Sophia Mercer, unfazed by Ethan Wraith's teasing, chuckled and explained, "I was dressed like that because it was school break, and my friends and I were going clubbing. If I wore too much, they'd have laughed at me. Didn't you notice none of them wore bras either?"
Ethan shook his head regretfully, "Nope, I was too busy looking at you. Next time you girls go out, can you invite me to watch?"
Sophia shot him a glare. "I'm still in school now, so naturally, I dress more formally. And my makeup isn't as heavy. So it's understandable that you didn't recognize me."
Ethan scoffed. "Alright, stop trying to console yourself. I don't remember women who aren't beautiful."
Any other woman, hearing such a blunt assessment from a man, would have slapped him. But not Sophia. She simply cast him a seductive glance, her face brimming with confidence. "You think I'm not beautiful? Find me someone prettier then."
Just as Ethan was about to retort, a bright light shone from a distance. The azure Maserati that had been racing with Cloris had turned around and was speeding back.
The window rolled down automatically, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty. With a sneer, she gave Cloris a thumbs-down gesture.
Provocation, pure and simple.
Ethan burst out laughing. "Haha, see? Isn't that someone prettier than you? And her driving skills are even better."
Cloris's face darkened. "How is she prettier than me? Is she as voluptuous as me? She's as skinny as a lamppost, without a hint of curves. And you have the nerve to say that! If you hadn't been blocking the way earlier, I would have won. Didn't you see I was ahead?"
Cloris rolled down her window and shouted at the woman beside her, "Let's race again. I'll win this time."
"Bring it on. You're no match for me," the woman in the other car replied coldly.
"Hmph, I was ahead just now. If it weren't for some accidents, I would have won," Cloris retorted.
"Just one car length ahead? You call that leading? Let's race again, no more excuses this time."
"Fine. But I have a condition. If we're going to race, let's make it exciting. Let's go to Mount Wild Goose."
"Where's that? I'm not familiar with it," the woman replied, seemingly unfamiliar with the local geography.
"What? Scared?"
"Why would I be scared? Tell me the rules."
"First one to reach the top of Mount Wild Goose wins."
The woman frowned. "I don't know the way, how can I possibly get there before you? Tell that guy next to you to come and guide me."
Cloris turned to gauge Ethan's reaction, but he was leaning back in the plush seat with his eyes closed, seemingly dozing off.
"Hey, do you know the way to Mount Wild Goose?"
"Yes," Ethan nodded.
"Then go and guide her, alright? I have to beat her tonight," Cloris said angrily.
"What's that got to do with me? Not going," Ethan said, closing his eyes as if he had fallen asleep.
"Hey—"
"Hey—wake up—"
"I'll give you five thousand dollars if you guide her," Cloris offered, dangling a small purse in front of Ethan.
"Ten thousand. Not a penny less. You know how terrifying the road to Mount Wild Goose is. If that woman's driving skills aren't good, I could die young," Ethan bargained with his eyes still closed. His message was clear: he wouldn't open his eyes unless the price was right.
Cloris gritted her teeth and thought for a moment, then said fiercely, "Fine, I agree. Go."
"Pay first. And no checks."
"Where am I supposed to get ten thousand dollars for you at this hour?"
"I don't care—that bracelet on your wrist looks nice—" Ethan's eyes gleamed as he stared at the sapphire bracelet. Sophia would look lovely wearing it.
"No way, this is worth tens of thousands," Cloris quickly covered the bracelet, afraid he might get greedy.
"You can use it as collateral and exchange it for ten thousand dollars later. With your family's influence, I wouldn't dare not return it to you."
Cloris thought it over and agreed. It was just a matter of the bracelet leaving her for a few hours, and she could have someone send the money to exchange it in the morning. "Alright, I agree."
She took off the bracelet and handed it to Ethan cautiously. "Keep it safe, don't lose it."
Ethan stuffed it into his pocket without a word and got out of the car with a smile, heading towards the other car.
The Maserati was a symbol of elegance and romance. Its sleek body, under the streetlights, resembled a woman stripped bare, breathtakingly beautiful.
The saying "a good car is like a beautiful woman" was indeed true.
The car was beautiful, but the woman driving it was even more so. Ethan had only taken a quick glance earlier and thought she was pretty, but now, up close, her beauty was stunning.
What was even more astounding was that Ethan couldn't guess her age. She could be twenty or thirty. Her icy face was like a thousand-year-old ice sculpture, emanating a chill as he approached. Her coffee-colored business suit was clearly the work of a master tailor, exquisitely crafted to accentuate her figure. Although she was seated, Ethan could still imagine her having a pair of sexy legs – he was just too embarrassed to look down at their first meeting. Men always wanted to leave a good first impression on beautiful women.
So, it just so happened that the sapphire bracelet in Ethan's pocket fell out.
"Oops, my bracelet fell off. It's very valuable, she'll kill me if I lose it – what should I do? What should I do?" Ethan said, bending down and rubbing his hands around the woman's legs over and over again.
"Oh no, where did it go? I can't find it! I'm doomed, even if I sell myself, I can't afford to replace it."
But at this moment, the bracelet was already in Ethan's hand.
"Have you seen enough? If not, I don't mind letting you look a little longer," the woman said coldly.
Although she said she didn't mind him looking, Ethan knew that if he didn't get up, her nine-centimeter high heels would connect with his most prized possession. He didn't even notice when her foot had already extended towards him.
"Ah, finally found it. That's great, otherwise I'd have to jump off a building. – Why haven't we started yet? Listen, you have to beat that crazy woman. I just complimented you a little, saying you're prettier than her, and she punched me, even gave me a black eye, look – see all the red veins? It's inhumane. – By the way, I haven't asked for your name yet, how rude of me."
"Shut up," the woman said, her eyes fixed on the road ahead, her foot on the accelerator, ready to take off.
The moment the clock hit 59 seconds, both cars shot off like lightning. Cloris, fueled by anger, drove like a madwoman from the start, taking the lead. While speeding ahead, she kept swerving her car in an S-shaped pattern to prevent the car behind from overtaking.
The ice beauty next to Ethan also followed the car in front, turning the steering wheel left and right, looking for an opportunity to get ahead. Ethan looked at the beautiful woman beside him, dressed like an office worker, and couldn't understand why she would come out in the middle of the night to race. Was it really that fun? It wasn't even as exciting as playing violent motorcycle games at home.
Ethan yawned, feeling drowsy.
After leaving the city, Cloris stopped her pointless S-shaped maneuvers and focused on driving straight.
"Hey, is there a fork in the road ahead?"
"Hey, what's the road condition like ahead?"
"Hey, are you asleep? Wake up! I brought you here to guide me, not to sleep."
"When I talk, you find me annoying and tell me to shut up. I obediently shut up, and then you complain that I'm not guiding you. What exactly do you want from me?" Ethan shouted angrily at the ice beauty beside him.
Suddenly, the ice beauty started to cry. Silent tears, filled with sorrow and grief.