Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Are You Crazy?
"Are you crazy?"
Looking at the 488 that was so smashed up it no longer looked like a car, Lu Jinghou felt a pang of heartache. He hadn’t bought it that long ago.
Gu Bai glanced at him, his tone indifferent.
"Are you deaf? Didn’t I tell you the brakes failed?"
After this incident, quite a few people came over to watch the spectacle, none more excited than the journalists. Events like this race festival usually don’t get much attention unless you’re really into supercars. But a rich kid feud resulting in a multimillion-dollar car crash? That’s the kind of gossip netizens love.
Not far away, Cai Lolita was livestreaming, capturing the whole scene.
"Lack of education leaves you speechless. Is this the world of the wealthy? A Ferrari 488—something I’d never afford in my lifetime—wrecked just like that?"
"I used to think those spending hundreds of thousands in live streaming were big shots, but today I realized the real bigwigs play bowling with supercars."
By now, the race track’s security was managing the order under Tian Shu’s instructions, blocking out all the invited media, including Cai Lolita, who was promptly asked to stop the livestream.
A few of the second-generation rich kids who usually hung out with Lu Jinghou helped him up right away.
Li Zhun, Tian Shu, and Zhao Weiwei quickly stood by Gu Bai’s side.
This was when the importance of the circle became apparent.
"Lu Jinghou, are you looking to die?"
Tian Shu, as the organizer of this race festival, was in his element and naturally shouldered the responsibility.
"Brother Tian, are you going to take sides with him? My car’s the one that got hit, yet you’re coming at me?"
Even though Tian Shu had quite a reputation in the Shanghai Circle, it didn’t mean Lu Jinghou would back down from them.
"Cut the crap. Weren’t you the one who started it? If you can start trouble, you should be able to handle it!"
Li Zhun abandoned his usual easygoing demeanor and stepped forward with a stern face.
Lu Jinghou realized they had no intention of de-escalating the situation.
Given his antics, it’s impossible for Lu Jinghou to have survived in the Shanghai Circle without some confidence. But he knew his limits and didn’t vent his anger on Li Zhun and the others. His small eyes fixed coldly on Gu Bai’s plump face, saying, "Buddy, if you don’t give my brother an explanation today, I guarantee you won’t have it easy in the Shanghai Circle from now on!"
Hearing his words, Gu Bai chuckled softly and stepped forward.
"Not have it easy? How exactly?"
"That’s for you to figure out. This Shanghai territory isn’t a place for some up-and-comer from the sticks to tread on whimsically!"
Listening to Lu Jinghou mention Shanghai over and over, Gu Bai’s temper flared up too.
"I’ll make it clear today. This is easy to settle—just compensation, right? Get a lawyer then. I’ll pay it, but I swear you won’t see a penny for at least three to five years, in which case you can flip the word ’Gu’ in my name upside down."
If I have to spend a few hundred thousand on legal fees just to drag this out with you, I’m more than happy to do so. I can’t wait to see how you can make my life hard in Shanghai.
I’m also giving Brother Tian some face today. If we were in Anhui Province, you’d be wrecked along with the car!"
Shooting off his mouth while draping a tiger’s skin—who can’t do that? Anyway, with the system covering his back, no one could probe into his identity. Even if he boasted to the skies, nobody would find a flaw.
Seeing Gu Bai act all high and mighty, not just Lu Jinghou and his gang but even Li Zhun and others seemed to be seeing him for the first time. Was this really the Gu Bai who always seemed so amiable?
Lu Jinghou thought even more simply, what era are we in?
There’s really someone this audacious?
Anyone daring to boldly declare they’ll wreck you and your car in front of so many people is either a true idiot or truly formidable. For a moment, he couldn’t tell which category Gu Bai belonged to.
Hanging out with Li Zhun and the others for a month, Gu Bai wasn’t exactly famous in the Shanghai Circle but was recognized by quite a few. They knew of this mysterious rich kid from out of town. Many like Gu Bai from the provinces frequent the city, and no one cares about them. But Gu Bai’s behavior today suggested his background wasn’t simple. Everyone took mental notes, intending to investigate further later.
Lu Jinghou’s so-called buddies exchanged glances, each unsure of their thoughts but all tacitly choosing silence. They weren’t Li Zhun or Tian Shu; they were just a few third-tier rich kids. Just showing up to back up Lu Jinghou was fulfilling their end of the friendship; there was no point in getting themselves involved.
Lu Jinghou understood their thoughts, realizing he couldn’t gain anything in this situation. Just as he planned to deliver a harsh line and leave, Qin Fen, who had been watching the spectacle from the side, stepped forward.
"Alright, everyone’s here to have fun. Why all the red faces and raised voices? There’s a whole bunch of reporters here—do you really want to make tomorrow’s headlines?"
As a top dog among Shanghai’s second-generation, Qin Fen held considerable sway among these people.
"Brother Qin, I’m not the one who caused trouble. This punk has gone too far, as you saw. My face is practically stinging from the slaps. If I back down now, how can I face anyone again?"
"I’ve seen you start trouble twice now, and you want to play the victim? If you dare stir up trouble, you should be ready to face the consequences. Who are you trying to fool with this act?"
Hearing Qin Fen’s words, Lu Jinghou couldn’t help but give him another look. Was Qin Fen siding with Gu Bai? If that were true, he’d definitely have to re-evaluate Gu Bai’s identity.
However, after speaking to Lu Jinghou, Qin Fen turned to Gu Bai and said, "Gu Bai, let me play mediator here, do me a favor, and drop the matter. Just handle it as it should be handled, okay?"
Ultimately, Qin Fen was a Shanghai native, slightly biased towards Lu Jinghou, which didn’t surprise Gu Bai.
"I don’t care either way. I’ve already vented my anger, and the money means nothing to me. Let it be resolved however it should be."
It’s not really about giving Qin Fen face, he doesn’t have much face here, but out of politeness I call him Brother Qin. If we really turn against each other, who’s afraid of who? The main thing is that I’m just letting off steam, no need to make things irreparable. If things get out of hand, it’s not good for me either.
But Qin Fen doesn’t think so, assuming Gu Bai is giving him face, he gives him a friendly smile. After all, judging from the earlier performance, Gu Bai is not someone who likes to settle things peacefully.
"What about you?"
Qin Fen looks at Lu Jinghou.
"Brother Qin..."
"Don’t tell me so much, I’m just here to mediate. If you really want to make a fuss, suit yourself."
He said it and didn’t speak again, directly ignoring him and quietly chatting with Tian Shu.
"Alright! Then let’s wait for the 4S shop’s repair quote."
After speaking, he felt embarrassed staying there any longer, freed himself from his two buddies holding him, and walked out alone.
As for his buddies, seeing Lu Jinghou leave, they acted like nothing happened, kept chatting and dispersed. Since the main character didn’t plan on continuing the drama, what else could they do?
Li Zhun originally wanted to say something to Gu Bai but suddenly thought of something, shouted strangely, ran to the front of the car, and wailed: "Gu Bai! Is this how you treat my baby? It’s been less than a month!"
"Actually, I regret it too."
"Since it’s already done, what are you regretting now?"
Gu Bai shrugged: "It’s not that I regret hitting his car, I just regret I should have hit with your car, much cheaper and affordable. Unlike now, I probably won’t have a car to drive."
"Are you even speaking human words?"
Li Zhun looked at him, rolling his eyes.
At this moment, Xiaowang couldn’t help but laugh and said: "I don’t see any regret on your face."
"Who says so? I’ve almost regretted it to death!"
"Didn’t you plan to buy my 918? That’s just perfect, if you don’t mind, we can settle it later, and you’ll have a car to drive."
"Seriously?"
Gu Bai has been eyeing the top three cars for a long time. Hearing Xiaowang intends to sell it to him, the only frustration from the crash dissipated instantly.
"Of course it’s serious."
Originally, Principal Wang just saw Gu Bai as one of Li Zhun’s group, maybe even a bit less favorably, since he didn’t know his identity.
But after today’s incident, he actually wants to befriend Gu Bai now.
Not for any other reason, but just because his personality matches his own style.
Being someone who dared to openly insult Wang Xiaofei, one of the Kyoto Four Young Masters, a guy pretending to be a rich second generation with only a few pennies in his pocket, Gu Bai was naturally someone with an unrestrained temperament. Now meeting Gu Bai, who is also unruly, naturally feels like finding a kindred spirit.
Qin Fen also said from the side: "Tonight I’m organizing a gathering, you two can talk again then."
He then looks at Gu Bai.
"Gu Bai, let me apologize first, that situation earlier wasn’t my intention to meddle, but since it’s done, let’s not fuss. Since you gave me face, I appreciate it. If there’s anything I can help with in the future, just let me know!"
"Then sell me your LaFerrari?"
"Get lost!"
"Then what’s the point of your talk?"
Gu Bai pouted.
"If you really want to buy a car, I have an option now, but need to go to Europe. A friend of mine has a Ferrari Poison, one that Li Zhun is almost crazy for. In terms of value, it might be worth more than a LaFerrari. If you’re interested, I can let you know when I go to Europe. I was originally planning to get this car myself."
"Okay."
Li Zhun is listening nearby, drooling, but without money in his pocket, he can only listen.
While chit-chatting, the system prompt in his mind sounds.
"Congratulations to the host for achieving a new accomplishment, Confidence Value increased by 15%, Dream Fund disbursed."
Just now Gu Bai was thinking that the system should pop up soon, and sure enough, it didn’t disappoint him.
This time Gu Bai genuinely felt the increase in Confidence Value.
Not because he became arrogant, but because he fully unleashed his true self, which had been suppressed since being reborn, and let it swell completely.
It has to be said, this feeling is really damn satisfying.