"How do you know Qin Lianjie wants to race with me?"
Chen Xiangbei asked in surprise, wondering how Liang Chi could possibly know the conversation that took place on Nanyun Mountain Road without being there.
"Don't worry about how I know, just tell me if it's true or not."
"Yes."
"There you go, let's have a race."
Liang Chi let go of his arms and sat back in his rocking chair, leisurely blowing smoke rings.
"What will we race with? Fixing up this Corolla, or the shop's tool car Santana?"
Chen Xiangbei never worried about whether he could beat Qin Lianjie; the problem was that today's performance with the Corolla made him doubt whether an unmodified civilian car could complete the entire course.
After all, Fatty Wang mentioned that Qin Lianjie, as the lead driver of the Light Point Team, could finish Nanyun Mountain in just over five minutes. Winning a race would mean enduring even more intense driving than today.
"Don't worry about the car either, just say if you're racing or not."
"I'm racing."
A straightforward answer, for a true racer never hesitates.
"Come to the shop after school tomorrow."
Liang Chi threw out these words, then got up, stomped out his cigarette, and went back inside to sleep.
Watching Liang Chi leave, Wang Yidong was still puzzled and asked Chen Xiangbei, "What does it mean, where's the car coming from?"
"You'll know tomorrow."
Chen Xiangbei threw out a similar statement and turned to head home.
"What's with this trend of speaking in riddles!"
Fatty Wang couldn't help but complain, but he quickly put the matter out of his mind.
Because from this moment on, he had to concoct a "perfect" story to explain why he got home so late and why he didn't drive the Corolla back.
As for whether he'd get away with it and avoid a "mixed doubles" scolding, that was anyone's guess.
Dragging his weary body to the door, Chen Xiangbei found it was almost 2 a.m.
His mother, Zhao Yumei, was still awake, pacing anxiously in the living room waiting for his return.
The moment she heard the keys turn, she rushed to the door, and the sight of Chen Xiangbei finally brought her some relief.
"Why did you come home so late, without your phone, was the repair shop really busy?"
Other parents might have scolded a son for messing around outside, but Chen Xiangbei, being from a single-parent family, was always mature and obedient to a level that made Zhao Yumei doubt if he was wise beyond his years.
"Yeah, there was an urgent repair job, so I was busy with Uncle Liang for a while."
Chen Xiangbei lied smoothly, and the half-damp sweat stains on his T-shirt lent his words credibility.
Zhao Yumei didn't doubt for a moment, only showing concern by patting her son's back, "Our family may not be wealthy, but providing for you is no issue. Why do you insist on working part-time at the repair shop?"
Her husband left behind a small trading company when he passed, which Zhao Yumei managed well, leaving them in comfortable middle-class standing for the early 2000s. There was no need for Chen Xiangbei to work to make money.
What Zhao Yumei didn't know was that, besides earning some money, Chen Xiangbei's part-time job let him indulge in his passion for cars, a truth he wouldn't dare share.
"It's good practice for myself. No worries mom, you go to sleep, I need a shower."
Chen Xiangbei deflected the topic easily, heading to his room to find clothes.
Hearing her son's words, Zhao Yumei was at a loss. How could she claim a child's maturity was a bad thing?
Ultimately, she could only shake her head helplessly and return to sleep.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiangbei found his clothes and casually picked up the Nokia 5300 on his desk to check the time.
When the phone's screen lit up, it showed several unread QQ messages from someone named Xue Meiting.
[Xiabei, what are you doing?]
[Xiabei, I bought a really pretty outfit while shopping today.]
Scrolling down revealed a selfie of a cute girl in a low-cut top and shorts, caressing her hair in the silhouetted sunset.
Even though phone cameras weren't high definition and lacked the "magic" beauty apps of the future, her youthful vitality was captivating.
[Chen Xiangbei, if you don't reply, I'm gonna be mad!]
And that was where the QQ messages ended.
Looking at the messages, Chen Xiangbei smiled wryly.
The reason he could teach the theory of "King of Sycophants" to Fatty Wang was not just from being influenced by the internet, but also because he was once a sycophant himself!
Before his rebirth, Chen Xiangbei had fallen for the "fishing skills" of Xue Meiting, ending up as a suckerfish, gaining the rich experience of a sycophant.
For a whole year, Xue Meiting kept giving mixed signals to the naive young Chen Xiangbei, sending occasional messages like today, making his heart race.
Whenever Chen Xiangbei thought he was about to succeed, Xue Meiting would either grow cold or say she'd consider it once they got into a good college.
Back then, Chen Xiangbei, like Fatty Wang today, thought she was a true, studious girl...
As it turned out, Chen Xiangbei was just too naive!
The previous Chen Xiangbei would have drooled over such messages and photos, staying up fantasizing about a beautiful future and deceiving himself that persistence would lead to everything.
But now, faced with such seasoned charm, Chen Xiangbei just calmly smiled and tossed the phone aside, pretending not to see it.
Indeed, when sycophants stop chasing, they take control, leaving the girl to feel uncertain.
...
The night passed, and before sunrise, Chen Xiangbei groggily got up to wash for the dreaded early morning high school practice.
Having slept late and having pushed a car for miles, he awoke achy all over.
He grabbed some soy milk and deep-fried dough at a street stall and ate as he walked, arriving just in time to bump into Wang Yidong by the school gate. The boy looked even worse, with puffy eyes and obvious exhaustion, having clearly had a rough night.
Comparisons are indeed comforting; Chen Xiangbei suddenly felt much better, putting an arm around Fatty Wang to tease, "So, did your dad go into a frenzy last night?"
"What do you think?"
Wang Yidong responded irritably, having narrowly escaped trouble by hiding under his bed.
"Oh, make sure to hurry Uncle Liang about the Corolla, or my life will be tough."
"Don't worry, if he slacks off, I'll do it!"
"You know how to fix it?"
Wang Yidong asked, only having seen Chen Xiangbei do car maintenance.
"Of course, what do you take this genius racer for?"
Just as Chen Xiangbei was about to boast, they heard a voice scolding, "Still lounging around? Hurry up or you'll be late!"
Looking up, the school principal stood by the gate with a ruler in hand, watching them sternly.
PS: Thank you to all the bros for your votes and support. Rest assured, all your comments and suggestions are being considered, and with enough engagement, maybe we'll crowdsource a book!