Chapter 7: Going to Watch the Race

Eight people in total went to watch the car race on Saturday, taking three cars. Apart from Lin Tong, everyone else met at the school gate. They then drove to pick him up. When the three cars arrived at the Lin family house, Lin Hexi and Lin Tong had just finished breakfast.

The two walked out of the Lin family villa. Lin Tong carried a moderately sized backpack, while Lin Hexi was empty-handed, holding only his phone.

Including the drivers, the other two cars were already full with six people. Only You Chong’s car had one person sitting in the back seat. Lin Tong, despite his reluctance, didn’t dare go against Lin Yuanwei’s decision and told You Chong that they needed to bring Lin Hexi along.

You Chong sat in the driver seat, glanced at Lin Hexi standing outside the car with unreadable emotions, and finally said, “Let him sit in the back.”

Only then did Lin Tong roll down the window and said to Lin Hexi coldly, “You sit in the back.”

Lin Hexi got in and, after sitting down, realized that the person next to him was someone he knew. Just a few days ago, in an elective class, he had taken the seat You Chong had saved for this person. Obviously, Yang Juan didn’t have much of a good impression of him, so he didn’t greet him.

On the other hand, Lin Hexi seemed completely oblivious to the attitudes of the others in the car. He casually greeted You Chong and Yang Juan, “Good morning.”

As expected, no one responded.

Only Yang Juan looked up in slight surprise, giving him a glance filled with admiration.

Catching the look from Yang Juan, Lin Hexi turned and gave him a slight smile.

Yang Juan, being gentle and honest by nature, noticed that Lin Hexi meant no harm and instinctively started to smile back. Fortunately, before his lips could form a full smile, he caught himself, remembering that the person in front of him was disliked by both You Chong and Zhou Xuan. He had a good relationship with both of them and felt he should share their sentiment.

The race was scheduled to start at ten in the morning. After a two-hour drive, they arrived at the venue in the suburbs. As they parked and entered the venue, members of the racing team and the event organizer greeted them, guiding them past the lines at the ticket checkpoint through a VIP entrance.

A young racer in a racing suit, who knew You Chong, introduced the event organizer standing beside him, “We’ve reserved a room for you. If you need anything, just find him. I have a qualifying race in the morning and an elimination race in the afternoon, so I won’t be able to join you. See you tonight.”

You Chong said, “Alright, good luck with the race.”

“Thanks, buddy.” The racer smiled, then looked past You Chong and raised his eyebrow. “Why is there an extra person?”

Lin Hexi met his gaze and smiled calmly. “Hello, my name is Lin Hexi.”

The racer’s smile deepened, and said with a clear voice, “Lin Hexi, right? Got it.”

The organizer led them to the VIP room with the best view of the track.

The room was spacious and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the track. Four tables and eight single sofas were arranged by the windows, with snacks and drinks already laid out on the tables. And there is QR code for ordering more items that were pasted at the corners of the tables.

Originally informed that there would be eight people, the room was only prepared for that number. The organizer immediately took out his phone to call the staff inside, requesting an additional small sofa to be brought in.

Lin Tong raised his hand to stop him, “No need to trouble yourself. The extra person can just squeeze in with us.”

While the single sofas could comfortably accommodate a child or a petite woman, squeezing in an adult male would inevitably lead to shoulder and elbow contact.

The organizer looked at the others with a troubled expression, “Two people sitting together might be a bit tight—”

None of the remaining seven responded.

Those who didn’t know Lin Hexi naturally thought that however Lin Tong treated his half-brother was a family matter for the Lin family. Those who did know Lin Hexi already disliked him.

The organizer, seeing no objection, quickly left the private room.

The other eight people had each found a seat, leaving Lin Hexi standing alone. No one in the room made a move to offer him a seat. Lin Tong, with an indifferent expression, said to him, “Since there’s no extra seat, you’ll just have to stand.”

As soon as Lin Tong spoke, Yang Juan looked up, wanting to say something but ultimately staying silent.

Lin Hexi stopped beside Lin Tong’s seat, his voice neither too high nor too low, said with a natural expression, with the tail end rising, “How can there be no place to sit? Isn’t there a spot right next to you?”

Lin Tong shifted to take up most of the sofa, and sneered, “Try sitting here if you dare.”

“I dare, I just don’t particularly want to.” Lin Hexi leaned down, his expression indifferent, but with a hint of blatant ambiguity, he whispered with a low laugh in Lin Tong’s ear, “I’m not mad. In fact, I should thank you for giving me a reason to sit with You Chong.”

Lin Tong looked up furiously.

Lin Hexi had already moved away, stopped beside You Chong on the opposite side of the table, and smiled brightly, “Mind if we squeeze in?”

Given Lin Hexi’s previous flirtatious behavior, You Chong naturally wouldn’t make room for him or agree to squeeze in.

The sofas were arranged in pairs facing each other across tables. The others had little interest in Lin Tong and Lin Hexi’s family matters and paid scant attention to what was happening between Lin Tong and You Chong.

Lin Hexi lowered his gaze, and stared intently at You Chong’s lap.

You Chong’s expression darkened as he grabbed Lin Hexi by the collar. He frowned as he pulled him closer, “Where are you looking?”

Meeting his gaze head-on, Lin Hexi put on an innocent expression, “If you won’t let me sit next to you, then I’ll just have to sit on your lap.”

Still holding onto his collar, You Chong’s tone turned colder, “Don’t stir up trouble.”

Lin Hexi met his gaze unflinchingly, “If you all don’t give me trouble, I naturally won’t give you any.”

You Chong’s sharp eyes seemed to pierce through him, “You know no one here wants you around. Why did you insist on coming?”

Lin Hexi’s playful demeanor faded, and he stopped arguing with him. While refusing Lin Yuanwei’s request would bring trouble, it wasn’t beyond resolution. He agreed to come with Lin Tong partly because his current life was controlled by the Lin family, and partly to annoy Lin Tong.

His expression gradually returned to calm, and Lin Hexi felt a sense of boredom. He regretted agreeing to Lin Yuanwei’s request to come along. You Chong had already let go of his collar. Lin Hexi felt his phone through his pants, remembered how Fang Qingning had lit a cigarette in front of him that day, he felt a slight itch.

He turned around about to leave the room, wanting to find a small shop nearby to buy a pack of cigarettes, when he felt a hand grab his forearm. He was surprised, then turned around to see You Chong release his grip and stand up, leaving the sofa vacant. He stood a couple of steps away, and looked at him with a faintly mocking expression, “Didn’t you want to sit? Then sit down and don’t move.”