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Chapter 81: Drive, Hit Them

A black Audi had been waiting at the door for some time. The bodyguard opened the door for him to get in.

“Take care, Crown Prince!”

People outside watched him leave.

Duan Qingyu had drunk quite a bit tonight, and his head was aching. He waved his hand. “Let’s go.”

“Yes, President Duan,” Zhen Zhang responded, sensing the simmering anger in him. Just from overhearing earlier, he thought those people’s demands were excessive—let alone for Duan Qingyu himself.

The rain grew heavier, and with everyone calling for rides, the area became a bit congested.

“President Duan, should I get you some hangover medicine?” Zhen Zhang asked as he watched Duan Qingyu rubbing his temples through the rearview mirror, aware of how much he’d drunk.

“No need,” Duan Qingyu replied, eyes closed, trying to rest, already planning how he’d deal with those old bastards.

Zhen Zhang gave up on that and thought he’d make him some hangover soup after dropping him home.

As he looked ahead at the traffic jam, his gaze drifted toward the sidewalk—and suddenly, a familiar figure caught his attention. A woman stepped out of a restaurant.

“Is that Miss Ji?” Zhen Zhang exclaimed when he recognized her.

Duan Qingyu opened his eyes at the mention, looking in that direction. Sure enough, it was Ji Xueli.

“I thought she was on set. Why is she here?” Zhen Zhang saw her standing alone on the sidewalk and turned back to Duan Qingyu. “President Duan, should we bring her an umbrella—”

But before he could finish, a man appeared beside her, draping his coat over her shoulders and holding an umbrella. It looked like he had just gone to buy one.

Ji Xueli turned and smiled at him. The two looked very close…

Zhen Zhang froze.

Then the man turned around—it was Ji Yanzhou.

Zhen Zhang shut his mouth immediately, feeling the atmosphere in the car grow increasingly oppressive. He couldn’t help sneaking a glance at the rear seat through the mirror.

Duan Qingyu showed no expression. His elegant fingers toyed with a cigarette, white smoke curling around his sharp jawline.

But it was precisely because he showed no emotion that Zhen Zhang felt even more chilled.

Duan Qingyu stared at the pair, his gaze dark and unreadable, as deep and desolate as a wild moon hanging over barren land.

She had said she’d go to the film set tonight, and yet here she was… having dinner with Ji Yanzhou. Very well.

A valet drove up their car. Ji Yanzhou stepped forward and opened the passenger door. The two got in with laughter and smiles.

The tension in the Audi was so thick Zhen Zhang could barely breathe. His voice dropped low: “President Duan…”

“Drive,” Duan Qingyu said coldly. “Hit them.”

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Inside the car, Ji Xueli felt like that dinner had drained every ounce of her strength.

“That event you mentioned—I’ll be attending too,” Ji Yanzhou said to her.

“That banquet? Duan Qingyu called it a beauty pageant,” Ji Xueli said, staring out at the rain, speaking without thinking.

Ji Yanzhou’s lips pressed into a tight line at the mention of that name.

“Sorry, he just said that to me in passing, and I blurted it out,” Ji Xueli quickly apologized when she realized.

Of course, not home yet—she couldn’t let her guard down even for a second.

“After the event, let me treat you to dinner as thanks for tonight,” she added.

Ji Yanzhou replied, “So that’s how you’re settling the debt, huh?”

“No way! You can treat next time, and the time after that. It’s never-ending,” Ji Xueli said, waving her hand dramatically, her survival instincts in full swing.

Finally, Ji Yanzhou’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Ji Xueli was about to say something else when suddenly—a dark shadow flashed past the car window like lightning in the night, swift and shocking.

Ji Yanzhou immediately turned the steering wheel and slammed on the brakes, but the side of the car was still struck.

Ji Xueli’s body was thrown forward, then yanked back by the seatbelt. Her hands braced against the dashboard as dizziness and shock overwhelmed her. Her heart felt like it had jumped into her throat.

She had been in a car accident before. That fear gripped her whole body, making her tremble and stop breathing altogether.

She instinctively wrapped her arms around her head—this time, there was no one by her side to shield her in that critical moment.

A few minutes passed. The car was still. Aside from the initial impact, nothing else happened.

Ji Xueli slowly lifted her head and looked forward—only to see a black Audi blocking their way.

In the heavy rain, it looked like a fierce beast baring its claws.

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