This time, their date took place at Kaka Go-Kart Club in Haishi.
Just as the two of them stepped out of the changing rooms one after the other, they happened to open their doors at the same time.
At six foot one, Xu Jinsi looked especially tall in his black-and-red racing suit, which accentuated his broad shoulders, slim waist, and long legs.
Beneath his sharply angled brows was a pair of alluring, peach-blossom eyes, their outer corners slightly raised. Whenever he looked at someone, they carried a hint of lazy amusement. His features were strong yet well-defined.
Ji Liuyue stood in the doorway of the changing room at five foot six. The fitted waist of her white racing suit outlined her slender figure and graceful curves.
Her almond-shaped eyes were round and bright, reflecting the afternoon light with a faint amber glow.
The two of them exchanged a glance.
Ji Liuyue’s gaze swept up and down his body.
Finally, apparently satisfied, she looked away and praised him without holding back. “Xu Jinsi, I never realized you were this tall. Put you in a racing suit, and suddenly you look pretty impressive.”
The corner of Xu Jinsi’s lips curled up, a flicker of amusement passing through his peach-blossom eyes.
He thought, If you want to compliment me, just say so.
But what came out of his mouth was, “Your eyes must have been malfunctioning before. Looks like they’ve finally recovered today.”
Ji Liuyue let out a huff and walked ahead.
“I’m taking that compliment back.”
Xu Jinsi quickly caught up with her and leaned down slightly. “Too late. No take-backs.”
The two of them bickered all the way to the go-kart track.
The moment Ji Liuyue saw the single-seat go-karts, her eyes lit up. She pointed at them and said, “Do you dare race me?”
Xu Jinsi held a helmet in one hand, his tone lazy. “What’s there to be afraid of? Just don’t cry when you lose.”
“Then we’ll do three laps and see who finishes with the faster time.” Ji Liuyue lifted her chin.
A gleam flashed through Xu Jinsi’s peach-blossom eyes.
“Sure. Any stakes?”
Ji Liuyue rested her chin in her hand and rolled her almond-shaped eyes thoughtfully. Then she joked, “How about this… Whoever loses has to send the other person tonight’s love message.”
“Dare to bet?”
Xu Jinsi gave a soft scoff.
“Don’t tell me no one’s sent you a message these past few nights?”
Ji Liuyue let out two dismissive laughs and couldn’t help rolling her eyes.
“Just kidding! I’ve received plenty of messages these past few nights. At least three a night…” As she spoke, she even started counting on her fingers.
Xu Jinsi raised an eyebrow. “Liar.”
Ji Liuyue said, “So, are we racing or not?”
“Race!”
After saying that, he put on his helmet and prepared to choose a single-seat go-kart. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Ji Liuyue struggling to press her white helmet down over her head.
No matter what she did, she couldn’t get it on properly. The strap was clearly adjusted incorrectly.
He teased her, “Looks like your head’s too big.”
He said it, but still walked over and helped adjust the clasp at the back of her helmet.
Half of Ji Liuyue’s head was covered by the helmet. Through the pale-gray visor, she looked up at him and glared.
Her almond-shaped eyes were filled with annoyance, making her look like a little cat that had been provoked. Her cheeks puffed up as she held her breath, and her smooth, glowing skin made her expression especially vivid.
Xu Jinsi was struck by that look for a moment and shifted his gaze away, slightly flustered.
His movements unconsciously grew gentler. His fingertips brushed past the loose strands of hair beside her ear as he carefully adjusted the strap.
When he finished, he lightly pressed down on the top of her helmet twice.
Ji Liuyue felt it and tilted her head back. “Why are you patting my head?”
Xu Jinsi quickly withdrew his hand and answered calmly, “I’m not. I was just pressing it down again to make sure the helmet was secure.”
“Oh.”
The two of them climbed into their respective go-karts. Ji Liuyue rested her hands on the steering wheel, looking full of confidence.
Xu Jinsi glanced sideways at her, the corners of his mouth curving up without him realizing it.
His voice softened unconsciously as he said, “Safety first, competition second. Don’t get anxious if you can’t overtake me later.”
Ji Liuyue didn’t even turn her head. “That’s what I should be saying to you. Don’t get anxious if you can’t overtake me, and don’t cry about it either.”
In her previous world, she had driven racing cars with ease. A go-kart would be a piece of cake.
The instructor called out from the starting line, “Three, two, one…”
The instant he finished speaking, the two go-karts shot forward from the starting line.
Xu Jinsi pressed down on the accelerator while keeping an eye on Ji Liuyue.
To his surprise, she sped ahead even faster than he did. A flicker of astonishment crossed his mind.
Could she really know how to drive a go-kart?
Xu Jinsi followed unhurriedly close behind her, hoping to overtake her on a turn. But Ji Liuyue maintained her speed throughout, her rhythm steady and controlled.
After one lap, Xu Jinsi was still behind.
By the end of the second lap, he was starting to get anxious. He pressed harder on the accelerator and tried to pass her on a bend.
But Ji Liuyue seemed to have eyes in the back of her head. Every time, she positioned herself with perfect precision directly in front of his kart.
On the third lap, the two karts remained locked together, one right behind the other.
At the final countdown, Ji Liuyue finished two seconds faster than Xu Jinsi.
The staff and the cameraman standing nearby were completely stunned.
They thought, Are they here for a dating show or a race? And the key point is, the female guest actually won! That’s incredible!
The race ended.
Ji Liuyue laughed as she took off her helmet. At some point, the hair tie holding her ponytail had come loose, and her long chestnut hair spilled down her back, gleaming with a faint golden sheen in the sunlight.
Her hair was a little messy, but her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with excitement.
With a smile in her eyes, she looked at him and said brightly, “Looks like you lost.”
Xu Jinsi took off his helmet as well and rubbed his disheveled short hair. Still refusing to admit defeat, he said, “I wasn’t giving it my all during the first lap.”
Ji Liuyue bent down and suddenly leaned closer to him.
“Is it really that hard to admit that I’m faster than you?”
He raised his eyes to look at her. The loose strands of hair across her forehead had been pressed into a mess by the helmet, and her cheeks were flushed with excitement. Her almond-shaped eyes glistened with moisture, making her look like a proud little cat.
The heart in his chest began pounding uncontrollably.
Xu Jinsi’s back stiffened. He moved his lips, wanting to say something.
But in that moment, his mind went completely blank.
He had crashed.
In the end, he simply reached out without thinking and gently brushed aside the damp strand of hair stuck to her forehead, his fingertips grazing the skin there.
This time, it was Ji Liuyue’s turn to freeze for a moment. “W-what are you doing?”
“…Oh. Your hair was messy.” Xu Jinsi took half a step back, suddenly flustered, and stared guiltily at the ground.
What was wrong with him just now? Had someone possessed him?
Why had he thought she was so cute?
And when he saw that damp strand of hair stuck to her forehead, why had he reached out and moved it without even thinking?
Then Ji Liuyue’s voice came from beside him, completely open and unabashedly proud.
“You lost this round, so remember to send me tonight’s love message.”
Xu Jinsi gave a soft “Mm,” trying to maintain his usual cool expression.
But the corners of his lips lifted slightly against his will.
I was going to send it to you anyway.
You idiot.
