Liang Yanfeng walked up to Jiang Mu, and she instinctively took a step back. San Lai slowly rose to his feet, staring at him. Liang Yanfeng cast a wary glance at San Lai before saying to Jiang Mu, "Can we talk inside?"
Liang Yanfeng was from the Alliance, so Jiang Mu didn't dare let her guard down. She turned and took two steps toward the repair bay, with Liang Yanfeng quickly following her inside. He asked, "How much do you know about You Jiu's race?"
His directness caught Jiang Mu off guard, but she wasn't about to reveal anything easily. With a guarded expression, she replied, "Why are you asking?"
Liang Yanfeng, unlike the carefree demeanor he had shown last time, now spoke with a serious tone: "I need you to come with me."
Jiang Mu frowned. "Why should I go with you?"
"I can't reach him right now. If you want You Jiu to stay alive, you have to come with me."
"How do I know you're not tricking me?"
As she spoke, Jiang Mu had already taken out her phone and dialed Jin Chao's number. Sure enough, the call couldn't connect, and a message indicated the number was out of service.
By then, San Lai had reached the entrance of the auto shop, crossing his arms and eyeing this playboy with clear hostility.
Liang Yanfeng glanced at his watch, then suddenly took a step closer to Jiang Mu. His eyes bore down on her with intense pressure as he lowered his voice: "Officer Lu sent me to find you."
Jiang Mu's pupils dilated abruptly. Liang Yanfeng pressed on, "Can we go now?"
Jiang Mu hurried back to the break room to grab her keys and phone. By the time she returned, Liang Yanfeng was already waiting in the car. As she locked up and prepared to leave, San Lai grabbed her arm and asked, "Where are you going?"
With a grave expression, Jiang Mu replied, "I'm not sure. Something's happened with Jin Chao."
San Lai didn't let go, instructing her: "Turn on location sharing with me."
He then shot a glance at Liang Yanfeng and added, "I'm worried you can't handle this alone."
"Okay."
Uncertain what exactly was happening with Jin Chao and not wanting to waste time, Jiang Mu exchanged a few quick words with San Lai before rushing to the car. Liang Yanfeng reminded her, "Fasten your seatbelt."
No sooner had she buckled up than Liang Yanfeng slammed on the accelerator, weaving through the streets at high speed. Jiang Mu had only ever experienced Jin Chao's fast driving before. With him, she had absolute trust and never felt truly afraid. But facing a complete stranger behind the wheel, the breakneck speed made her instinctively grip the door handle.
Yet, more than fear, worry dominated her thoughts. As soon as they were moving, she asked, "What happened to him?"
"How much do you really know about what You Jiu is doing?"
"I know the gist of it."
They hit a red light. Liang Yanfeng stomped on the brake, slapped the steering wheel, and cursed, "Damn it."
He then turned to Jiang Mu and said, "You Jiu can't follow the original route."
Jiang Mu's heart skipped a beat. She released her grip on the door and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Someone suspects there's an undercover cop in the Alliance. They haven't identified who yet, but if he sticks to the planned route, he's finished."
The light turned green, and the car surged forward again. Jiang Mu's mind reeled with the physical jolts, her thoughts in turmoil.As the car sped up, Jiang Mu's mind grew calmer. She recalled the final moments of the last race—multiple vehicles charging toward the destination from different directions. Jin Chao had kicked up a cloud of dust using the terrain, which indeed slowed some cars but didn't shake off all pursuers. It wasn't until Liang Yanfeng caught up and positioned his car behind them, forcing the other racers to retreat, that they gained a clear path in the final stretch. Just as they were about to secure the bag, Jiang Mu remembered glancing in the rearview mirror and seeing Liang Yanfeng's car come to a stop.
At the time, she assumed he had abandoned the race because victory seemed unlikely. But now, looking back, she realized he might never have intended to win. She also recalled him flashing a "six" gesture at her after they seized the item—a puzzle she couldn't decipher then. Only now did it dawn on her: it meant "666," slang for "well done." But why would he do that? There could only be one reason.
Jiang Mu turned to him and asked bluntly, "With your resources, you lack nothing. Why take risks working for the police?"
Liang Yanfeng's face once again adopted the careless playboy expression as he replied, "For justice."
"Hah." Even Jiang Mu found this excuse utterly unconvincing.
They had driven over fifty kilometers, well beyond Tonggang. Jiang Mu repeatedly checked her phone to ensure the location tracking hadn't disconnected from San Lai. When the sports car turned onto a completely deserted, unlit wild path, her tension visibly mounted.
Liang Yanfeng's expression darkened ominously. He suddenly spoke: "Three years ago, my best brother died on this very road."
Jiang Mu shuddered and turned to look at him. His brows were tightly furrowed, his tone laced with venom: "He shouldn't have died. Two vehicles forced him to crash into a tree. The official ruling called it an accident caused by excessive speed—bullshit accident. It was manslaughter. I asked my old man to intervene, but he told me those people were untouchable. Why? Because they're connected to a larger interest chain."
"I decided if I couldn't rely on my family, I'd infiltrate them myself. Gather evidence and expose them. My brother's life couldn't be wasted—he deserves more than to become a wronged spirit wandering the underworld without closure."
Jiang Mu could guess the rest: Officer Lu later approached him, and he joined the operation without hesitation.
The night thickened around them. After over an hour, Liang Yanfeng stopped the car at the end of a desolate dirt path and said, "See that mountain?"
Beyond the windows lay pitch blackness, the high beams illuminating nothing beyond their immediate vicinity. Only the faint outline of the mountain was visible. Jiang Mu asked anxiously, "Is the race on that mountain?"
Liang Yanfeng nodded. "Cross this bamboo grove and you'll see some flat-roofed houses. Head in the opposite direction to reach the mountain foot. The race starts in forty minutes—move quickly and you'll make it. Find You Jiu and tell him. He'll know what to do."
Without delay, Jiang Mu unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out. Liang Yanfeng remained, killing the headlights but keeping the window down as he called after her, "I'll watch until you're through the bamboo grove."
Jiang Mu glanced back. "Aren't you coming?"Liang Yanfeng curled his lips mockingly: "If I could go, I wouldn’t have specifically brought you here. Officer Lu said the only person around You Jiu who should know about this is you."
Only after these words did Jiang Mu suddenly realize that Liang Yanfeng’s identity might have already been exposed. The route information he had obtained earlier was likely deliberately leaked to use him as bait—to lure out the racer who had gotten hold of the route besides Liang Yanfeng. That was why he couldn’t meet with Jin Chao, much less appear by his side.
In such high-stakes races, communication was often cut off to prevent anyone from reporting incidents mid-race or to avoid unnecessary complications. By the time Liang Yanfeng received the news, he could no longer reach Jin Chao.
To get the message through, Jiang Mu was the only option. She wasn’t a complete stranger—many had seen her and knew she was with You Jiu. Bringing the message in herself would raise less suspicion.
Once Jiang Mu grasped the stakes, she said nothing more. Turning around, she hurried toward the bamboo grove. The night air was heavy with moisture, and the muddy ground made each step uncertain. The rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind sounded like snakes hissing, but at that moment, even if the place were crawling with snakes and pests, Jiang Mu had no time to care.
The bamboo grove wasn’t large, and it took her just over five minutes to run through it. Her shoes were caked in mud. Looking back, Liang Yanfeng’s car was already out of sight, but she did spot a few single-story houses. Opposite them was a narrow path. Without hesitation, she dashed toward it.
Emerging from the path, she found a relatively wider road. The mountain hollow was eerily quiet at night—no streetlights, no farmhouses. For a moment, Jiang Mu even felt as if she were the only person left in the vast, desolate world.
Fear and urgency quickened her pace. The outline of the mountain grew clearer, and she ran in the direction where the road stretched toward the foot of the great mountain.
From the other side of the mountain came a low, rumbling sound—distant and muffled by the valley’s echoes—but Jiang Mu recognized it as the roar of a sports car.
Sweat beaded on her forehead from anxiety when suddenly, headlights flashed twice behind her. Jiang Mu turned to see a familiar Honda approaching. Her heart leaped into her throat, and she halted immediately. San Lai screeched to a stop beside her and asked, "What’s the plan?"
Jiang Mu hurried into the passenger seat, pointing ahead. "Get me to Jin Chao, now!"
Without another word, San Lai floored the accelerator, and the Honda sped toward the mountain. But less than two minutes in, a car swerved out from a side road and chased them down in the rearview mirror. San Lai glanced back in surprise and pushed the gas pedal to the floor.
Unfortunately, his beat-up car, though decked out in flashy decorations, was all show and no go. It was no match for a million-dollar sports car. In moments, Liang Yanfeng forced them to pull over.
Jiang Mu rolled down the window and nodded at him. Liang Yanfeng executed a sharp U-turn and sped off in the opposite direction.
San Lai grumbled, "What’s his problem? Chasing us down just to take a look? Does he think I sold you out? Who the hell is that guy anyway?"
Jiang Mu watched the shrinking taillights in the rearview mirror and replied, "An unsung hero."
...
But before their car could even turn onto the mountain road, they saw a row of vehicles parked far ahead, blocking the entrance completely.
San Lai hissed through his teeth, "Guess I’ll have to perform some stunt driving to get through this!"After saying this, he actually accelerated faster and faster. Jiang Mu gripped the seatbelt tightly and exclaimed in alarm, "No way! How are we going to fly like this?"
Just as she was so frightened that her heart nearly leaped out of her throat, San Lai suddenly slammed on the brakes, stopping right in front of the row of cars. Jiang Mu was thrown forward toward the windshield, then yanked back by the seatbelt, slamming against the backrest so hard she nearly vomited. She saw San Lai fish out his oversized sunglasses and slap them on his face, then turn to her and say, "My car doesn't have wings, what the hell are you talking about flying? Didn't you see all these car enthusiasts? We have to project an imposing presence, can't lose face. Come on, let's get out and take a look."
With that, San Lai immediately opened the car door, swung his long legs out, and instantly adopted an aloof demeanor. Someone immediately called out, "What are you doing here?"
San Lai slowly scanned the crowd. Some stood in small groups smoking, others sat in sports cars wearing headphones, and a few leaned against scissor doors flirting with girls. But at that moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on him—not just their gazes, but because San Lai's high beams were aimed at them, the blinding light made the opposing side retaliate by turning their high beams on him too.
Instantly, over a dozen cars' headlights illuminated them, casting San Lai and Jiang Mu's figures in stark brightness. Jiang Mu covered her eyes, unable to open them from the glare, while San Lai cursed loudly, "Running a light bulb factory, are you? Shining on your grandma's underpants! We're here to find someone in the mountains, move aside. A good dog doesn't block the path."
The twenty or thirty people across from him just stared silently, not a single one moving. San Lai fumed, "If you don't move, don't blame me for plowing through."
One second, two seconds, three seconds—the entire scene fell silent, everyone silently assessing the old clunker beside him that claimed it could ram through them. On the fourth second, the whole place erupted in laughter.
Although Jiang Mu knew nothing about cars, she could tell that any one of the vehicles opposite would easily overpower theirs in a collision. She tugged at San Lai's sleeve and reminded him, "Say something more reasonable."
As the commotion spread, people from the other side came over upon hearing the noise. Jiang Mu immediately recognized Wan Sheng Bang among the crowd—potbellied, broad-waisted, and bald. Even though she last saw him in winter, she'd recognize him even if he were reduced to ashes.
While Jiang Mu's expression grew increasingly wary, San Lai acted as if he'd run into an old friend, warmly stepping forward to greet him, "Isn't this Uncle Wan? What a coincidence, out for a stroll?"
Wan Sheng Bang glanced at San Lai, then at Jiang Mu behind him, furrowing his brow, "Stroll my foot. What are you doing here?"
San Lai suddenly grabbed Wan Sheng Bang's chubby, gold-ring-adorned hand and said warmly, "We're here to deliver food!"
Wan Sheng Bang pulled his hand away with distaste and warned him, "Young man, speak if you have something to say, but keep your hands to yourself. What food are you delivering?"
"Food for our buddy! Isn't he competing inside? How can he compete on an empty stomach, right?"
Wan Sheng Bang opened his mouth, probably to curse, but considering he was Lao Lai's son, he swallowed the profanity and said, "Hurry up and leave. Don't cause trouble."
San Lai plopped down on someone's red sports coupe nearby, adopting a shameless attitude, "I just don't get it. What are you all afraid of if I bring some food for my buddy? What? Worried I'll slip stimulants into his meal? You think you're running the Olympics here? Should we invite the International Olympic Committee to judge you?""Let me make this clear from the start," I said bluntly. "Today, I, San Lai, am determined to deliver this meal. My brother has dietary restrictions and only likes the meatballs I cook. I swear I won't leave until I personally hand him this food."
Jiang Mu was so frantic she kept scratching her head. Taking advantage of San Lai's outburst, she quietly slipped to the roadside, intending to escape into the mountains. But a tall, burly man with rugged features directly blocked her path, grabbing her by the neck with one hand. Jiang Mu let out a choked cry, her voice hoarse.
San Lai turned his head and roared, "Let her go."
The man clearly didn't take San Lai seriously at all. Still gripping Jiang Mu's neck, he began dragging her toward the middle of the road. San Lai, with his hands tucked into his black pants, slowly straightened up from the sports car and repeated, "I'm saying this for the last time. Let. Her. Go."
The rugged man in the sleeveless tank top turned around and pressed Jiang Mu in front of him, tightening his grip around her neck. Jiang Mu's breathing became increasingly labored, her face beginning to turn pale. Yet he treated it like a game, casually remarking, "I could crush this little girl with one hand. It's quite amusing. Fine, I'll let you through, but leave her with us."
A group of men nearby laughed maliciously. San Lai walked toward him step by step, his expression unreadable, until he stood right in front of the man. "That won't do," he said. "The meal can go undelivered, but the girl stays with me. Give her back."
The burly man released Jiang Mu out of boredom and gave her a hard shove on the back. Losing her balance, Jiang Mu stumbled forward. San Lai caught her with one arm while simultaneously delivering a sharp kick to the man's abdomen. The six-foot-tall hulk staggered backward from the impact. As he raised his fist, ready to fight back, suddenly, headlights blazed brightly behind him.
Everyone straightened up and stared at the line of vehicles approaching from down the road. The burly man also turned around in confusion. Leading the convoy was an utterly ordinary Volkswagen, but the cars following the black VW were anything but ordinary. Two Wuling Hongguang vans flanked the sides, clearing the way. Behind them was a pink F0 with eyelash-shaped headlight stickers, followed by several mismatched family cars—SUVs, hatchbacks, and a seven-seater van. The most bizarre sight was a bus labeled "Tonggang—Xingwang" and a dump truck bringing up the rear.
San Lai smugly pushed his pretentious sunglasses up to his forehead and patted the sleeveless tank-top-wearing tough guy. "Move aside."
Then he walked to the front and began directing traffic like a traffic controller, gesturing where each vehicle should park.
All the chaotic vehicles lined up in a row. San Lai directed the dump truck driver to pull up to the very front, facing the scissor-door sports car head-on.
Finally, he returned to the center position, raising both hands high like a conductor leading an orchestra. "Everyone, turn on your high beams and shine them over there!" he bellowed.
At San Lai's command, the motley assortment of vehicles simultaneously switched on their high beams. A sinister smile spread across San Lai's face as he slowly turned around amidst the row of blazing headlights, backlit as he gazed at the group across from him. Unhurriedly, he said, "Who was laughing at me earlier? Step forward and let me see you. I promise I won't hit you first."
As if to accentuate his arrogant words, the dump truck driver behind him—a guy with prominent buckteeth—blasted two deafening horn honks.
Silence fell on the other side. No one stepped forward to challenge him.At that moment, the man from the Volkswagen got out. This man was similarly pot-bellied and thick-waisted, even sporting the same bald hairstyle as Wan Sheng Bang. With an unpleasant expression, he glanced at San Lai, who nevertheless addressed him properly: "Dad."
Jiang Mu stared blankly at this legendary figure of Tonggang—Lao Lai. Despite his advanced age, he wore a floral shirt, shiny pointed leather shoes, and a belt with an unmissable golden "LV" logo at his waist. In that instant, Jiang Mu seemed to understand exactly who San Lai had inherited his flamboyance from.
Lao Lai walked up to San Lai and pointed at him: "Causing trouble all day long."
San Lai, arms crossed, replied nonchalantly: "If you can't handle it, just pay back the money."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Lao Lai instantly switched to a friendly expression, as seamlessly as a Sichuan face-changing performance, and strode toward Wan Sheng Bang.
Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me with their special tickets or nourished me with nutrient solutions between 2021-10-09 15:02:09 and 2021-10-10 14:25:22~
Special thanks to the little angels who cast landmines: Peach eats more kiwi (2); 41416783, Healer.I really want to become a panda, may everything go smoothly, please let Xing Wuqing also eat hot pot (1 each);
And to the nutrient solution contributors: Healer. (10 bottles); Orange Purple (9 bottles); TsezukiMoi (7 bottles); Zeyan (3 bottles); Playing Mahjong, Dazzling, Warm, Six Thirty Salted Egg Yolk, 24118841 (1 bottle each);
I'm deeply grateful for everyone's support and will continue to work hard!
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