Chapter 6 Eyes Like Weeping, Yet Not Weeping, Dew-Kissed Stars
The southern hills of Xingcheng rolled with gentle slopes, but the ground was rough and broken. A stretch of mountain road had been designated as a special stage for a rally. It was early autumn, and the rain, though not heavy, was a persistent drizzle that seemed endless. This weather had persisted for days, casting a somber mood over the sky. The mountain path had turned muddy. The moment Song Ni stepped out of the car, the earthy scent that assaulted her nostrils made her frown. She detested rainy days, and naturally, she detested this damp, fishy smell. Qin Yang, however, was different. Having not watched a race in a long time, the sight and proximity of it stirred a fervor within her. The surrounding atmosphere buzzed with excitement, making Song Ni feel out of place. Cheng Ling pointed to a spot. "That's Tan Zheng's team." Song Ni followed his gaze. Amidst several large tents, one stood out with a particularly flamboyant flag. Dark red as the base, adorned with black patterns, she couldn't make out the design but sensed a fierce, untamed spirit. Many people were gathered here. Despite the humid weather and the fine rain, which made it stifling and oppressive, the fans' faces were alight with excitement. There were more men than women, but a considerable number of women were also present. From their conversations, Song Ni could often pick out a recurring phrase: the Rox team. This was the team under Tan Zheng's club. And as its owner, once a legend in the Chinese racing world, Tan Zheng himself was a topic of their discussion. Qin Yang pulled Song Ni toward the tents. "Nini, let's go see if Tan Zheng is here." For convenience, Song Ni was wearing casual shorts and a pair of hiking boots. The light rain didn't warrant an umbrella, so she wore a baseball cap. Qin Yang's attire was similar, both revealing fair, slender legs, and they instantly drew a lot of attention. Song Ni noticed something in Qin Yang's hand. "What's that?" Qin Yang stopped and handed her one of the fan banners. "I didn't expect them to still be doing this after a few years without watching the races." Song Ni looked down at the item in her hand, printed with the Rox team's logo and name. Her lips curved into a slight smile. Upon reaching the tent, Song Ni instinctively rolled up the banner she was holding. Qin Yang, always bold, poked her head through the entrance. "Excuse me, is Tan Zheng here?" This area was mostly filled with men, and the sudden appearance of a woman's voice made everyone turn their heads to look at the two of them. Ding Jing, who was just finishing his equipment check and talking to his co-driver, turned at the sound. His gaze first fell on Qin Yang, and his eyebrows lifted. Is Brother Tan's luck with women so good lately? A young girl at the bar a few days ago, and another one at the racetrack today. And both are quite attractive. Thinking this, Ding Jing walked to the tent entrance, about to ask what they needed. He turned and saw Song Ni beside Qin Yang. Ding Jing narrowed his eyes. Although Song Ni wore a hat, he recognized her as the girl from the bar. Ding Jing whistled, finding it amusing. Cheng Ling, who had followed closely behind, happened to hear the whistle, and his expression instantly darkened. Qin Yang's smile remained. "Handsome, is your boss here?" Ding Jing noticed the item in Qin Yang's hand and asked with a smile, "Are you Brother Tan's fan?" Qin Yang nodded. "I've been a fan of God Tan for many years." Hearing the term 'God Tan,' Ding Jing was a little surprised. He hadn't expected the young girl in front of him to know that moniker and took another look at Qin Yang. However... "And you?" Ding Jing turned his head to look at Song Ni. Since he came out, this girl's expression had remained unchanged, cool and aloof. With her hat on, she had a certain cool aura. This was a far cry from how she had grabbed someone and asked for Brother Tan's whereabouts at the bar that night. Song Ni finally met Ding Jing's gaze, only for a second, before looking inside the tent. Seeing this, Ding Jing found it even more interesting and stepped aside, ushering them in. "Brother Tan hasn't arrived yet." Hearing this, Song Ni withdrew her gaze, her brow furrowed. She was indifferent to the race; she had come purely because of Tan Zheng. Qin Yang looked a little disappointed. "Isn't God Tan coming today?" Ding Jing shrugged, equally puzzled. "I'm not sure. Do you need me to help you give him this for an autograph?" Qin Yang immediately handed the banner to Ding Jing, along with the one in Song Ni's hand. The race was about to start, and Ding Jing couldn't chat with them any longer. Song Ni grew increasingly annoyed by the weather. Now she could clearly see the design on the flag: a fierce flood dragon. People by the roadside began to stir and cheer. As the three of them had just returned to higher ground, someone started shouting. Even Qin Yang cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and yelled. Amidst the roar of engines and the shouts of the crowd, a car quietly pulled up at the entrance to the venue, unnoticed. Song Ni found it difficult to adapt to the boisterous atmosphere, especially the flying dirt from the racing cars, which made her uncomfortable. She wasn't a germaphobe, but it was a challenge to accept such wildness all at once. She walked to the side of the road, where the race cars were barely visible, and took a deep breath facing a tree. Only then did she feel a little better. Her boots were stained with mud that hadn't dried. Not wanting to get her hands dirty, Song Ni simply kicked at the cement ground nearby. Her mind was preoccupied with why Tan Zheng hadn't come, and her feet moved with an unconscious momentum. Kicking a few times with each step, Song Ni had clearly underestimated the roughness of the terrain. She kicked a sizable stone, stumbled, and fell hard onto the ground. "Thump!" A loud sound. Song Ni grunted. She wasn't someone who feared pain, but falling to her knees like this, with no protection for her legs, the pain was immediate and overwhelming, leaving no time for her to react. Her eyes filled with tears of pain. It took a while for Song Ni to recover from the blankness in her mind. Fortunately, she was agile and used her hands to support herself, otherwise, if her face had hit the ground, it would surely have been disfigured. What kind of broken ground is this? Song Ni took a deep breath, suppressing her annoyance, and tried to get up. But the moment she moved, a searing pain shot through her. "Hiss!" This time, Song Ni couldn't help but cry out in pain. It was true that Song Ni wasn't afraid of pain, but she had been doted on since childhood, resulting in delicate skin. The ground was rough and littered with stones, and the wound was bound to be horrifying. When had the young lady of the Song family ever been so disheveled? She shouldn't have come to this godforsaken place. The more she thought about it, the more she blamed Tan Zheng. Just as Song Ni was contemplating how to get up, a soft chuckle echoed, and a pair of black hiking boots appeared in her field of vision. Song Ni: ... It's fine, no one here knows her, so it's not too embarrassing. Composing herself, Song Ni looked up. The person in front of her was clearly very tall, and she couldn't see his face. "Sir, could you please help me up?" The person didn't answer immediately but simply looked down at Song Ni. Song Ni frowned. She disliked being scrutinized like this, especially in her current state. Her lips pressed into a straight line, and Song Ni lowered her head, intending to get up on her own. Just then, the man crouched down and extended his hand. His palm was large, Song Ni thought, almost large enough to engulf both of hers. Song Ni raised her hand to place it on the large hand. The moment she did, the stinging pain from her scraped skin made her eyes water again. Her delicate brows knitted slightly, her eyes like dew-kissed stars. This description, often used for Lin Daiyu, wouldn't be out of place for Song Ni at this moment. Tan Zheng looked at Song Ni's eyes, his own narrowing slightly, as if understanding why his mother had called her obedient and sweet. The man then directly hooked his arm around Song Ni's waist and, with one arm, lifted her up. (End of Chapter)