Chapter 45

At the awards ceremony, Jing Ming led Team Prime up onto the highest podium. Under a storm of applause and a blaze of flashbulbs, they accepted the championship trophy for the inaugural World University Autonomous Racing Competition.
The names of Prime’s eleven team members were engraved forever on the trophy’s base.
At the post-race press conference, Jing Ming stood for Prime alongside the captains of the runner-up and third place teams for interviews.
The three team leaders got on famously, all delighted to have faced such evenly-matched rivals on the track.
The captain of the American AD team declared this final unforgettable, saying it had been their car’s best-ever performance, and that meeting such fierce competitors had pushed them to set a new record. He hoped they’d race and collaborate again in the future.
An American reporter asked Jing Ming about Prime’s plans going forward.
Jing Ming replied,
This racing car was just Prime’s trial run. Our real autonomous vehicle project is almost finished and will soon hit the market.
He added, with intent,
Remember the name Prime. You’ll be hearing it a lot more from now on.
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Back at the hotel, the real celebration began.
The organizing committee threw a lavish party at an open-air beachside restaurant, treating contestants, visiting journalists, sponsors, collaborators, and VIP fans to a feast.
A sea breeze played across clinking glasses and dancing laughter; the night bloomed full of light and glamour.
After washing up, Du Ruo slipped into a fresh white sundress and headed downstairs to the terrace. Small clusters of young people scattered around, trading stories in mixtures of Chinese and English, mostly still geeking out over autonomous cars.
She scanned the crowd. He Wang, Wan Zi’ang, and some German kids chatted together nearby. Scanning again, she spotted Jing Ming at a white table, sipping water alone.
People kept passing by to clap his shoulder, chat, and congratulate him.
He’d changed too, crisp white T-shirt, hair tousled wildly in the ocean breeze.
Just as she moved to join them, a girl in a colorful flowy dress sat beside him, reaching out to shake his hand with elegant flair. Probably one of the VIP fans.
So Du Ruo took a seat at the other end of the table, focusing on the delicious spread before her. As she ate and scrolled through her phone, she found WeChat and Moments in total meltdown.
The BBS forums too, summer vacation or not, everyone was buzzing about Prime nabbing first place.
Jing Ming and Prime, once again, were legends.
The first person to message in the dorm group was Qiu Yuchen, bursting with excitement: “Champions!!!”
Du Ruo figured he and Li Wei were probably getting somewhere these days.
Xia Nan: “Congrats!”
He Huanhuan: “Xiao Ruo, what’s it like in person? Was it as epic as it looked? I was dying of nerves just watching the livestream!”
The messages were from a couple hours ago.
Du Ruo nibbled salmon as she replied: “Absolutely! We were all pretty confident but still shaking with nerves.”
“Honestly, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack at the track.”
“And when we finally won, completely lost it! Went nuts!”
“I still can’t believe it!”
With those replies, the chat exploded again.
He Huanhuan wailed: “Aaaahh! I knew it!”
“You’re out there living the number-one-in-the-world life and I’m still sitting at home eating takeout skewers… So tragic!”
“I need to pull myself together!”
Qiu Yuchen: “Let’s keep each other motivated!”
“This summer, I gotta plan next year properly!”
Xia Nan: “Right? Sigh.”
“Next time we see each other, we’ll be sophomores.”
Mid-conversation, He Huanhuan suddenly announced: “Xiao Ruo! I’ve decided, no more crushes for me. I’m going to focus on studying!”
“Come on, even look at Jing Ming: super good-looking, total genius, but does he waste time on romance? No way. He’d rather geek out over robots than date a girl. It’s some kind of monster-level self-control, no wonder he’s the best in the world!”
“If someone that hot isn’t worried about dating, I have no excuse to slack off! Study time!”
“…” Du Ruo clutched her phone, at a total loss for words.
It’s true, Jing Ming was crazy gifted and worked outrageously hard;
But this “ascetic monk” narrative, what a beautiful misunderstanding.
That rumor had gone viral on the forums now: he only cared about research, dumped a goddess ex-girlfriend to chase scientific glory.
Du Ruo had no way to explain it, after all, none of it involved her.
She bit into a slice of banana cake and glanced over. Jing Ming was animatedly chatting with the girl in the flower dress.
She caught a snippet, the girl was quizzing him on robotics applications, real technical stuff, not just basic fan banter. Actually pretty sharp.
Grabbing a wedge of pineapple cake, she watched the two, thinking, wow, she’s really pretty.
Jing Ming had been looking at the girl, but then his gaze drifted, and suddenly locked on hers.
Du Ruo’s scalp tingled.
She hadn't been caught staring! Honestly!
But there was no dodging it, their eyes were locked, right down the long table.
Jing Ming stared for half a second, then broke into a sudden grin and pointed at his own mouth.
She blinked, heartbeat skipping.
Your mouth?
What’s that supposed to mean?
Completely baffled, she watched as he looked away and resumed talking with the girl.
Suddenly it clicked, she quickly wiped her mouth. Oh god, cake crumbs everywhere!
She grabbed a napkin and dabbed her lips just as the banquet was hitting full swing.
The host picked up the microphone, and the buzz in the air faded.
He announced a party game, to liven things up and help everyone get acquainted.
The rules were simple: pair up, one boy and one girl. The girl ties a balloon to her ankle and the boy’s job is to defend it from being stomped, while trying to crush other teams’ balloons.
Last couple standing wins.
The prize was a model racecar.
Not many female contestants, but plenty of VIP girl fans, nice perk for them.
The girl in the flowery dress laughed and asked Jing Ming, “Wanna play?”
Jing Ming: “Not interested.”
She smiled, not offended, and left when another guy invited her.
Jing Ming sipped his water, a little snide inside.
He'd always hated this game.
They’d played it in high school at class parties.
When everyone’s motives were pure, fine, it was fun. But when things got less “pure,” it basically just turned into public grab-festing.
Back in high school, a classmate once tried the hand-holding–arm-around-the-waist move on him for this game. He noped right out, stomped her balloon with one kick and “self-destructed” right off the field.
Such dumb and sleazy games? No thanks.
Honestly.
Scanning the room again, he saw Du Ruo was gone from her seat. It took two seconds to spot her on the edge of the crowd, squatting as she tied a yellow balloon to her ankle.
Jing Ming: “…”
He set down his glass and strode over, lifting her clean off the ground:
“Have you lost your mind? You’re really playing this ridiculous game?”
Du Ruo blinked at him, pointing hopefully. “That prize, a racecar model! The doors open and the wheels come off. I heard it’s super detailed.”
“…” Jing Ming’s face darkened. “Fine. I’ll play with you.”
But she didn’t exactly look thrilled, if anything, she seemed torn.
Jing Ming, annoyed: “What, now?”
She lowered her voice: “I… already promised Wan Zi’ang I’d be his partner…”
“He's out.”
Du Ruo blinked in surprise. Jing Ming glanced back at the crowd, while Wan Zi'ang just grinned and gestured, “Go ahead.”
Jing Ming looked at Du Ruo. “Let's go.”
Du Ruo: “…”
He looked down at the yellow balloon tied to her ankle, glaring at the poor thing. “Ugly as hell.”
He crouched, yanked it off, and quickly tied a pink one in its place.
She tried to protest, “But, ”
He gave her foot a sudden tug, and she instantly shut up.
He finished tying the balloon, straightened up, and looked down at her. “I'll make sure you win.”
Du Ruo froze.
The sea breeze rushed in from the distance as he turned away.
The players gathered in the middle of the beach, ready for the game.
Du Ruo hesitated, not keen on sticking so close to him, but he turned around, grabbed her hand, and pulled her behind him.
Her mind went blank for a second, all she could register was how hot his palm was. Boys always ran warmer than girls, but just that touch seemed to burn straight through to her heart.
Host: “Ready, go!”
The crowd watched with delighted smiles, eager for drama.
At first, everyone was awkward and stiff. The girls were too shy to get close to the boys, and the boys too embarrassed to pull them in, everyone a bundle of nerves.
Some of the guys were quick on their feet, seizing any chance to chase down the girls who didn’t protect themselves and popping their balloons in a blur.
“Pop!”
“Pop!”
Players were quickly eliminated one after another. The competition got serious fast, and soon couples started holding hands for real.
Some boys, in their eagerness to stomp others, let go of their own teammates.
But Jing Ming held Du Ruo firmly behind him the whole time, not letting go once.
She stayed hidden in the shadow of his tall frame, trailing after him as he dashed across the sand, pulling her along.
Every now and then she’d risk a glance at his profile, his expression was laser-sharp, hungry like a wolf, scanning every movement around them.
He didn’t only dodge, whenever he spotted an opening, he’d surge forward and stomp a balloon at lightning speed. Even then, not once did he drop her hand. Even if she couldn’t keep up, he held on, dragging her so she stumbled into his back, over and over.
He was so spectacularly dominant, taking out five or six balloons himself. When only four pairs remained, the other three exchanged glances, instantly teaming up to gang up on Jing Ming and Du Ruo.
Sizing up the three-way ambush, Jing Ming suddenly asked, “Scared?”
Du Ruo’s palm was slick with sweat. She whispered, “I’m fine.”
“Fine?!” Jing Ming glanced back, clearly unimpressed with that answer, letting out a snort.
He pulled her from behind him to in front, arms circling to shield her securely in his embrace.
Du Ruo’s face burned, so close she could feel his chest rising and falling with each breath!
The other trios closed in and attacked.
Jing Ming dodged and shielded her, leaving her with zero control over herself. Shadows darted before her eyes; she could see nothing clearly, only inhale the fresh scent clinging to him, hear his heavy breathing by her ear.
Two boys lunged for Du Ruo’s balloon at the same time. Jing Ming spun into action, looping an arm around her waist, lifting her and spinning her to his other side, barely rescuing her ankle from a foot aiming to stomp.
But with so many opponents, she didn’t stand a chance strength-wise. They were pulling at her, and she just couldn’t keep up with the guys.
Just as things got desperate, Jing Ming suddenly scooped her up into his arms!
Du Ruo was airborne, her heart nearly stopping as she instinctively clung to his neck. One more beat, and he’d cradled her securely, her temple brushing against his jaw, soft skin meeting his hard, defined bone.
“Whoa!” the crowd burst out in gleeful shrieks.
Du Ruo’s face was crimson, that puffy pink balloon on her ankle wobbling obnoxiously. Jing Ming, moving with lightning reflexes, stomped out two more balloons: pop, pop.
Just like that, the momentum completely flipped.
Only two pairs left.
Jing Ming set her down, but still kept an arm firmly around her. His height, focus, and quick reflexes made him untouchable, the last opponent didn’t stand a chance. In another flash, he stomped out their remaining balloon, too.
Finally, only Du Ruo’s pink balloon remained, bobbing around proudly on her ankle.
The whole beach broke into applause and laughter.
Du Ruo didn’t say a word, quietly wriggled out of Jing Ming’s embrace, and didn’t look at him.
Her heart hammered wildly in her throat as she squatted, fumbling to untie the balloon, then pushed through the crowd and ran inside.
It was too hot out here. The sun and the crowd made her restless, desperate for some AC.
The safety door slammed shut behind her, making the sensor lights flicker on.
Du Ruo leaned against the stairwell wall, fanning herself with her collar.
Damn Shenzhen, why is it so hot? It’s nighttime, but outdoors still feels like a furnace.
She was soaked in sweat, face burning like it was on fire.
Same inside, honestly.
Wait, no, there’s no AC in the stairwell. She ran the wrong way. About to head back, the safety door creaked open behind her and she startled.
Jing Ming walked in.
They locked eyes for a second, neither saying a word.
The dim yellow light in the stairwell hovered over their flushed, sweating faces. It felt charged, intimate.
“Hiding in here, huh?” Jing Ming said softly, closing the door with a click.
She swallowed hard.
He strode forward and handed her a model racecar. “Here. Your prize.”
She took it, turning it over in her hands, quietly delighted but too embarrassed to look up. “Thanks… Hey, the doors really open! … The wheels even come off… Uh…”
She managed to take off a tire but couldn’t get it back on.
The only sound in the stairwell was her fiddling with the car.
He took a step toward her, his toe brushing lightly against hers. She quickly tucked her foot back, heels pressing flush to the wall.
He didn’t say a word, just took the car and wheel from her hands, his fingertips deliberately trailing across her palm.
Her heart gave a wild flutter.
He was far too close. She was pinned to the wall, hemmed in by his arms, as he pressed the tire back into place and handed it back to her. “Here.”
“Oh. Thanks,” she stammered, sneakily glancing up, catching him staring at her with a calm, intense focus.
Her mind went blank. The next second, the sensor lights snapped off, plunging the room into complete darkness.
Crap.
She couldn’t see a thing now.
Not a sound around them. In the inky dark, he was silent too. Her nerves jangled.
Her eyes swept desperately for any hint of light, but all she caught was the pressure of his breath, tangling with hers, pressing in.
He inched closer, his toe once again bumping hers.
“Du Ruo?” His voice was barely a whisper, his breath almost touching her nose!
“Uh?” She flinched, heat flooding her face. She tried to scoot back, but the wall was already there. She was crammed in tight, caught between him and cold concrete, heart pounding so loud she could hear it in her ears.
He stayed silent, making her panic even more, then suddenly, her whole body jolted as his hand brushed her ear, testing. Her ears burned, blood rushing hot beneath her skin.
She was burning up!
Sweat prickled down, slipping from her collarbone to her stomach.
He was so close now, his breath and hers all wrapped together, hot and shaky in the dark.
Her breathing stuttered, she knew it, he was leaning in, his lips almost,
She squeezed her eyes shut in nervous dread, then forced them open again, pitch black!
Just as his nose met hers,
A sliver of light slipped in through the door; she panicked and shoved him back.
The door burst open, and Li Wei strode in. “Hey, where’d you two run off to?”
At that moment, the sensor lights flickered back on.
Du Ruo was drenched.
By the time Li Wei poked his head in, Du Ruo had already slipped past Jing Ming and bolted, face blazing, head ducked, running off like a startled rabbit.
Jing Ming, meanwhile, had a face as black as a thundercloud.
“…” Li Wei whispered, “Uh… did I interrupt something?”
Jing Ming strode over and kicked him, hard.