On the lonely Binhai Highway, apart from the sound of the evening wind beating against the waves, only the roar of engines remained. The orderly lights on both sides of the road illuminated the dark path ahead.
A Ferrari was doggedly tailing a Lamborghini. Yu Qingxue turned the steering wheel, executing a beautiful drift around a sharp corner. The sight of a supercar’s tail-swing alone was enough to make one’s heart race with terror. Many people died from this dangerous maneuver every year, but for Yu Qingxue, it was second nature. The drift couldn’t even spike her adrenaline. Her breathing remained steady, completely unruffled.
While drifting, Yu Qingxue also casually glanced at the harbor not far away. Perhaps one day in the future, a ship would be waiting there. When that time came, she and the maids under Eldest Miss Tsukiyuki Rio would race for their lives on these same streets, transferring Gao Sijin from one gilded cage to another.
That day might not be too far off.
Deep within her playful eyes, a hint of untamed wildness was subtly concealed.
Since she had decided to pursue happiness, she would do it her own way. Even if she ended up battered and bruised, she would have no regrets, even facing death nine times over.
“Woohoo!”
Yu Qingxue cheered inside the car.
The car stereo played a doujin music track of Saigyouji Yuyuko, one of Gao Sijin’s favorite pieces.
Nearing her destination, she stepped on the brake and gracefully stepped out of the car, looking exceptionally dashing.
Her trench coat fluttered lightly in the wind like a cape.
“Children, your lord has returned.”
Near the harbor, several flashy sports cars of various shapes were parked. Most were supercars like Ferraris, Maseratis, Porsches, and Bugatti Veyrons.
“Boss Yu, long time no see! When did you get back to Tokyo, old-timer?”
“I’ve been back for a while.”
“Boss Yu, a single day apart feels like three autumns! We, your humble underlings, can never forget your driving skills. Shall we have a match today?”
“Absolutely. Kurosawa, you little punk… well, you’ve got a way with words. Anyway, where’s Brother Ayanokouji? Why haven’t I seen him around?”
“That bastard Ayanokouji toyed with a girl’s feelings and got hacked to death with a cleaver.”
“What a shame.”
Yu Qingxue merged into the center of the crowd, like Sun Wukong returning to the Water Curtain Cave on Flower-Fruit Mountain. When the well-known local dandies of Tokyo saw Yu Qingxue, they immediately bowed in submission. Among them were both men and women, none older than thirty. They were all sweet-talkers and talented individuals who never gave their parents a moment’s peace.
This group was practically Yu Qingxue’s core social circle in Tokyo. Ever since becoming one of Tsukiyuki Rio’s maids, Yu Qingxue had become obsessed with street racing. Despite being a woman, she played the wildest game. A few times, she even raced on steep, winding mountain roads where the slightest lapse in judgment would mean plunging into an abyss. Yet, Yu Qingxue remained unmoved, marching to her own beat with an indifferent attitude toward life and death. This quickly earned her a local following.
To manage this group, Yu Qingxue had also established one rule: anyone who wanted to run in her circle had to speak fluent Chinese. Otherwise, they could scram. To integrate themselves, this pack of dandies set off a trend of learning Chinese.
Five minutes later, the trailing Ferrari also reached the end point. Morgana, flicking her long blonde hair, slowly stepped out of the car.
“Morgana, you were a full hour slower.” Yu Qingxue said with exaggerated emphasis.
“An hour? Your perception of time must have a serious problem. I suggest you go to a psychiatric hospital for some extended rest and recovery.” Morgana folded her delicate arms across her chest and glared coldly at Yu Qingxue.
“Boss Yu, who is this?”
“Hatsuno-chan, she is my junior. Her name is Morgana Dantès, straight from Paris. Her favorite pastime is barking like a wild dog, always looking to pick a fight for no reason.”
“Yu Qingxue, are you asking for a beating?”
“You can’t beat me anyway, so save your energy.”
Yu Qingxue smiled provocatively, an expression on her face that completely dismissed Morgana.
Morgana was just a maid, a mere servant under Tsukiyuki Rio. In Yu Qingxue’s eyes, the only one who could truly be called a rival was Tsukiyuki Rio herself.
Tonight, Yu Qingxue planned to use her genuine skills to make Morgana clearly understand this fact.
She stood before the crowd and declared loudly:
“Brothers and sisters, I, Yu Qingxue, came to Binhai Highway to do three things: race, race, and goddamn race!”
“Yu Qingxue, you’re not planning to have them deliberately block my path during the race, are you?”
Morgana shot Yu Qingxue a wary glare.
“Morgana-chan, how could I ever do something so vile? Relax, they’re just here to accompany the run. Besides, against you, I don’t need to resort to petty tricks. Got it? Alright, hurry up and get in the car. After the race, I still have to go back to stay with Sijin.”
“Don’t talk about Master like he’s your personal property. Master belongs to Young Lady Tsukiyuki!”
“You really are a loyal dog. But no matter how formidable a loyal dog is, it’s still just a dog. It can’t compete with a human. Today, I’m going to make you understand that.”
Yu Qingxue walked over to Morgana’s side. Their race would follow the coastal route, then return the same way. Whoever reached the pre-marked end point first would be the winner.
With a snap of Yu Qingxue’s fingers, the handsome men and pretty women got into their respective supercars, maintaining a subtle distance from Yu Qingxue’s Lamborghini and Morgana’s Ferrari. The engines roared to life again, as if the entire highway trembled slightly from it. In truth, Yu Qingxue had initially started racing just to feel the boundary line between life and death, not to add another skill to her repertoire.
Now, racing might become the key to victory in the future.
“Morgana, I absolutely won’t lose to you. Just you wait…”
In the final five seconds of the signal light’s countdown, Yu Qingxue saw Morgana, sitting in her Ferrari, tensing up her nerves.
Did she really not want her to die?
As the final light flashed green, Yu Qingxue deliberately delayed her start, putting on an air of complete ease.
“Let me get a good measure of you, Morgana.”
The street race officially began. Morgana’s red Ferrari shot forward, bereft of any flashy, intricate technique, charging ahead purely like a wild horse. Yu Qingxue stepped on the accelerator, following right behind. The group of underlings behind her also started their engines, pursuing the extreme, dangerous speed. When the speed reached a certain level, there was a faint, profound sensation of somehow controlling time itself.
If one could control time, one could control the world.
“Woohoo!”
The wind howled past her ears.
On the way here, Morgana had been fiercely biting at Yu Qingxue’s tail. Now, it was Yu Qingxue who was temporarily behind.
Five minutes later, at the first corner, Morgana’s drift was slightly inexperienced. While she could drive fast, her usual interests were fitness and combat training. She rarely raced.
“You can’t possibly beat me.”
Yu Qingxue believed she would keep winning, all the way.
The distance between the two cars began to close.
A playful smile surfaced at the corner of Yu Qingxue’s lips. She wasn’t in a hurry. She would first give Morgana a sliver of hope, then, just when Morgana thought she was about to win, snatch the victory from her.
Another curve appeared, and Yu Qingxue closed the distance further. Victory was beyond doubt.
At least, for the time being.
