Chapter 279 Loyalty Unwavering, Allegiance Eternal

Song Ni did not succeed. As the couple walked towards the adjacent apartment, Song Ni discovered a racing track right next to them, and the club kids were already there. They changed direction temporarily, only to find that it wasn't just the few kids from the club present. Song Ni also spotted a familiar face. Li Shang's brother, Li Wen. The moment Li Wen saw Tan Zheng, he walked over. He gave Song Ni a slight nod before looking at Tan Zheng with a stern expression. Song Ni knew they had something to discuss. "You guys chat, I'll go talk to Xiao Jiang and the others." Once Song Ni moved away, Li Wen stepped forward. "Let's go over there." Tan Zheng glanced at him, said nothing, and walked to the side. Over there, Song Ni looked at the two men with some unease. Tan Zheng leaned against a box, one leg propped up, holding a cigarette, while Li Wen appeared agitated, saying something unknown. For some reason, Song Ni had a premonition that it was Li Wen who called on the night Tan Zheng lost control of his emotions, the night he learned the truth from five years ago. This line of thought made sense. Li Wen was the chairman of the event, and he would surely have connections with people in the racing world at the occasions he attended. Something about what happened back then might have been inadvertently revealed. After five years, such hypocrisy and betrayal were bound to surface. "Sister Ni, what are you looking at? Have you missed Brother Tan so much after such a short time?" Song Ni withdrew her gaze and shook her head. "How is your training going?" Sheng Jiang scratched his head. "Sister Ni, I don't think I'll win the championship, but I'll try my best to get into the top three." Song Ni playfully hit Sheng Jiang. "It hasn't even started yet, and you've already lost your fighting spirit?" Sheng Jiang cried out in pain, touched his head, and pouted with a hint of grievance. "With Huan Yuan here, can I win the championship?" "Do you want to win the championship?" "Yes, I do." "Then don't lose your fighting spirit before the race. You're not bad. As long as there's any possibility, don't give up the desire for the championship." Sheng Jiang blinked his large, expressive eyes and slowly opened his mouth, looking at Song Ni. Song Ni: ... "Are you stunned?" Sheng Jiang quickly shook his head and clenched his fists to encourage himself. "Sister Ni, I will definitely work hard. Even if there's only a tiny bit of hope, I won't give up!" Hearing this, Song Ni smiled faintly. Song Ni was the youngest in her family, always pampered. She occasionally wished for a younger brother, to experience the joy of doting on someone. And Sheng Jiang was very cute. He fulfilled her wish of being an older sister. Huan Yuan, standing nearby, stared at Song Ni's smile for a moment, lost in thought. A desire for the championship? Noticing the gaze on her, Song Ni looked over and met Huan Yuan's eyes, pausing for a moment. The latter turned away shyly. Song Ni's eyes flickered, and she walked up to Huan Yuan. "You should work hard too." Huan Yuan nodded with a slight blush. Tan Zheng and Li Wen didn't chat for long. By the time Tan Zheng returned, there were about two meters between them. Song Ni thought, they must have had a falling out. She looked at Li Wen, who was still frowning, and recalled their previous meeting in Yucheng. Li Wen always seemed to be the one who regretted Tan Zheng's retirement the most. Song Ni withdrew her gaze and walked to Tan Zheng's side, her nose twitching slightly. "You're smoking again." Tan Zheng smiled. "Didn't you say I look cool when I smoke? You also like the smell on me." "While that's true, Uncle Xu advised me during the last check-up that smoking is harmful to your health, and you should smoke less!" Tan Zheng looked somewhat helpless. "You can't just quit cold turkey." Song Ni linked her arm with his. "Then take it slow." Tan Zheng didn't respond. Song Ni said again, "If you want children, smoking isn't good." "If you plan to have children now, I'll throw this away immediately." Song Ni: ... Heh heh heh, the face of a man. "Even if we don't have them now, you need to gradually reduce your smoking. I don't want our child to be born with a father who is sick." Tan Zheng rubbed his nose, unsure how to respond. He feared that if he wasn't careful, Song Ni would just throw all his cigarettes away. His little girl was capable of both saying and doing, and she wouldn't be merciful to him. If Song Ni were to insist, he truly... wouldn't disobey. Li Wen said goodbye and left. Just watching his retreating back, one could sense his anger. Song Ni asked, "What did you guys talk about? You made Chairman Li so angry." The smile on Tan Zheng's lips faded slightly. "He asked me to return to the track." Song Ni's eyebrows flickered. She hadn't expected Tan Zheng to tell her this directly. "Then... do you want to?" Tan Zheng looked down at Song Ni. "Do you want me to return to the track?" Tan Zheng asked sincerely, his deep eyes full of seriousness and a hint of expectation. Song Ni shook her head. Tan Zheng's brow twitched. "It's not about whether I want to or not, Tan Zheng. Your life and career should be yours to decide, and my role is to support you always. Whatever choice you make, I will support you." Tan Zheng stared at Song Ni for a long time, then finally smiled and bent down, hugging her. His chin rested on Song Ni's shoulder. The man had been particularly fond of this type of embrace lately. "Baby, I feel quite lucky." Upon hearing this, Song Ni's nose pricked with emotion. Tan Zheng's tone was tinged with melancholy yet also with relief. She thought of the betrayal at Xijin River five years ago, and Tan Zheng's guilt over the past five years, and the fierce anger radiating from him the night he learned the truth. After all these experiences, Tan Zheng still said he was quite lucky. But he shouldn't have had to endure those hardships. Song Ni wrapped her arms around Tan Zheng's waist, gently patting his back. "I will always be with you, always by your side." No betrayal, eternal loyalty. Tan Zheng took a deep breath and then kissed Song Ni's cheek. Again and again, as if he couldn't stop. He truly felt incredibly fortunate to have met Song Ni. Both five years ago and now. With such a precious person, why would he bother being upset over people who weren't worth it? Tan Zheng's eyes lowered, his eyelashes casting a shadow beneath his lids. "Baby, there's a banquet in a couple of days. Do you want to go?" Tan Zheng paused. "It's hosted by Li Wen." Song Ni blinked, holding her breath. She was unsure of Tan Zheng's intention. Was he attending this banquet as the leader of the GN Group, or as... racer Tan Zheng? Regardless, "Okay. I'll go with you after class."