Chapter 202 Does Yan City Have Snow

Tan Zheng’s phone call made everyone in the private room uneasy, and even their voices subconsciously lowered. It would take Zhou Jin at least ten minutes to arrive, so Tan Zheng chatted with Song Ni on the phone for ten minutes. Song Ni spent ten minutes coquettishly, and the others were force-fed dog food for ten minutes. It was getting late, and Song Ni had drunk alcohol, so her energy was not very high. Tan Zheng noticed her sleepiness and gently coaxed her not to fall asleep. If she slept, Zhou Jin would have to carry her away, something Tan Zheng would naturally not allow. Zhou Jin had followed Tan Zheng for so many years and understood his boss’s personality perfectly, so he had specifically picked up Chi Xia before coming. Chang Zi had flown back to Xingcheng that night due to work, and as a little assistant, Chi Xia naturally couldn't attend this dinner. Since Song Ni didn't want to hang up, Chi Xia helped hold her phone. A drunk Song Ni was truly unleashing her full potential for coquettishness. Chi Xia’s ears turned red just listening, and on the other end, Tan Zheng was also gently coaxing her, which only made Song Ni more unrestrained. It was only when they reached the hotel that Tan Zheng finally coaxed Song Ni to sleep. “Tell me a story.” Tan Zheng wasn’t good at telling stories, so just like the night Song Ni had nightmares, he casually picked up a book from the bookshelf and read. Song Ni was not picky and slowly fell asleep listening to Tan Zheng’s voice. Listening to the steady breathing from the other end, the expression on Tan Zheng’s face softened. Looking at Song Ni’s sleepy eyes on the video, his eyes were filled with endless adoration. Xi Jinjiang arrived to see this scene. The Tan Zheng he knew was a gifted race car driver, arrogant and unruly in his youth, and wild. His face was always filled with arrogance and confidence, sometimes nonchalant, sometimes fierce. Xi Jinjiang’s pupils contracted. He had never seen such a gentle expression on Tan Zheng’s face. Back then, Tan Zheng’s world was only about racing, brothers, and passion. He had even seen Tan Zheng’s dejected state after the incident five years ago. He was still at ease, but his eyes were always deep. Now, someone else was by Tan Zheng’s side. Did someone like Tan Zheng become gentle because of the person he loved? Xi Jinjiang looked up in a daze. Wasn't he the one who understood best? Every man had a soft spot deep down. Before, that place in his heart was Yu Wei. Sensing the movement, Tan Zheng looked up. The gentleness in his eyes vanished the moment he saw Xi Jinjiang. It returned to being deep and cold. Xi Jinjiang couldn't say much. He looked away, gazing out the window. It was snowing again, and the snow seemed particularly heavy today. “I really want to know if it’s snowing in Yancheng.” Yancheng was Xi Jinjiang’s hometown. Tan Zheng’s gaze shifted slightly. “Then let’s go back and see.” Xi Jinjiang met Tan Zheng’s gaze suddenly, forcing a smile, but only managing an awkward curve of his lips. “Me in this state…” Tan Zheng interrupted him. “Then take good care of yourself during this period, and we'll go back before the New Year.” Xi Jinjiang looked at Tan Zheng for a long time without speaking, and finally nodded. He actually wanted to ask Tan Zheng if he wanted to go with him, but Tan Zheng also had a home, and Song Ni was waiting for him. Xi Jinjiang's sudden agreement also caught Tan Zheng by surprise. He didn't think too deeply, just asked Chang Li to come over and chat with Xi Jinjiang, while he found the caregiver responsible for Xi Jinjiang and asked her to help Xi Jinjiang with the rehabilitation exercises during this time. After finishing these arrangements, Tan Zheng immediately left the hospital. He returned to his house in America, grabbed a bottle of wine, and sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, drinking glass after glass. He didn't know how Xi Jinjiang saw him now, but regardless, since Xi Jinjiang was willing to return to China, his time spent in America was not in vain. At least… a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart. He could tell Song Ni about the events of five years ago without any reservations after returning to China. Xi Jinjiang's physical condition was very poor. He had resisted treatment for years, given up on himself, and it was not easy to recover. He had originally thought Tan Zheng would return to China directly, but he didn't expect Tan Zheng to show up during his physical training. The people Tan Zheng hired were very professional, and Tan Zheng didn't need to help. Xi Jinjiang didn't understand why Tan Zheng was there. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, and Xi Jinjiang gritted his teeth to suppress a cry of pain. Tan Zheng sat by, a cigarette in his mouth, unlit. Only during the short break did Xi Jinjiang ask, “Why are you still here?” Tan Zheng's eyes focused on Xi Jinjiang's amputated limb. “Do you remember how we used to train?” Xi Jinjiang's gaze flickered, and he looked down at his leg, a mocking smile on his face. “When I first met you, you were only sixteen, just a kid, but braver than the sky, and you drove like you didn't care about your life.” “The training ground was too small, not enough for you to unleash your skills, so you directly drove onto undeveloped mountain roads.” “The mountain roads were treacherous and the conditions unknown. You drove so fast that no one dared to play with you like that.” “I was provoked by you to accompany you, and I never expected that your crazy way of playing would be the most exhilarating.” “Back then, the team was short on money, so you paid for the team’s expenses yourself.” “Although you were young, you learned quickly and had talent. You played like you didn’t care about your life, and you quickly caught up to the team's best results.” “At that time, I thought, 'The younger generation is truly formidable.'” “Later, we raced and won awards together. You had more talent than me and should have gone further.” “And then…” Then the accident happened, and the Chinese racing world lost two legendary race car drivers. Xi Jinjiang didn’t continue. He was very clear-headed now, and the clearer he was, the more he regretted it. Tan Zheng… if it weren’t for him, wouldn’t he be a world-class figure by now? With a whoosh, Tan Zheng lit his cigarette, narrowed his eyes, and took a deep drag. “I’m doing alright now.” Xi Jinjiang looked up at him, not understanding his meaning. Tan Zheng curved his lips. “I’ve gotten through these years after quitting racing. I can live without racing.” His meaning was that even in his current state, Xi Jinjiang still had the right to live a good life. It was just a different way of living. Xi Jinjiang understood Tan Zheng’s meaning. He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. His crippled body was no longer compatible with racing, but Tan Zheng was different. He was a naturally talented driver. Even after five years away from racing, for Tan Zheng, it would just be a matter of regaining his feel for the car. With a little training and one race, he would definitely be able to recapture the feeling from back then. Xi Jinjiang looked at Tan Zheng, but in the end, he couldn't say the words.