CHAPTER 121: CHAPTER 121: THEN I’LL GET YOU FIRST PLACE

The silence lasted about two minutes before Shannon Rhodes realized she might be challenging Zane Thorne’s taboo; she only knew a rough idea of what happened back then.

But...

"Not even motorcycles?"

Everything he’s doing now has something to do with cars, hasn’t let go of racing at all. Miles Rhodes chimed in as well.

"It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, I don’t expect four wheels, just fool around with her on two wheels."

Miles knew why Zane Thorne retired back then.

Zane lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, then exhaled, turning his head to look at Natalie Vaughn.

He didn’t speak, but his gaze told everyone that this decision should be left to Natalie Vaughn. Shannon didn’t expect it, neither did Natalie.

A kind of unspeakable satisfaction spread in her heart. Natalie knew well Zane’s intentions; back then, he broke the rule to race with those kids in the club because of her.

Before coming to Veridia, she sat on the back of Zane’s motorcycle, braving the wind and rain, feeling the thrill of speed. She’d been in his passenger seat and on the back of his bike, she knew very well the happiness speed brought to Zane was incomparable.

"Then will you just fool around with Miss Rhodes?"

Zane chuckled softly.

"Sure, let’s fool around."

Zane finished smoking with one deep drag, pinched out the cigarette with his fingers, looked at Shannon with a slight lift of his eyebrow.

"When?"

"How about now, since it’s not raining tonight."

The meal was almost over, just right for the next round.

But Zane didn’t even blink as he refused.

"I drank, another time."

No matter how recklessly Zane used to drive, he never did it after drinking. It was disrespectful to his own life and to the sport of racing.

Shannon was momentarily stunned, then forced a smile.

"I’ll take a penalty drink for that."

She, a professional racer, actually forgot such a thing.

"Then you pick a time."

Zane didn’t smoke again, yet somehow a lighter appeared in his hand, which he played with absentmindedly, eyes cast down watching the silver light glinting off the lighter. For some reason, it reminded him of Natalie barefoot outside a bar, cleaning her shoes.

Fair skin against bright red nails. The stark contrast had burned into his memory. At that time, what was he thinking?

Oh, his girl shouldn’t wear white dresses. She should wear bold, flamboyant red ones. Only vibrant colors like that could match her charm and allure.

She was a thorned red rose.

But recently, the clothes Natalie wore were mostly pale, like a gentle white rose. Zane suddenly wanted to see the wild side of the little girl.

So he asked Natalie again.

"Want to see the sunrise?"

Tomorrow was Natalie’s last day off. She had seen many sunrises. Apart from being deeply moved by the first time, the subsequent ones hadn’t left such a deep impression.

She hadn’t seen one with Zane yet.

Natalie nodded.

"Okay."

"Then tomorrow morning, we’ll meet at the foot of the mountain."

Saying this, Zane suddenly reached out to ruffle Natalie’s hair, messing up her carefully tidied locks.

"I’ll take you to see the sunrise."

...

At 5:30 in the morning, everyone gathered at the foot of the mountain. Initially, Shannon didn’t understand what Zane meant by taking Natalie to see the sunrise, until she saw the safety helmet in Natalie’s hand.

Zane intended to take Natalie with him to race.

Shannon popped a mint candy into her mouth; the already cold weather made the minty inhale chill her to the core.

"Don’t scare her."

Hearing this, Zane smirked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Natalie.

"Scare her? She’s got guts."

Natalie, not fully awake, dropped the helmet on his chest, then looked at Shannon.

"It’s fine, I’ve ridden before; it’s thrilling."

Shannon paused in her candy-crunching for a moment.

"Ridden before?"

Natalie smiled softly.

"Yeah, it rained that day and we both ended up drenched."

Shannon lowered her eyelids, shattering the mint candy into pieces in her mouth, taking a deep breath as cold as ice. Zane’s passenger seat and back seat were places he never allowed anyone.

But Natalie had sat there.

"I can’t beat you on four wheels, but motorcycles are my domain, Zane, I won’t let you off easy."

Zane slightly bent down to help Natalie with her helmet. Hearing this, he seemed unconcerned, and let out a lazy, brief laugh.

"Suit yourself."

As if he didn’t care about the result of this race at all and was only interested in showing Natalie the sunrise.

Shannon pressed her tongue to her cheek, discontent with Zane’s attitude. Since he agreed to the race, he should give it his all; that was a sign of respect for her.

Natalie noticed and punched the man in the chest again.

"Is this your attitude toward racing?"

Zane laughed while holding Natalie’s hand, kneading it gently, slipping a piece of chewing gum into her mouth, wearing a lazy smile on his face.

"Do you want to win?"

Today, the race wasn’t just between Zane and Shannon; others had gathered around to add to the excitement as well.

Strong-willed as Natalie was, how could she not want to win?

"Yes."

Zane tore open the gum wrapper, tossed a piece into his mouth, chewed a few times, and then smiled broadly, his brow arched.

"Then I’ll get you first place."

Arrogant, brash, as if he were still that spirited, youthful man from five years ago.

Thump-thump-thump, Natalie’s heart raced erratically.

The morning, supposed to be peaceful, was completely stirred up by Zane’s words. Those kids, still half asleep, suddenly became wide awake.

"Mr. Thorne, who’s to say who’ll get first place?"

"Yeah, Mr. Thorne, I know a thing or two about motorcycles."

"Even if your wife is here, there’s no need to show off like this."

"Mr. Thorne, if I win, can I ask you for a car?"

"..."

The chattering, more annoying than birds at dawn in the summer.

Today, Zane was in his biking jacket, pants, and boots, looking completely different from yesterday’s suited-up self.

"What’s with all the fuss, huh? If I, the boss, want first place, who can take it?"

Hearing this, Natalie was momentarily dazed. It felt like she was time-traveling with Zane back to his youthful days.

His tone was brash, full of youthful arrogance.

The kind of reckless youth that made countless girls’ hearts flutter.

She was right, only racing allowed Zane to show his true self fully. Natalie’s heart was burning, more determined than ever to learn motorcycling herself.

The race began; Natalie sat behind him, arms wrapped around his strong waist.

Before setting off, Zane said,

"Hold tight."

As soon as he finished speaking, the whistle blew, and amidst the roar, the motorcycle shot forward like an arrow released from a drawn bow.

Natalie wore a helmet, and so did Zane; she couldn’t see the expression on his face, but oddly, she could picture Zane’s face in her mind.

His brow arched, corners of his lips curled in a roguish and bold smile, his eyes calm yet determinedly set on victory.