Watching as the Civic Type-R’s taillights disappear from sight, Wang Yidong turns and asks, "What did Xiangbei say, do you want to race against Qin Lianjie?"
Wang Yidong’s tone carries excitement; witnessing his good buddy racing with his idol on Nanyun Mountain is just too thrilling to even think about!
"Not so easy to race."
Chen Xiangbei’s expression is somewhat complex.
Perplexed, Wang Yidong asks back, wasn’t the race smooth tonight? Just follow this standard!
"Did you notice our car is moving?"
"Of course it moves when going downhill, what’s the problem?"
"The problem is, I didn’t start the car."
Wang Yidong is taken aback, only then noticing that after parking earlier, Chen Xiangbei hadn’t started the car; the headlights and dashboard were all dark, yet the Corolla was speeding downhill.
"Damn, it’s rolling away and you didn’t pull the handbrake!"
Wang Yidong shouts, then quickly pulls the handbrake of the Corolla.
But when he pulls it, it feels loose and slack; the vehicle doesn’t show any braking effect, and he looks at Chen Xiangbei again with bewildered eyes.
"Stop pulling, the handbrake cable snapped during the start."
"Then hurry and start the car, use the foot brake!"
"The brake fluid line probably snapped during the corner."
Upon hearing this, Fatty Wang is stunned, eventually asking with trembling voice, "What do we do now?"
The moment his voice trails off, they hear a "bang," followed by the vehicle shaking violently, as the front of the car hits the mountainside barrier.
"According to car design principles, frontal collisions are the safest way..."
Chen Xiangbei initially wanted to explain, but seeing Fatty Wang’s tears welling in his eyes, he swallowed his words.
He could only silently say, "Should’ve done a check-up before the race..."
After speaking, Chen Xiangbei pushes open the car door and steps out, knowing Fatty Wang needs some time and space to calm his emotions and accept the reality of facing "mixed doubles" at home.
A grocery car is ultimately a grocery car. Chen Xiangbei tried to drive as "gently" as possible, yet this Corolla couldn’t withstand race intensity.
Just like the AE86, the "rear-wheel Corolla," which could claim a legendary title on Qiuming Mountain, surpassing many challengers, was not only due to Fujiwara Takumi’s driving skills but also his father’s modifications behind the scenes.
No choice, this is an era where lineage matters—some people are born in Rome, others destined to be grass-fed. Just like some can drive a Mercedes AMG to pick up chicks, Fatty Wang can only take his Corolla downhill by his own.
Midnight in Guangshen City is extraordinarily quiet, with two teenagers pushing a Corolla on the empty streets, panting as they head towards a repair shop.
"I say, Fatty, can you use some strength? What a waste you eat so much!"
Chen Xiangbei is pushing the car while throwing a jibe at Wang Yidong, who, despite eating a lot, seems purely fat; while pushing the car for several kilometers, it’s mostly his own effort.
"I can’t help it, I’m using all my strength."
Wang Yidong replies weakly, very aggrieved; it’s normal to be exhausted after several kilometers, not just a few hundred meters.
Chen Xiangbei initially wanted to say more, but now he doesn’t even have the energy to talk further as his clothes are soaked in sweat.
Using his last ounce of strength, Chen Xiangbei pushes the Corolla into the repair shop’s gate; then both he and Wang Yidong slump onto the ground, gasping for air.
At that moment, the repair shop owner, Liang Chi, hears the noise, steps out with a cigarette clamped between his lips, looks at the wrecked front of the Corolla, and asks in a puzzled tone, "No way, racing with a high school classmate, and you still crash?"
Liang Chi has watched Chen Xiangbei’s driving skills for a long time; this kid’s coordination and high-speed cornering technique during test drives often vaguely remind him of professional racers.
Liang Chi finds it hard to believe that someone who could run the Nanyun Mountain Road in five minutes driving a Santana could crash in a casual race unless that high schooler named Shaiming Hui has the same level of talent as Chen Xiangbei.
However, Liang Chi’s past racing experience tells him that there’s no way talents like racing drivers come in batches; Guangshen is unlikely to see another Chen Xiangbei!
"Didn’t crash, brakes failed, had to hit the slope to stop."
Chen Xiangbei explains weakly. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾※𝙣𝙚𝙩
"It’s a non-modified civilian car, drive it cautiously."
"What are you planning to do with this Corolla now?"
Liang Chi exhales a cloud of smoke with a very calm demeanor, as though he’s used to such scenes.
"What else can be done, deduct the repair money from my part-time earnings."
Chen Xiangbei, holding onto the car’s front, stands up, still gasping heavily.
It seems that despite being youthful, a body untrained professionally still falls short compared to conditioned stamina. He’ll need to work on conditioning more.
Upon hearing Chen Xiangbei’s words, Liang Chi taps the bumper with his foot and says, "Bumper framework, radiator, headlights, fenders, and severely deformed bonnet."
"Leaving aside the engine and gearbox issues, plus brake system repairs, the material and labor will cost around a grand or two."
"Kid, how long do you think it’ll take to pay off the repair money through part-time work?"
Faced with Liang Chi’s question, Chen Xiangbei is momentarily speechless.
He’s currently part-timing at the repair shop for ten yuan an hour; though it doesn’t seem like much, in ’08 it counts as a "high salary."
Let it be known that at this time, the student part-time rate at KFC was only seven yuan an hour, with other private shops offering even less!
While part-timing, he earns two to three hundred yuan a week at most; at this pace, it would take about a year or so.
"Uncle Liang, employee price and you only offer ten percent off, is there a fifty-percent friendly discount option?"
After catching his breath from sitting long enough, Fatty Wang attempts to haggle.
"Little fatty, ten percent off is the lowest, no negotiation."
Liang Chi waves his hand, leisurely puffing smoke rings and refusing to budge.
Wang Yidong mutters softly before getting up to say, "Xiangbei, stop insisting, just let my dad come to pay and fix the car."
"It’s just getting a beating, I have plenty of fat and thick skin, I’ll get through it."
Actually, Wang Yidong never intended for Chen Xiangbei to repair the car; it was Chen Xiangbei who felt bad, which is why he pushed the car over, wanting to fix it and return it.
Regarding Wang Yidong’s words, Chen Xiangbei doesn’t respond but turns to Liang Chi firmly, "Ten percent off then, anyway, there’s winter and summer breaks. I’ll definitely pay off the repair money."
"Alright, kid, you have integrity."
Liang Chi praises with an appreciative tone, then his lips curl into a cunning grin, placing his hand on Chen Xiangbei’s shoulder while saying, "Actually, there are many ways to pay off the repair money, it’s just whether you’d like to do it."
Sensing Liang Chi’s unusual demeanor, Chen Xiangbei’s instincts tell him the old fox is laying a trap, thus he cautiously asks, "What do you want me to do?"
Liang Chi waits for this question precisely; his smile broadens as he replies, "That guy from Light Point Team, what’s his name, Qin Lianjie, is willing to pay thirty thousand to race against you."
"Go win against him, and the repair money will be covered!"