Chapter 25: A Race Between Life and Death 11

Chapter 25: A Race Between Life and Death 11

With the 5 points, plus the earlier 2, Pei Yi's total points reached 9. Checking the group rankings, he had shot up to the top twenty.

Of course, Lu Zai Chuan remained in first place, with a significant gap between him and second place.

It could be said that he made it into the main event riding on Lu Zai Chuan's coattails. This puzzled him, wondering why the advancement wasn't based on points. If it were, he surely wouldn't have qualified.

But who cares, as long as he's in.

Pei Yi's joy was short-lived as he eagerly opened his live stream, only to find it filled with mockery.

"I thought you had real skill, turns out you're just a parasite, clinging onto others."

"In this high-speed race, all I saw was Lu God's brilliance. Pei Yi's presence was utterly disappointing. Why rely on someone else? Can't understand it. Goodbye!"

"Why, if not for the points? Selling yourself for points is one thing, but this is just pathetic. I was actually looking forward to him driving. Turns out... disgusting, unfollowing, goodbye!"

Pei Yi checked his follower count, indeed many had unfollowed, from around 1300 to just about 1000. Many sent him bombs, expressing their disdain.

The audience only likes inspiring figures, not someone like him, who compromises with reality.

Yet, Pei Yi felt he did nothing wrong.

The forums were also filled with ridicule.

[What’s Pei Yi doing in the high-speed race?] Poster: Anonymous

"Though he passed, is this what we wanted? We hoped for teamwork, not absence. Lu God is divine, but Pei Yi? Do you think you've done justice to your supporters? You could have been faster and better on the highway, yet you were like a dead weight, utterly speechless and not thrilling at all, refund!"

"It's because he chickened out. No one stands bold in front of Lu God... Pei Yi is no exception."

"He's happy now, just has to follow behind Lu God like a little brother, what a golden opportunity."

"Disgusting, have the decency to admit defeat outright. Clinging like this is just speechless. No talent whatsoever!"

Pei Yi read through them all, unable to understand their logic, as they had made up their minds about him.

He couldn't help but say, "Does this mean I have no talent?"

Someone replied, "Then why don't you tell us why you sat in the passenger seat like a fool, doing nothing but praising, 'So cool, so awesome'? I thought you were a force to be reckoned with."

Pei Yi was at a loss for words. He acted this way because he had an agreement with Lu Zai Chuan. They were right. He compromised for the sake of earning points. But he wouldn't admit to lacking skill. If he were driving, he could shake them off just the same.

Closing the panel, Pei Yi lost his appetite for food.

Then, he received a message from a friend, Lu Zai Chuan, showing a payment record. It was for the meal money he had transferred earlier, which Lu Zai Chuan had yet to accept.

Pei Yi: "..." Speechless at the timing of the acceptance.

Just as he felt annoyed, Lu Zai Chuan transferred 5 points to him.

Pei Yi: "?"

"Seeing how cooperative you were, these 5 points are for you."

Pei Yi: ...This guy's pretty nice. Smiling, he said, "I agreed to play the supporting role myself, why would I need your points?"

"You don't mind being harshly criticized, and I don't care either. The audience in JC despises the weak, admires the strong, and yearns for inspiring legends."

Hearing this, Pei Yi pondered, finding being called useless rather upsetting.

Another message from Lu Zai Chuan, "To get into S1, it depends on the final total points ranking. There are over a thousand people in Section A, see where you rank."

Pei Yi frowned, "Isn't it just Group A? 100 people in Group A."

Lu Zai Chuan: "It's not just Group A, take a look."

Pei Yi thought, it sounded as if he had checked for him. Opening the total points ranking, Pei Yi felt like spitting blood. Ranked 621! If he doesn't earn points in the last match, he could be eliminated!

He hadn't anticipated such fierce competition. He thought he was doing great, but reality struck a harsh blow.

Looking at Lu Zai Chuan's ranking, first in the group but only twentieth in the section. There's always someone stronger. Because of his good performance in the first quiz and second race, and a slip in the third, he lost at least three points.

The top scorer is someone named Qin Yun, with a total of 28 points in the section. What does this mean? Only three matches have been played so far, and this guy has only lost two points, which is impressively stable.

"Finished looking?" Lu Zai Chuan sent another message.

Pei Yi: "What are you trying to say?"

"The final match is crucial, usually determining the distribution for the S1 group stage. The higher the points, the more priority you have to freely choose teammates, though the chosen person also needs to have enough points."

"..." Got it, Lu Zai Chuan had already chosen his teammate early on. That person is him. He hopes his points aren't too low; otherwise, even if he wants to choose him later, he won't have enough points.

"My strength is just so-so. I guess I'll only have about 10 points total after the last match. Can I even get them all?"

"Try your best. You'll need over 20 total points to freely choose teammates. If not, it's just not meant to be for us."

“……”

Pei Yi took a deep drag on his cigarette. Annoying as Lu Zai Chuan is, his strength is undeniably solid, which Pei Yi felt strongly. Without him, standing out in S1 would be difficult, especially with many team instances ahead.

Don't go against money. Even if the other side is unsightly, you'd close your eyes and go for it. Crude as this analogy might be, Pei Yi found it fitting. He tapped his cigarette ash into the ashtray and fell into deep thought.

After pondering, his stomach growled, "Forget it, let's eat first." Saying so, he got up to look for instant noodles.

Just as he was about to make noodles, the doorbell rang.

Opening the door, Pei Yi found Lu Zai Chuan standing there.

On the field, they barely cooperated; off the field, they were still strangers.

Seeing Pei Yi's guarded expression, Lu Zai Chuan couldn't help but laugh, "What's with you? I haven't done anything to wrong you, have I?" On the contrary, he had helped him multiple times. Yet, this guy was completely unappreciative, all bristles and claws.

Quite an interesting person.

"No? Think about it, have any of the words you said to me been decent?"

"I've always been like this." Perhaps a bit sharp-tongued, but honest. Lu Zai Chuan shrugged. He really had said the most to him. Others, he wouldn't even glance at, let alone give a reminder.

"Then don't blame me for teaching you how to speak properly." Pei Yi, holding his noodles, poured boiling water into the bowl.

"You're the one who explodes at the slightest provocation. Tell me, you're an adult, even older than me. Why do you get all bristled up like a child whenever someone says something to you?"

"Coming over to lecture your brother again? Itching for a beating, wanting to be pinned down?" Pei Yi looked up, his phoenix eyes slightly raised.

Lu Zai Chuan, recalling being firmly pinned down, felt slightly uncomfortable, "...I came to discuss something important."

Seeing him somewhat awkward, "Speak up, can't say it online?"

"You're next door, I'm too lazy to voice chat, and you won't video call with me." Lu Zai Chuan sat down, "For tomorrow's main event, everyone in Section A will participate. There are a few people I can tell you about in advance, so you're prepared."

"Go on," Pei Yi said while eating.

"Actually, it's mainly Qin Yun, the top player in our section, and his people. Their team is called 'Ferocious.' He has many skilled players, but two stand out. One is a cross-dressing enthusiast, Liang Qing, nicknamed Liang the Beauty, currently with 25 points. The other, a skinny guy like a little monkey, Mao Beibei, with 22 points.

"These two, one skilled in strategy, the other in combat, are Qin Yun's right-hand men. If you unfortunately end up in their team, you're in for trouble. If you encounter them in a race, expect the same. They're known for targeting newcomers."

Pei Yi swallowed a mouthful of noodles, "Wait, a cross-dressing enthusiast? People are into that? Does he dress well?"

Lu Zai Chuan chuckled lightly, "Whether he looks good or not, you'll see for yourself. Liang Qing often dresses as a woman, and Mao Beibei, well, he's known on the JC forum as 'Sharp Little Mao.'"

Pei Yi frowned, feeling a sense of familiarity. Wasn't he the one who made a post insulting him last time?

"Do they all have nicknames? What's your stage name then?"

“K。”

Pei Yi acknowledged with an "Oh," "Alright, I got it. No issues with the others then?"

"Not necessarily. To prevent us from scoring points, they might do anything. But those are underhanded tactics, generally not allowed by the system. We still need to focus on competing earnestly."

After finishing his last bite of noodles, Pei Yi said, "Understood, thank you. Don't worry, I won't let you down."

Lu Zai Chuan chuckled, "No need, just don’t disappoint yourself." He walked to the door, paused, turned back, and said, "See you at the race tomorrow." Then he noticed Pei Yi changing clothes again, stripping right in the living room, not waiting for him to leave.

He couldn't help but say, "At least wait for me to leave."

Pei Yi responded, "After eating noodles, I reek. We're all men, what's there to fear? Besides, I thought you had left. Why did you come back?"

Lu Zai Chuan, feeling awkward, thought to himself that he's not just any man. "Never mind, I'm leaving."

Pei Yi frowned, wondering if the other man had some complex, feeling inferior upon seeing his good physique. With that thought, he changed into a tight black tank top, contentedly went to bed.