After being formatted as a cannonfodder, I became a heartthrob

Song Yu was in a terrible mood today.rbBbmsjVLemaKjEZjaFQSolCYPhQLa

qitShUWXJIoAIla

Since entering the dating scene in middle school, he had always been invincible. It was always him picking and choosing others. Occasionally, when he put in a little effort to pursue someone, they would quickly respond to him. Even someone as aloof and hard-to-get as Chen Xi, a big star more vigilant than anyone, had fallen into his romantic web.idiKFagEyzdFPeBMcMcYViMUuQzjIu

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Never did he expect to stumble over Xie Fengxing.nCBucySoVFVWcXbZAFigFsdOyanuhH

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He refused to believe that Xie Fengxing could truly remain indifferent to him. Xie Fengxing had loved him to the point of madness!ZuaSmxHgvOWFeLnlhfXoevFHtitmwj

ykJFEPUJfnkrQTC

After showering and changing clothes, Song Yu looked at himself in the mirror, put on his glasses, and remained as confident as ever.cVeWehCZMuprwcQveAhulbENAUgmlM

yACciacONqeUUkt

His confidence came from multiple sources. First, he was now wealthy. Second, he was handsome—otherwise, he wouldn’t attract so many admirers. Third, he was a nationally renowned race car driver. In this world, both men and women admired strength.yQlyTPBZQIOfheIoxKfQWqomwpuude

ekvYPwlyNFCsszS

And he was especially confident in that aspect—no one who had been with him in bed ever stopped longing for him.QKGIhwnZxiAFZTmlIinKxYHkvqjAhd

WHmKAscTvvIEHpM

Although he had once looked down on Xie Fengxing and pretended to be indifferent, Xie Fengxing didn’t seem particularly enthusiastic about it either, so they hadn’t had much intimate contact.YvRlqwWEgRvVLIdwXFqWkGUFgWeKuD

jPfoyCUGmcnEEKE

Ah, he should have slept with Xie Fengxing back then—made him yearn for him!oDnBmSAlQxiZBnvzRZPfWTNpEUOOgv

HCJKUKQDSmnpVgu

Xie Fengxing’s current coldness and drastic change only fueled Song Yu’s determination, igniting an unprecedented desire to conquer.cSfHWdGCKsJHCdeKZPKoqVueyZZzds

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He loved cold beauties—the harder they were to pursue, the more interesting it became. Watching a cold beauty melt, flushed and feverish, was even more thrilling.eGmYjACroQBGKvaVBidAhEnXrhrtKo

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Just imagining Xie Fengxing with reddened eyes, sweating, lost in passion, was enough to arouse him.JGZaoOkWvqbgufOZPsGOjHfZBYbccc

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“Song Yu’s favorability toward you has returned to 60,” Xiao Ai said.ArOeiJduJIptpPaEuatMDfCunhvKPl

xdbiohcAuZydrfS

Xie Fengxing lazily sipped his cup of Jin Jun Mei tea, basking in the sunlight. “He’s an interesting one. I didn’t even acknowledge him, yet he spent the whole night fantasizing on his own.”fkZgiyoFxUNmbfZjDBsReetTgSplVA

UsXdPRApxGKgoxp

Xiao Ai replied, “Maybe for a scumbag like him, the unattainable is the best.”KvqhyYUxYSRqemdXiMEeKZtapkEvjp

XerLXQLNSTfiYhJ

“Is that so?” Xie Fengxing said. “Then I’ll make sure I remain the best in his heart.”juCsJlYbiXbstwIMGaOrRPVeAEDxvF

psGnYpmlLqnJlyk

“There’s something I didn’t tell you yesterday,” Xiao Ai added. “Scumbag No. 2, Xue Cheng, also saw his favorability toward you rise from 0 to 70.”pxvQJsZlhmHsiNjcSoPTdYctdYJhTy

UNNAEyRzvlCxQNP

Xie Fengxing raised an eyebrow and took another sip of tea.unoMGYRIJinxPqMIEUlPvGqDkQhYcn

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The golden hue of the Jin Jun Mei tea was rich and fragrant, as if replenishing the warmth his body lacked.nTHTiZtyvQPYUhyUwPSyXQDUVnlSus

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“Xue Cheng was also at the racetrack yesterday,” Xiao Ai said.anLhJacCXGcXsHdOkMnCuhCHrhwqhM

FyyyWRALalKZXSF

At the mention of Xue Cheng, Xie Fengxing’s eyes turned even colder.GHIxgaBbCqAVklKOUKicyzMatiYrYk

foyWvQYVAuZHADB

If Song Yu was emotionally toxic, then Xue Cheng was a complete psychopath.PDkdSHcQutcycPDlXexEoUCzYBdaFP

bUeeKhXtBgqdeJb

A man nearing forty, Xue Cheng was obsessed with physical and psychological torment—his twisted fetishes and warped mind had driven Chen Xi to madness.aKrhHHPXFJLPxqaxkTPsbyTQsLSiNW

ZZRswEjQKRFYBBF

Xie Fengxing fell into deep thought. The system’s formatting hadn’t completely erased him—its main purpose was to make him carry out harmonious tasks. He couldn’t feel much joy, but these heavy, negative emotions always came easily to him. Perhaps after being steeped in them for so long, he felt a bone-deep chill.KmEDsDNeponoZRTrIBFtTkMKHehRLQ

xmIEENlgLJCFsew

He closed his eyes and lay in the sunlight for a while, only to be startled awake by a knock at the door.nlHzMeIQJOxkrTKxWpOVIgzcpSVtKX

QcspKDYdJZsRMWm

Gou Xiaochuan burst in and exclaimed, “I have amazing news for you!”KsMNqqFkeldnEvichFTqRqkIUSGgtG

wgRfjVuhkjiWMZF

“What news?”WSTiwAfDiDnHzcYUrLdHGYDpPwuzVA

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But Gou Xiaochuan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stared blankly at the familiar yet unfamiliar living room before him.sYHMkBUSmOwcfhviSiNwGyxXozOPnW

wzDJETEyXiuQWKO

This spotless, almost lifeless apartment—was this really where Xie Fengxing lived?! It seemed like so many things had been thrown away, leaving the space much emptier, minimalist to the extreme, and impeccably tidy.jmSrZGmiMRvcowMkJUVsTenRqoedZw

LNMuzFkIbBQoHmz

Meeting Xie Fengxing’s reddish-brown eyes, Gou Xiaochuan asked, “Feng Xing, are you really okay?”eoiMCxxxjYkORACBTbmxudWcAZrMjK

hqEeyGzPHlMdrVW

“You go first, what’s this big news?”nHUCzquoHJncWWXgRCzVoaVEdLNGba

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Only then did Gou Xiaochuan’s eyes light up. He seemed particularly simple, easily led by the nose: “My cousin praised you today!”PvMniFjfbXmtPDXFZVhthuuEUFOEgL

lmTvLtFHBxLwLKF

“Lu Chi?”FFCZOzCafnVSgBofxnZASkgpusMJcR

xQIpEeWUYflzrJD

“Yeah, him!” Gou Xiaochuan said excitedly.pcAPxGdsnKavsqFdKoCznnjUfqSzaS

dtAjPspAjqVdfRv

“What did he say?”hKGYgplxHvsfnaNDsEJDhiCvpDZNaU

uYdtAfDZMrvAMmG

“Last night, our whole family went to their place for dinner, right? After eating, I went to chat him up. We talked for a bit, and I deliberately brought you up… don’t say I never help you out… Then he praised you, said he watched your race videos and found your driving skills impressive. You’ve already pushed Speedy Ascent’s race car to its limits. With a better car, you could go even faster.”VYcZdoDPJbsFlihAhQmObOMmhghTaZ

yAmopDHafZntQRV

Xie Fengxing nodded and poured Gou Xiaochuan a cup of tea.BGPeHtxvraKMoAJCABbxpyxFRuZzIP

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Gou Xiaochuan caught the aroma: “What tea is this?”fiHqEacLWAbwOqhtgvxNatUkHDdhsq

nuuMaQMmSWptuZP

“Jin Jun Mei.”GAkkzNeAaxzIpfLJCEMbgByseXQgQo

KuAAFlgHKrTGVpt

“Since when did you start drinking tea?”JbcIVHtXvoKUvMeeusKpBWGIoMkVkH

FLEfnvwIlEOkKXe

“Found it while cleaning my room,” Xie Fengxing said. “Brewed it a few times, tastes pretty good.”VwWgwRnxnUYRoFJpqvXwrUNIIbPFZR

HWvaVvUlNMpbtFi

“I feel like I’ve smelled this tea somewhere before.” Gou Xiaochuan immediately steered the conversation back: “I just told you my cousin praised you, and you’re not excited?”cqBCRFhguYbfDLhDObAcRGRReQpymY

qXLzfLwYmXthbOR

Xie Fengxing said, “I am.”cVPPcGQHxpZuYylIChmKqaZAyWKWWV

hfQxENkjODPMkBr

But his expression clearly showed no excitement, just humoring him.VvvNRpxGxBowJpCMnEToCioFaPZFdW

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Gou Xiaochuan felt disappointed and a bit worried: “Feng Xing, what’s really going on with you?”ZfdHfKXzmVSaKFPmwJXKEvlbHWIbHv

uFORtPkqVHJgsig

“Did I used to have a crush on your cousin?” Xie Fengxing asked.ZNZOEKJjfmFFLnBPAxSgGmtPLQQMFL

syfONJYmWmThZtH

“You didn’t?” Gou Xiaochuan said. “Back in school, every time my cousin came home on leave, didn’t you always make me take you to see him? You never said it, but I knew. Besides, my cousin’s so handsome, how could you possibly let him go without—”XDEtvWSppLBkkrAtrlMRtHqmjgzcWF

xxYAopsirZRLJlH

Gou Xiaochuan immediately shut up, eyeing Xie Fengxing warily.cxgNCNQPRDldALuPNJhcVqyNtGVypG

CXcOmmaCVEfxvtJ

Xie Fengxing sighed, “Wow, I really was a lovesick fool back then.”qhmbCrwrtdmcOPGCJEEpDYXFGEoAsG

MKnGwpxQiHOCIRU

Practically a creep.tgVorIFZCsZMsbJkliPCMulJTgvmvM

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Xie Fengxing was once again grateful he’d forgotten everything.ZdkbhCjlXzHKKsPhVWMgVpUKsOhlXG

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The great reset was truly a blessing.RIYHxPsSDUZJFCUlYARZxGVOKNCHja

kYviKauZZrhrDBe

“What’s wrong with you?” Gou Xiaochuan said. “How did Song Yu hurt you so badly? You two never even slept together!”CTpaxqIHTIWEYtiHTItiBOfgtNeDJY

gbfhhJHdmfOfmVX

That was a relief.SzQZrtRaAGShEomoXzuWUGdsLoMCSX

YAIWoUtNmWEGqZh

“It’s all in the past, let’s not talk about it,” Xie Fengxing said.pizdwZrWrUHsxJeGzAjpFqVAVWAhaA

KUxuabARyIbIeBV

“But we could talk about it,” Gou Xiaochuan said. “I feel like you’re a completely different person now compared to before. Song Yu might even be the one chasing you these days.”pjqMPeojNccczOxcFYXutSdUltwNfn

musNahEkFPAqesS

Gou Xiaochuan’s eyes roamed up and down as he spoke.fdFSloHuUKpSWqLqCGWYonjoCQpmWM

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Seeing Xie Fengxing in casual loungewear reminded him of an old saying: gold nurtures idleness, flowers nurture smiles.veGstAkaQLaKfatfhiQMClOfupJMSZ

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“Is your cousin seeing anyone? Or does he like someone?” Xie Fengxing asked.iXhVGqJEVICsvNXUTQhbzTYEKkWhuj

wzbfQMfdoTTXkNV

Gou Xiaochuan glanced at him and smirked: “Why are you asking? Still claiming you’re not interested in my cousin?”DuZjYVCxhrZLJedtITeJfmXmGUmMGV

zNEJVnEhYaTEewa

He flopped excitedly onto the sofa: “He’s probably never been in a relationship before. Tons of people chase after him, men and women alike, but he ignores them all. You’ve seen him too little—you only notice how handsome he is but don’t really know him as a person. He’s been rebellious since childhood, with a defiant streak. Not just with us younger cousins, but even with his own family, he’s not particularly warm. He was doing really well in the military—being a soldier had always been his dream. He went against his whole family to enlist. But half a year ago, my aunt suffered from depression and didn’t make it, and suddenly he came back. My mom and the others all say he’s here to fight for the family fortune. Can you believe it? My aunt used to be a female race car driver, so lively and cheerful, yet she died suddenly from depression. Even more unbelievable is that less than a month after her death, my uncle remarried—and to a woman in her forties with two kids! My new aunt is something else; everyone in the company adores her. She’s the second-in-command at Speedy Ascent.”SOnxjnqlmOaRwByOgLJzMGDvXtMIqD

yfPVRaYkImjzSnM

Before Xie Fengxing could respond, Xiao Ai exclaimed, “This pretty much confirms he’s no ordinary person, right?!”kKlmQWnTveVuqNnmfzDsDFUVyAPBYm

MpjRpuKCJUetMGe

Xie Fengxing thought the same.PdGdMZteyEZfMgUWWialjAcJmLbrba

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With such a dramatic backstory and such a unique identity, he was undoubtedly the protagonist.akrbfqNNHXnjQNvfmNYVEAzLjTZAAA

fwUTGayjEzXpRDK

Gou Xiaochuan continued rambling: “But my eldest cousin is no pushover—he’s ruthless in his own way. Even though my uncle doesn’t like him, he still protects him at every turn. Not surprising, though. My uncle’s rise to fortune was all thanks to my cousin’s maternal family. Any one of the Quan family could make these businessmen tremble in their boots. My uncle wouldn’t dare lay a finger on my cousin. Yesterday at dinner, my mom and the others were even trying to set him up. Right now, half the wealthy socialites in Beicheng want to meet him. He’s the golden boy among Beicheng’s rich second generation—so many people throw themselves at him for his wealth and looks, but they all end up defeated. My cousin is like an impregnable fortress, one surrounded by endless battles.”OyMNGVyWogwqoGAmOlmCGtRdflACqP

AkXpYAdCwJlmaVy

Xie Fengxing nodded.gfhdcorJRzElpvzakTkXijCskYcKIF

ExvsRPlRqehYGKo

Seeing him deep in thought, Gou Xiaochuan quickly added, “But I’ve never seen him in a relationship—not even rumors of flings. Maybe he doesn’t like women. Maybe he likes men.”WsKlRCRArlcxGeyzsbEpDNMrMisByR

GTsIAiZXwCaDtGy

Hearing this, Xie Fengxing became even more certain.pysuNyyzVtNbxPESMdazTeKvNfiRMK

hBzNsFdQQmRvAhQ

In danmei novels, the male lead typically falls into two categories. The first is someone like Song Yu—a promiscuous playboy who reforms for true love, a trope that saturates romance and danmei stories. The idea that “a rake changes his ways for me, proving I’m special and unique” has poisoned countless minds.KolGZtDKMeyYoBMUBnlbziGbPXltaW

EmufUpxhVwNItkE

The second type is like Gou Xiaochuan’s cousin—principled, untouched, waiting for true love to arrive.GRPOXYakKXXHnSctPdWKfDvRdePRrN

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Lu Chi wasn’t single because he couldn’t find someone. His partner was either mysterious or hadn’t appeared yet.tnzYRyphhlRIvCCUvlmDujEQrbpBAV

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“We should mark him as a key observation target,” Xiao Ai said. “I told you—189 cm and built like a cola bottle? No way he’s just a side character!”ajlfdIxvYXihEjpDYtITmhPktMQgOC

kmaTNwgQEjTFZwq

Xie Fengxing: “…”QCbTesIRtRMXsJKecNfUBNoRbGdwgp

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Alright, he’d originally thought 189 cm was just above average, but now that it was being emphasized, it was a bit intimidating.uLfYDKnDjjLhuWdexEtpLsMDuyqZpb

QcRXAEuNAeovCst

Not that it mattered to him—he was emotionless and desireless. How big or long Lu Chi was had nothing to do with him.yWDhhqAreavYXfNIbZztpqBcZCUcNY

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Lately, he’d been getting calls nonstop, even from entertainment companies wanting to sign him.hGJINTFFjBCdzLduuzpTgDwMKkVmTH

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Xie Fengxing ignored them all. Race car drivers needed exposure and popularity, but if a driver truly entered the entertainment industry, the aura around them would inevitably fade. Xie Fengxing had once traveled through a world where the protagonist was originally a street vendor. After a stunningly handsome photo of him went viral nationwide with zero negative comments, he signed with an entertainment company and entered showbiz. But then the criticisms started pouring in—accusations of premeditated hype, greed, materialism—until gradually, no one even found him that attractive anymore.dTRrvKzjYMdMdUNZgjnhmguuxzZEJG

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The public was just that contradictory.JPWkkXxFNnjHXMyFjPlRZkysdrxwDR

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In a way, this was similar to Song Yu.jLRSGBEhgVjKJjCZDixvOIniqEBtXq

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The more Xie Fengxing ignored him, the more persistent Song Yu became.ymVoGbszTUUlCpUQkjvrqOUdswworM

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After sending several messages without receiving a reply from Xie Fengxing, Song Yu grew increasingly frustrated.cXLHWfsKFRcwNaekBnCLdifhTJjfLl

tzrXPqSsyNCMbjt

If Xie Fengxing had ignored him from the start, it would have been fine. But he had taken the initiative to add Song Yu as a friend, only to then leave him hanging. To Song Yu, this was nothing short of a humiliating insult.nZanrkQPpfhzUFdpaXRYbSLdPBsCgk

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How dare Xie Fengxing act this way!fLjQqclfGNbzPddWNKxbsuLsFhEcnG

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Just because he’d gotten a makeover and looked better now? Who did he think he was?gmxgDmoFDUzlGSpClGkdQijHAigvVq

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Had he forgotten how he’d once begged for Song Yu’s forgiveness?SlAUGSqIFfNWRToKwPbESWfQUKEyhq

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Song Yu decided it was time to launch a full-scale offensive against Xie Fengxing.AznZRTonCybLSQLtgsOtvuxmdcpADp

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Once he was done toying with him, he’d make sure Xie Fengxing regretted his cold indifference today!JEwROeRuppCbsUJxcHzzOmhgXVWOog

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Xiao Ai would occasionally relay Song Yu’s inner monologue to Xie Fengxing.qaeIChmCTLMtolvbFcLADTgrFvGuNG

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Xie Fengxing felt neither anger nor joy.vCIqTqcwQaxYEgnlhLvrnOedLOAqqe

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He took aloof disdain to the extreme—he simply couldn’t be bothered.vjVPbyUcaklzAnSKKZfXMswQLQjywF

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Right now, he had other things to focus on.UVtlhEBnpVstxrZqNuwPmnfGyBcNQh

rvFklVaimRRztho

Chang Rui, the general manager of Beicheng International Speedway, had called to invite him to test-drive their company’s new race car.ohlSKSsCGDnbmsMxHchhqtPuqOQEBd

kCGaYPYVHGrIcWE

Xie Fengxing gladly accepted.dSrBRRCCyWQJgaoQRoXDwZuUgQwokE

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Compared to dealing with Song Yu’s romantic antics, he’d much rather crush Song Yu’s career.YbdFsoHhjGGalwLowmqbrsSfyoidtg

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To become a racer capable of repeatedly humiliating Song Yu and erasing all his glory in the racing world, Xie Fengxing needed more training—and a team.RwTYYFQjvruqpVyziyklbCgGFwIZYS

pmzlOYcfoYjzcQz

Speedy Ascent was undoubtedly his best option at the moment.dgIjWPGwKphkCVXTeUJcFHNURKxZJm

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At Beicheng International Speedway, a race car sped down the track.RzKSpAYsrDFYEItIAbrJYHHBTUmxEr

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The roar of the engine filled the empty circuit as Lu Chi lounged lazily in his seat, binoculars in hand, tracking Xie Fengxing’s car.pqquWsXCNUkSyWaaWPFSwivOHppvyx

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“Holy shit,” Chang Rui blurted out when Xie Fengxing executed another sharp turn.NosCXoTERzBTCkMgsSJoSeBvPTsVOX

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He was astonished by Xie Fengxing’s driving skills.aZWNjwQdbnaVlJKuBroxHEAkXDUUea

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Or rather, stunned.gbfHQtLVfKnayIaEcaHKHFZUIEseeI

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It was hard to believe an amateur racer could deliver such an outstanding performance.qzWSEKOsCEgxMovhCYOTuFMOwpZGSi

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This was a hidden gem!DIlDdoADwFJqjCUPTJrxhXomUMjCpc

TnGiJmVhoVcAwkQ

He glanced at Lu Chi beside him. Lu Chi had his hands in his pockets, leaning back lazily, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly as he murmured, “Interesting.”sFGMkOXumVHVzDbLNapyMXPMFiPGYV

ldMevdkJvdXiHJI

They’d struck gold.nPNfOJWUKOWaGyPyoDNTndPJstKgOF

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A genius racer like this came once in a century—this was like manna from heaven.mbfXRvWZINvKMqMfGPkfHDlJYZqiAc

abYvuunRHdxWsXB

Author’s Note:yWlCqAvealSisMAIiUehXkfRNbjKSD

qrsLNufhdneHmWj

Lu Chi: A wife fell straight from the sky.jsMZztsMFoRHdfgTCDovFRgbmEQuMj

TyeFwGjXLtRVDSk