Chapter 210 - Chapter 210: Lu Zhiyuan, I Want to Take You Home
Chapter 210: Lu Zhiyuan, I Want to Take You Home
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“It’s really not canceled,” Zhou Jinjin said with mixed emotions. “I’m both happy and sad.”
Gu Ci felt a heaviness in her heart, but her eyelid kept twitching. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong. With such a major incident happening before the race, how could it not be canceled?
“At a time like this, the race is indeed ill-timed,” Gu Ci whispered, but it was the Racing League’s decision, and ordinary people couldn’t intervene. After the race went ahead as scheduled, there was a lot of criticism, making it the least anticipated race.
As a result, many spectators protested and demanded refunds, but the Racing League remained defiant and continued with the race. When Jiang Junlin called Gu Ci and wanted a ticket, Gu Ci asked Li Jiang.
Li Jiang gave her several tickets. Such events should have been hard to get into, but due to various factors, many people returned their tickets. Gu Ziyu said, “Since when did he become interested in racing?”
Gu Ci shrugged. “He’s coming with us.”
The qualifying race was scheduled for 1:00 PM, following the third practice session that ended at 11:00 AM. Gu Ci, Zhou Jinjin, Gu Ziyu, and Chen Fei had gone to watch the practice session early in the morning. There were fewer spectators than usual, and the recent attack had cast a shadow of death over the event. Gu Ci glanced at the weather.
Although it was very cold, visibility was still good.
The practice session didn’t count for points; it was just a training race. Lu Zhiyuan was ranked fifth and didn’t push too hard because there was an issue with the front wing. He intentionally slowed down.
The car entered the pit for inspection, and Lu Zhiyuan stayed with the team to discuss changes. Gu Ci watched, her eyelid twitching. Zhou Jinjin said, “Relax, nothing will happen.”
Gu Ziyu looked at the weather and suggested, “Let’s finish this early and go home.”
After the practice session, the qualifying race began at 1:00 PM, determining the starting order. After having lunch, Jiang Junlin came over to join them.
They all gathered in the stands, waiting for the race. While the number of spectators was slightly lower, it didn’t affect the atmosphere at the venue. Everyone was highly focused on this top-level event.
Gu Ci discreetly sent a text message to Lu Zhiyuan.
Gu Ci: Third brother, can I see you before the race?
Lu Zhiyuan: Why?
Gu Ci: I just want to see you.
Lu Zhiyuan: You’ve seen me on the stands, haven’t you?
Gu Ci: It doesn’t count!
Lu Zhiyuan: Li Jiang will pick you up. Come alone!
Gu Ci: Alright!
Using the excuse of going to the restroom, Gu Ci left. Gu Ziyu muttered, “She’ll probably take half an hour.”
Jiang Junlin rubbed Gu Ziyu’s head, seeing through his intentions but not exposing them. Then he frowned and asked Gu Ziyu, “Why are you leaking air when you talk? Did you lose a front tooth?”
Gu Ziyu blushed and closed his mouth, refusing to speak any further.
Chen Fei stifled a laugh, not daring to tease him.
When Gu Ci saw Lu Zhiyuan, he was in the backstage lounge. There was still an hour until the race. He was wearing a black and red racing suit that was striking and eye-catching. Among all the racers, his design stood out the most. Gu Ci had immediately recognized him in the crowd even though he was wearing a helmet, and she felt he was the most dazzling figure among them all.
“This racing suit is so beautiful; I’ve never seen one like it,” Gu Ci praised.
“So, after not seeing each other for so long, the first thing you compliment is my clothes?” Lu Zhiyuan’s lips curled up.
Blushing, Gu Ci said, “I was afraid you’d ignore me, complimenting your clothes seemed natural and not awkward.”
After he went abroad, they hadn’t met in person, and Gu Ci occasionally sent him some updates about her life. He was busy with training, and he deliberately kept his distance to avoid influencing her choices, so he rarely replied to her.
Lu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but smile at her sincerity. With clear eyes, Gu Ci looked at him and said, “Third brother, I want to hug you.”
“Oh…” Lu Zhiyuan hesitated, unsure of Gu Ci’s intentions. But Gu Ci couldn’t wait and hugged him tightly. His scent, his embrace, everything about him was what she had longed for.
Gu Ci remembered the last time she was released from prison in her previous life. The sunlight was perfect, and when she walked out of the gate, the blazing sun fell into her eyes, giving her a feeling of being in a different world.
She had spent five years in prison, cut off from the world. She had been abandoned by everyone, forgotten in some corner. No one would remember her, and no one would miss her.
However, Lu Zhiyuan’s car was parked by the roadside, cigarette butts scattered around. It was unclear how long he had been waiting there, but a layer of gloom surrounded him, and when he saw her, he was briefly taken aback.
For some inexplicable reason, his gaze stung Gu Ci.
She quickly turned around, covering her face, pretending not to recognize him, and hurried away. But Lu Zhiyuan called out to her from behind.
“Gu Ci, where are you going?”
Gu Ci paused, never expecting that even in her current unattractive state, Lu Zhiyuan would still recognize her.
“You’ve mistaken me for someone else,” Gu Ci said, unable to hail a taxi, and briskly walked away. Lu Zhiyuan followed her slowly in his car. She attempted to flag down a taxi, and Lu Zhiyuan asked, “Do you have money for a taxi?”
Gu Ci felt embarrassed and awkward.
Lu Zhiyuan softened his tone, “Come on, I’ll take you home.”
Many years had passed, but Gu Ci never forgot this scene and those words.
Gu Ci raised her head, looking at Lu Zhiyuan, who was close at hand. His face looked younger than when she first saw him after being released from prison in her previous life, and his gaze was more confident, devoid of any gloom.
“Lu Zhiyuan, I love you,” Gu Ci hugged his waist and whispered in his embrace. “Have a great race, I’ll be waiting for you to come home together.”
Touched, Lu Zhiyuan held her tightly and said hoarsely, “Okay!”
Gu Ci couldn’t keep Lu Zhiyuan too long, so she stayed in the lounge for ten minutes before leaving. When Gu Ziyu saw her return, he was quite surprised. “So fast?”
The audience for the qualifying race was twice as large as for the practice session, and the atmosphere was exceptionally lively. Due to the attack affecting both the qualifying and main races, they were scheduled on the same day. Many eager spectators who didn’t want to miss out still flocked to the venue.
After the qualifying race, there was a two-hour break, and the main race started at four o’clock and lasted until six!
In the spectator stands, Gu Ci spotted Pei Qiuying and her bodyguards. She wore a purple coat and sunglasses, treating the race like a fashion show.
As expected, Jiang Junlin noticed Ji Chi, who was sitting in another stand.
They didn’t watch the race together. When Ji Chi saw Jiang Junlin looking over, he waved, but Jiang Junlin averted his gaze, ignoring him.
Zhou Jinjin was extremely excited. Being in the race venue made it easy to forget about unhappy things. It was as if the attack had never happened, and the emotions of all the spectators were infectious. It was a carnival.
Jiang Junlin’s bodyguard, Zhang Qiang, frowned as he watched this scene. It was truly an excellent assassination venue. If someone were to hide in the crowd and open fire, who could stop them?
The environment was too noisy. Zhang Qiang instructed his bodyguard team to stay vigilant. With Pei Qiuying present, who knew if she might do something unpredictable..