Soaring Past the Constant Star [Rebirth] - Chapter 9

Twenty minutes later, Jiang Yue was waiting in the hotel’s underground garage when a Maserati Ghibli pulled in. Duan Xingheng reversed into a spot with effortless precision, hopped out, and retrieved two supermarket shopping bags from the passenger seat.

Jiang Yue took one of the bags. Inside, he found chilled ramen noodles, green vegetables, vacuum-sealed fresh minced meat, and even an assortment of seasoning bottles. He had no idea where Duan Xingheng had found an open market this late. As Duan Xingheng shut the car door, Jiang Yue asked casually:

“Your car?”

“A gift from someone a couple of days ago.”

Jiang Yue felt he was making a mountain out of a molehill. When he had seen the message 

[I’m coming over], he had immediately replied [Let’s do it another day]. 

Duan Xingheng hadn’t responded; instead, his next message was just a photo of his left hand clutching shopping bags, the sponsor-gifted watch still glinting on his wrist. It was unclear if he had driven straight from his own team’s celebration party to a supermarket.

The man had a face that was handsome yet suggested he didn’t suffer fools, and his height was imposing, yet a single green onion was peeking out of his shopping bag, creating a sharp sense of contrast.

This version of Duan Xingheng felt both foreign and familiar to Jiang Yue.

The foreignness came from five years of estrangement in his previous life; the familiarity came from even earlier, when this same man had once taken a ninety-minute late-night bus to Jiang Yue’s apartment just because of a phone call about a fever.

While waiting for the elevator, Jiang Yue naturally drifted a bit closer, only to catch a sharp scent of alcohol lingering on Duan Xingheng.

“Have you been drinking?”

Jiang Yue’s eyes widened. He leaned in further, sniffing the collar of the other man’s shirt to confirm.

Duan Xingheng, usually unflappable, seemed to tense up instantly at the gesture. The unnatural stiffness lasted only half a second before he returned to his usual self. He arched an eyebrow. “Is that the kind of person you think I am?”

“I’ve been a law-abiding citizen since I was a kid. Why would I drink and drive?”

“But you’ve had plenty of points deducted from your Super License over the last few years,” Jiang Yue countered, unconvinced. In his memory, Duan Xingheng wasn’t much of a drinker, so why would he do something so reckless? That didn’t stop Jiang Yue from poking fun at him.

“Must have cost you a fortune, right? Why is the smell so strong, then?”

“The team was going wild. Someone probably splashed it on my clothes by accident.”

Duan Xingheng lifted his arm to sniff his own cuff. Seeing that his expression and tone were natural, Jiang Yue didn’t press him further.

The hotel’s family suite came with an open kitchen, fully equipped with cookware and appliances. Jiang Yue lounged on the living room sofa, watching from afar as Duan Xingheng rolled up his sleeves, expertly chopped green onions and garlic, and started the oil in the pan.

The minced meat sizzled in the wok. A spoonful of sauce was tossed in, instantly coating the meat in an inviting, rich glaze. By the time it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the aroma had filled the room. The scent triggered a memory from long ago. The first time Duan Xingheng had made these noodles, they were a bit soggy and the topping was too salty, but Jiang Yue, who had been living on cold meals at the time, had devoured them. He’d finished his bowl and even stolen the fried egg from Duan Xingheng’s.

“My grandma taught me when I was little.” Duan Xingheng hadn’t been angry about the stolen egg. Under Jiang Yue’s expectant gaze, he had finished his own bowl in two bites and said muffledly:

“She said if you can have a bowl of hot noodles when you’re alone, your heart will feel warm.”

Jiang Yue had tried making the noodles himself later, but they always tasted bland. The seasoning ratios were the same, yet the feeling of sitting at a small table with Duan Xingheng in their youth never returned.

The noodles were ready. Duan Xingheng brought them over, the bowl topped with meat sauce, green onions, a few leaves of greens, and a poached egg, all steaming hot.

Jiang Yue took a huge bite and immediately hissed at the heat.

“Slow down.” Duan Xingheng pushed a glass of water toward him. “You’ve been eating like it’s a race since you were a kid. No one is going to take it from you.”

Jiang Yue ate a bit like a ravenous puppy. He took a sip of water and buried his head back in the bowl, stuffing his cheeks full. A simple meal looked ten times more delicious when he ate it like that.

“You not eating?” Jiang Yue asked.

“I’m not hungry.”

Duan Xingheng poured himself some water and rested his chin on his hand, just watching Jiang Yue eat. Once Jiang Yue was nearly finished, he spoke again:

“Xiao Yue, I’m planning to head back to Country C early, probably next weekend.”

Jiang Yue looked up, letting out a soft “Ah?”

“Next week?” He licked a bit of sauce from his lip, suddenly remembering. “I get it. You’re going back for your birthday?”

“You actually remember?” Duan Xingheng smiled. “I haven’t spoiled you for nothing.”

He took a sip of water and continued, “Grandma called. She said she misses me and wants to make me longevity noodles herself. It’s been a while since I visited her. I want to clear my schedule for next weekend no matter what.”

“I’ll go with you,” Jiang Yue said without a second thought.

Mentioning Duan Xingheng’s grandmother brought a sudden realization. In his previous life, after their falling out, Jiang Yue had once gone to visit her, but the old house with the courtyard seemed like it hadn’t been lived in for a long time. Neighbors said she had fallen seriously ill and her grandson had taken her to the hospital, and they hadn’t heard anything since.

Grandma hadn’t appeared at Duan Xingheng’s funeral either. Later, the lawyer told Jiang Yue that she had passed away due to illness long ago.

Birth, old age, sickness, and death are the constants of the world. If even Duan Xingheng was helpless against her illness… regardless, Jiang Yue had to go see her.

Even though the Chinese Grand Prix was approaching, if he traveled with the team, he’d be stuck in hotels and wouldn’t be able to visit her. He decided right then: if there was a schedule conflict, he would coordinate with the team to go back early.

In his past life, Jiang Yue was young and reckless, thinking that running across the world to chase a dream was the only form of freedom. But after a second chance, he realized that the connections and love he had once ignored were equally precious.

**

The non-race week passed quickly. Jiang Yue had several media interviews scheduled for the weekend, but he pushed back whatever he could. The remaining Chinese media outlets were more than happy to interview him once he landed in the country.

On Friday evening, Jiang Yue and Duan Xingheng met at the airport.

Jiang Yue’s fashion sense was often praised by netizens. When not racing, he liked to wear small accessories. Some were from famous designers and limited editions; others were just things he’d found at roadside stalls. He didn’t care about the price, only if it caught his eye. He had kept this habit even five years into the future.

Today, he wore a bone-shaped ear cuff on his left cartilage along with two black studs, while his right ear held only a single, weathered silver ring.

These accessories weren’t loud at first glance; they only added texture to his outfit when someone got within social distance.

Outside of race weeks, Jiang Yue didn’t like wearing watches. Instead, he had a Givenchy bracelet on his left wrist and rings on his middle finger and thumb. He wore an oversized hoodie and limited-edition sneakers, his face obscured by a baseball cap and a mask.

Seeing him like this made Duan Xingheng’s lips curl upward.

When Jiang Yue was just a green youth, he was vain yet shy about dressing up, so he put all his effort into small details. Conversely, Duan Xingheng’s style was effortless. His wardrobe consisted of sponsor gifts and basic cuts that all looked more or less the same. He had a dozen black jackets that were virtually identical.

However, back then, when a young Jiang Yue would stand next to Duan Xingheng in a carefully curated outfit, he would suddenly feel like he wasn’t “manly” enough and start doubting his taste. Duan Xingheng’s only accessories were usually a watch and a belt, and maybe sunglasses. Everything else was plain clothing that looked extraordinary only because he was the one wearing it.

So, for a while, Jiang Yue had stubbornly insisted on a “back to basics” look whenever he was around Duan Xingheng.

But Duan Xingheng actually loved seeing the kid dress up. Realizing this, he had started asking Jiang Yue about the brands or design philosophies behind his accessories, showing genuine interest.

Jiang Yue was skeptical at first, but when they went to see Grandma, even she had nothing but praise for his “strange little trinkets.” From then on, Jiang Yue was like a proud little peacock. Whenever he saw an accessory he liked, he’d buy one for Duan Xingheng too, sometimes mailing them across half the world to Grandma.

That was the origin of Duan Xingheng’s massive collection of sunglasses.

Today, Jiang Yue had clearly put effort into his look.

“Are we going straight to Grandma’s after we land?” Jiang Yue asked the moment they met.

Duan Xingheng shook his head. “I didn’t tell her we were coming back today.”

They walked toward the baggage drop. “By the time we land, she’ll already be asleep. She’s a light sleeper, and once she’s disturbed, she can’t get back to sleep. We’ll go to my place first to get over the jet lag and head over tomorrow morning.”

Jiang Yue nodded. They took the business class lane. Both wore masks and Duan Xingheng had his sunglasses on. With their travel plans kept strictly confidential, none of the hurried travelers recognized them.

After takeoff, Jiang Yue quickly fell asleep behind his eye mask.

Duan Xingheng asked the flight attendant for a blanket to cover him. While Jiang Yue was unaware, he allowed his gaze to unashamedly trace the profile of the younger man’s face.

Over the last two years, the kid had started distancing himself, and recently they had fought bitterly over Qin Yun. Duan Xingheng had thought he’d be spending his birthday alone again this year. He hadn’t expected to not only make up for last year’s regret but to receive such a surprise. The other’s attitude had seemingly returned to the intimacy of many years ago.

It felt like a dream.

Jiang Yue’s breathing was steady, suggesting a deep sleep. Duan Xingheng’s fingertips hovered near the young man’s ear, just behind the stray hairs at the temple, near that small earring.

He hesitated for a moment, then lowered his hand to tuck in the corner of the blanket.

The following night, the plane landed at Capital International Airport. A driver Duan Xingheng had arranged in advance took them back to his residence in the Ziyang District.

The house had been cleaned. Jiang Yue felt terrible after the flight and was groggy, but he forced himself to shower before sleeping.

For some reason, he woke up with a start in the middle of the night. He heard the sound of the front door opening and closing in the living room.

He immediately scrambled out of bed and opened the door, only to see Duan Xingheng fully dressed in the foyer, looking as if he were about to head out.

Jiang Yue asked urgently, “Where are you going?”

Duan Xingheng turned around, his expression grim.

“The nanny, Auntie Wang, just called. Grandma got up in the night to go to the bathroom and took a fall. She’s on the floor and hasn’t regained consciousness.”

His voice carried a rare sense of urgency. “I have to get there right now.”

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