Chapter 00109: A Friend Named Banana
# A Friend Named Banana
Chapter 109
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 109: A Friend Named Banana
"Ah, since you’re a friend of Xiao Chun, you’re my friend too. Don’t take offense."
Noticing Ji Jue's astonished expression, Chen Yubo sighed and explained, “Mr. Ji, don’t worry. My orientation is perfectly normal. I’ve just been told I’m strange since I was a child. Isn’t liking pink just a matter of taste? I really don’t understand what’s so strange about it! Everyone loves cute things in their hearts, but they’re too concerned about their image to admit it, putting on an act.”
“After graduation, everyone pretends to be serious and composed. I wanted someone to talk to about my woes, but I couldn’t find anyone. Some may pretend to understand, but behind your back, they turn you into a joke. If it weren’t for Xiao Chun occasionally inviting me out for a meal, I might suffocate!”
"It's not like we’re committing a crime, what’s so funny about it?"
Hearing this, Ji Jue straightened his expression and instinctively defended his little pink car.
"My car is also pink! I’ve been driving it since college, using it to shop for groceries now and then. What’s so weird about that?"
Though he knew that his little scooter and a rich man’s car didn’t quite compare in price... but now it had certainly become a more advanced little scooter!
In terms of construction costs, it could definitely hold its own against any luxury car!
"I told you, pink is easy on the eyes, right? Right?!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yubo suddenly grew excited, slapping his thigh and pulling out his phone to start showcasing his collection...
Including a total of twenty-one limited-edition luxury cars from famous brands both from the Southern and Northern federations, as well as two yachts and a lighter-than-air ship...
All were pink!!!
“What on earth...”
Ji Jue couldn’t help but twitch his expression.
Is this what it’s like to be rich?
Even from the low-key yet extravagantly luxurious imperial watch on Chen Yubo's wrist, it was clear that the person before him was definitely wealthy.
However, being rich to such an extent was truly beyond Ji Jue’s expectations.
Then, he began to worry...
If Chen Yubo finished showing off his collection and suddenly asked, “Brother, what style of car do you have?” should he pull out a picture of his little pink scooter?
It even had some cute stickers on it!
Isn’t it adorable?
Fortunately, perhaps he was used to others not being as rich as him, after showcasing his lavish collection, Chen Yubo only lightly suggested that Ji Jue visit him another day to view more.
Finally, he got to the point.
"Here’s the situation."
With a characteristic local inflection, Chen Yubo helplessly continued, "Tomorrow night at eleven, I have a race at Lotus Mountain, and I've wagered a hefty amount. My friends from the same racing club have pooled together about two to three thousand."
“Actually, it’s not about winning or losing; what matters most is having fun. Over the years, I’ve probably lost around seven or eight thousand in different wagers.”
“However, this time, that newcomer from out of town is just too arrogant! He crossed the line! He made some harsh remarks that made it impossible for me to back down. If I can't reclaim my honor this time, I won’t be able to hold my head up in the club anymore."
“Since you’re a friend introduced by Xiao Chun, I won’t beat around the bush. Let's just speak frankly," Chen Yubo said seriously. “If you can help me regain my face, I’ll pay three hundred!”
Three hundred?
Hearing this impassioned declaration, Ji Jue showed a slight hint of confusion.
To put things into perspective, even at a repair shop on the mainland, three hundred wouldn’t even cover a paint job.
Are you seriously promoting some kind of gambling recovery image?
"Right, maintain that cool attitude, don’t zone out,” Ye Chun’s voice suddenly chimed in, resting her chin on her hand while watching the senior dance on stage. “He’s talking in units of ten thousand.”
What the...
Ji Jue’s eyes widened in shock.
Looking at Chen Yubo’s face full of anticipation, he felt as if his whole body was softening.
Why didn’t you mention that earlier?
If it weren’t for the fact that the senior kept reminding him to stay aloof and composed, Ji Jue might’ve been tempted to lean into Chen Yubo's embrace, snuggling close.
“Ahem, gather everyone. I thought something serious was going on,” Ji Jue forced himself to remain calm, casually stating, “With this little amount of cash, I can just work a night shift, no big deal.”
“Truly remarkable, Mr. Ji! So kind-hearted!”
Chen Yubo beamed with joy at once, but then hesitated, “But therein lies the problem.”
He paused for a moment, looking a bit shy and said, “It’s not you driving; it’s me.”
“……”
Ji Jue was immediately silent, regarding the boss with a serious expression.
Lacking any outstanding aura, possessing no blessing, and having a few alchemical creations on him, which were all defensive items.
At this moment, under Ji Jue's watchful gaze, Chen Yubo looked puzzled, not understanding what he meant.
Ji Jue coughed lightly, “May I ask... Mr. Chen, do you have any driving experience?”
“Usually, I have a driver when I go out. I haven’t really touched the steering wheel much,” Chen Yubo answered regretfully, “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been hit by that dog just now.”
Well, don’t speak that way.
That dog is currently trying to think of a solution for you!
Ji Jue’s eye twitched again and asked, “Then… what’s your license grade?”
“Is C2 not enough?”
The glimmer of an all-too-familiar innocence shone in Chen Yubo's eyes, and Ji Jue couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.
How can you race if you’ve never even driven a manual car? What are you thinking?!
Clinging to his last hope, he looked at the boss. “Could it be that you’re a genius driver who performs miracles at midnight?”
“No, no, no, I’m very safety-conscious!" Chen Yubo quickly waved his hands, looking serious.
"I’ve never gone over eighty on the highway! Safety first!”
You’ve got to be kidding me...
Ji Jue’s fists tightened.
Is it people like you who end up slowing down the whole overtaking lane? You’re making me furious!
After understanding the situation better, Ji Jue sighed, feeling the urge to bow and leave.
There’s no saving this; best to just wait for doom.
But he suddenly heard the senior’s voice by his ear.
“Just go and perform, will you?”
Ye Chun sighed, “Anyway, he just needs to win. He’s not concerned with how he wins, just crossing the finish line is enough. Does it matter whether he’s driving the car or the car is driving him? If it weren't for the fact that I matched his specialty, how could I help you with this fragile task?”
Isn’t this lacking a sense of sportsmanship?
Ji Jue was momentarily stunned—isn’t that a bit too lowbrow?
But he liked it!
Is it like taking a turn as a representative? As long as he pulls off a miracle, three hundred is practically pocket change.
The money feels like utterly decoupled from morality!
Just then, as Chen Yubo sensed that he might meet with failure, he saw Ji Jue’s serious, aloof face break into a warm and friendly smile.
“Though it sounds difficult, it's not without a solution.”
Ji Jue grasped his hand sincerely, “Even if you don’t drive much and only have a C2 license, I believe that with a bit of effort, winning against a professional driver isn't too hard. But first, you have to believe in yourself, Brother Chen. If you don’t even have that little bit of confidence, how can you drive well?”
“Huh?”
Chen Yubo became stunned, finding it hard to believe. “Me?”
Are you serious?
He was left trying to differentiate if Ji Jue was encouraging him or speaking ironically, but that sincere smile brought him comfort.
“Don’t worry, racing is like that; the driver just has to drive, but the support team handles everything else.”
Ji Jue assured him, “As the saying goes, passion, effort, and victory; you already have two of those, so the last one shouldn’t be hard. As long as we are bound by friendship, winning should be simple, right?”
Those are three hundred in cash we're talking about!
The boss spent so much just to make it a little easier to win and vent his anger.
If even this fails, is there any sense of fairness left in the world?
As the saying goes, rely on relatives at home and friends when outside.
As Chen Yubo's new friend, Ji Jue had to extend a helping hand.
As for whether the wealthy young masters and princesses in the racing club would shed a tear over their losses...
That is none of his business!
Thus, amidst the captivating music and dance of the Nutcracker, the two held hands tightly, almost grasping victory itself.
The dirty deal between adults was finally sealed!
Later that night, Ji Jue was jolted awake by the bank's message alert.
The credited amount: one million entirely.
The note with the transfer read: "Winning or losing doesn’t matter; brother, thank you for your effort. Let's be friends!"
The next day, Ji Jue was abruptly woken from his dream by a relentless barrage of calls from Lu Feng.
His tears of overwhelming emotion from the night before had yet to dry.
“Dude, what are you up to?”
Lu Feng whispered, “One person drove a brand new Kunpeng A7 into the shop this morning for maintenance, saying you recommended him! This thing has floor mats upgraded for an additional twenty-one thousand! Our repair equipment isn’t even enough for this, and I can barely maintain it. You didn’t offend someone, did you?”
“Relax, relax, he’s like a brother we haven’t met yet. I heard he’s financially embarrassed and came to help us out of poverty.”
Ji Jue jumped up with vigor, full of energy, “I’ll be there in a flash! Finish the maintenance and change the oil, fill the windshield washer fluid. If it’s nothing significant, can’t you just give it a wax?”
The fatigue from practicing the separation technique fatigue melted away in an instant.
After a quick wash-up, Ji Jue sped off on his scooter to the mainland repair shop.
To his surprise, Lu Feng had already closed the door to accommodate Young Master Chen.
After all, with such a lavish Kunpeng parked in the maintenance area, if some careless kid or old man came along and scratched it, he would not be able to afford the damage.
Lu Feng was pretentiously moving around beneath the rising chassis, seemingly busy as a bee.
Meanwhile, Young Master Chen was seated on a somewhat scratched-up sofa, squeezed between an old sibling, engrossed in an animated video with his high-end, diamond-studded phone.
Since he heard he was referred by Little Ji, Lu Ma even brought over a plate of watermelon for them.
“This yellow sister is the strongest.”
Ignoring his mother’s piercing gaze, Oldest Brother argued loudly, “She has the biggest bear!”
Just as he finished speaking, shortly after, the yellow sister's head was lopped off.
It was evident that in some stories, the strong didn’t really matter.
“See? I told you, the blue sister is the strongest, right?” Chen Yubo grinned proudly.
Before long, both the blue sister and the red sister fell out of the game too.
The two were plunged into silence.
Once they realized the black sister was also close to being eliminated, Oldest Brother hesitated and said seriously, “Brother, I feel... this animation isn’t really suited for me."
"That’s right, nowadays magical girls are losing their essence.”
Young Master Chen, already distraught from the storyline, wiped his sweat, finally noticing Ji Jue’s arrival, as if he’d been granted amnesty, “You finally made it, Brother Ji!”
If Ji Jue took any longer, he was worried he’d lose the last pink-haired character too.
“Oh come on, Young Master Chen, you’re much older than me! Calling you Brother Ji feels awkward!” Ji Jue warmly grasped his hand, "Just call me Xiao Ji from now on."
“We can just call each other whatever!”
“Now, let’s check out the car.”
Ji Jue moved toward the vivid red sports car first.
A pinnacle series from the federation, the latest model released only last year, with only ninety-one limited editions.
Someone like Ji Jue, who had only recently escaped a state of utter poverty, could only see such cars in games or in selfies of certain popular online influencers.
But just one touch and everything about the car blossomed within his perception.
Without a single scratch or sign of wear, it was as if it had just rolled off the showroom floor, not even a full tank of fuel burned.
Perfect condition, nothing less than flawless!
“7.4-liter twin-turbo engine, 1790 horsepower, peak torque at 1810nm, and it can go from zero to a hundred in just 2.4 seconds. I had the factory’s official modified workshop perform upgrades for the highest specs. The entire shell is carbon fiber for extreme lightweight purposes, weighing just about 1300 kilograms.”
Young Master Chen displayed a wealth of knowledge about the car’s performance, exuding a kind of luxurious beauty that only the rich could appreciate, inspiring admiration.
Who would have thought such a true car lover would be someone who only drives at eighty on the highway?
“That Mu guy still dares to race me with his outdated modified Mustang?” he laughed triumphantly. “What do you think? Is this a guaranteed win?”
"Hard to say. After all, we’re not racing on a professional track, just going around in circles.”
Ji Jue shook his head, “Besides, there are too many modification schemes out there for Mustangs. Some don’t even resemble their original selves once they’re upgraded. If we run into someone fierce, they could shove an airplane engine in there, and the horsepower could be intense!”
“And considering what you said, a newcomer from out of town comes to our racing club, dramatically stirs things up, and wants to race you for big stakes; it feels a lot like setting a trap for some hapless prey. Do you even know his background?”
“Rest assured, I’ve checked him out. He’s just some second-generation who had his family built a house.”
Chen Yubo took out his phone, “Years ago, he tried to get into the Empire's F2 racing circuit but didn’t get selected. He didn’t gain any recognition and returned home. So now, he’s here in Cliff City acting tough since he offended too many people.”
“The racing segment of Lotus Mountain that you chose, I checked last night. It’s fifteen kilometers long, with over ninety turns, and more than twenty sharp turns with six S-curves. Racing in the mountains means that sometimes, high performance doesn’t even matter. We should also scout the route to avoid the risk of crashing.”
“Okay, I’ll follow your lead.”
Mr. Chen complied without a hitch, casually pulling out his phone, “It’s close to noon; what should we eat? I know a great takeout place, how about we all eat together? I still have a couple of episodes of that animation I haven’t finished yet.”
Ji Jue initially intended to tell him to stop dreaming about that lousy animation and focus on the race, but when he caught sight of what was on his phone, he paused.
Instead of a takeout app, it was the high-end Mei Long Ji's special door-to-door service page, where a star chef team would bring their ingredients and tools to cook...
Dude, you’re the boss.
Whatever you say goes!
Everything unfolded just as Ji Jue imagined and planned.
If all went well, the next steps should have been to use his abilities, awaken the sports car, take control of the situation, win the race, please the boss, collect the payment, and come back next time.
Yet, unfortunately, this plan seemed to be in jeopardy from the very start.
[Dream on!!!!]
The furious Kunpeng roared in Ji Jue’s mind, the engine roaring as it lamented, [Do you have any idea what I’ve been through this past year and a half?
I’ve been collecting dust every single day!]
In his a fit of rage, the sports car blasted its throttle in the garage, its roar shaking the walls: [When I first came out of the factory, it was a glorious time with modifications and upgrades! I thought my golden days had finally arrived.
But ever since that idiot bought me home, he hasn’t even touched the steering wheel.
I’ve just been lying here waiting to die for a year and a half! How could I possibly have seen the open road?
Finally, after all this time, I’m let out for fifty kilometers, and this fool drives thirty the whole way.
Thirty! Even a little electric bike could easily overtake me!
How unfortunate, how disgraceful!
At this point, I wish I had rotted in the factory! And now you want me to help you win a race? Dream on! If I even stall today, he’s sure to lose!]
Kunpeng bellowed wildly from within its own fury: [Even if the racing deity showed up, he won't get past a hundred meters! I guarantee it!]
(End of Chapter)