LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 44
Chi Yu was thinking about inviting Song Luokui out for a meal again when he had time, but just a few days later, he received another gift from Song Luokui - an expensive tea set and figurines.
Song Luokui: "Sorry, I haven't had time to take you out for a meal recently. Consider this a treat on me."
Chi Yu immediately understood. He stared at the tea set and figurines without saying a word for a long time, then called Song Luokui directly.
"Hello?" Song Luokui answered casually.
Chi Yu didn't speak right away.
"Hello?" Song Luokui called out again, then looked at the caller ID - Chi Yu?
"Chi Yu?" Song Luokui lowered her eyelids, not sure what she was thinking.
Chi Yu finally spoke, his voice a bit hoarse: "Are you... still mad at me?"
Song Luokui: "Huh? No, I'm not mad." She wasn't angry, but she was quite conflicted, and why did Chi Yu always think she was angry?
Chi Yu: "Then... when do you have time to take me out for a meal?" Chi Yu fiddled with the figurine as he spoke. The figurines Song Luokui gave him were a full set of national fighter jet models. If it wasn't about "taking him out for a meal", he would probably be delighted.
Song Luokui was also fiddling with the succulent she was raising. "I'm... not very free recently."
There was silence on the other end for a while. Song Luokui felt a bit guilty and took a deep breath. "How about... next week, next Friday night."
The last time!
Chi Yu: "Okay."
Song Luokui: "I'll book the restaurant. I'll send you the details later."
Chi Yu: "Mmhmm. I'll come pick you up then."
Song Luokui: "No need, I'll drive myself."
Chi Yu: "Okay."
After hanging up, Chi Yu put the figurines away and took them home, but he left the tea set at the office.
Meanwhile, Song Luokui lay on the table and sighed. Just yesterday, she overheard her brother Song Luosheng on the phone, apparently a project had been snatched away, and she vaguely heard Chi Yu's name mentioned. She figured the two companies might be competing in the business arena.
She couldn't very well tell her brother Song Luosheng not to compete with the male lead. A company's survival depends on competing with others - she could only keep an eye on her brother and make sure he didn't become psychologically twisted if he failed.
As for herself, she should just save up money. Maybe if her brother failed in the business arena in the future, she could fund his comeback!
But she really couldn't go out for meals with Chi Yu anymore. This would be the last time to return the favor.
Soon, the agreed-upon time arrived. As soon as classes ended on Friday, Song Luokui drove to the place she had booked, and to return the favor, she even booked an especially expensive restaurant.
When she arrived, she didn't expect Chi Yu to already be there. "Sorry, I'm late."
Chi Yu: "No, I just got here too."
Song Luokui: "You order first."
Chi Yu ordered two dishes and handed her the menu. Song Luokui simply ordered all the signature dishes.
The dishes soon arrived one by one, each a small portion but exorbitantly priced. The cheapest dish was just a plate of boiled cabbage.
After the meal, Chi Yu suddenly took out a box and handed it to her. "This is a thank-you gift for the presents you gave me before."
Song Luokui paused, not taking it. She looked at Chi Yu, and he was looking at her too.
Song Luokui pushed the gift box back. "No need, I don't want to owe you any more favors."
Chi Yu's eyelids lowered. "So... you took me out to return a favor? And you sent me gifts to return a favor too? Everything was just to return favors?" Chi Yu looked straight at Song Luokui. He set the gift box aside. "Then tell me, what favors did you owe me?"
Song Luokui counted on her fingers: "That time you helped me when I was being harassed, the sponsorship for Sisi, and the gifts you sent me from Country F before." It seemed like there were quite a few times, she'd even forgotten some.
Chi Yu: "If we're counting, then you missed one - the incident in Country A. You still need to treat me to another meal."
Song Luokui thought about it, and realized he was right. She looked up at Chi Yu, but immediately lowered her gaze when she saw he was still watching her. "Then I'll just get you another gift instead of a meal."
Chi Yu simply looked at her without responding.
Song Luokui didn't dare look up and just played with her fingers.
Suddenly, Chi Yu stood up. "No need. You don't have to return anything."
Song Luokui: "I have to, I need to return the favor."
Chi Yu took a deep breath. "Sorry, I said you don't need to. I have something to take care of, I'll leave first."
Song Luokui immediately stood up too. "Hey? Wait a minute."
Chi Yu paused.
Song Luokui: "You forgot to take your box."
Chi Yu clenched and unclenched his fist. "Don't want it."
Song Luokui chased after him and tried to hand him the box. "You can't not take it, that would be wasteful."
Chi Yu looked her straight in the eye. "Why do we have to keep such clear accounts?"
This time, Song Luokui didn't avoid his gaze. "Because I'm Song Luosheng's sister. I won't be friends with you."
Chi Yu: "...Does that matter?"
Song Luokui: "It does. We should be considered enemies, not friends. Thank you for your help before, I'll send you one last gift to return the final favor. We shouldn't go out for meals together anymore. I'm afraid my brother will find out."
Song Luokui stuffed the box into his arms, nodded at him, and left.
She did as she said and immediately went shopping, instructing someone to deliver the gifts directly to Mountain Corporation the next day. Now she had returned all favors owed.
Song Luokui breathed a sigh of relief. From now on, she wouldn't feel guilty when facing her brother.
On the other side, Chi Yu took the gift box and drove out of the city until he reached Jinming Mountain on the outskirts. This place was used for illegal street racing at night, and when Chi Yu arrived, he immediately pushed his car's speed to the extreme.
He kept thinking about what Song Luokui had said: "I won't be friends with you."
There happened to be a street racing competition going on at Jinming Mountain, with many spectators lining the roads. Drones were livestreaming the race as two cars sped along, chasing each other through the mountain's eighteen hairpin turns. One wrong move and they could crash into the mountainside or plunge off a cliff - that was the thrill!
Suddenly, a black car appeared in the livestream footage, lagging behind. The viewers were puzzled. "Whose car is that? How did it get up here?"
"Damn! It's so fast!"
The black car quickly caught up to the white and yellow sports cars in front. After navigating the twists and turns, the black car took the lead with a drift maneuver, overtaking both other cars to take first place!
The drivers of the white and yellow cars were stunned. Where had that car come from?
The person controlling the drone quickly moved to film the driver's face. On the screen appeared a man in a black suit with refined, noble features. Suddenly, the man turned to look straight at the drone camera, his gaze filled with cold disdain.
The drone operator was startled, causing the drone to wobble for a moment.
The black car suddenly accelerated, rolling up its windows. Soon, it reached the mountaintop and descended from another direction.
The spectators were equally dumbfounded. Two sports cars couldn't even beat a sedan? Just what car was that? More importantly, who was the person driving it to be so skilled?