Chapter 040: Lan Youyou

Chapter 040: Lan Youyou

For Chu Fei, working days were nothing more than listless stretches of time to be muddled through. Fortunately, as the newly appointed team leader, he wasn’t responsible for any specific tasks. In fact, the group’s workflow would have been unaffected even without Chu Fei’s presence. With Zhang Qing—a woman of action—at the helm, everything ran smoothly, and the three other women in the group, including Murong Wei, were all highly competent and hands-on. Chu Fei’s existence was largely a matter of formality, a convenience for liaising with Qingyan Studio. Perhaps, that was Westgate Lu’s real reason for so hastily promoting him.

The day passed in a haze, and after work, Chu Fei and his beautiful subordinates quickly left the office, not even bothering to respond to Westgate Lu’s text inviting him to dinner to “strengthen their bond.” He had decided to look for Blood Fox and find out what exactly that character was up to.

“Master, you’re finally done with work!”

A coquettish voice rang out in front of him—

Chu Fei had just stepped outside the building when someone blocked his way.

He looked up and saw the girl called Lan Youyou.

“How did you find me?” Chu Fei frowned at her, for Lan Youyou’s outfit drew far too much attention—she was dressed up to the point of excess. Despite the cold weather, she wore delicate high-heeled sandals, her legs wrapped in sheer silk stockings, a short leather skirt, and a red cropped jacket left unbuttoned to reveal a camisole and a swath of fair skin. Her face was heavily made up, exuding a flamboyant, alternative air…

As far as he could recall, he hadn’t told her where he worked. How had she found him? Chu Fei was puzzled.

“Hehe, you’re my master. If I want to find you, of course I can,” Lan Youyou said, running up and clasping his arm with exaggerated affection.

“Let go,” Chu Fei said with a frown.

“Hehe.” Lan Youyou was thick-skinned and paid him no heed, grinning as she continued to hold his arm.

Chu Fei felt a headache coming on. “You’re here for the car, right? I didn’t drive it over. It’s just a ten-minute walk from here. Are you coming with me or waiting here?” he asked, instinctively assuming Lan Youyou was here for the car.

“Of course I’ll go with you, Master,” Lan Youyou answered matter-of-factly.

“Fine.” Chu Fei hurried down the steps to leave this place of right and wrong, already noticing the odd looks people were giving him.

As the two left, many men lingering by the entrance watched them with envy and resentment. Lan Youyou was simply too eye-catching—not only was she stunning and well-built, but her fashion sense verged on the outrageous. She was a little stunner, and unlike the reserved Murong Wei, she wore her wealth for all to see—a veritable heiress. Plenty of men had tried to approach her earlier, only to be rebuffed or even cursed at.

Now, seeing this alluring beauty walk off arm in arm with another man, how could the onlooking men not feel jealous?

“Chu Fei?”

A young man who had just exited the building stared after them, his face twisted with complicated emotions.

—

“Hey, can you let go of my arm now?” Chu Fei frowned at Lan Youyou, who still clung to him, exasperated by how long she intended to hold on.

“Master, are you afraid your girlfriend will see us? Hehe, don’t worry, I’ll explain for you,” Lan Youyou teased, still holding onto him.

“I don’t need your help,” Chu Fei muttered, then abruptly stopped and looked at her. “Do you still want to learn street racing? If you do, let go.”

At once, Lan Youyou released him, quick as can be.

Chu Fei kept walking, and Lan Youyou hurried to keep up. This time, however, she didn’t dare grab his arm again. Tilting her head and looking up at him, she asked, “Master, you weren’t lying to me yesterday, were you? You’ll really teach me to race? No backing out?”

“What would I gain by lying to you?” Chu Fei rolled his eyes.

“Hehe, I just wondered if it was all in my head,” Lan Youyou said, exhaling in relief. She quickened her pace to walk ahead of him, turning to walk backward so she could watch him as she grinned.

Chu Fei felt a chill under her gaze and frowned. “What’s so funny?”

“Master, is there something wrong with your orientation?” Lan Youyou asked out of the blue, giving Chu Fei a curious look.

He was baffled.

“If you’re normal, why didn’t you react when I was hanging all over you just now? Am I not pretty enough?” She studied him, suspicious. “Or is your taste so off you can’t even see a beauty like me standing right in front of you?”

“You’re no beauty—just a little brat who hasn’t even grown up yet,” Chu Fei scoffed, finally understanding her point.

“Master, that’s harsh—you’re breaking my heart,” Lan Youyou pouted, looking pitiful.

Chu Fei pretended not to see.

Her eyes flashed with mischief, and she sidled up again. “Never mind the beauty question. Let’s talk business.”

“What business?” he asked.

“Master, now that you’re my teacher, you wouldn’t just stand by if someone bullied me, right?” she said with a laugh.

“Stop right there!” Chu Fei halted, eyeing her warily. “What are you getting at?”

“Oh, nothing, just talking,” Lan Youyou said sheepishly. “Really, just talking…”

“Really?” Chu Fei was unconvinced.

She gave a couple of awkward giggles before finally admitting, “Here’s the thing, Master. Last night, after you agreed to take me on as your disciple, I got so excited I drank too much and blacked out completely. And then… I did something stupid.” Her expression was the picture of frustration.

“And then?”

“And then I ended up agreeing, in my drunken haze, to race against some jerk…” Lan Youyou looked even more dejected.

“And now you’ve woken up to realize you’re no match for him, right?” Chu Fei couldn’t help but smile; her expression gave it all away.

“Exactly. That jerk is the apprentice of the city’s so-called racing king. Even if he’s only a nominal apprentice, his driving is miles ahead of mine. I’m just a self-taught street racer—I’m not in his league…” she said, crestfallen.

“So you came to me for help, hoping I’d race for you?” Chu Fei looked at her, half amused.

“Master, you’re so clever—you guessed it right away!” Lan Youyou flattered him with a grin.

“No.”

With that, Chu Fei turned and walked on.

“Master, you can’t just leave me hanging! I’m your disciple; if I lose, it’ll be a disgrace to you, too. Wouldn’t you lose face?” Lan Youyou hurried after him.

“I’m not afraid of embarrassment,” he replied calmly.

“Huh?” Lan Youyou was left speechless, but chased after him again. “Master, you really have to help me today! I made a bet with that jerk—if I lose, I have to check into a hotel with him. If you won’t help me, I’ll just have to jump into the river. I’d rather die than go with him!” Her voice was full of tragic resolve.

“Damn.” Chu Fei stopped and stared at her, lost for words. This girl was insane. Who made bets like that? Was she missing a screw?

He recalled his previous encounters with Lan Youyou and realized she really was a little crazy. Still, he didn’t dislike her for it—on the contrary, he found her brashness rather endearing. Watching her put on a pitiful, tragic face, even though he knew she was faking, Chu Fei finally said, “Fine, I’ll help you. But next time, use your brain—what kind of bet is that? Are you out of your mind?”

“Yes, yes, you’re right! I’ll never do it again, I promise!” Lan Youyou beamed, holding up her hand in a solemn vow.

“When’s the race?” Chu Fei asked.

“Six o’clock sharp—less than an hour left,” she said, suddenly bubbling with excitement.

—

Of course, street racing couldn’t be held within the city, but in the distant outskirts.

Yet when Chu Fei followed Lan Youyou’s directions to the racetrack, he was clearly taken aback. Before him was a fully open, professional racing venue—not some makeshift wild track.

“A drifting circuit?”

Just one look at the track’s shape and Chu Fei understood its purpose: it was a course designed specifically for drifting competitions.

Not only did it have the usual corners, but also exaggerated S-bends and U-turns. Such a formidable circuit could only be tackled by true professionals—most people wouldn’t even complete a lap, let alone race. This wasn’t a standard track; the complexity far surpassed anything official. It was a place built for underground drivers to risk everything.

Chu Fei couldn’t help but glance at Lan Youyou. He’d never expected her so-called race would be held here. No wonder she was lacking in confidence. From what he knew of her driving, she’d struggle to finish a single lap.

“Master, you can handle this track, right?” she asked nervously, reading something odd in his expression. She’d seen Chu Fei drive fast and wild, but had no idea if he could drift with the same skill.

“What if I said I couldn’t—would you be disappointed?”

“Don’t scare me, Master!” Lan Youyou’s face fell.

“Relax. I’ve got this,” Chu Fei replied coolly.

“Really? Are you sure?” Lan Youyou’s mood swung instantly from worry to hope, though she still looked at him uncertainly.

“If you don’t believe me, let’s just go home now,” Chu Fei teased.

“No, no, of course I believe you! Let’s go in and show that bastard Zhou Xiaolong what a real racing god looks like!” She clung to his arm with bravado, but her confidence was clearly an act. In her circle, no one could beat Zhou Xiaolong. Out on the open road, she might have a chance, but on a technical drifting circuit like this, she was out of her depth.

Chu Fei saw her anxiety but pretended not to notice, stepping on the gas and roaring into the circuit.