Soaring Past the Constant Star [Rebirth] - Chapter 4

As the words left his lips, Duan Xingheng froze.

Gazing at Jiang Yue’s face, one that had shed its boyish softness a strange sensation rose in his heart. Compared to his memory, the kid seemed to have changed overnight.

Duan Xingheng knew perfectly well that Jiang Yue had always treated him as the target to chase. In fact, after Jiang Yue took second place in the European F3 Championship at sixteen, he chose to stay in F3 for another year to fight for the title simply because Duan Xingheng had won it during his own rookie season.

Duan Xingheng had held the World Championship for six consecutive years. He was more familiar than anyone with the feeling of being hunted. However, since he joined the highly coveted Silver Snake team two years ago, right as the new regulations were implemented, Silver Snake had taken a commanding lead in car development while other big teams struggled to adapt. For a time, the ultimate combination of a six-time champion and a dominant car meant that those chasing him could only see his dust.

From then on, unless there was a mechanical failure or a major accident on track, Duan Xingheng’s increasingly steady and error-free driving style allowed him to start from pole and claim victory at almost every Grand Prix without suspense.

Over time, even the fans began to find it boring, let alone Duan Xingheng, who had lived through the fierce, inch-by-inch battles of earlier years.

This wasn’t the first time Jiang Yue had declared war on him. But aside from one drunken night years ago, this was the first time the kid had said, “I want to win,” while completely sober. It was exactly what he wanted, because he, too, craved a real rival.

A long-absent desire for conquest and competitive spirit left Duan Xingheng’s throat dry, and his eyes darkened. However, to Jiang Yue, this silence felt like something else entirely.

Jiang Yue suddenly realized that, given his current seniority and situation, his words did sound a bit like empty boasting, even though his true intention was simply to stop Duan Xingheng from repeating the past and retiring in haste.

He felt the tips of his ears burn. He had to admit that a prefix-less, expressionless Duan Xingheng was very intimidating; even with five extra years of life experience, Jiang Yue couldn’t help but feel restless.

But it wasn’t enough to make him back down.

After a standoff that lasted a full thirty seconds, it was actually Duan Xingheng who looked away first.

Jiang Yue saw him bend down, and then his calf was suddenly gripped. Caught off guard, Jiang Yue’s right leg was lifted by Duan Xingheng.

“What are you doing?”

He was baffled. The next moment, his right leg was resting across Duan Xingheng’s thigh.

Duan Xingheng didn’t answer. His large palms rolled up the leg of Jiang Yue’s loose sweatpants to the knee, revealing a long, firm calf. Having not been ravaged by UV rays over the winter, the sleek muscles were a healthy honey tone, making the various purple bruises stand out vividly.

Blunt as he was, Jiang Yue couldn’t help but get goosebumps from the gesture. Duan Xingheng, however, looked perfectly composed as he skillfully began to massage the leg muscles.

He patiently and gently rubbed at the dark purple bruises.

Jiang Yue tried to struggle.

“Behave. Don’t move,” Duan Xingheng said with lowered eyes. His eyelashes were very long, and he was currently focused on Jiang Yue’s leg as if it were a fragile object that needed careful handling.

“What are you shy of? Didn’t I use to do this for you all the time?”

The sentence pulled Jiang Yue back into his memories.

When Jiang Yue was fourteen, he had braved the journey to the UK alone against his mother’s strong opposition. He was homesick and struggled to adjust. Although he was signed by a karting team, he was an outsider. In the beginning, he couldn’t speak the language, couldn’t make friends, and faced exclusion from his peers as well as a lack of resources from the team. If Duan Xingheng hadn’t reached out to help him despite his own busy schedule, Jiang Yue might not have made it through.

Back then, he was like a displaced young animal, instinctively leaning on the only familiar presence in a strange environment.

Later, he won the British Championship and the European Challenge. He went through high-intensity training during his growth spurt; he was never full and often couldn’t sleep because of hunger. He could only look forward to Duan Xingheng taking a two-hour bus from Oxford to Milton Keynes to cook him a massive Chinese feast, and then rubbing his legs to soothe the cramps that kept him tossing and turning at night.

Jiang Yue had no memory of a father. After his uncle died in an accident, the care from a male elder who was missing from his childhood had essentially been filled by Duan Xingheng.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yue’s heart turned soft and bitter. Watching Duan Xingheng’s focused profile, he couldn’t help but ask himself:

In my last life, why did I lose someone so sincere to me?

“Duan Xingheng,” he couldn’t help but call the name again.

As Duan Xingheng looked up, Jiang Yue continued:

“Can we be brothers for a lifetime?”

For some reason, as soon as the words fell, Jiang Yue felt the smile at the corner of the other man’s mouth stiffen slightly.

Just as the atmosphere began to turn strangely frozen, the sound of footsteps came from behind them.

Jiang Yue was not used to heart-to-heart talks. He already felt that his last sentence was a bit too sentimental, and at the slightest sound, he retracted his leg like a startled bird.

Two people, a man and a woman who looked quite young, walked up from behind.

“Sorry to disturb you, but are you… Jiang Yue?”

Both looked a bit hesitant. After deliberating for a long time, the braver boy stepped forward with a flushed face to ask.

“Oh my god, Duan Xingheng is here too!”

The other person, a girl, caught a closer look and let out a small squeal.

“Do you want an autograph?”

Duan Xingheng stood up. He was a star driver and was used to fans lurking near hotels. However, compared to the frenzied fans in the entertainment industry, racing fans were usually more restrained and polite. Most wouldn’t disturb a driver’s private life and would leave after getting an autograph or a photo.

Of course, both men were recognized as handsome in the paddock, especially Duan Xingheng, whose popularity was explosive. When he went out during race weeks, he usually had several security guards with him. Occasionally, less rational fans appeared. Having the prior example of Qin Yun, Jiang Yue had long developed a psychological shadow.

The two passersby nodded frantically, pulling hats and pens from their bags.

“Are you both fans of Jiang Yue?”

Duan Xingheng took the items and handed them to Jiang Yue behind him.

“Yes…”

“But we like you a lot too!”

Their politeness and goodwill made Jiang Yue and Duan Xingheng share a smile. Jiang Yue signed his name on the brim of the hat featuring his car number and handed it back to Duan Xingheng.

“Coming all the way from China is a long trip. Thank you so much. It’s a shame I retired from the race today…”

Jiang Yue was halfway through when he was interrupted:

“It doesn’t matter! As long as you’re okay!” The girl shook her head and said hurriedly, “We’ve been supporting you for two years. You’re really great! Keep it up for the next race!”

The excitement of meeting their idol made the couple a bit incoherent, unable to organize the words to express their feelings directly. However, a thousand words were already gathered in their bright eyes, and Jiang Yue received the message perfectly.

After signing, Duan Xingheng stood patiently to the side without disturbing the three of them.

The two fans spoke a few more words of support to Jiang Yue, but when they realized they were neglecting Duan Xingheng, their faces showed apology, embarrassment, and even a hint of awe.

Duan Xingheng still wore a faint smile. He nodded to them, and the two took their autographs, thanked them politely, and left.

“I’ll walk you back. It’s getting late. You have to go back to the team base tomorrow, and it’s a long flight. Get some rest.”

After the fans walked away, Duan Xingheng didn’t continue the previous topic. Instead, he turned to walk back.

For some reason, Jiang Yue felt that Duan Xingheng’s mood wasn’t as good as before, and the distance between them seemed to widen instantly.

Jiang Yue naturally didn’t think Duan Xingheng was upset because he was neglected by his fans; in fact, Duan Xingheng’s attitude toward fans was almost indifferent. After being mobbed by over-enthusiastic fans too many times in his early years, he avoided them whenever possible. He usually carried several burly bodyguards, used VIP channels at airports, and refused to go out alone even when it wasn’t a race weekend. He was always elusive. No wonder that female fan was so surprised to see him.

But if it wasn’t because of that… could it be because of what he just said?

Why?

If he didn’t want to be brothers, why did he keep calling himself “Ge” (older brother)?

Jiang Yue stared fixedly at the tall figure ahead. Duan Xingheng was wearing a Dior runway piece a loose, bathrobe-style coat. On anyone else, it would look like a hobo’s outfit, but he made it look intimidating.

When he stood there with a cold face, he radiated a “do not disturb” aura. Jiang Yue hesitated but ultimately chose to follow silently.

When they reached the hotel’s back door and Duan Xingheng waved to leave, Jiang Yue finally spoke:

“Duan Xingheng.”

He said it in his usual serious tone:

“Regardless of what you think, even though I never call you ‘brother,’ in my heart, you have always been as important as my family.”

Jiang Yue was never one for sweet talk. For something to come out of his mouth meant he believed it from the bottom of his heart. He had suffered a lot in his youth for being too blunt, so as he grew up, he became somewhat taciturn to avoid misspeaking.

But because of that, hearing such words from him was especially moving.

They could be brothers, best friends, or family. Duan Xingheng already occupied a vital position in Jiang Yue’s life.

But why did it still feel like it wasn’t enough?

Jiang Yue didn’t know what Duan Xingheng was thinking. He only saw Duan Xingheng’s brow furrow slightly before relaxing. Duan Xingheng stepped forward and straightened Jiang Yue’s hair, which had been ruffled by the wind.

A moment later, he heard a low voice, almost masked by the night breeze:

“Idiot.”

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