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Chapter 32: You Sit in the Passenger Seat

Although Ji Xueli had said she wanted to have dinner with him, Duan Qingyu never actually agreed.

After work ended, Duan Qingyu checked the time and, without hesitation, grabbed his car keys and headed downstairs, ready to leave.

Zhen Zhang was still debating whether or not to tell Duan Qingyu about what had happened at the film set, but when he saw him leaving, he decided he had to speak up. He quickly ran over and said, “President Duan, Miss Ji had an incident at the set…”

Duan Qingyu paused slightly, glancing at the news on the tablet in Zhen Zhang’s hand:
Shocking! Actress suspected of being difficult, forcing a returning starlet to do multiple high dives.

“You handle it,” Duan Qingyu said after just one glance, and then walked away.

Zhen Zhang had expected him to respond more actively, but all he said was a casual “you handle it.”

He didn’t have time to dwell on it, quickly holding the elevator for Duan Qingyu. What’s going on? Could it be that President Duan and Ji Xueli are just business partners?

Duan Qingyu fiddled with the cigarette pack in his hand, watching the elevator doors slowly close.

If she’s really being treated like a diva…
If she didn’t make any moves and just endured it, then he would’ve truly misjudged her.

He curled his lips slightly, but his eyes held no emotion.

Ding. The elevator doors opened.

Ji Xueli saw him first — black suit, broad shoulders, long legs, Duan Qingyu with a cigarette between his fingers, smoke curling around his cold, refined features.

Without hesitation, she honked the horn. The piercing sound echoed in the empty underground parking lot.

Hearing the beeps, Duan Qingyu frowned in annoyance and looked at a blue sports car flashing its hazard lights not far away.

Chengdu’s car?

He didn’t move, just stared.

Then Ji Xueli’s delicate face popped out of the car window. “I knew you wouldn’t wait for me, so I came to find you.”

“Get in, Your Highness. Today, Lili’s treating,” Chengdu also leaned out and waved.

Duan Qingyu extinguished his cigarette and walked over. He had expected her to block his way like this…

Ji Xueli quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and got out, clearly intending to sit in the backseat with him.

“Hey, you really made me the driver now,” Chengdu complained as the passenger seat opened up.

“You’re not willing to be the prince’s driver?” Ji Xueli raised a brow.

“I’m willing, very willing to serve His Highness.” Chengdu saluted dramatically in return.

Duan Qingyu’s voice was low and calm, tinged with threat: “Don’t want your sports car anymore?”

“I’ll shut up right now.” Chengdu clamped his mouth shut.

So this sports car was lent to Chengdu by Duan Qingyu? Ji Xueli thought so — this car alone costs at least ten million yuan, and with all the custom mods, it’s one-of-a-kind in the capital.

Ji Xueli leaned closer: “So you like such flashy cars?”

The color was just too eye-catching.

“So you don’t like it?” Duan Qingyu raised his eyes to look at her.

“I like it! I really like it,” Ji Xueli immediately changed her tune. Strategy comes first.

Chengdu muttered under his breath, “Wasn’t someone just complaining about it the whole way…”

Ji Xueli glared at him through the rearview mirror.

“The color was Chengdu’s idea. I actually don’t like it,” Duan Qingyu said, watching her with interest.

“…”

Why did he have to say everything all at once? Ji Xueli suppressed her annoyance.

She blinked and casually turned to Chengdu, changing the subject: “So… where were we going to eat again?”

Chengdu couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Duan Qingyu looked out the window at the quickly passing scenery, a faint smile in his eyes.

“I’m telling you, Lili’s driving is seriously no joke. Did you race abroad or something?” Chengdu asked, switching topics.

Ji Xueli went with a safe and vague answer: “I researched for a role.”

“When we were kids, the three of us loved racing. But His Highness was the best driver. Didn’t expect you to catch up to him now, Lili,” Chengdu said, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.

Back then, it was just the three of them. Duan Qingyu was already cold-faced, Ji Yan Zhou also joined them, but their trio was tight.

People say childhood friendships are fleeting, but he never believed that — until middle school, when Duan Qingyu left Huacheng due to family issues, and Ji Xueli fell for Ji Yanzhou.

Their bond rapidly deteriorated. In the end, he and Ji Xueli were barely acquaintances.

But now… it felt like everything was rekindling again.

“In terms of driving skills, His Highness is obviously number one,” Ji Xueli said, shaking her head, turning to Duan Qingyu.

She had sat in his car once — felt like her guts were gonna spill. The man drove like an actual racer.

“One day His Highness is racing, I’ll take you to watch,” Chengdu said.

Ji Xueli lit up with interest. “Racing?”

She hadn’t expected that. The male lead races too?

“Yup, last season His Highness was the champion,” Chengdu said proudly.

“That’s awesome! I want to see it,” Ji Xueli straightened up excitedly. She wouldn’t miss such an adrenaline rush.

Duan Qingyu glanced at her, expression flat: “Not filming anymore?”

“I’ll just shift the schedule. Worst case, I’ll stay up all night to shoot,” Ji Xueli waved it off like it was nothing.

Chengdu wasn’t even surprised anymore. She used to be obsessed with Ji Yanzhou, but now it was totally different. People do change.

She was becoming the old Ji Xueli again.

“Alright then. I need someone in the passenger seat. Want to join?” Duan Qingyu changed his tone and smirked.

Ji Xueli immediately backed off, remembering how nauseous she got last time: “I’m cheer squad only, not participating.”

“Exactly! Don’t worry, Your Highness, we’ll have the most unstoppable cheer squad,” Chengdu raised a fist encouragingly.

“Yup, we’ll plan it all out…”

Duan Qingyu rested his arm on the car window, watching Ji Xueli leaning over the front seat, excitedly talking with Chengdu.

The scene felt incredibly familiar. He quickly looked away as the soft light fell across his nearly translucent pale skin.

What must someone go through to change like this… again and again?

Ji Xueli had pretty much said all she wanted. The finer details could be discussed later. She returned to her seat, satisfied.

The light ahead turned green. Chengdu didn’t slow down, but the black car in front of them suddenly braked. Chengdu slammed the brakes hard — but they still crashed.

“Whoa!”

Ji Xueli lurched forward uncontrollably, but the man beside her reacted faster. He grabbed her arm and yanked her toward him.

She ended up falling completely onto Duan Qingyu, his faint scent enveloping her.

“Damn it, are they crazy?” Chengdu cursed and reached to unbuckle his seatbelt to get out.

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