CH 56

Editor: SleepyMango123

Proofreader: meowmiao

The restaurant in this hotel was a little more special than others. It served food and beverages 24 hours a day, so even at ten o’clock in the evening, there were still tables filled with people in the restaurant.

There was only one private booth with its door closed. Ji Ran walked over without even thinking. When he opened the door, he saw He Suiran sitting on the sofa with the corners of his lips raised while he took selfies on his mobile phone.

“…” Ji Ran was about to close the door and leave.

“Don’t go.” He Suiran chuckled. “Come sit down.”

Ji Ran felt that this person had changed too much. He used to be so introverted that he suspected that the other was suffering from depression, but now, he actually pulled all sorts of tricks in front of the camera.

He sat across He Suiran and crossed his legs flamboyantly.

He Suiran shook his phone and explained, “The company has given me a task to take selfies for a week in order to keep the fans excited.”

Ji Ran was not interested in these things. He simply nodded. “Why are you looking for me?”

He Suiran smiled, “Even if there’s nothing, can’t we catch up?”

“What is there to catch up between us?” Ji Ran said.

“You are still the same as before.”

Ji Ran wasn’t pleased to hear this. Was this to say they were close with each other before?

“I never thought I’d see you as soon as I returned to China.” He Suiran said, “It seems that we are quite fated. What would you like to eat? Since you just finished swimming, you must be hungry.”

Ji Ran leaned back: “Are you still with the same club now?”

“That’s right, but my contract will expire next year.”

Ji Ran understood. “Where do you intend to transfer to?”

“Ferrari.” He Suiran said with a laugh.

Ji Ran’s finger jumped unnoticeably.

That was Chester Kennelly’s team back when he was alive.

“The new contract is already ready. I’m just waiting for the current one to end,” He Suiran said, “I went to take a look at the club and there are many of Kennelly’s autographs and equipment there, including some competition tidbits that were never shared. If you’re interested, I can bring you over for a look in the future.”

The waiter brought over the food they had ordered.

Ji Ran didn’t move. “Your old club is willing to let you go?”

“Of course not, we had a lot of compromises.” He Suiran drank a mouthful of water. “But it’s not as if they regard me as a gold-star player, I’m only there for them to break into the domestic market. If it were you… it might have been truly hard for you to leave.”

“Talk less nonsense.”

He Suiran couldn’t help but ask him, “Why aren’t you racing anymore?”

Ji Ran swept a cold glance over but He Suiran was completely unaffected and continued.

“Is it because of your family?”

This was a question that had always been on his mind.

If he couldn’t get an answer, he felt that it would be impossible for him to forget about this person in his life.

“Take your time to eat.” Ji Ran’s patience had run out. He stood up and prepared to leave.

He Suiran abruptly grabbed his hand, but Ji Ran’s reflexes were quick enough for him to snatch his hand back. “You want to die?”

“I just wanted to have a proper conversation with you,” He Suiran said, “Back then, you were so fast. Even abroad, those foreigners may not necessarily be able to beat you…”

Ji Ran was growing quite agitated.

DId the entire world conspire against him and agree to bring up his past?

“You’re wrong.” Ji Ran leaned back expressionlessly and stared at him. “Not just back then. I’m still pretty fast, even now.”

He Suiran’s eyes lit up. “Then, can we race?”

Ji Ran thought it was funny. With He Suiran’s current position, it would cost five or six figures for a race with him. There was really no need to run over to make an appointment with an old acquaintance he randomly met.

“No, if you have so much energy, why don’t you put more effort into practise so that you won’t lose too badly in the competition next month.”

He Suiran was startled. “How do you know about the competition next month…”

Ji Ran paused. “I heard it by accident.”

“This will be my last match in my current club.” He Suiran said, “It’s in Man Cheng, do you want to come? I can give you a VIP ticket.”

Ji Ran sneered. “Do I need your ticket?”

“Alright, I will wait for you on that day. I will give it my all. If you don’t mind, I would like to invite you to visit my car.”

“I’m not interested in your car.” Ji Ran said, “Daring to show your car to strangers so casually, are you not afraid I might do something to it?”

“You won’t.” He Suiran smiled, “We are not strangers either. Strictly speaking, we can even be regarded as…ex-teammates?”

He seemed to have thought of something. “By the way, I just saw you and Qin Man walking together, have you guys reconciled?”

Ji Ran replied, “We didn’t quarrel, what’s there to reconcile?”

He Suiran wanted to ask more but the phone on the table suddenly began to ring. He picked it up and glanced at it, expression changing slightly.

“Perhaps we should go.” He Suiran stood up, “Some reporters outside are secretly taking photos.”

Fuck.

Recently, Ji Ran felt that these reporters had been working together to make him unhappy.

The two quickly left the restaurant and as soon as they walked into the lobby, they heard He Suiran say, “The two on the sofa are photographing us.”

Just as Ji Ran was about to look over, He Suiran stepped in front of him and stretched out his hand to pat his shoulder.

“Keep your head down and don’t say anything.”

The distance between the two of them narrowed and the smell of cologne filled Ji Ran’s nose, causing him to frown.

Last time, in the cemetery, Qin Man did something similar. Compared to this, Qin Man’s palms were bigger and his grip was firmer. There was no such pungent smell and it didn’t make him feel awkward.

Ji Ran subconsciously broke away from his hand, “I can walk by myself.”

He Suiran smiled when he got on the elevator. “These reporters are like this, they have to shoot everything. Even though I haven’t done anything bad, it’s still annoying to be followed every day.”

Ji Ran ignored him and pressed the elevator button to his floor. After the elevator arrived, he walked out. “I’m going back.”

“Wait.” He Suiran called to him, “How long are you staying for?”

Ji Ran frowned. “What do you want?”

“I have something I have always wanted to give you, but it’s not with me now. I will ask my assistant to send it over tomorrow.” He Suiran said, “You will love it.”

What gift?

Ji Ran answered, “No thanks, you can keep it for yourself.”

“It’s just a meeting, it won’t take up too much time.” He Suiran insisted, “As for those reporters, I will go over and try my best to make them leave…”

“If you know that you are being followed by reporters every day, don’t implicate others.”

A familiar voice sounded behind him. Qin Man walked out from the corner with a small smile on his lips, but his words were not polite. “He doesn’t like to deal with these people very much, so it’s better not to meet.”

Ji Ran was surprised to see him. “…Why did you come out?”

“I got bored sitting around, so I came out for a stroll,” Qin Man said.

He Suiran continued to insist, “I will handle it well, there will be no reporters.”

“I got it.” A meeting really didn’t matter since he would be in the hotel for the next two days anyway. Ji Ran didn’t like to stand in the corridor and talk about things, so he said, “Contact me again if there’s anything. My number is…”

“I have your previous phone number.” He Suiran interrupted him, “It hasn’t changed, has it?”

When did he exchange numbers with He Suiran?

“… There’s no change.”

“Okay, I will contact you.” He Suiran smiled, ignoring Qin Man’s seemingly cold gaze, “Good night.”

As soon as Ji Ran returned to the room, he saw Qin Man’s lit up computer screen.

He casually glanced over and was immediately shocked. “Why are you looking at this… how did you find it?”

On the computer was a video of his race from a couple of years ago. The quality of the picture was terrible and Ji Ran may not even be able to recognize himself if he hadn’t seen his car.

“Searched for it.”

“Why are you looking at this all of a sudden?” Ji Ran was embarrassed when he saw a close-up of himself on the screen and wanted to turn it off.

“I wanted to see what you looked like racing in the past,” Qin Man said.

Ji Ran paused. “…what’s so good about that?”

Qin Man’s gaze sank.

Of course it’s good. Otherwise, how would others be unable to forget about him for so long?

“How was it? Did you see the person you wanted to meet?” His teammate asked over the phone.

He Suiran laughed and closed the door to the room. “I met him.”

“How was it?”

“His personality is the same as before.” He Suiran replied.

“Oh, you already know I’m not interested in his character. I just want to know how strong the racer you are always thinking about is.”

He Suiran smiled, but in the end, he didn’t say anything.

After hanging up the phone, he threw the phone on the bed. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and quietly watched the night scene outside.

Ji Ran can be regarded as the person who had the greatest impact on his life.

He came from a poor family and had always been obsessed with racing since he was a child. But his family did not support him, so he had to find a job to earn enough money to rent a car. His weekly expenses were not more than 30 yuan.

Later, he finally caught the attention of a training team through a small race and became teammates with Ji Ran.

Since then, he had never won a race.

Ji Ran was like a mountain. Every race stood firmly in front of him.

Later, before a certain race, a broker found him.

The other person asked him to race well in the competition, saying that he would buy Ji Ran over and they could make a lot of money.

He could have refused – as long as he didn’t go to the competition.

But he went anyway.

He could not resist the temptation of winning. He knew that a certain team from overseas was recruiting people from all over the world. They had recently reached Man Cheng and there was a high chance of them appearing in that competition.

As long as he could join that team, he would be able to receive greater resources and there would be a day he would finally overtake Ji Ran and become another great mountain.

In that competition, he gave his all but still lost by a slight margin to Ji Ran.

The big screen was full of Ji Ran’s figure. He Suiran stood apart from the crowd and suddenly accepted his fate.

Some people are born with a good family background and amazing talent, just like Ji Ran. When placed in the crowd, even if he doesn’t speak, he would still be the most eye-catching one.

But He Suiran couldn’t have this life.

After receiving the runner-up prize, he heard that Ji Ran had rejected the broker’s request and even reported the other party. Before the broker was arrested, he even threatened to kill Ji Ran.

At that moment, unknown emotions filled his chest.

Ji Ran had helped him to accomplish what he wanted to do but didn’t dare to do.

His pathetic jealousy had almost evaporated.

He had planned to find the coach that night and resign. He had planned to go home and study hard, find an ordinary job, and stop having such unrealistic dreams.

As a result, as soon as he entered the locker room, he heard the voices of the two people inside.

“The conditions of our club are very good and there is room for negotiation in the contract. With your strength, your current value will more than double after two years.”

“Really, how much?” The boy’s tone was arrogant.

The man gave a number, a number that He Suiran could never dream of.

“You want to sign me on for such a small amount?” Ji Ran sneered, “Forget it, let me tell you straight, I won’t sign it. I’m not interested in your club.”

The man was stunned. “Then what club are you interested in? Do you want to join Ferrari?”

“Yes.” Ji Ran smiled openly. “If Ferrari comes to invite me, I might consider it.”

That person became silent and even after some time, he couldn’t reply.

Everyone knew that Ji Ran was a talented racer and worked hard. Given time, it might really be possible.

He Suiran didn’t like eavesdropping on others in a corner. He turned around and was about to leave.

“If you really want to recruit new talents, the person who got second place today can barely be considered.” The voice inside suddenly said.

With Ji Ran here, who would pay attention to other racers?

“Second place?”

“Yeah, although he is not as fast as I am, his turns are very steady. DIdn’t you see it? It’s just that his car is a bit lousy.” Ji Ran smiled openly. “Otherwise, he wouldn’t have lost to me so badly.”

A few days later, He Suiran received an invitation from that club.

He Suiran had always remembered this incident. Since then, whenever others asked him which racer he liked the most, his answer would always be Ji Ran.

Others would be confused and say they hadn’t heard of this person, but he would think, it’s okay. In a few years, he will make you recognise him on the racetrack.

Unexpectedly, he waited and waited. Yet, Ji Ran hadn’t appeared. It was only later that he heard that Ji Ran no longer raced.

He Suiran narrowed his eyes and pressed the remote controlling the automatic curtains.

He suddenly remembered that when they had parted, Qin Man had stretched out his hand to hold Ji Ran’s hand and Ji Ran didn’t shy away either, as if he didn’t think there was anything wrong with this action.

Ordinary friends wouldn’t engage in such intimate actions, so the relationship between the two was obvious.

Ji Ran actually liked men? And he liked Qin Man’s type?

…When having sex, was Ji Ran on the top or bottom?

An erotic image appeared in his mind, startling He Suiran who quickly interrupted his thoughts.

He pondered for a long time before he took out his phone and sent a message to Ji Ran.

[Let’s have breakfast together tomorrow morning?]