Chapter 33 "Where's it dirty? I'll wash it for you"...
The party ended early to recharge for tomorrow's main competition.
Qiao Shu waved goodbye to Ke Ming. After waiting for a minute, Yu Zeheng opened the car door, took her hand, and almost shoved her into the car. He closed the door and went around to the other side to get in.
Outside the car window is the Las Vegas landmark, the Sphere, which cost $2.3 billion. After nightfall, the yellow emoji from the daytime will turn into a giant eyeball, watching over this neon-lit city that rises from the desert.
Qiao Shu had drunk a little alcohol and started to feel dizzy after being exposed to the wind. She had a great time today, and it felt like there was still an engine roaring in her chest. She tilted her head and asked, "After the race tomorrow, can I experience sitting in an F1 car and driving it for a lap?"
She had played simulators and watched live matches in person, and suddenly felt a surge of excitement.
Yu Zeheng refused without hesitation: "No, it's too dangerous."
His tone left no room for negotiation.
Qiao Shu was just saying it casually. She knew that an F1 race car costs 20 million euros to build, and a light bump could cost millions of euros, which is no different from burning money.
She gave a soft "oh" and didn't continue. She looked at the street scene, where tall palm trees grew along the roadside, and several casinos passed by, their lights flashing like a flowing, luxurious golden waterfall, making one truly feel that this was a city built with real gold and silver.
Out of the corner of his eye, Yu Zeheng saw her reflection in the car window, her soft profile and delicately curled eyelashes.
She had little expression, and it was hard to tell whether it was disappointment or something else, but her quietness was indeed a bit unusual.
The black extended coupe drove along the Las Vegas Strip and came to a smooth stop at the Bellagio Hotel.
Qiao Shu walked in front, and Yu Zeheng followed behind her, naturally taking her hand. She hesitated for two seconds before letting him hold her hand.
The two walked one after the other, like a young couple deeply in love.
The hotel suite features a bright crystal chandelier hanging in the center of the living room, a marble round table, and a fountain and Eiffel Tower view from the window.
After a long flight and jet lag, and having drunk alcohol, Qiao Shu was already sleepy. She managed to remove her makeup and take a shower, and without even realizing she was in a new bed, she drifted off to sleep.
The main competition on the second day was held in the same spectator area.
Today, Qiao Shu changed into a solid-color short top, a white pleated skirt, and brown boots, a rare American sweetheart style for her. Her legs looked long and straight under the skirt. Yu Zeheng wore a gray knitted short-sleeved top with white trousers, looking refreshing. The two of them inexplicably looked like they were wearing matching outfits.
The main race is much larger in scale than the qualifying race.
The stands were packed with people, and the flags of each team were waving in the wind. Qiao Shu kept a close eye on Ke Ming's ranking. The position and numbers on the panel kept changing, and something could happen every second. She was genuinely nervous for their team. Once Ke Ming made a successful overtake, she raised her arms in celebration.
Her happiness was always written on her face and in her body language.
As Ke Ming crossed the finish line in third place, Qiao Shu smiled and looked at Yu Zeheng. She cheered and bumped into Yu Zeheng's arms. Her voice was clear and melodious, like a wind chime being twirled in the wind: "Third place! That's amazing!"
The top three finishers in F1 will stand on the podium, a feat many drivers never achieve in their lifetime. Winning the championship is extremely rare, but Ke Ming did quite well this year, finishing third and having a chance to compete for the overall championship.
Yu Zeheng put his arm around her waist to steady her and prevent her from falling over due to excitement.
For her outfit today, Qiao Shu added light brown freckles to her makeup, and as her facial expressions changed, the freckles became extremely vivid.
A stray strand of hair fell from behind his ear, clinging to his cheek. Yu Zeheng casually tucked it behind his ear, his fingertips gliding over his small, fair earlobe.
"I'll take you somewhere later," Yu Zeheng said.
Qiao Shu's eyes flickered: "Where to?"
She never expected that Yu Zeheng would actually bring over an F1 race car. The car body was a dazzling red, like a blazing firework, and it was printed with the team logo. In front of her, it looked like an extremely expensive toy.
Qiao Shu turned around, somewhat incredulous: "Didn't you say it was dangerous? Weren't you afraid I'd break it? I was just kidding, you... you actually took it seriously?"
"It's not that there are no restrictions. You can only drive in the straight lane in front of you, and the speed cannot exceed 100 miles per hour. If you can guarantee that you can do all of that, you can go change your clothes and put on your helmet now."
"I can!"
Qiao Shu took a couple of steps and then turned back, giving Yu Zeheng a thumbs up and saying with a smile, "President Yu, did I say that today? You look absolutely stunning today, so handsome and stylish, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, just like a male model on the runway."
"..."
They speak in a glib and irreverent manner, using the most inappropriate and unserious tone possible.
Yu Zeheng looked at her and raised an eyebrow: "That's it, that's it?"
Qiao Shu was in a good mood and chuckled, "Wait, after I test drive it, I'll give you a five-hundred-word essay."
After putting on the helmet, Qiao Shu finally got to sit in the F1 race car. The extremely low chassis was a completely different feeling from driving a regular car. As she gripped the steering wheel, she felt her heart pounding.
Yu Zeheng squatted down and told her about the precautions.
"Don't be nervous. Just treat it like you're playing a simulator. There's not much difference. You've run many tracks before. Control your speed. Now, this is your home turf."
He asked gently, "Are you ready?"
Qiao Shu, wearing a helmet, nodded emphatically.
Although she was driving in a straight line and had to control her speed, when she stepped on the gas, the engine sound seemed to ring in her brain. The race car accelerated very quickly, and she felt that thrilling excitement as dopamine and endorphins exploded in her body.
Qiao Shu drove back and forth, becoming more and more adept at it.
She parked her car, took off her helmet, and her face was flushed with excitement.
The car door opened, and Yu Zeheng reached out and pulled her out of the car. She stumbled a step, grabbing his arm. Driven by hormones, she felt an indescribable pleasure. Before she knew it, she blurted out, "Can we come once a year from now on?"
Yu Zeheng's eyes were deep and unfathomable. He gave a soft "Mmm": "Okay."
“It’s your turn.” Qiao Shu handed him the helmet, full of pride. “Just drive, I’ll cover the cost of replacing the worn tires.”
Replacing F1 car tires can easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Qiao Shu can't afford to buy a car, but she can still afford this amount of money.
Judging from her tone, it seemed like she was willing to spend a fortune on him.
After Yu Zeheng changed his clothes, Qiao Shu looked at him from afar. His tall and slender figure, his broad shoulders stretched his shirt well, and his features were deep and three-dimensional. He was so handsome that she wanted to whistle loudly, but she couldn't. She could only think about it. She crossed her arms and looked him over from head to toe. He still had some charm.
Yu Zeheng put on his helmet and got into the car.
He hadn't been involved in racing for a long time, and playing simulators was a compromise he'd developed in reality.
Qiao Shu had already stood by the roadside, waving the flag in a serious manner to indicate that he could set off. The next second, amidst the combined sounds of the engine and the tires screeching against the ground, the car broke through the air like a high-speed flame. Yu Zeheng navigated the high-speed curves with ease, his movements fluid and graceful.
She watched the race car circle halfway around and then drive back again. Yu Zeheng got out of the car, took off his helmet, and casually brushed his short hair aside.
So cool!
She's preoccupied with why he retired from racing when they got married, making her feel like she missed out on her ex-husband's prime, even though he's doing alright now.
Qiao Shu had a great time racing, and then attended the celebration banquet with Yu Zeheng that evening.
After the race, the team members drank and celebrated. During their conversation, Qiao Shu learned that Yu Zeheng owned 20% of the team's shares, which was why he had the ability to actually get her an F1 car to experience.
Qiao Shu was a playful person by nature, and she quickly became familiar with the people in the car team. They drank and chatted, and she was even pulled to dance. She was lively and beautiful, and easily became the focus of attention.
She had a great time tonight, drinking even more than last night. She was also restless in the car, running her fingers through the ends of her hair and saying she wanted to sing: "I sing very well."
She held up her phone and played music, then started singing along, humming along to the melody with a sweet, clear voice.
Yu Zeheng closed his eyes, his mind filled with her voice.
The hotel suite had two shower rooms, and Qiao Shu naturally took the larger one. While she was showering, Yu Zeheng held an online meeting. By the time she finished showering, her laptop was closed, and the light in the other shower room was on.
Qiao Shu was wearing a bathrobe and had just dried her hair when room service brought her a glass of chilled white wine. She stood by the window and watched the fountain in front of the hotel for a while, watching the water jets rise and fall, repeating endlessly, while the lights of the Eiffel Tower flickered and changed.
"Qiao Shu".
Yu Zeheng's voice came from the shower room, but it was muffled and indistinct due to the distance.
Qiao Shu turned around to make sure she hadn't misheard. Yu Zeheng called a second time, and she condescended to walk over, knocking on the door to indicate that she was behind it, her voice languid: "What is it?"
Yu Zeheng's voice came from inside: "Get me a bathrobe."
The bathrobe was in the main shower room, and she was taking a shower at the time, so it wasn't easy for him to get it. Qiao Shu smiled and hesitated, saying, "Isn't it inappropriate? How am I supposed to hand it to you if I take it? Should I cover my eyes?"
Yu Zeheng raised his voice and called her name again, including her full name.
"knew."
Qiao Shu shuffled into the main shower room, grabbed a soft bathrobe, and knocked on the shower door again: "Here, take this."
The shower door opened, and hot air rushed out. A hand stretched out, its pale skin still damp with water droplets. Beneath the pale skin, the veins and bones were clearly visible, giving it a strong and powerful look.
Qiao Shu leaned against the wall, holding the bathrobe as if deliberately teasing him by taking it away.
My finger touched nothing and froze in mid-air.
Qiao Shu tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips: "Hey, don't you want it?"
That's a very childish trick.
But Qiao Shu enjoyed seeing Yu Zeheng make a fool of himself, and since he was now a fish on the chopping block and she was the butcher, it would be a waste not to do something about such a good opportunity.
"Why don't you come out and get it? I'll put your bathrobe on the sofa, and I'll go into the room..."
Before she could finish speaking, the shower door was fully opened, and Yu Zeheng stretched out his right arm, precisely grasping her slender white wrist. The water under his palm clung to her skin, and water droplets slid down her small arm.
It felt icy cold, and she was startled.
"It's so dirty, it's all water."
Yu Zeheng's voice was devoid of apology: "Is it dirty? I'm sorry, come in and I'll wash it for you."
His tone was exceptionally formal and serious.
Before Qiao Shu could react, she was pulled inside, bathrobe and all. The door slammed shut the next second with a thud. Her chest skipped a beat, and she clutched the bathrobe in bewilderment. She was stunned, not even knowing why she was in the bathroom the next second.
She tucked the bathrobe into his arms, her gaze falling on his bare upper body, water droplets still clinging to his skin, mingling with tiny streams of water sliding down. His pale skin was flushed a light pink by the steam, thin and delicate, looking quite appetizing.
Qiao Shu suddenly stammered, "You, yours, you take it."
He had just finished showering, and his body smelled fresh and pleasant from the shower gel.
Yu Zeheng didn't answer. His bathrobe blocked her view downwards, so Qiao Shu couldn't see whether he was wearing a bathrobe or not. Her mind was buzzing, as if an engine was starting up. She realized that she actually had the leisure to think about such a question.
She's gone crazy from being single for so long.
"Where is it dirty? I'll wash it for you."
Yu Zeheng carried her to the sink. Her bathrobe was only tied loosely with a belt, and she was wearing a slip dress underneath. The deep V-neck revealed her slender collarbone and the graceful curves of her breasts. Her long legs swung in the air, her toes pointed.
He was now staring straight ahead, his long eyelashes lowered, his gaze focused, seriously examining her wrist, his fingers probing inside, trying to find the skin under her bathrobe. The little bit of water from before had long since evaporated from her skin's warmth.
"Here?"
Qiao Shu was furious and embarrassed. She frowned and gritted her teeth: "Yu Zeheng, let me down. You're acting like a lecherous maniac right now."
"Am I being lewd or are you being lewd? What do you want to see from that distance?" Yu Zeheng looked up into her eyes. "Where did that bravado of yours go? Qiao Shu, you're just a paper tiger with a strong exterior. As soon as there's anything, you run away faster than anyone else."
Qiao Shu opened her eyes, momentarily choked, and waved her hand, the fabric of her bathrobe brushing against his chin, before slapping him on the shoulder: "Get out."
Yu Zeheng gripped her hand tightly and pushed her knees away: "Where do you want me to go?"
My thigh was slapped.
This time, Qiao Shu truly realized that he was completely naked. Her mind went blank, and her red lips parted and closed: "You, you, you, you..."
She couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time. Yu Zeheng's gaze darkened, and he grabbed her chin and kissed her.
If you can't express it verbally, you might as well do something else.
Qiao Shu refused to admit defeat, baring her sharp teeth like a little animal and biting down. Yu Zeheng pinched her chin, feeling the muscles in her face working hard. Before she could bite down, he dodged her teeth, and when she missed, he kissed her again, entwining and sucking. Qiao Shu's tongue went numb, but she was unwilling to let him take it, so she tried to bite his tongue hard.
Back and forth, it didn't look like a kiss, but more like they were biting each other.
The bathrobe's belt had been undone at some point, and the loose fabric was easily peeled off and scattered on the sink.
Yu Zeheng's lips moved away from hers, landing haphazardly on the corners of her lips and chin. She scratched his arm, her breathing rapid and disordered.
As if gripping a restless heart, his warmth and strength were also kneaded into the blood, boiling and burning at this moment.
He bent down and kissed it.
Qiao Shu's nightgown was made of soft silk, its ivory white color becoming transparent when wet, clinging tightly to her skin.
Her face flushed crimson. She bit her lip, her fingers gripping his hair, tugging at it gently. She gritted her teeth and said, finally unable to bear it any longer, "Go to bed."
Yu Zeheng raised his eyes, his dark eyes as deep as the sea: "It's dirty now, let me wash it for you first."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Chapter 1 is out now. I'm off to work on Chapter 2.
I'll update a little later, it'll be perfect to read tomorrow morning [cat emoji]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
