"Sit tight!"
After successfully making me blush, Li Mengting was finally satisfied. She smiled and started the car. With a casual flick, she turned on the music, and a blast of energetic English DJ beats filled the Ferrari. The sound system was so high-end, it felt like being inside a nightclub.
"Let's gooo—!"
Li Mengting screamed excitedly and slammed the gas pedal. The red Ferrari roared like an angry beast, shooting down the road like a fiery arrow unleashed from a bowstring.
"Whoa! Are you crazy?! Slow down!"
I never imagined that this sultry, elegant woman would drive like a complete maniac. Especially considering we were on Qingyun Mountain's winding descent—twisting roads, hairpin turns, cliffs everywhere. A single misstep, and we'd be flying off the edge.
But Li Mengting didn't care about any of that. She drove like a speed demon, barely slowing down for corners. She'd just tug the handbrake and swing the wheel, making the tires screech in protest as she drifted gracefully through every turn.
Even so, it felt dangerously reckless. Watching the cliffside pass by just inches from my window, I couldn't help but shout in panic, "Holy crap!"
This crazy woman actually *laughed* at my screaming. The more terrified I got, the more delighted she seemed—completely ignoring my pleas to slow down and stepping on the accelerator even harder.
Dammit. She looked like a goddess, but deep down, she was a total lunatic. How did I get suckered into taking her ride?
The engine roared as we continued flying down the mountainside. But after a few flawless, stylish drifts, I began to realize—this crazy "goddess" actually had insane driving skills. Her control was precise, her lines perfect. Each turn was executed in one fluid motion.
Seeing her mastery behind the wheel, my fear began to ease. With the pulsating DJ music and her wild laughter echoing through the car, I started to get caught up in it all—swept up in the thrill of speed and adrenaline.
Once we exited Qingyun Mountain, we hit the highway and zoomed toward Lihai City. She didn't slow down until we reached the outskirts and began entering urban streets.
Li Mengting casually turned off the music and glanced at me playfully. "What were you screaming like a banshee for?"
I glared at her. "Because I thought we were going to fly off a cliff and die!"
"Jinx much?"
They say shared danger brings people closer. That joyride from hell, while not quite life-or-death, did feel like a trial by fire. It made me feel a bit more at ease with Li Mengting, and I spoke more freely. "I don't get it—you're rich, beautiful. Out of all the things you could do, why drag race?"
She gave me a smug, knowing look. "Racing is thrilling. You just don't get the rush of speed."
"What rush?"
"The *rush* of speed," she emphasized. But then, noticing the smirk on my lips, she suddenly realized I was teasing her. With a flirtatious side-eye, she said, "Tsk. Just a moment ago you were blushing like a little schoolboy, and now you're making dirty jokes?"
I felt a bit embarrassed. I had to admit, when it came to flirting, I was no match for her. Every look, every gesture oozed seduction. She embodied the full charm of a mature woman, capable of mesmerizing any man.
It was already past 1 p.m. by now, but I noticed Li Mengting wasn't taking me to Second High in Hedong District. Instead, she was driving toward Hexi District. I had to remind her, "Ting-jie, wrong direction. This leads to Hexi."
To my surprise, she pouted sweetly, "I've driven so far, I'm exhausted. Don't tell me you won't even treat me to lunch before heading back?"
Honestly, if I didn't know she was an executive at Junyue Hotel and drove a Ferrari worth millions, I might have thought she was scamming me for a meal.
Still, she *had* driven me all the way back, burning gas and highway tolls. Now she was asking for a simple meal. If I refused, it would be rude. So I pulled out my wallet and said, "I've got about a hundred yuan left. You decide where to eat, but keep the budget in mind."
I meant it as a gentle reminder—I'm a broke student, not some rich sugar daddy. If she was thinking of fleecing me, it wouldn't work. I simply didn't have the cash.
Li Mengting's eyes flickered when she saw the cheap wallet and the highest bill being a 50. For a moment, her expression changed. I thought she was disappointed, but she quickly smiled again and said softly, "You're treating me. How could I pick the place? You decide."
I didn't try to act rich. After a moment of thought, I said, "There's a claypot shop in Wutong Alley over in Hexi. I splurged there once with a few classmates—great food, cheap prices. If you don't mind, we can eat there?"
"Sure. Since you recommend it, let's try it."
When she heard that my one visit to that claypot restaurant was a rare indulgence, her eyes softened—not with mockery, but with pity.
I felt uneasy. *What kind of look is that? Do I really seem so pitiful?*
Yes, I came from a poor family. I had to marry into the Zhang family just to afford school. My monthly allowance was only a few hundred yuan. But there were people worse off—beggars, disabled folks missing limbs. I didn't see her looking at *them* with pity. So why me? This woman was seriously weird.
Wutong Alley was an old street, but full of unique eateries: red date duck porridge, Guilin rice noodles, beef offal skewers—classic places, affordable and tasty. Students and laborers loved to eat here.
We parked the car and entered the largest shop on the block: Lao Feng's Claypot Restaurant.
The place specialized in claypot dishes. The aroma was authentic, and the place was bustling. Inside, several tables were already occupied. At one table, shirtless men with dragon and tiger tattoos were drinking heavily and shouting loudly. They looked like street punks.
One guy had a huge, menacing scorpion tattoo on his neck. I felt a bit intimidated. The only empty table was right next to theirs. I hesitated and said to Li Mengting, "It's pretty crowded and feels kinda sketchy. Should we try somewhere else?"
Li Mengting, dressed in a Chanel dress, carrying a Hermès bag, and wearing Prada heels, was head-to-toe luxury. She clearly belonged in high society, and from the moment she stepped into this slightly grimy claypot shop, she'd been frowning in displeasure.
But when she noticed my nervousness around the thugs, her expression changed. She glanced at the tattooed thug, then smiled slyly and said to me, "No need to switch. I haven't had food from a traditional place like this in ages—kinda nostalgic."
I looked at her suspiciously. *She clearly didn't want to be here a second ago. Why is she suddenly excited after seeing those gangsters?*
Still, since she insisted, I could only follow her lead and sit at the empty table next to the rough-looking bunch.