Chapter 0 – Prologue

Editor: Chubby Dragon ☺
Proofreader: Lucia Rose

The man in the black suit sat quietly on the sofa, slowly swirling the red liquid in his wine glass until it had regained its tranquility.

This was a post-wedding party.

The groom’s left hand rose to undo his tie, and the white collar of his shirt gradually opened to reveal a long and slender neck. His lazy gaze held a hint of a smile that was like a fleeting cloud.

Originally, the sight of this kind of man holding a glass of wine and clinking glasses with other guests should have been a happy sight, but he was holding two bottles of beer instead.

“Hey… Vann Winston…” The groom, Chen Mo Bai, sat down on the sofa and turned to look at Winston.

Winston thought, “This is probably the legendary peach blossom eyes.”

”You’re a little drunk.” Winston put down his glass.

His voice was cold. The others could not help but sober up because of this sort of aura.

“How do you know I’m drunk?”

“Because, you’re even calling me by my last name.”

The groom, Chen Mo Bai, reached out to push away the wine glass in front of him before picking up the beer that he’d brought over.

“Then, you should also get a little drunk. Don’t be too sober… Life is too hard; you need to find your happiness.”

“Then, how should I find my happiness?”

“Do what you want to do.”

“How should I go about doing what I want to do?” Winston asked again.

“If you want something, then you shouldn’t hold yourself back. Let go of everything. Give that person everything. Let that person drown in your desire and the other person will also be like you — going crazy for you.”

Chen Mo Bai took a large swig of his beer.

“Does this mean I can succeed without saying anything?”

Winston’s voice was dull, like an ancient river following a permanent trajectory to its destination.

“Don’t think too much, just try your best…” Chen Mo Bai stood up, walking towards Xiao Qiao who was chatting happily with her friends.

He didn’t say anything, smiling at his bride and pulling her away from her circle. He lowered his head and brushed his nose against hers before continuing to stare at her.

The atmosphere grew warm, and everybody’s heart stirred.

His friends protested — cries of “Can’t take it anymore!”, “They’re abusing single dogs again!”, and “Go, go, go! We’re going home!” filled the room.

Winston bid farewell to the host and picked up a bottle of beer before leaving with the other guests.

Just before the doors closed, Chen Mo Bai’s voice came, “Hey… Winston…”

“Hmm?” Winston turned around.

“You can use your sexiness,” Chen Mo Bai laughed.

Winston waved his hand and turned to leave.

He hailed a cab to the cemetery. The entrance was already closed, and all the lights were switched off save for the soft moonlight shining and undulating upon the tombstones.

It was not scary but rather tranquil, as if everything in the world had fallen silent.

Winston turned his head. Against the moonlight, his expression seemed vague and serene.

“Finding happiness… was it?”

Only a pair of long legs could be seen retreating two steps behind before gaining momentum and sprinting forth towards the metal gate, jumping over with a swoop.

Upon landing, he threw off his tie and turned towards the gap between the metal gates to retrieve his beer.

Rows upon rows of tombstones seemed to gaze stubbornly into the night sky, as if waiting for his arrival. Winston unhesitantly walked forward to the innermost row before stopping.

Here lay the one and only rival in his life — Hunter.

An outstanding Formula One racer died in a car accident; how ironic was that?

The most ironic thing was that, afterwards, no matter how many so-called ‘talents’ came forward, he, Vann Winston, remained the sole lonely champion.

Winston placed the bottle of beer before Hunter’s tombstone; his lips curved at a lonely angle.

“Hunter… Don’t you think, if you were going to die anyway, it would have been better to die under my body?”

“Do you still remember? On my birthday, you promised to fulfill one wish of mine. My wish is… I hope that you’ll live and, in the same way I love you, love me back just as crazily.”

He knelt down, his face as elegant as ever as he pressed his forehead against the tombstone.

The next day, Winston massaged his head as he sat up.

His phone rang, and he quickly took it out. The name that flashed across the screen left him stunned.

This was his former coach. They’d already cut off contact five years ago and the coach went on to sell sporting goods, becoming a rather successful businessman.

“Hello, Winston! I’ve been waiting for ten minutes already. It’s not like you to be late!”

“You’re waiting for me? Why?” Winston abruptly sat up.

“You’re asking me why I’m waiting for you? Is there a problem with your brain? Do you think your fitness coach is waiting to go see a movie with you?”

Winston frowned, wanting to say something more, but he pulled open the curtains instead.

The sunlight hurt his eyes but when he clearly saw the sign board on the opposite side, he froze.

This was an advertisement for a popular film from five years ago!

On the street, passing pedestrians were all wearing clothes that gave off a strange yet familiar feeling.

And a brass statue that had been removed two years ago was clearly standing there today.

Everything was as he had remembered, yet it was also different.

“Today… What is the date and month?” Winston closed his eyes and asked.

“It’s twelfth of May. Why?” The coach sounded uncertain.

The Winston that he knew was always very responsible in whatever he did, even to the point of a little OCD… How could he not remember today’s date and month?

“What year?” Winston’s fingers whitened as he held his phone in a death grip.

When he heard what year it was, Winston abruptly threw his phone down on the bed and ran to his study. He pulled open the drawer and took out the racing competition schedule.

His eyes scanned the page from top to bottom.

The moment they landed on that name, his pupils dilated almost explosively.

Marcus’s Race Team: Evan Hunter

At this moment, the time which seemed to have stagnated, suddenly began to rush wildly once more.