Chapter 40

During the trip, Ying Zhiyu hadn’t gone out to parties. Upon returning, Li Xi personally took him to Yan Jue’s gathering.

The capital’s only legal mountain racing track was built by the Meng family’s automotive group.

Strictly speaking, Ying Zhiyu’s “rival” Meng Lancheng owned the track.

When Li Xi was studying abroad, he had visited a few times.

Meng Lancheng, three years younger, almost always attended. But he rarely drove the track himself; as the Meng family’s only heir, he wasn’t allowed such risky behavior.

In the past, Ying Zhiyu had driven Meng Lancheng’s supercar along the mountain road once.

Somehow, the news reached Li Xi, and the next day Meng Lancheng politely called Ying Zhiyu to apologize, suggesting he not race there again.

Since then, Ying Zhiyu noticed Meng Lancheng seemed to distance himself.

At the time, Ying Zhiyu guessed Li Xi might have spoken to Meng Lancheng… maybe thinking he embarrassed him.

After all, it had been Ying Zhiyu’s first time racing the mountain track, and he finished second-to-last, behind someone who crashed.

Tonight, Li Xi brought Ying Zhiyu back to the track.

Since Ying Zhiyu was unfamiliar, Li Xi decided to drive.

Multiple sports cars screamed past them, right-handers holding beauties, left-handers cheering, driving as if their lives depended on it.

Li Xi frowned the whole way, displeasure evident: “A bunch of maniacs. Stay away from them.”

He parked steadily at the summit.

Turning to Ying Zhiyu, he emphasized, “Next time you want to race, stick to flat tracks with proper safety and a coach. Mountain roads are life-threatening; don’t come alone.”

Ying Zhiyu couldn’t help smiling. A different perspective could make things look entirely different.

He had thought Li Xi intervened with Meng Lancheng because he felt embarrassed.

Now…

Mountain tracks were dangerous; accidents happened often.

Seeing no response, Li Xi called him:

“Okay.”

He curved his eyes in a small smile.

Getting out, he wondered if Meng Lancheng had distanced himself in the past because of something else—maybe discovering the person he liked already had someone?

Yan Jue’s social circle didn’t entirely overlap with Li Xi’s.

Like Ying Zhiyu, Yan Jue’s parents were ordinary. Even if he appeared well-connected in the capital, the elite still regarded him like an ant.

So, while some in the capital knew Ying Zhiyu’s identity, it didn’t mean the young heirs at Yan Jue’s event would recognize him.

After reaching the summit, Ying Zhiyu got out first to greet Yan Jue.

Li Xi, disliking chaotic gatherings, stayed in the car, planning to drive a couple of laps after Ying Zhiyu finished greeting.

But when Ying Zhiyu pointed him out to Yan Jue, they saw a young Alpha leaning on Li Xi’s supercar—one hand on the roof, the other pressing on the window.

It looked like… attempting to flirt?

Yan Jue elbowed Ying Zhiyu, teasing: “Ah, someone’s trying to steal your partner!”

From their angle, they couldn’t see Li Xi’s reaction.

Ying Zhiyu watched briefly and shook his head: “As expected, ignorance is fearless.”

Even Meng Lancheng, with his background, had dared only to secretly admire; this random young Alpha dared act boldly.

Yan Jue asked, “Aren’t you going to assert dominance?”

Ying Zhiyu: “Assert dominance?”

Yan Jue raised an eyebrow, mockingly as Ying Zhiyu: “Hey, buddy, this passenger seat is taken! First come, first served, got it?”

Ying Zhiyu snorted.

When it came to loyalty, he trusted Li Xi completely.

Besides, Li Xi could handle a rich brat himself. If Ying Zhiyu ran over, was it for fun or to prevent poaching? Either way, it would be insulting—to him or to Li Xi.

At that moment, a female Omega approached Yan Jue and Ying Zhiyu.

Yan Jue seemed to recognize her and greeted warmly, “Wow, long time no see, Miss Yu. You look even more stunning than before.”

Miss Yu was already immune to Yan Jue’s slick talk. All talk, no action—always out to play yet pretending to be virtuous—she found it hypocritical and boring.

So instead, her curiosity focused on Ying Zhiyu standing next to Yan Jue.

“Is this the new guy Yan Jue brought along? I haven’t seen him before.”

Ying Zhiyu hadn’t met Miss Yu before either. He politely nodded and replied, “Yes.”

But he had no intention of continuing with a self-introduction.

Yan Jue, standing nearby, sensed the subtle shift in atmosphere.

Miss Yu was notorious in their circle as a fun-loving, wealthy Omega.

A classic single hedonist, she loved the vitality of Alphas, spent lavishly on them, but always refused to engage romantically.

Watching how she sized up Ying Zhiyu, Yan Jue guessed she might have misunderstood something.

Ahem…

He didn’t dare look back at how Li Xi was doing, only hoping to smooth over the awkward situation.

His mind raced. He considered simply saying Ying Zhiyu already had a partner.

But in this circle, when people came out to play, relationships didn’t matter much.

Most encounters were one-night stands—no obligations, no one cared if you had a partner.

Just as Yan Jue wracked his brain for a clever way to handle the situation, reinforcements arrived: another Alpha changed the dynamic.

Miss Yu hadn’t come alone.

This Alpha, seeing the rich Omega he had been trying to get close to about to be intercepted, hurried over to protect his “claim.”

“You guys seem to be having fun? What are you talking about?”

Miss Yu turned to him, but before she could answer, the Alpha said, “Go on, keep talking. Don’t mind me.”

Wow, Yan Jue thought silently: fragrant tea indeed.

Ying Zhiyu blinked innocently and wisely stayed silent.

Miss Yu pacified the jealous Alpha boyfriend with a few words, and just then her phone rang.

Annoyed, she waved him off, “Go get to know Yan Jue and his friends. I’ll take this call.”

As she walked away, the Alpha’s expression changed instantly.

He crossed his arms, staring at Ying Zhiyu expressionlessly. “Dude, you’re handsome, but there are rules—first come, first served, got it?”

Ying Zhiyu blinked, glancing at Yan Jue. This line sounded strangely familiar.

Yan Jue, equally embarrassed, realized how subtle the dynamics were: one second he teaches someone the rules, the next someone uses the same lines on them.

Ying Zhiyu maintained his courteous principle of replying, “Mm,” and said, “It’s my first time here since college; I don’t really know these rules.”

Yan Jue almost laughed out loud.

He hadn’t realized Ying Zhiyu could play the “innocent but clever” act so well.

Perhaps the Alpha judged from Ying Zhiyu’s respectful attitude, and hearing he was a college student, that he could be overlooked.

The Alpha sized him up, a forced smile on his face: “Yan Jue’s position isn’t safe, huh? This guy’s younger and better looking.”

Yan Jue thought: if you feel your position’s unsafe, that’s your problem—why drag me into it?

It was hard to say who was more attractive.

Ying Zhiyu was clean-cut, refined, handsome, yet radiated an icy distance.

Yan Jue exuded hormones everywhere, his pheromones practically shouting: “Come play, see who can handle me!”

Which charm would dominate depended entirely on the other’s taste.

The rich Alpha by Li Xi’s car was gone—apparently seeing Ying Zhiyu hadn’t returned, Li Xi himself got out.

Before he arrived, a stranger Alpha handed a cigarette to Ying Zhiyu, saying, “Wanna be friends?”

Alphas were interesting creatures; making friends meant drinking or smoking.

Ying Zhiyu shook his head, “I don’t smoke.”

The Alpha clicked his tongue but didn’t retract the cigarette.

Yan Jue noticed someone had arrived, observing quietly, silently cheering Ying Zhiyu on.

The next moment, the cigarette was snatched away.

“He said he doesn’t smoke.”

Li Xi’s expression darkened.

Anyone seeing their Alpha being led astray after a few minutes’ absence would be upset.

The Alpha didn’t know Ying Zhiyu—but he knew Li Xi.

His eyes widened: “Third… Third Young Master?”

Even that title came out?

Yan Jue sighed internally, realizing the guy was shocked silly.

Well, since he had arranged this gathering, he helped the poor Alpha along: “Li, have fun with your Alpha tonight! I have some things to check over there.”

While slipping away, Yan Jue dragged the dumbstruck Alpha with him.

After they left, Li Xi turned to Ying Zhiyu, “What were you talking about just now?”

He had noticed a female Omega earlier.

Ying Zhiyu shook his head: “Nothing. My seat was blocked, so I had to queue behind.”

Li Xi: ?

Ying Zhiyu added, “It seemed like Li Dong had a lot to talk about with that Alpha. I didn’t want to ruin Li Dong’s fun; I couldn’t risk that.”

When it came to applying intelligence on the spot, a person with an IQ of 140 certainly had an advantage.

Li Xi: “……”

Li Xi was a public figure.

Whether it was his identity as the heir of the capital’s elite circle or his online fame, his arrival drew attention.

Li Xi was naturally not sociable; even high-society events rarely saw him. Tonight, most attendees were second-generation rich brats, far below the real heirs in influence.

So, more and more eyes focused on the position where Li Xi and Ying Zhiyu stood.

Li Xi scanned the crowd and said deliberately: “Of course, you can make amends.”

Squinting, he circled the young Alpha’s neck, pressing the back of his head toward himself.

“You can pay with yourself.”