I Am Already A Queen

Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Invitation To The Track

The final bell eventually rang, signalling the end of the school day.

As usual, Yin Junjie’s core group of friends ambled over to his desk to call him out.

”Junjie, let’s head out.” One of them urged, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

”You guys go on ahead without me.” Yin Junjie instructed, waving his hand slightly.

”Are you meeting up with us later at the garage?” His buddy asked.

”Yeah, I will catch up soon.” Yin Junjie nodded.

His friends nodded in understanding and exited the classroom first.

Beside him, Qiao Meixia was also finishing up her routine. She neatly packed her books and stationery into her school bag, zipping it shut. Just as she swung the strap over her shoulder and turned to leave, a deep voice called out to her.

”Meixia.”

Hearing her name, Qiao Meixia paused in her tracks and turned back around.

Yin Junjie was standing beside his desk, watching her attentively.

”What?” Qiao Meixia asked, slightly tilting her head in quiet inquiry.

”Do you mind if we talk while walking out?” Yin Junjie asked, gesturing toward the door.

”Sure.” Qiao Meixia agreed with a simple nod.

Shou Meiling, Ruan Jiaojiao, and Han Mengyu, who were lingering near the door waiting to catch Qiao Meixia, instantly swallowed back the questions on their tongues when they saw Yin Junjie approach her. Exchanging nervous, wide-eyed glances, they quickly retreated. It seemed their probing would have to wait until tomorrow morning, when Qiao Meixia would undoubtedly fill them in on whatever business the terrifying male lead had with her.

Side by side, Yin Junjie and Qiao Meixia stepped out of the classroom and began strolling down the high-ceilinged corridor.

”So, what did you want to discuss?” Qiao Meixia asked, breaking the silence as their footsteps echoed in unison.

”I just wanted to say... thank you. For not blindly believing those stupid rumours.” Yin Junjie stated, his posture slightly stiff as he admitted it.

”As I told you earlier, you don’t possess the eyes of a killer.” Qiao Meixia repeated casually, her gaze fixed straight ahead.

Yin Junjie quieted down for a moment before curiosity got the better of him. ”Is it really true? Have you actually encountered someone like that before?”

Qiao Meixia fell silent. A fleeting shadow crossed her calm expression before she offered a slight, subtle nod.

”Hmm... I have.” Qiao Meixia nodded.

Yin Junjie had been paying meticulous attention to her every subtle facial cue, and he did not miss the sudden heaviness that settled over her demeanour. Recognising that look, he realised that Qiao Meixia carried her own dark, unspoken history, things she clearly preferred to keep buried deep inside.

He had no intention of being insensitive or prying into her private scars. Everyone carried their own hidden burdens and secrets, and since Qiao Meixia clearly did not wish to elaborate on the matter, he certainly would not push her to relive it.

”Thank...” Yin Junjie began, but mid-sentence, he abruptly checked himself, clearing his throat to smoothly shift the topic. ”Oh, by the way... the open invitation to join our motor racing club still stands. If you ever feel like joining us, just say the word.”

He paused momentarily, scratching the back of his neck as he continued. ”Also... this coming weekend, our team has an official track competition coming up. If you are free, you can come over to the circuit and watch us race.”

Yin Junjie did not press her for an immediate answer, keeping his tone light and unobtrusive.

It was a completely casual, open invitation. If she decided to show up, that would be fantastic. If she opted out, that was completely fine as well. There was zero pressure attached to it.

He had extended the offer simply because he felt she might genuinely enjoy the environment. After all, Qiao Meixia was the only person who had ever directly confronted him about his reputation without showing a single trace of fear, and he could not help but wonder if she might share a similar appreciation for high-speed intensity on the track.

”Okay.” Qiao Meixia stopped walking for a brief moment, her clear eyes looking directly into his.

”Wait, really? You will come?” Yin Junjie was visibly caught off guard by her prompt acceptance.

”I will see if my schedule permits.” Qiao Meixia clarified neutrally.

”Fair enough. That works for me.” Yin Junjie replied, a genuine, easygoing smile breaking across his features.

He had not expected her to give a firm, binding commitment on the spot anyway.

The two resumed their steady pace, walking together toward the parking lot where their superbike being parked.

Neither of them paid any mind to the small group of gossiping classmates trailing a short distance behind them, their eyes glued to the unlikely pair.

”Wait, are those two actually getting close?” One girl whispered behind her hand.

”I have no idea, but did you hear that? She actually agreed to check out their track race!” Another student added in disbelief.

”Maybe she is secretly super into motorcycle racing?” A student asked.

”What are you saying? Don’t you know that Student Qiao has her superbike?”

”That’s right. That dark purple superbike indeed catches everyone’s attention.”

The students continued their muted whispering back and forth as they followed the pair down the paved walkway.

Qiao Meixia did not waste an ounce of attention on the hushed chatter behind her back. She simply walked alongside Yin Junjie, her mind casually turning over his invitation.

A track competition...

It really had been quite a long time since she last witnessed the roar of engines on a professional circuit.

After that, Yin Junjie made his way over to his superbike, where his group of friends had already been patiently waiting for him. Qiao Meixia also turned and headed directly toward her own superbike parked nearby.

Just as she was reaching for her helmet and preparing to start the engine, a distinct chime echoed from her pocket. She recognised that specific ringtone instantly. It was the dedicated alert tone reserved strictly for encrypted, high-security messages.

Qiao Meixia knew better than to attempt opening or decrypting the file out in the open like this. Decoding it in a public space risked exposing her IP address and revealing her current location. She needed to get back to the security of her private apartment before she could safely inspect the contents.

Without wasting a single second, she mounted her bike, fired up the engine, and sped away from the campus grounds.

Fifteen minutes later, her superbike pulled smoothly into the underground parking bay of her luxury apartment complex. After securing her bike, she sprinted into the main lobby and headed straight toward the elevator bank. Pulling out her high-level access card, she tapped it firmly against the digital panel.

In less than five seconds, the smooth elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. A tall figure was just stepping out from the interior. It was Yin Jiehao.

Yin Jiehao was visibly surprised to bump into Qiao Meixia at this hour and opened his mouth, ready to greet her warmly.

”Hi...”

However, Qiao Meixia brushed right past him like a gust of wind, not slowing her pace for even a fraction of a second. She tapped her access card against the interior control panel once more. The heavy elevator doors immediately began to slide shut, cutting off all contact.

Yin Jiehao stood rooted to the spot, completely bewildered as he watched Qiao Meixia vanish behind the closing doors. He could not help but wonder what on earth could have occurred to cause the normally serene and composed girl to lose her composure like this.

He stared blankly at the metallic elevator doors that had already locked into place. Unfortunately for his burning curiosity, there was absolutely no way for him to press her for an explanation right now.

Meanwhile, the elevator shot up smoothly and brought Qiao Meixia directly to her designated floor. The doors slid open, and she instantly darted out, rushing down the carpeted hallway straight toward her front door. The moment she stepped inside her apartment, she tossed her heavy bag onto the living room sofa and sprinted straight into her private, fully fortified workroom.

She quickly reached down to power on her multi-monitor computer setup. She did not even bother taking off her leather riding jacket.

The second the high-performance system finished booting up, she bypassed two layers of authentication and opened the encrypted message. The transmission had originated from one of Red Mansion’s top core operatives, a guy who went by the codename Psycho.

[Psycho]:Boss, help me... I am currently under heavy attack!

[Psycho]:Boss... Please, I am begging you...

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