Chapter 77: Remember to Call Me Handsome

The Wuling Hongguang darted through the hairpin turn like a slippery eel, full throttle pressed to the floor, drifting cleanly and decisively. In an instant, it left the Pagani far behind, so much so that Lu Ye could no longer even glimpse its taillights.

How could he see the rear lights when he was already racing ahead? Ridiculous!

But after a few more bends, even Chen Yu lost sight of the Wuling’s taillights.

“He’s a god behind the wheel, he must be!” Chen Yu took a deep breath, making up his mind as he muttered, “I have to become his disciple!”

He was not only a rich heir but also a die-hard car enthusiast. His home was filled with countless luxury cars, and he loved nothing more than gathering with his car club friends to race on the track. He had no grand ambitions in life; he simply loved to drive.

Now, having encountered a living, breathing legend of the road, how could he not beg to become his apprentice? For the dream of becoming a racing driver, Chen Yu was willing to cast aside both pride and dignity.

At the foot of the mountain, Lu Ye’s Wuling Hongguang had been parked by the roadside for quite some time before Chen Yu’s Pagani finally crossed the finish line, trailing behind. Chen Yu stepped out and, without a word, dropped to his knees before Lu Ye.

“Master, please accept me as your disciple!” he pleaded, clutching Lu Ye’s leg, tears and snot running down his face. “Please, Master, teach me how to drive! I want to be like you—drifting around corners while lighting a cigarette!”

Lu Ye’s eyes suddenly grew deep; he raised a cigarette to his lips, took a long drag, then flicked the butt with a snap of his fingers, sending it sailing precisely into a trash bin over a dozen meters away.

With a pretense of gravitas, he said, “Since you’ve so earnestly begged me, I shall be magnanimous and accept you as my disciple.”

Happiness descended so suddenly! Overjoyed, Chen Yu cried out, “Long live Master!”

“Don’t rush to call me Master just yet. First, hand over your Pagani—you lost, fair and square.”

“Oh, oh!” Chen Yu hurriedly handed him the car keys, his face beaming with delight.

Lu Ye tossed him the Wuling’s keys in return, grinning. “Disciple, help me drive this car back to Mingzhu City—either to the Su family or to Yiren Group, that’s fine.”

“Yes, Master!” Chen Yu cheerfully drove off in the Wuling Hongguang.

Lu Ye waited a while, then met up with Cai Yueyao, who had taken the scenic cable car down the mountain, and drove her back to Licheng in the Pagani.

Cai Yueyao was not the least surprised by the race’s outcome; she had once seen him race an Arabian prince in a scene of true adrenaline and danger.

“You little rascal, you still haven’t said why you suddenly came looking for me today,” she teased.

Lu Ye grunted, “Of course, I came to continue the conversation we left unfinished last night. You know exactly why I’m here.”

Cai Yueyao looked blank. “What did I talk to you about last night?”

“Keep pretending,” Lu Ye huffed, still convinced she was the queen of Y6.

She had not only received rigorous military training but was also fabulously wealthy—she had every reason and the means to found Y6. The answers to the three questions last night all pointed to her. Who else could it be?

But Cai Yueyao was still bewildered. “What on earth are you talking about? Are you crazy? Can’t you just explain yourself?”

Lu Ye finally lost patience. “I know it’s you. Isn’t it pointless to keep denying it?”

Cai Yueyao shot back, “Are you an idiot?”

He retorted, “Your whole family are idiots!”

Their argument degenerated, leaving both sides thoroughly disgruntled.

They drove in silence until they reached her company, where, by chance, they ran into Cai Yueyao’s mother at the entrance. She immediately began to fuss, “Yueyao, you were so drunk last night—why are you at work today?”

Lu Ye was stunned. “Auntie, she was drunk last night?”

Her mother recognized him from a past visit to the troops and greeted him with delight. “Well, if it isn’t Little Lu! Have you and Yueyao made up?”

“Not yet, Auntie. But please, tell me—was she really that drunk last night?”

Her mother replied, “Oh, terribly so! She insisted on drinking her father under the table and ended up sleeping beneath it all night…”

What?

If Cai Yueyao was passed out drunk all night, then who was the queen who chatted with me yesterday?

Could it really not have been her?

Cai Yueyao was still sulking from their earlier quarrel. She climbed out of the car in a huff and even gave Lu Ye a stealthy kick.

He scratched his head sheepishly. “Yueyao, I’m sorry, it was all a misunderstanding.”

She finally relented a little, pouting. “What misunderstanding?”

He pursed his lips. “I mistook you for an online friend of mine.”

She snapped, “So you secretly married another woman, and now you’re flirting with online friends behind my back?”

Great, now I’ve only made things worse.

Lu Ye quickly started the Pagani and fled the scene.

He found a place to wash and wax the car, then returned to the construction site just as Su Qianqian finished her work. She was thrilled at the sight of the fierce, limited-edition Pagani.

“Wow! One of only five in the world!” she exclaimed.

Lu Ye leaned against the car door, grinning mischievously. “Here you go, old lady. It’s your birthday present—give it a try!”

Su Qianqian could hardly believe it, running her hands lovingly over the car’s sleek lines. “Where on earth did you steal this?”

Lu Ye rolled his eyes. “What are you saying? I raced a rich kid in my Wuling Hongguang, and the Pagani was his wager. He lost, so now it’s mine.”

She nodded, understanding. “And the Wuling?”

“That was your first gift to me—how could I possibly get rid of it?”

“After he lost, the rich kid begged me to take him as a disciple, so I agreed and asked him to drive the Wuling back to Mingzhu City for me.”

He patiently explained everything, and only then did Su Qianqian accept the Pagani’s keys with satisfaction.

“Thank you, handsome!”

How cooperative this time.

On the way back to Mingzhu City, Lu Ye took a long time to muster the courage to ask, “So, are you touched by your birthday gift?”

Su Qianqian nodded, deadpan. “Very touched.”

“How touched?”

“Touched to death!”

Lu Ye grinned slyly. “May I ask for a tiny favor in return?”

“Go ahead.”

“I’d like to sleep in the bed from now on. Is that all right?”

He braced himself, fearing her slap was imminent. But instead, Su Qianqian smiled sweetly and replied naturally, “That’s all? Sure.”

Success! He barely had time to celebrate before she added, “Starting today, you’ll sleep in the bed and I’ll take the floor. We’ll switch every month—fair, right?”

Well, that was short-lived.

Catching a glimpse of Lu Ye’s disappointed expression, Su Qianqian’s heart skipped with delight.

Ha! So you still want to outwit me?

At eight in the evening, Lu Ye hosted a lavish birthday party for Su Qianqian on the third floor of the Yiren Club. Her old classmates, best friends, several young heirs from the Noble Alliance, and countless socialites and noble ladies all came to celebrate, giving her a rare taste of vanity and social standing.

Even after the party, Su Qianqian wore a joyous smile as they returned home. Never in her life had she imagined her birthday could be so grand. In the past, the Su family simply didn’t wield such influence, at best standing shoulder to shoulder with the other five great families. Moreover, Su Qianqian had never been adept at managing relationships and had no desire to play the socialite, so she naturally had few friends among the elite.

But ever since Lu Ye became her husband, everything had begun to quietly change for the better.

Lying on her mat, Su Qianqian savored the memories, then said, “Thank you, handsome.”

Lu Ye, tossing and turning on the bed, finally said with a grimace, “How about we switch places? I can’t stand seeing you on the floor—it pricks my conscience.”

Su Qianqian blinked. “But making you sleep on the floor pricks my conscience, too.”

“So what do we do?”

“We sleep in the bed together. But you’re not allowed any funny business!”