Chapter 103: Threat

The silence that filled the air wasn’t born of doubt—it was the sound of collective shock. The crowd was stunned by Lin Xiao’s phenomenal driving, the way he overtook Le Fangyun, and the record he had just shattered.

Before Lin Xiao, the best time on Panlong Mountain was thirty minutes and fifty-eight seconds. Lin Xiao crossed the finish line at thirty-seven minutes and fifty-nine seconds—nearly a full minute faster.

“Holy crap, that’s unbelievable!” someone finally managed to articulate, breaking the hush that hung over the crowd.

“Who on earth is this guy named Lin Xiao?”

“I have to take him as my master. He is, without a doubt, the real god of Panlong Mountain racing!”

There were no doubters anymore—the undeniable facts spoke for themselves. Despite the incredibly harsh conditions, Lin Xiao had won the race. Even those who initially looked down on him were now rendered speechless by his performance.

In the annals of Panlong Mountain racing, Lin Xiao’s performance was enough to etch his name in legend.

Lin Xiao stepped out of the Rolls-Royce, greeted by a roaring tide of applause. He hadn’t anticipated such a reception and stood there, momentarily stunned by the accolades that washed over him.

While Lin Xiao was still grappling with his surprise, Li Yunxi sprinted over. Her face was alight with a radiant smile as she flung her arms open, wrapping Lin Xiao in a fervently passionate embrace.

As her fiery figure melded into his, Lin Xiao subconsciously returned the hug. Their bodies pressed closely together, the sensation of her ample chest against his was impossible to ignore.

The scene was undeniably suggestive, but Li Yunxi exhibited not the slightest sign of embarrassment. She took it a step further, landing a forceful kiss on Lin Xiao’s cheek, marking him with a bright red imprint of her lips.

The wealthy heirs around them were left dumbstruck. Their eyes burned with envy and hatred. The intensity of their gaze was so fierce, it seemed as if they could roast him on the spot.

Li Yunxi had always been the dream girl of many affluent young men in Jinghai City and a frequent target of their pursuits.

However, while Li Yunxi came off as sexy and bold, she was remarkably self-respecting. She didn’t show any favor to men and preferred to spend her time with her close group of female friends.

At this moment, watching their dream girl willingly fall into the arms of another man and bestowing him a passionate kiss, many hearts shattered.

“Lin Xiao, you’re incredible, I’m over the moon,” Li Yunxi exclaimed, hugging Lin Xiao tightly.

“Are you that thrilled?”

“Absolutely. More than thrilled. Just thinking of how you won the bet against Le Fangyun on my behalf, and how that guy will soon have to kneel in front of me, I can’t help but feel ecstatic,” Li Yunxi chuckled, almost shaking with glee.

“Cough, cough, sister, be mindful of your image. Everyone is watching,” a girl softly reminded.

She had wanted to caution Li Yunxi the moment she hugged Lin Xiao. However, Li Yunxi moved so swiftly that she didn’t have the chance to speak up.

“Who cares about their opinions? I certainly don’t.” Li Yunxi waved her hand dismissively, her face a picture of disdain, “What a bunch of short-sighted fools. They claimed that Lin Xiao could never win.”

The other girls in Li Yunxi’s entourage exchanged subtle looks, with some even lowering their heads in embarrassment. Li Yunxi’s words included them in her harsh comments. Unquestionably, they were part of the ‘short-sighted fools’ she referred to.

Before the race began, they were unanimously opposed to the idea of betting on Lin Xiao, convinced that he had no possibility of victory. However, Lin Xiao’s stellar performance surpassed everyone’s predictions.

Li Yunxi quickly clarified, “I wasn’t referring to you, but you should still apologize to Lin Xiao.”

Upon their elder sister’s words, the younger ones, albeit reluctantly, bowed and apologized to Lin Xiao, “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Lin Xiao had never taken their previous words to heart, he had even forgotten what they had said.

“What’s your next move?” Li Yunxi, crossing her arms, nudged Lin Xiao with her shoulder, “Hey, how about hanging out with me? I guarantee you won’t be at a disadvantage.”

“Thank you for your kind offer, Miss Li, but I’ll pass.” Lin Xiao decisively declined, keeping his original objective in mind: “Where can I claim the prize money?”

“Prize money?” Li Yunxi didn’t show any signs of anger. “I wasn’t aware there were winnings for participating in the race.”

“Brother Lin, let me guide you,” Chen Xue popped up from nowhere, appearing before Lin Xiao.

His face was flushed with joy. He just made a large sum of money. Behind Chen Xue, his underlings were all in high spirits, seeming to walk a little lighter. As the saying goes, ‘A rising tide lifts all boats.’ As their leader, Chen Xue’s good fortune certainly didn’t leave them out.

At this moment, they revered Lin Xiao as a divine figure and admired their boss’s foresight.

“It looks like you’ve made quite a fortune.” Lin Xiao looked at Chen Xue, a subtle smile on his face.

“Heh, I’ve made a few million.” Chen Xue grinned, showing none of his usual boss-like airs in front of Lin Xiao.

“It’s all thanks to Brother Lin. Without your extraordinary performance, I wouldn’t have made so much money.”

“No matter how much money you’ve made, it’s your reward, and it has nothing to do with me.”

Lin Xiao did not claim any credit; Chen Xue’s bold move to bet it all when everyone else had doubts was a testament to Chen Xue’s own judgment, and he had little to do with it. Without Chen Xue’s tip about the car race, Lin Xiao would have been entirely oblivious to the underground event, let alone the opportunity to make five million.

“Alright, Brother Lin, follow me this way,” Chen Xue suggested, leading the way toward a nearby estate.

Lin Xiao politely nodded at Li Yunxi before trailing behind Chen Xue.

Li Yunxi, however, wasn’t ready to let Lin Xiao go that easily. She keenly followed behind him, striking up conversations and subtly trying to persuade him into becoming her subordinate.

Accompanied by Li Yunxi and Chen Xue, Lin Xiao successfully received his substantial prize of five million.

Five million was not a trivial sum, and it certainly couldn’t be given in cash. Contrary to what the movies depicted, all underground dealings weren’t conducted with stacks of cash. That was pure fiction.

Although cash may seem convenient and compact, an abundance of it could be cumbersome. Therefore, Lin Xiao was handed an untraceable check, which he could cash at any bank at any time.

He nonchalantly pocketed the check and planned to head back to his Rolls-Royce and leave the venue. However, upon exiting the estate, they stumbled upon the disheartened Le Fangyun and his group.

Le Fangyun seemed a shadow of his former self, utterly defeated and despondent. His eyes looked lost and distant, harboring a deep, icy chill within. He was unwilling to accept this crushing defeat, but it was undeniable. When Lin Xiao, in his Rolls-Royce, surged past him and crossed the finish line, the matter was settled.

If he refused to accept this outcome under such public scrutiny, he’d only be perceived as a sore loser, jeopardizing his reputation among the elite circle of second-generation rich kids. A tidal wave of anger was building within Le Fangyun. Upon spotting Lin Xiao and Li Yunxi, his fury ballooned uncontrollably.

“Don’t get too comfortable, this isn’t over. I’ll see you again,” Le Fangyun approached Lin Xiao, his voice a low and threatening growl.