Chapter 485: Chapter 485: The Worst Performance
A typical elder’s tone, which really got on Song Shiye’s nerves: "I don’t want a coach!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he realized he sounded like an angry, helpless child, which made him even angrier.
"Xiao Ye." Jiang Xiaoti called out to Song Shiye and volunteered, "My driving skills are decent. If you don’t mind, we can share a car, and I’ll drive you."
Song Shiye glanced at Sang Ning, knowing teaming up with Sister Sangsang was hopeless, and gave Jiang Xiaoti a grateful look. "Sister Jiang, thank you so much!"
And just like that, Jiang Xiaoti and Song Shiye successfully paired up. Wei Lan and Li Haidong, of course, automatically formed a team.
Only four people were left. Li Juezhou and Sang Ning were undoubtedly a pair. To avoid making Lu Yujing feel awkward, Qin Feng proactively asked, "Sister Jing, would you team up with me? I’m fine with whether you drive or I do."
Lu Yujing didn’t reply, her intense gaze fixated on Li Juezhou and Sang Ning like it could bore a hole through them.
Qin Feng immediately sensed something was off. What was even happening?
With a laugh, he interrupted Lu Yujing’s stare: "Since Sister Jing has no objections, it’s happily decided then."
Seeing the guests had mostly teamed up privately, the PD announced, "Four groups of guests have successfully formed. Next, we’ll officially commence our Desert Surfing Car Race. Guests, please follow the guides to your designated vehicles."
Four guides entered simultaneously. A young guide with a smiling face stopped in front of Sang Ning and gestured for her and Li Juezhou to proceed.
As Sang Ning followed along, she asked the PD, "Don’t we need to draw lots to decide which desert car we’ll be taking?"
Qin Feng chimed in jokingly, "Yeah, yeah, what if you guys rigged it and gave us the worst-performing car? Then our group would surely be at the bottom!"
Lu Yujing suddenly tensed, her demeanor becoming unnaturally stiff. After her heart raced a few times, she forcibly suppressed her emotions, returning to normal.
The PD feigned anger and smiled. "In your eyes, is the production team really this unscrupulous?"
The guests, without exception, played along and responded in unison, "Yes!"
Their answer left the PD laughing awkwardly for a moment before he put on a serious face and swore, "Rest assured, all four vehicles have identical configurations. If there’s any difference, I’ll offer up my head!"
During the exchange, Sang Ning and Li Juezhou had already reached Car No. 1. She hopped into the driver’s seat, poked her head out, and glanced at the PD. "Forget it, don’t make promises too early. We can’t be responsible for your head."
Li Juezhou naturally went around to the passenger seat, offering Sang Ning a shallow smile. "It’s an honor to sit in your passenger seat."
Sang Ning kindly reminded, "Buckle up your seatbelt and grab the handhold tightly. My driving might be a bit fast."
Li Juezhou appeared completely unbothered, his demeanor calm as can be. "No worries, I can handle any speed."
Sang Ning: "..." Why did that sound a bit strange?
The other three groups also got into position. The designated drivers were Li Haidong, Qin Feng, and Jiang Xiaoti.
Li Haidong held the steering wheel casually, appearing relaxed and lacking much competitive spirit. "Our old-timers’ team won’t compete with you youngsters. You focus on the showdown; we’ll focus on relaxation and leisure."
Qin Feng rubbed the pad of his thumb against his nose confidently. "My nickname is Qin ’Qiuming Mountain Car God’ Feng. I might lose to you in previous games, but today I absolutely won’t!"
This marked the trash-talking segment. Jiang Xiaoti, usually more composed, also rose to the occasion. "Men or gods, it doesn’t matter. Today, I, Xiao Jiang, will crush you all under my feet!"
The camera panned to Sang Ning, her expression serene as she calmly said, "We’ll see on the track."
"Alright!" The PD’s voice was energetic and enthusiastic as he announced, "Since all teams are in place, listen to my command. Once I shout ’three, two, one, start,’ you can race!"
All the drivers gripped their wheels, fully focused, awaiting the PD’s signal. As soon as the word "start" left his mouth, the four desert cars shot off like cannonballs.
Li Haidong, who had claimed he was just here for fun, now wore a tense expression, fully serious, with no trace of leisure.
Qin Feng glanced briefly to the side and, seeing Li Haidong’s concentration and determination, couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth. "As expected, an old-timer’s wisdom runs deep. Uncle Li must’ve been feigning weakness to make us let our guards down!"
After commenting, he reminded Lu Yujing to hold on tight before flooring the gas pedal.
The roar of engines reverberated in their ears, and the wind whipped past them fiercely, almost tangible. But Lu Yujing seemed barely affected, her gaze fixed resolutely on the car at the front, waiting anxiously in her heart.
What’s going on? Why hasn’t Sang Ning’s car flipped over yet?
Sang Ning drove at high speed, crossing dune after dune and leaving the other three cars far behind.
The howling wind sounded like a barrage of arrows, shrieking in their ears. Li Juezhou called out to Sang Ning, but his voice was quickly drowned out by the wind’s roar.
Sang Ning seemed to sense something, turning her head to glance at Li Juezhou and shouting, "What’s wrong?"
Li Juezhou’s expression shifted briefly, then he shook his head with a faint smile. "Nothing."
It must’ve just been his imagination. Maybe Sang Ning’s high-speed driving gave him the illusion that the car’s tire was loose.
Sang Ning returned her focus to the road and crossed another dune—the race’s final one. Beyond it lay the finish line. Qin Feng was close behind, with Sang Ning leading by just half a car length.
"Hold tight. I’m going to make a break for it!" Sang Ning yelled to Li Juezhou as she floored the gas pedal, charging straight for the red finish line.
Just a few meters from the finish line, Sang Ning finally noticed something unusual. The car’s speed seemed to be dropping suddenly.
She watched helplessly as Qin Feng—whom she’d left far behind—suddenly surged ahead, overtaking her by almost a full car length.
"Sangsang, what’s going on?" Li Juezhou’s brows furrowed deeply, a look of urgency on his face.
Sang Ning slowly lifted her foot off the pedal, paused for a second, then stepped on it again. But the harder she pressed, the slower the car went. The other two lagging cars gradually passed by as well.
As Li Haidong’s car overtook theirs, he deliberately slowed down, glanced their way, and smugly remarked, "See that? Starting out fast is pointless. Crossing the finish line first is all that matters."
With that, he stepped on the gas and left Sang Ning and Li Juezhou far behind.
Finally, her car came to a complete stop. No matter what she did, it wouldn’t budge an inch.
Sang Ning shifted into neutral, leaned back in her seat, and looked at Li Juezhou helplessly. "I give up. We’ve been sabotaged by the production team. What kind of trash car did they assign to us?"
