Today I Will Also Be the Male Protagonist’s Rival - Chapter 59

“Well, it’s true.”

Huo Shu pouted slightly.

If she didn’t learn to save now, what would she do in the future?

There was still a long road ahead.

She couldn’t help but sigh at the thought.

This girl really doesn’t know how to make her worry less.

“What’s ‘true’?”

Su Yu reached out to pinch her nose and urged, “Alright, get inside. Auntie will worry about you.”

“Then take the money.”

Huo Shu shoved the money into her hand, then turned and ran off.

Su Yu was stunned, staring at the soft pink candy-shaped coin purse in her palm. She froze for a moment, then smiled silently.

The little girl… had she misunderstood something?

Still, being worried about like this felt kind of nice.

She curved her lips in a smile and turned to go home.

She turned on the lights, and the living room was brightly illuminated.

After changing her shoes, she sat on the sofa. The view outside the window was in full display.

It was nighttime. The huge floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the neon lights outside, blending with the stars in the sky—it was dazzling.

Su Yu went to the bathroom, and by the time she finished showering, it was nearly midnight.

On the transparent coffee table, the pink candy purse stood out. She smiled and carefully placed it into a drawer.

So the little girl misunderstood something and thought she was poor?

She chuckled softly, then pulled out a bank card from another drawer.

Her slender white fingers held the cold card, and under the warm orange light, it reflected a dazzling brilliance.

This card held the original host’s savings—most of it money she had won from illegal street racing.

The original host had a flamboyant personality—pretty and skilled at racing. She was quite famous among the second-generation elite circle in Jin City.

Among them, a single bet on a street race could be more than an average person could earn in a lifetime.

Su Yu laughed again and casually stuffed the bank card back into the drawer.

“Riiing riiing.”

A sharp ringtone pierced the air.

“Hello…”

On the other end, a man’s voice carried a faint smile, “Want to hang out during National Day?”

Su Yu sat up slightly and frowned. “Fang Lei?”

This man was quite influential in Jin City’s second-generation circle. He had some interest in the original host, but she’d always brushed him off.

Note: “國慶” (National Day) refers to China’s National Day holiday on October 1st, which typically comes with a week-long break called “Golden Week.”

“What, now that you’re at First High, you don’t even recognize old friends?”

Fang Lei paused, then suddenly asked, “Su Yu, I heard… you’re quite close with a little girl at First High, what was her name again… Huo Shu?”

His tone was calm, like a casual question.

Su Yu narrowed her eyes and after a moment, smiled. “You pick the place.”

“Straightforward!”

“Qingping Mountain during the National Day holiday. I’ll wait for you there.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Su Yu’s expression turned completely cold.

It was inevitable—this plot point had arrived early. According to the original novel’s storyline, he was supposed to cause trouble for Xu Jincheng. Now, it had suddenly shifted to Huo Shu.

If she didn’t agree, Fang Lei would definitely make a move on Huo Shu.

He was that kind of second-generation elite—used to doing whatever he wanted, unrestrained, reckless, thinking he could have anything.

Su Yu leaned back, eyes sharp and cold.

Might as well settle this now—before the college entrance exams. Deal with these people so that later, none of these clowns would pop up again.

That little girl was simple and pure. She didn’t want trash like that dirtying her world.

National Day arrived quickly in Jin City, accompanied by a chill wind that marked the coming of autumn.

The day before the holiday, it rained. A light drizzle, with chilly winds, swayed the pink curtains.

Huo Shu thought about it for a long time before finally calling Su Yu.

“Sorry, I… probably can’t go out with you.”

Her excuse had been too flimsy. When she tried to leave, Huo’s mother saw through it at a glance and firmly made her stay home to study.

To avoid making Su Yu seem like a bad influence, Huo Shu had no choice but to agree.

After a moment, a girl’s voice came from the phone, “Okay.”

Huo Shu bit her lip and asked softly, “Su Yu, are you mad?”

Being stood up would upset anyone, right?

“No. I happened to have something to do too.”

“Really?”

“Mm.”

“Then… happy National Day.”

“Okay. Happy National Day.”

After hanging up, Huo Shu still felt a little guilty.

Knock knock knock.

Huo’s mother pushed open the door, holding a glass of milk. She sat on the bed and gently reassured her, “Huo Huo, be good. It’s not that I don’t want you going out. You’re in the most critical year right now. You have to work hard.”

“We’re not like those rich families. We have no money. All we can rely on is effort.”

“If you make it through this year, then you can do whatever you want. I promise—I won’t control you anymore, alright?”

Huo Shu nodded softly, “Mom, I understand what you’re saying. I’ll work hard—I won’t disappoint you.”

“Good girl…”

Huo’s mother patted her head, then asked after a moment’s thought, “The classmate who invited you out—is it the same one who came to our house last time?”

“Mm.”

“How are her grades?”

Huo Shu propped her chin on her hand and answered proudly, “Second in the year, just a little behind me. And she’s really amazing—even if she doesn’t pay attention in class, she still does really well on exams.”

Huo’s mother frowned and caught the key point, “Doesn’t pay attention in class?”

“Uh… no, no, that’s not what I meant. I mean, she’s so smart she can get second place without even trying.”

Huo’s mother nodded without pressing further. She reminded her to drink her milk, then turned and left.

Huo Shu let out a sigh of relief.

That was close—almost got caught.

Her mom was great in most ways, but when it came to grades, she was extra strict. But Huo Shu understood, so she never blamed her for it.

5 PM.

Su Yu drove directly to Qingping Mountain as agreed.

There was a secluded road here, rarely used by pedestrians or cars—so it had become a private street racing ground for the second-generation elites.

When she arrived, there were already three to five people waiting.

“Well, she really showed up.”

“She’s got style!”

“Su Yu, long time no see.”

The group all stood to greet her.

Su Yu raised her eyes and gave a lukewarm “mm.”

These people could barely be called friends—acquaintances at best, just fair-weather friends.

Note: “酒肉朋友” (jiǔ ròu péngyǒu) literally means “wine-and-meat friends”—people who only hang out during good times, not true friends.

“Looks like you’re pretty nervous about that Huo Shu, huh?”

Fang Lei leaned casually among the group, a cigarette between his fingers, posture relaxed and half-smiling. “Interesting. Since when did someone like Su Yu start caring about another person?”

“This doesn’t really concern you, does it?”

Su Yu stepped closer, her smile as sweet as honey. “I don’t like it when people reach too far. Makes me feel like snapping their hand off.”

“Tch. You haven’t changed.”

Fang Lei clicked his tongue and stubbed out the cigarette.

Su Yu was still the same—would turn hostile at the slightest provocation.

He casually tossed the cigarette and slowly walked up to her. “Say, I’ve chased you for so long, shouldn’t you at least give me a reaction?”

“Sure.”

Su Yu replied flatly, enunciating clearly, “I don’t want to. Is that a satisfying enough reaction for Young Master Fang?”

Fang Lei’s expression darkened. “Su Yu!”

She gave a light “mm,” eyes narrowing slightly. “We’ve known each other long enough—you know what I’m like. If I say there’s nothing to talk about, then there’s nothing to talk about. I’m… pretty damn stubborn.”

The tension was palpable.

Noticing the atmosphere, the others quickly stepped in to mediate.

“Fang-ge, come on, no need to go this far. We’ve all known Su Yu for a while, that temper of hers is just like that. Just let it go.”

“Hey, what’s wrong with you two? Is this really worth arguing over?”

“Just take my advice—how about both of you back down a little?”

Fang Lei let out a cold laugh and jingled his car keys. “How about this—let’s race?”

“If I win, you’ll be my girlfriend.”

“If I lose, I’ll walk out of your life and never bother you again. How’s that?”

Su Yu twirled the keys in her hand, sounding bored. “And why should I agree to that?”

“Huo Shu.”

Fang Lei lowered his voice, his gaze turning cold. “I don’t think you want this to affect her, right?”

Su Yu stared at him for a long moment, then curled her lips. “Fine.”

Off to the side, a group of second-generation rich kids shouted excitedly.

“Ahhh finally! We’re actually going to see them race—it’s been forever since Su Yu touched a car!”

“I’m a total Su Yu stan. No arguments allowed.”

“Su Yu-jie, use mine!”

A set of keys flew over.

Su Yu caught them, raised an eyebrow, and got in the car. “Thanks.”

The car window lowered slightly, revealing Fang Lei’s face. “Su Yu, if you admit defeat now and become my girlfriend, I won’t lay a hand on Huo Shu.”

Su Yu shook the keys without a word. The meaning was obvious.

Fang Lei didn’t say anything else.

“Start!”

With that shout, the two sports cars shot forward like bullets.

Su Yu let out a soft breath.

In truth, she didn’t know the first thing about racing. But the moment her hands touched the steering wheel, a flood of memories suddenly surged into her mind.

It was as if… cars had always come naturally to her.

In terms of performance, Fang Lei’s car was clearly better.

“Su Yu, it’s been so long—seems like you’re a bit rusty?”

A mocking voice came through the earpiece.

Su Yu curled her lips and said nothing. Instead, she slammed the gas pedal to the floor, and the car roared as it launched forward.

Fang Lei froze, then shouted, “Sh1t! Are you insane? Driving that fast here?!”

But her car was already gone, vanishing into the distance with a cloud of dust in its wake.

Fang Lei pounded the steering wheel and gritted his teeth as he chased after her. “Su Yu, slow the hell down! Stop the damn car!”

The girl ignored him. The cold wind howled past, ruffling her short hair and softening her delicate profile. Her jawline was clean and graceful.

Fang Lei clenched his teeth and roared again, “Su Yu, if you don’t slow down right now, I’ll go after Huo Shu!”

After a pause, a breezy voice drifted over: “Fang Lei, a man should keep his word.”

“Sh1t!”

Fang Lei’s eyes were red as he stomped on the gas.

She really was insane—racing this fast on a mountain road? Wasn’t she afraid of skidding and flying off a cliff?

Fang Lei took a deep breath, cursing under his breath, “Su Yu, I give up! I give up! Slow down!”

“You give up?”

“Yeah!”

“Okay.”

The car gradually came to a stop. Su Yu opened the door. Her cheeks were pale, her short hair messy from the wind, making her look oddly pitiful.

Fang Lei slammed a fist on his car, flustered. “You really don’t care about your life, do you? Was it worth it?”

“Of course.”

Su Yu grinned, eyes lighting up. “I won, didn’t I?”

Huo Shu was willing to risk her life for her.

So what was this in comparison?

Fang Lei looked at her with complicated emotions. After a long moment, he turned away. “You won. I won’t cause Huo Shu any more trouble.”