Departure for Shimazhen Town

"You... you..."

Meng Wenzhou stared dumbfounded at Lu Yun standing beside Su Yang.

Pan Ning's eyes also flickered with a faint, unreadable light.

The group approached, and Su Yang greeted Han Xiaoyu and Xia Keke with a smile.

"Hello, ladies. Fancy seeing you again."

"Su, you’ve gotten even more handsome since we last saw you," Han Xiaoyu teased.

"Was there ever a day I wasn’t?" Su Yang joked back.

"Sure, sure~"

"Oh, by the way, this is Lu Yun," Su Yang said, gesturing to her.

Lu Yun smiled sweetly at the group and waved. "Hi, everyone! I’m Lu Yun... a friend of Su Yang’s."

"Nice to meet you," the others replied, each giving a brief introduction.

When it was Pan Ning’s turn, she stepped forward, extending her hand with a confident smile. "Hello, I’m Pan Ning. Since you’re Su Yang’s friend, you’re mine now too."

Lu Yun swallowed nervously under Pan Ning’s commanding presence but shook her hand warmly. "Hi~ I’m Lu Yun. Hope we can be good friends."

"You’re so pretty!" Han Xiaoyu exclaimed, suddenly grabbing Lu Yun’s hand with a grin.

Meanwhile, Meng Wenzhou pulled Su Yang aside and hissed, "Dude! This is the ‘friend’ you mentioned?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"That’s the stunning beauty I was just talking about! And she’s your friend?!"

Su Yang smirked. "I figured it was her when you brought it up earlier."

"No way! I thought I’d never see her again. This is my chance! But how do you even know someone this gorgeous?"

"We go way back—high school classmates."

"Ugh, why couldn’t I have gone to your high school?!"

Su Yang just shrugged.

After some small talk, Su Yang turned to Meng Wenzhou. "Let’s get going. Where’d you park, Lao Meng?"

"Over there," Meng Wenzhou said, pointing across the street.

"Alright, let’s head out. It’s almost five—we’ll make it just in time for dinner."

"Sweet. Is that your Maybach?" Meng Wenzhou eyed the car behind Su Yang.

Su Yang nodded. "Yep. Fits more people, and it’s comfy for the highway."

"No kidding—that’s a beast. Alright, who’s riding with me?" Meng Wenzhou glanced at Lu Yun, then the others.

"I call dibs on the Maybach!" Han Xiaoyu chirped, raising her hand.

"Oh no you don’t—you’re with me," Xia Keke said, yanking her back.

As the group debated seating arrangements, Pan Ning strode straight to the Maybach’s passenger seat and slid in without a word.

Su Yang gulped, shooting a look at Lu Yun.

Lu Yun had noticed Pan Ning’s move but kept her smile intact, unfazed.

"Lu Yun, let’s go," Su Yang said, opening the rear door.

"Mm-hmm," she agreed, climbing in.

"Got room for one more—who’s joining?"

Xia Keke turned to Tang Ziyun. "Ziyun, why don’t you ride with Su Yang? Xiaoyu and I’ll go with Meng."

Tang Ziyun chuckled. "Sure~"

The eight split into two cars:

Su Yang’s Maybach: Pan Ning (front), Lu Yun, Tang Ziyun (back).

Meng Wenzhou’s car: Liu Bo, Han Xiaoyu, Xia Keke.

Meng Wenzhou drove his group across the street, U-turned, and rolled down his window. "Race you?"

"Race what?" Su Yang blinked.

"First to Shima Town’s entrance. Loser’s penalty."

Su Yang laughed. "Tell you what—I’ll give you a ten-minute head start."

"Seriously?! You’re underestimating me."

"Not really. You’ve raced me before—you know how this goes."

"Track’s different! Highway’s my turf. You might actually lose."

"Fine, let’s do it. What’s the stake?"

Meng Wenzhou adjusted his sunglasses, grinning. "How about something fun? Qianyu’s coming back soon. I already invited Xia Keke and Han Xiaoyu to the welcome party—Tang Ziyun’s in too. Can you bring Lu Yun?"

"That’s it? Just invite her if I lose?"

"Nah! I mean, bring her either way. But today, the losing car’s entire crew gets punished."

Su Yang glanced at his passengers. "Deal. But define ‘punishment.’"

Meng Wenzhou’s grin widened. "At Qianyu’s party, the winning team picks cosplay outfits for the losers."

Liu Bo gaped. "Wait—Meng, are you insane?!"

"You’re letting them choose?!"

"Yep. More fun that way," Meng Wenzhou said.

Su Yang burst out laughing. "Done. They’re in. But no take-backs when you lose."

"Please. My crew’s game. Right, guys?" Meng Wenzhou looked at his passengers.

Han Xiaoyu shrugged. "As long as it’s not too weird."

"Then it’s on!"

"Finish line: Shima Town’s main gate. First there wins."

"Bring it."

Lu Yun leaned forward. "Wait—this is real?"

"Relax. Worst case, it’s just cosplay. Plus, I’m giving him ten minutes. We won’t lose," Su Yang assured.

Pan Ning stayed silent, fully aware of Su Yang’s highway prowess. Losing wasn’t an option.

But Tang Ziyun bit her lip. "What if we do lose? Imagine cosplaying Chun-Li—I’d die of embarrassment!"

Su Yang turned, smirking. "Relax, Ziyun. Just buckle up. Let Han Xiaoyu or Xia Keke be Chun-Li."

Tang Ziyun giggled. "Okay~"

Meng Wenzhou’s car sped off first. Su Yang revved the engine and followed.

"Heh. Bet he doesn’t know a Maybach can outrun Nibelungen. Challenge me? Pan, don’t blame me when your brother makes a fool of himself."

Pan Ning rolled her eyes. "Men. So childish."