jiang Muti was getting impatient. “What’s wrong with you? You believe everything you hear? Do I look like someone who hasn’t learned? I’ve definitely practiced at home. And I’m not going fast. You do your thing, why are you yelling?”

That was true. The fact that she could drive steadily around the track didn’t look like something a beginner would do. She started smoothly and parked smoothly—she was very consistent.

However, Zhou Lu was still scared of this person who never seemed to speak the truth, so he said, “No, I need to check. I need to ask your family if this is really true. Otherwise, I’ll be the one in trouble.”

Jiang Muti froze in fear. Could her brother find out about this? That controlling, and overprotective guy would probably go crazy if he found out she was acting so recklessly outside.

Quickly, she put on a smile and said, “It’s not a big deal. You’re the experienced one, so you can tell, right? It’s fine, let’s just enjoy our date, don’t trouble my family. Otherwise, they might think you’re the kind of guy who can only be remotely controlled, are you okay with that?”

But at that moment, Zhou Lu had a sly grin. He chuckled, “You’re really worried about me telling your family, huh? Looks like it’s not just like you said, I’m the one causing trouble, huh?”

When he saw Jiang Muti’s frustrated expression, his mood suddenly brightened.

Then, he finally redirected his attention to the person next to him—

“Ji Feishi? What are you doing here?” Zhou Lu’s good mood immediately soured.

Ji Feishi didn’t answer him right away, he was still processing the conversation they had just had.

The news that these two might get engaged had a significant impact on him, but the most recent impression he had of them together was from several months ago, when they had a heated argument, both full of disdain.

But now—

The way they interacted with each other, so familiar and even joking in a way that seemed private, felt like a naked mockery of his own hesitation and confusion recently.

The world wouldn’t stop to wait for him during this time of indecision. He didn’t seem to have the luxury of sorting out his thoughts.

Ji Feishi’s pupils darkened, but he forced a smile, which only made him look sharper and more dangerous.

He replied to Zhou Lu, “You’re making it sound like the first time we ran into each other here.”

They shared a few common interests and were both part of this circle, so encountering each other occasionally was inevitable.

Zhou Lu grumbled, “The last time’s score hasn’t been settled yet. If it weren’t for today not being convenient—”

“What’s inconvenient about it?” Ji Feishi smirked. “Isn’t this the perfect excuse?”

“What do you mean by that?” Zhou Lu furrowed his brow.

Ji Feishi only then realized he was getting out of control. For someone who usually had everything under his thumb, this was an awkwardness that only he could feel.

He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and then said, “The girl didn’t want you to dig into her private matters, but you’re forcing her. That’s a bit ugly, don’t you think?”

“This has nothing to do with you!” Zhou Lu couldn’t believe it. He had just managed to regain some ground with Jiang Muti, and now someone was rushing to criticize him.

It was as though he was the villain in all of this. Speaking of which, wasn’t this guy familiar with Jiang Muti? And wasn’t he there for more than one of the many times he had witnessed Jiang Muti humiliating others?

Putting her into the role of a helpless victim—who would Zhou Lu complain to about his burst lungs?

Ji Feishi smiled. “Alright then, let’s have a race. If you lose, you better shut up.”

Zhou Lu wasn’t about to swallow this insult and immediately rolled up his sleeves and got into his car.

It was lucky for him that he had no other thoughts about Jiang Muti, otherwise, he might have realized just how outrageous Ji Feishi’s words were.

In normal circumstances, a couple would go through the usual steps of getting to know each other better, and Ji Feishi would be the real obstacle to that.

Jiang Muti, who had been secretly watching and listening to their back-and-forth, disappeared without a trace, feeling a bit speechless.

However, the track was only a few kilometers long, and it wouldn’t take much time for the two to complete a lap.

Since the outcome was related to her, she couldn’t just leave and had to wait.

In the end, both cars stopped with an undetectable difference between them, and only the electronic timer could reveal who won and who lost.

“I definitely won. Even the tiniest difference, like the size of a fingernail, is still a difference. Don’t think you’re better than everyone else.”

“Heh! There’s no way I could lose to you, not in anything, not to anyone.” Ji Feishi said, his tone turning extremely cold on the last few words.

Zhou Lu felt that something was off about this guy today. Normally, he acted all high and mighty, ignoring everyone else, which was frustrating, but today was different.

Since earlier, there had been a strong sense of antagonism. Zhou Lu couldn’t help but wonder if he had offended him somehow.

Such exciting news, how come he didn’t know about it?

After checking the time at the timing center, Zhou Lu couldn’t enjoy his victory. He lost!

“What the hell is this difference? Less than a second.”

Ji Feishi, looking down at him with a cold smile, said, “Didn’t someone say it before? Even the difference of a fingernail is still a difference.”

Zhou Lu gritted his teeth in frustration but accepted the outcome. He turned to Jiang Muti and said, “Fine, I won’t use this against you, but I’ll find your weaknesses. Don’t think you’re the only one who can talk to me like that.”

It was clear he was heading toward making an enemy of her. Jiang Muti gave him a thumbs-down to show her appreciation.

Ji Feishi fought the urge to kick Zhou Lu into the sky and instead pulled Jiang Muti’s hand.

“Let’s go. There’s no point in staying here any longer.”

He pulled her away without giving her a chance to resist.

At first, Zhou Lu didn’t think much of it, but after they were gone for a while, he suddenly remembered.

Damn it, there was an agenda for coming out today. The whole point was to drop Jiang Muti off at home after dinner.

Ji Feishi suddenly barged in and caused chaos, taking her away wasn’t a big deal, but how was he supposed to face the questions when he got home?

And his reaction—why did it feel more and more like he was trying to steal a woman?

Oh~

Zhou Lu finally realized something and thought he understood what was going on.

Not just Zhou Lu, even Jiang Muti didn’t quite realize how things had escalated.

By the time she figured out the task for today, she had already changed into her personal clothes, sitting in Ji Feishi’s car, wearing her racing suit.

“Hey! Wait, we’re on a date! We just had a little spat, it’s not like we’re parting on bad terms. Why did you bring me out here?”

She was about to get out of the car when Ji Feishi pressed both hands on her shoulders, pushing her back into her seat.

Frowning, he said, “Just a little spat? You’re not the kind of person who lets yourself be wronged, are you? Why are you trying to accommodate everything? Do you just ignore your own feelings and preferences, blindly following orders from home?”

Jiang Muti looked into his eyes, where ink-like turmoil swirled, as if something was about to burst.

She had always been aware and rational, but at this moment, she wasn’t sure if it was due to empathizing with his emotions or some other reason.

A flash of pathological destructive desire flickered through Jiang Muti’s mind. At this moment, she felt like a patient in the throes of an addiction, desperately wanting to destroy this person’s rationality.

She smiled faintly, her expression half-smiling, half-mocking, and said, “Oh? You think you know me well? Then you should know how much I hate when people presumptively decide what I will or won’t do.”

She extended her fingertip, pressing it firmly into the center of Ji Feishi’s collarbone, her touch growing more forceful, as if the sharpness of her words were embedded in her touch.

“This is the arranged marriage partner my family set up for me. In every aspect, he’s outstanding. Whether it’s the comparison of our family backgrounds or personal qualities, the future looks very promising. This is an undeniably positive reality, and I’ve worked hard for it, hoping to create a better future. Is that really so unreasonable?”

Ji Feishi’s pupils gradually dilated with her words, until it seemed as if the blackness had filled his entire gaze.

He stared deeply at the girl before him. She wasn’t his ideal type—sharp, harsh, dangerous, and contradictory.

He had known that from the first moment he saw her, yet she was so irresistibly captivating.

Before this, Ji Feishi had attributed his attraction to her strong presence and her constant, attention-grabbing radiance. That was reasonable, after all—she was dazzling, an undeniable fact.

But now, the truth peeled back layer by layer, mocking the conclusions he had originally drawn.

When he heard her words about managing and even planning for the future, the constant chaos in his heart stilled for a moment.

Ji Feishi chuckled lightly, “The future? How do you know you’ll even make it that far?”