The Heiress's Game

When Zhang Zhuoran invited Gu Yunjin, he mentioned going out to sea for fishing.

He said the weather has been good lately and the sea is calm, so he got a new fishing boat, fully equipped, and he's sure he won't be bored.

Gu Yunjin was silent for three seconds on the other end of the phone, then said, "Fishing? Zhang Zhuoran, do you think I'm the kind of person who can sit still?"

Zhang Zhuoran chuckled and asked, "So, what do you want to do?" Gu Yunjin replied, "The racetrack, wanna go?"

At that moment, Bai Tianyi was sprawled on the sofa in Zhang Zhuoran's living room, munching on an apple. Upon hearing the words "racetrack," the apple nearly fell out of his mouth. He sprang up from the back of the sofa and shouted into his phone.

"Racing?! Come on, come on! Count me in!"

So in the afternoon, the three of them met at the racetrack.

Gu Yunjin arrived first, had already changed into her racing suit, and was standing next to a dark blue race car adjusting her helmet.

She was dressed in a black racing suit, the zipper pulled up to her collarbone, and her hair was tied in a high ponytail, looking capable and neat.

Seeing Zhang Zhuoran and Bai Tianyi approaching, she raised her hand in greeting.

Bai Tianyi examined the race car, his eyes lighting up: "Miss Gu, has this car been modified?"

"I moved it a little," Gu Yunjin patted the roof of the car, her tone as casual as if she were commenting on the nice weather.

"The suspension and air intake have been modified, but nothing else has changed much."

Zhang Zhuoran stood to the side, his hands in his pockets, watching Gu Yunjin inspect the tires with an undisguised admiration in his eyes.

He didn't say much, but his eyes never left her.

"Which of you two will sit in the passenger seat?" Gu Yunjin opened the car door and glanced back at them.

"Me!" Bai Tianyi raised his hand so fast it was like he was answering a question before Zhang Zhuoran could react; he had already darted to the passenger side door.

"I have to experience it. I'm already here, it's no fun sitting in the audience."

Zhang Zhuoran shrugged and turned to walk towards the audience.

He took a few steps, then turned back, glanced at Bai Tianyi, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips:

Are you sure?

"Confirmed!" Bai Tianyi had already sat down and was frantically fastening his seatbelt without looking up.

Gu Yunjin got into the driver's seat, and before pulling down her helmet visor, she glanced at Bai Tianyi and asked, "Are you ready?"

"Sit still!"

"Are you really seated?"

"Seriously—Aaaaaaaah!"

The race car shot off like a wild beast that had been unleashed, and Bai Tianyi's last words were crushed in his throat by the acceleration.

His head slammed hard against the headrest, and his hands gripped the seatbelt tightly, his knuckles turning white.

The track turned into a long gray tunnel in front of him, with curves rushing towards him at a speed that his brain couldn't process, only to be effortlessly cut by Gu Yunjin.

With each turn, he could feel the car skidding slightly at its limit, the tires screeching as they rubbed against the ground.

His body was violently thrown to one side by centrifugal force, and then forcefully pulled back by the seat belt.

"Aaaaaah—Miss Gu, you're so unpredictable—ahaaaah, here we go again!"

Gu Yunjin gripped the steering wheel with both hands, her expression one of relaxed control.

She glanced at Bai Tianyi during a break in the corner, "Don't be afraid, I've driven this corner hundreds of times."

"You outran me, but I didn't!!!"

In the stands, Zhang Zhuoran leaned against the railing, holding a bottle of mineral water, watching the dark blue race car speeding along the track.

His eyes followed the car, from entering the corner to exiting it, from accelerating to cutting off the line; every movement was clean and efficient, without the slightest hesitation.

The roar of the engine echoed through the valley, making the railings tremble slightly.

Zhang Zhuoran took a sip of water and watched the car accelerate on the straight road, its rear wing casting a blurry streak of light in the sunlight.

Suddenly, I realized that this was probably Gu Yunjin's true self—not the second young lady of the Gu family at the party, dressed in a gown, holding champagne, and smiling at everyone with perfect grace.

Instead, it's like this now: gripping the steering wheel, pushing the speed to the limit, leaving all rules and boundaries behind.

She is free, and she should be free.

Instead of getting involved in Pei Yan's mess.

Thinking of this, Zhang Zhuoran unconsciously furrowed his brow.

He remembered the last time he bumped into Pei Yan and that woman on the street, and Pei Yan's words, "I'll handle it"—handle my ass.

Some people are like that; they can't even tell what's going on themselves, and they drag others down with them.

Gu Yunjin shouldn't be dragged down by anyone. She should stay on her own track, going wherever she wants and driving as fast as she wants.

As the race car crossed the finish line on the last lap, the engine's roar gradually faded into a low hum.

After the car came to a complete stop, the passenger door popped open first, and Bai Tianyi stumbled out.

He took two deep breaths while standing on the ground, then placed his hands on his knees, bent over, and said in a voice that sounded like he had just survived a disaster, "I'm alive. I'm still alive."

Gu Yunjin took off her helmet and got down from the other side, her hair was a little messy from being pressed down.

She walked over to Bai Tianyi, patted him on the shoulder, and asked with genuine concern, "Are you alright?"

Bai Tianyi straightened up, looked at her, and his expression shifted through several complex layers—from fear to bewilderment, from bewilderment to shock, finally settling on an almost reverent admiration:

"Miss Gu, let me tell you, if God gave me another chance, I would definitely choose to sit in the audience with Zhang Zhuoran."

But—but—it was so exciting! This is definitely the craziest thing I've done this year.

Zhang Zhuoran walked down from the audience and handed the unfinished bottle of mineral water to Gu Yunjin.

She took it, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip, her Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

"What were you thinking about up there all by yourself? You looked quite serious."

Zhang Zhuoran was silent for a moment, then spoke: "I'm thinking about Pei Yan."

The air fell silent for a moment.

Bai Tianyi was patting his chest to catch his breath when he heard the name. He paused in his chest-patting motion, and his expression subtly changed.

"Yun Jin," Zhang Zhuoran said, looking at her with unusual seriousness.

"There are some things I think you should know. Pei Yan—he has someone else."

I saw it with my own eyes; he was with a woman on the street, and their relationship seemed unusual. He's unreliable. You need to think carefully about your marriage."

Bai Tianyi nodded vigorously beside him and added, "I saw it too."

No way, that woman straightened his collar; she's clearly not just a friend.

"Miss Gu, you're so eligible, there's no need for you to get yourself into this mess."

Gu Yunjin looked at the two men in front of her. One was so serious that his brows were furrowed into a deep frown, while the other nodded vigorously, as if he wanted to write the words "Pei Yan is unreliable" on his face.

"Thank you," she said, placing the water bottle on the roof of the car and tucking her wind-blown hair behind her ear.

"Really, thank you."

"What do you plan to do about this?" Zhang Zhuoran asked.

Gu Yunjin glanced at him, her gaze calm.

"I already knew about this, and I will not marry Pei Yan."

Upon hearing these words, the wrinkle between Zhang Zhuoran's brows visibly relaxed.

He didn't say anything like "That's good," but his shoulders slumped slightly, as if the tension that had been building up for a long time had suddenly been pulled away.

Bai Tianyi watched Zhang Zhuoran's changing expression from the side, the corners of his mouth slowly turning up, but he didn't say anything.

The three walked towards the parking lot, the setting sun turning the gray surface of the racetrack into a golden-red hue.

Gu Yunjin walked at the front, carrying a helmet in her hand, her steps light and quick.

"Shall I give you a ride?" Gu Yunjin walked to her car and turned back to ask.

"No need, I've already driven." Zhang Zhuoran waved his car keys in his hand.

Gu Yunjin nodded without further formalities, opened the car door, got in, started the engine, rolled down the window, waved to the two of them, and then the car turned out of the parking lot and disappeared into the twilight.

Zhang Zhuoran stood there, watching the car drive away until its taillights were out of sight, before slowly turning around.

Bai Tianyi leaned against his car door, arms crossed, a meaningful smile on his lips.

"Zhang Zhuoran," he drawled, emphasizing each word, "the opportunity has arrived."

Zhang Zhuoran ignored him.

"Don't pretend you didn't hear me!" Bai Tianyi opened the passenger door and got in, starting to nag even before fastening his seatbelt.

"They said themselves that they would not marry Pei Yan."

What does it mean that she doesn't want to get married? It means she has a choice.

And you, the eldest son of the Zhang family, have face, money, and good character. Most importantly—you don't have a mess to clean up.

"Seize the opportunity now, before others realize it. Otherwise, the queue will stretch all the way outside the beach, and you won't be able to squeeze in."

Zhang Zhuoran started the engine, looked straight ahead, and said expressionlessly, "Fasten your seatbelt."

"Yes, yes. Did you hear what I said?"

"I heard you." Zhang Zhuoran shifted gears, and the car smoothly drove out of the parking lot.

"So what's your attitude?"

Zhang Zhuoran did not answer, but smiled.

Bai Tianyi, with his sharp eyes, noticed it.

He leaned back in his chair and sighed contentedly, "Alright, you don't need to say anything more, I understand."