Let's Do Some Questions - Chapter 89

Song Man felt that Chu Fengqiu was flirting with her constantly. Maybe it was the lack of warmth in winter, or maybe she was overthinking, otherwise, why would Chu Fengqiu licking her finger make her think of Chu Fengqiu wanting to hold her?

That night’s gentle entanglement, although they didn’t go all the way, was still quite memorable and fresh in Song Man’s mind, who hadn’t dated for eighteen years.

Song Man quickly pulled her finger back, but her attention couldn’t focus on the movie anymore.

The sweet romance on screen didn’t make her envious at all; the sweetest romance was already right beside her.

After the movie finished, at the exit of the screening room, Qin Xiangyi kept winking at her.

Song Man saw that she had something to say, told Chu Fengqiu, and walked towards Qin Xiangyi.

As soon as Song Man approached, she was surrounded by Qin Xiangyi and Zhuang Yushi. Both of them seemed to have processed the fact and were much calmer.

“Manman, are you just messing around, or…?”

“Qin Xiangyi, do I look like someone who would mess around?”

Song Man pointed at herself and rolled her eyes.

She wasn’t one of those people in the scene who liked to play with feelings. Besides, Chu Fengqiu was such a treasure, who would bear to play with her?

“I didn’t think so either. I said Song Man was serious. But like this, won’t your mom break your legs?”

Zhuang Yushi fell into thought. After all, same-s3x relationships were common in private but rarely brought into the open.

“Xiao Yushi, you just don’t understand Auntie Song. How could she possibly bear to break Song Man’s legs?”

Qin Xiangyi and Song Man were childhood friends, so he naturally knew how much the Song family doted on Song Man. Breaking her legs was impossible, unless it was something like incest.

“But if it gets out… forget it, just be discreet.”

Zhuang Yushi originally wanted to say that if this got out, it would definitely become gossip fodder again, but thinking that Song Man couldn’t possibly not know, and saying it might upset Song Man, who was in the sweet phase of love, she swallowed the rest of her words.

“What’s there to hide?”

Song Man knew what Zhuang Yushi meant and that she had no ill intentions, but her tone was inevitably a bit sharp.

“There’s plenty of messy stuff already, one more thing won’t make a difference. Just don’t deliberately spill the beans to my parents.”

“Of course, would we ever harm you?”

Qin Xiangyi patted Zhuang Yushi’s shoulder, then flinched as Zhuang Yushi pinched him.

“But, why her?”

Zhuang Yushi secretly glanced at Chu Fengqiu and asked curiously.

Chu Fengqiu, standing there, was tall and slender, exuding a quiet, distant aura.

“Why not her? If you asked me to list her good points, I could praise her for three hours without repeating myself.”

Song Man’s expression was somewhat smug. If she had a tail, it would definitely be wagging sky-high at this moment.

Song Man’s affection wasn’t shallow, nor was it a hasty agreement just because of a crush.

Liking someone was too simple. The difficult part was accepting and loving the parts of her life that were uneventful and unremarkable.

Song Man never denied that she was cool. In fact, she felt her life was lived freely and happily, surpassing many people. But she wasn’t always that cool; she had her own struggles, her own worries, and sometimes even felt she was boring.

That feeling came inexplicably but was genuinely present.

But Chu Fengqiu made her feel that she wasn’t boring. Chu Fengqiu made her feel that Song Man was a particularly good person and should become even better.

“Song Man, if you’re being kidnapped, just blink.”

Zhuang Yushi had a look like she’d seen a ghost, and Qin Xiangyi’s expression wasn’t much better.

“Bye bye.”

Song Man was being sentimental for the first time in 800 years, and these two were so unsupportive.

“Wait, wait, wait, just kidding. I have something to tell you.”

Qin Xiangyi grabbed Song Man’s hand and suddenly felt a prickling sensation. Looking towards the source, he saw Chu Fengqiu watching him.

She wasn’t angry or smiling, still looking the same as before, which inexplicably made Qin Xiangyi feel a bit eerie.

He frowned and re-examined Chu Fengqiu.

“What are you looking at? If you have something to say, say it quickly. Don’t waste my time.”

Song Man also noticed Qin Xiangyi staring at Chu Fengqiu. She didn’t like the way he was looking at Chu Fengqiu, so she pulled him and urged him to speak.

“Well…”

Qin Xiangyi hesitated, unsure whether to say it or not.

“What’s wrong? Stammering? Trying to keep me in suspense?”

“No, it’s just… you haven’t been out to play for a long time, right? On Nanshan Road, there’s going to be a race soon. A new rider has emerged this year, and they’re really strong.”

Qin Xiangyi walked and talked to Song Man, his voice low enough that Zhuang Yushi behind them couldn’t hear.

“Oh? How strong?”

Song Man became interested, a hint of eagerness appearing on her face.

“Very fast. Broke your record.”

“Holy crap, when did that happen? How come I didn’t know?”

Song Man was surprised. Qin Xiangyi was talking about motorcycle racing. She used to go speeding on Nanshan Road when she had nothing to do. Nanshan Road was a winding mountain road, with one section particularly testing skill. Song Man had set the record back then with her superb cornering technique. She didn’t expect to be surpassed.

Song Man’s precious bikes were specially modified for racing.

As for why she stopped going out to play later, it was, of course, because of Song Qinglan.

When Song Qinglan was arranging her transfer, she had explicitly forbidden her from racing on the road again.

At first, Song Man wouldn’t listen to her. She had even planned to resist even if Song Qinglan sent people to watch her. But she didn’t expect Song Qinglan to go directly and complain to her dad.

So her dad lectured her for two hours, like a monk chanting scriptures, until Song Man was almost depressed to death. She could only agree not to go racing again, thus bidding farewell to the title of ‘Little Princess of Nanshan’, a title Song Man utterly despised.

“Didn’t you stop going out to play? So I didn’t tell you. It’s been a while, two or three months now. That person is already the rookie king, and then they provoked that kid from the Chen family. He’s vowed to teach that kid a lesson. Before the New Year, they’re set to race through the Thirteen Bends on Nanshan Road. The winner gets 700,000 yuan for their helper.”

“Oh, wow, quite generous with the money.”

Song Man wasn’t interested in the so-called Chen family member; she was interested in the Thirteen Bends.

Besides the regular bends on Nanshan Road, there was a very dangerous section specifically opened for extreme racing called the Thirteen Bends, where many people had died.

Song Man had wanted to try it before, but she never dared to go that wild. Those who went up the Thirteen Bends were either seeking thrills, unafraid of death and confident in their skills, or they were racing for money, willing to risk everything for it.

“They’ve already planned to open bets. Want to come watch together then?”

“Of course, you must call me for something this exciting… Wait,” Song Man narrowed her eyes, looking at Qin Xiangyi, “If you just wanted me to watch the race, why did you look like that at first? Are you hiding something else from me?”

“Ah, it’s just… you suddenly stopped playing a long time ago, right? Now there’s a formidable person here again, and some people with loose tongues like to talk nonsense. I was afraid you’d be unhappy if you heard it.”

“Afraid I’d get provoked?”

“Aren’t we afraid our Man Jie would get excited and put on a helmet?”

“I’m actually a little tempted to go.”

Who wouldn’t want to go to the Thirteen Bends? Just afraid their skills aren’t good enough, and they’d go and never return.

“No, no, no, I was just kidding, okay? Don’t actually go. I’m afraid your family will come kill me with a knife.”

“How could that happen? See you later, call me then.”

Song Man smiled and waved at Qin Xiangyi.

Qin Xiangyi originally wanted to say a couple more things, but seeing Song Man running towards Chu Fengqiu, he said nothing.

“Looks like you’re in a good mood?”

Chu Fengqiu tidied Song Man’s slightly messy hair and held Song Man’s hand.

“Qin Xiangyi invited me to watch a race. It’s before the New Year, unfortunately, so you can’t go with me.”

“What kind of race?”

“Motorcycle racing.”

Song Man was a little excited. Chu Fengqiu remembered the bikes in her garage. No wonder Song Man was so happy.

“I can go to Sulan after watching with you.”

“No need, it’s too much trouble. Grandpa and Grandma are waiting for you to go back early. They haven’t seen you in a long time. Spend more time with them. After all, you have so much time to spend with me, a lifetime.”

Song Man gestured with her hand, indicating a very, very long lifetime.

Chu Fengqiu found her adorable and really wanted to kiss her right there.

“Okay, a lifetime.”

As the end of the year approached, the streets became much quieter.

Song Man saw Chu Fengqiu off at the station. There were many people at the station, many carrying piles of luggage, and the entrance was crowded.

“Did you bring all your food? Enough water?”

Song Man looked at the bag in Chu Fengqiu’s hand. Although she knew Chu Fengqiu wasn’t particular about food, she couldn’t help but want to stuff all her snacks into the bag.

To Sulan, flying was impossible. Song Man had considered having someone drive Chu Fengqiu directly to Sulan, but even with money, you couldn’t control road conditions. Taking the high-speed train was faster and more convenient.

“Enough. I’ll text you after I get on the train, and I’ll call you when I get off.”

Chu Fengqiu also didn’t want to be separated from Song Man, but she couldn’t shock Grandpa and Grandma all at once. She was planning to talk to the two elders about it this time.

“Okay.”

Before it was Chu Fengqiu’s turn in the line, Chu Fengqiu hooked Song Man’s little finger, pulled Song Man’s hand up, and kissed the back of her hand.

The warmth on the back of her hand suddenly disappeared. Song Man watched Chu Fengqiu pass through the ticket gate, her figure gradually disappearing into the crowd.

She didn’t look away until she couldn’t see her anymore.

Come to think of it, this seemed to be the first time Song Man had chased after Chu Fengqiu’s retreating figure.

While texting Chu Fengqiu, Song Man returned home.

Housekeeper Liu wasn’t home. Because it was the New Year, everyone would gather at the old family residence, so Housekeeper Liu and some of the servants had gone to the old house to help.

Tomorrow was Lunar New Year’s Eve, and they were going to the old house. The race was tonight, the timing was perfect, and her parents and Song Qinglan weren’t home, so no one would question her whereabouts later.

After dinner, Chu Fengqiu called Song Man to say she had arrived in Sulan.

They talked sweetly on the phone for a while until Chu Fengqiu had to eat, and Song Man reluctantly hung up.

Not long after hanging up, Qin Xiangyi called. Song Man sprang out of bed, grabbed her car keys, and went out.

Song Man rode her motorcycle to Nanshan Road. As she got closer, she could feel the lively atmosphere there.

The lights were bright, and the race track was already set up.

Race queens waved pom-poms and danced enthusiastically, showing off their long legs in white and black stockings in the winter, full of hot energy that hyped up the whole venue.

Song Man took off her helmet and waved at Qin Xiangyi.

The first person to walk over, before Qin Xiangyi, was someone Song Man knew from before.

“Isn’t this our Miss Song? What brings you out to play today?”

The speaker was a young man in his twenties or thirties, with a playful look on his face.

“Guan Lang, long time no see. I saw there was a race, so I came to check it out. Who’s racing against whom? Why does it look like there are quite a few people?”

Song Man greeted him. She thought it was a 1v1 speed race, but there was more than one motorcycle next to the race queens.

“Multiple against one. That kid from the Chen family really went all out.”

Guan Lang smiled, looking towards the race track.

“Interesting.”

Song Man didn’t ask about the feud between the two sides. She got off her bike, holding her helmet, and looked at the distant track.

Thrilling and breathtaking, that was it.

“Are you going to race? Haven’t played in a long time, have you? Miss Song must be rusty.”

“Then arrange a spot for me, okay? I want to go down and play.”

Song Man tapped her helmet with her finger, her face full of eagerness.

“No, no, I was just kidding. If you really go down there, I’ll be in big trouble.”

Guan Lang’s face changed, and he quickly tried to dissuade her.

Even with a waiver, he couldn’t guarantee that the Song family wouldn’t come looking for trouble with him, just in case.

“I’ll just cruise slowly at the back, just joining in the fun. I won’t compete.”

Song Man just wanted to experience the feeling of the death bends. She really wasn’t planning to compete with that group of people. Although her riding skills were good, it was different from those who were racing for their lives for money. She valued her life, and after having Chu Fengqiu, she valued it even more.

“Then you still have to sign the waiver.”

“Of course.”

The race queens’ hot dance was about to end. The racers put on their helmets. Song Man saw the leading man even lightly embraced the nearest woman, pulling her in for a passionate kiss, his arrogant posture fully displayed.

Song Man figured this must be the so-called rookie king. He was indeed arrogant.

His opponents, on the other hand, looked grim and put on their helmets.

Song Man crumpled the waiver into a ball and threw it to Guan Lang, put on her helmet, and curved her lips.

There was a screen broadcasting the entire track conditions, so all the spectators could clearly see the progress of the race.

Qin Xiangyi had been looking around. Song Man wasn’t answering her phone, and he figured she might have flaked on him.

He didn’t see her until the race started. He turned to look at the screen, focusing on the race, and when he saw the motorcycle at the very back, he almost suffocated.

“Who is that? How did they suddenly appear?”

“I don’t know, not one of the racers, right? How did they get in?”

People nearby were also talking. Qin Xiangyi felt like he was about to faint.

He stared intently at the screen, not caring how good the skills of the riders in front were, or how exciting their cornering was, just watching the slacking person at the very back with trepidation.

Song Man said she came to play, and she really was just playing. The bikes in front shot out like arrows from a bow, the roar of the motorcycles like the roar of wild beasts, disappearing into the light and dark. Song Man, on the other hand, rode at a normal speed.

The Thirteen Bends lived up to its name as a death track. Every bend was extremely dangerous. A slight lapse in concentration could send both rider and bike tumbling down the cliff.

Song Man passed two bends, her palms sweating a little.

She leaned down to slow down, staring at the road, which looked like a long dragon hidden in the darkness.

The speed got faster and faster, and Song Man could hear the rapid pounding of her heart in her chest.

An obstacle appeared ahead. Song Man braked hard, controlling the bike to grip the ground, and came to a stop just in time.

Gasps erupted from the spectator stands. Qin Xiangyi’s heart was in his throat.

Ahead of Song Man, two speeding bikes collided after a bend, causing an obstruction.

If Song Man hadn’t braked just now, she would have flown off the bend.

Song Man got off her bike to check. Both people were still alive. She signaled for emergency help, and after people arrived, she got back on her motorcycle.

By this time, the race was nearing its end.

Qin Xiangyi didn’t pay attention to the two bikes neck and neck vying for first place, his eyes were fixed on that little madam at the very back, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with a tissue.

The first-place rider exited the track, and cheers erupted from the spectator stands. Qin Xiangyi stood up with them, hoping Song Man would come out quickly.

Song Man passed through the Thirteen Bends unhurriedly, feeling a little unsatisfied.

But there was nothing she could do. The Thirteen Bends wasn’t meant to be enjoyed at this speed. The thrill came from the heart-pounding rush of brushing past death. Song Man was only seeking stability and didn’t dare to go wild.

After she came out, she took off her helmet and wiped her sweaty hair with her sleeve.

She was the last one out, and no one paid attention to her. Everyone was crowded around the champion. Song Man was glad no one noticed her and rode her bike to the side.

“You really scared me to death.”

Qin Xiangyi walked over, still wiping the sweat from his forehead.

“Don’t underestimate me like that.”

Song Man scoffed, still feeling a bit unsatisfied.

“Did that rookie king get first place?”

“Yes, a second faster.”

His skill was pretty good, no wonder he was so arrogant.

“Let’s go, heading home.”

“Not going to hang out?”

Song Man waved her hand and put on her helmet.

Song Family Residence.

The lights in the first-floor hall were on. Song Qinglan had been sitting on the sofa with a frosty face ever since she received the phone call.

The maid didn’t dare to go over and disturb her. Housekeeper Liu wasn’t there, so she didn’t dare to speak up, timidly hiding by the kitchen, waiting for her mistress’s instructions.

When Song Man opened the door, she noticed the atmosphere was a bit off.

The air seemed to carry a heavy, stagnant feeling, making it hard to breathe.

She saw Song Qinglan sitting on the sofa and planned to bypass her and go back to her room.

“Song Man.”

Song Qinglan suddenly spoke. Song Man felt her scalp tingle for some reason, and her heart skipped a beat.

She refused to show weakness in front of Song Qinglan, so she turned around stubbornly.

“What?”

Song Qinglan stared at her intently, her face stormy, her eyes sharp.

Song Man felt her hairs stand on end under her gaze, and an alarm went off in her brain.

Time seemed to freeze. The air became thinner, and the silence was so profound you could hear a pin drop.

The sound of glass shattering was jarring, breaking the silence in the room.

The maid, trembling, cleaned up the shards, apologizing repeatedly.

“You go out first.”

Song Qinglan looked at the maid bending down to clean, her tone slightly cold.

She had tried her best to control her emotions, but she was on the verge of exploding.

The maid immediately left. The moment the door closed, Song Qinglan’s aura, sharp as a knife, pierced Song Man.

“Song Man, have you forgotten what I told you not to do?”

“You’ve said so many things, how could I remember?”

Song Man retorted subconsciously, meeting Song Qinglan’s gaze defiantly.

What was Song Qinglan’s problem, throwing a tantrum as soon as she got back?

“I told you, no racing. Did you just throw my words out of your head?”

Song Qinglan’s hand was still trembling. Someone had called her just now, saying they saw Song Man go to Nanshan Road, saw Song Man sign a waiver and go to the Thirteen Bends, known as the death track. She immediately stopped working, completely unable to calm down.

This wasn’t a game. This wasn’t something she could control. Song Man could die because of her impulsive actions!

She was so angry her hands shook. She immediately sent people to keep an eye on the situation.

A moment later, a call came in, telling her there had been an accident there, two bikes had collided.

Song Qinglan was terrified it was her, her heart aching sharply. Fortunately, the person called back two minutes later to say it wasn’t Song Man, and Song Man was safe.

But those two minutes were incredibly difficult.

Song Qinglan hadn’t intended to be this angry, but when she saw Song Man’s indifferent defiance, her rage reached its peak.

“This is my business, you can’t control it.”

Song Man was fed up with Song Qinglan’s attitude of wanting to control her life. What she wanted to do was her freedom, her choice, not Song Qinglan’s arrangement.

“No one has more right to control you than me. Have you become lawless because I’ve spoiled you? I allow you to do things you like, but that doesn’t mean you can do dangerous things that might harm yourself.”

“I have my own sense of proportion. That’s something I like. Song Qinglan, you have no right to say no. Don’t think my life is yours to manipulate. How I live is my own business. Besides, you’re not the one with the most right. Mom and Dad haven’t said anything, what gives you the right?”

Song Man was also angry. She was in a good mood, and Song Qinglan had to lecture her like she was going through menopause, talking about who had the right. Song Qinglan had ulterior motives, and she still wanted to talk about rights?

“What gives me the right? The right comes from me raising you, from me watching you grow up. How long have they been with you? How long have I been with you? The person you should trust the most is me!”

“Song Qinglan, are you crazy?”

Song Man knew Song Qinglan had a desire to control her, but she didn’t expect Song Qinglan to be so crazy as to compare who was closer to her, her or her parents.

“Give me the keys. You’re not touching a bike again.”

Song Qinglan reached out, staring at the keys in Song Man’s hand.

“Impossible! I’m an adult now, I have my freedom!”

“Is your freedom at the cost of your death?”

“Wouldn’t it suit you better if I died?”

Song Man was also so angry she was losing her mind. The words just blurted out without thinking.

A crisp slap echoed in the air, almost freezing the atmosphere.

Song Man covered her face, unable to believe what had just happened.

“Song Qinglan, you actually hit me!”

“So you won’t speak recklessly, saying whatever comes to your mind.”

Song Qinglan looked at her slightly trembling hand in a daze, exhausted, forcing herself to speak.

Song Man was both angry and wronged. No one had ever dared to slap her in her life, and it was Song Qinglan.

“Was I wrong? Did I hit a nerve and make you feel guilty?”

Song Man covered her face and sneered, revealing an unprecedented sharpness.

“Song Qinglan, don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. I know everything.”

“Is ‘killing with kindness’ fun? Does seeing me fall give you a special sense of accomplishment?”

“Song Qinglan, you really make me sick.”

Song Man ignored Song Qinglan, who was standing frozen in place after hearing her words, turned around, and slammed the door shut.

The door closing forcefully made a sound that shook people’s hearts.

Song Man was truly furious, yet a sour ache lingered in her chest, with nowhere to vent it.

She rode her motorcycle at full speed, heading towards the suburbs, cursing Song Qinglan as a big idiot in her heart as she rode.

Song Man rode around for a couple of loops before calming down a bit. She stopped by the river and took off her helmet.

Song Qinglan hadn’t hit her too hard. The emotional wound in Song Man’s heart far surpassed the physical one.

Her face still seemed to be burning. Song Man took out her phone, really wanting to talk to Chu Fengqiu.

There was a missed call on her phone, from Chu Fengqiu when she was on her bike just now.

Song Man called back, trying hard to calm herself down, wanting to talk to Chu Fengqiu as if nothing had happened.

“Manman, I’ve finished eating. Were you busy just now?”

Chu Fengqiu’s voice came through the phone to Song Man’s ears. Song Man’s nose immediately felt sore.

Song Man thought she could hide her bad mood, but when she heard Chu Fengqiu’s voice, she wanted to cry.

“Manman, what’s wrong?”

Chu Fengqiu sensitively detected that her lover on the other end of the phone wasn’t right and quickly asked.

Song Man originally wanted to say she was fine, but the words changed when they reached her lips.

“Chu Fengqiu, I feel awful.”