"Contentment is the key to a fulfilling life," Jiang Li said with a faint smile. "I think things are already pretty good right now. At least I'm not alone."
She didn't dare to hope for happiness. Being free from the pangs of loneliness was already a blessing.
Sheng Jingxi stared at Jiang Li. After a long while, he asked, "What about your illness? Is it getting better?"
He really wasn't good at being tactful. His words were clumsy and blunt. "I did some research. People with bipolar disorder often experience extreme mood swings. How have you been lately?"
"I'm okay," Jiang Li nodded. "I've been taking my medicine regularly, and my mood has been stable."
The first half of the sentence was true, the second half a lie.
In fact, she wasn't doing well at all.
No matter how happy she seemed during the day or how busy she was with work, at night she would lie in bed with empty eyes, staring straight at the ceiling.
The dead silence and the overwhelming sense of loneliness when there was nothing but herself around always made her yearn for death.
She felt like a cloud, floating aimlessly, never able to land on the ground.
She only started taking the medicine because Sister Chen noticed something was off and forced her to take the psychiatric drugs on time, worried about her emotional state.
Jiang Li always appeared positive and upbeat, but what she didn't know was that the light in her eyes was gone. Her pupils were dull, lacking their former sparkle.
She was like a candle that had burned to the end, still bravely flickering its flame, but in fact, the wax was almost used up.
The car was too quiet. Sheng Jingxi told the driver to turn on the radio and listen to the news. As soon as it was turned on, there was a report about Xiao Yanzhi:
"According to relevant reports, Xiao Yanzhi, the new chairman of the Xiao Group, has suspended all business operations of the company due to poor health and a bad state. All matters are currently being handled by an agent."
Jiang Li clenched her fingers tightly in her palm.
Poor health? A bad state?
Had his wound deteriorated?
She lowered her eyes, suppressing the urge to contact him.
"Turn it off. It's so noisy," Sheng Jingxi noticed Jiang Li's mood and told the driver to turn off the radio.
The car fell into silence.
Sheng Jingxi couldn't hold back and asked her, "Do you want to ask..."
"No," her expression was calm. "It has nothing to do with me."
"I haven't even said who it is," Sheng Jingxi said helplessly, rubbing his forehead. "Why are you being so hard on yourself?"
"I'm not being hard on myself," Jiang Li replied. "We just made the most suitable decision."
What she said seemed reasonable, but Sheng Jingxi didn't think so.
Sheng Jingxi really wasn't good at comforting people, so he offered to go for a drive. "I'm a great driver. Let me show you the roar of the engine."
Jiang Li snapped out of her gloomy mood and looked at him with a smile. "You're always thinking about your driver's license."
Sheng Jingxi said, "If you truly love something, you can't let it go."
Jiang Li was in a daze for a moment. A few seconds later, she shook her head and replied with a smile, "That's the only philosophical thing that's ever come out of Young Master Sheng's mouth."
"I've always been philosophical. You just haven't observed carefully enough," Sheng Jingxi shrugged. "Did you bring your driver's license? I'll take you to see my baby."
Jiang Li never knew that there was such a huge race track in Huacheng. The track stretched all the way up the mountain, and colorful flags fluttered on the mountainside.
The wind here was stronger than in the downtown area. Jiang Li's hair was blown everywhere. She simply took off her hair tie and let her long black hair fall freely.
When they arrived at the race track, Sheng Jingxi was like a man possessed. He was beaming with excitement as he skillfully took out the car keys from his pocket. "Come on, I'll take you for a few laps."
He got into the modified race car first and then whistled at Jiang Li, urging her to get in quickly.
Jiang Li opened the car door, got in, and then slammed the door shut.
She used a bit too much force, and the door made a loud noise when it closed.
The "bang" made Sheng Jingxi's face crumple in pain. "Be gentle, my baby!"
Jiang Li immediately coughed awkwardly. "What baby? Watch your words."
"Are you crazy?" Sheng Jingxi rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Who are you talking to? I told you to close the door gently. Don't damage my baby car!"
Jiang Li: "… Oh."
It was rare for her to misunderstand something.
Jiang Li fastened her seatbelt and turned to Sheng Jingxi. "I'm ready. Let's go."
For the sake of her helping him get his driver's license, he held back his annoyance. "When you get out of the car, be gentle with my baby."
Then, Sheng Jingxi started the car, and the engine began to warm up. "You'd better hold on tight. My driving skills are no joke."
Jiang Li waved her driver's license in front of him. "Safety first."
As the car sped up, Jiang Li felt her mind go blank. All her thoughts were left behind, and all that was left was the constantly changing scenery in front of her and the whistling wind in her ears.
The car drifted, and she felt her adrenaline surge. Her heart was beating so fast that it felt like it was about to jump out of her throat. At that moment, she felt like she was on the verge of death.
"Feeling the rush!" Sheng Jingxi shouted over the wind. "Shout with me. Rush!"
Jiang Li opened her eyes wide. She watched as the open ground in front of her gradually narrowed, and the car drifted around different corners. The wheels made a screeching sound from time to time. She felt her whole body buzzing with excitement.
"Rush!"
She closed her eyes, feeling the wind brush against her face and blow her hair up. She felt like she was floating out of her body, and her soul was gradually being released.
It was as if death was beckoning to her.
A faint smile appeared on Jiang Li's lips, and the thought in her mind grew stronger and stronger.
She felt like she was about to step into the realm that she had longed for so many times.
—
When the car stopped, she slowly opened her eyes.
"We're at the top of the mountain," Sheng Jingxi turned to look at her, smiling broadly. "Did you feel the rush just now? Did you forget about everything?"
Jiang Li nodded in agreement. "Yes, it was like a moment of liberation where I didn't have to think about anything."
"You have a natural talent for this. Come and learn racing with me," Sheng Jingxi winked at her. But Jiang Li knew he was just joking. "No, I'm not good at it. I might cause an accident."
"Okay then," Sheng Jingxi immediately changed his tune. "Little girls shouldn't play with this. The wind will hurt your face and damage your skin."
Jiang Li smiled.
She knew in her heart that if she were to play this extreme sport, she might just step on the accelerator and plunge into the abyss during that moment of extreme emptiness.
She couldn't control such thoughts.
At the foot of the mountain.
Xue An tried to persuade him earnestly. "Mr. Xiao, your driver's license has been revoked. And you need a special racing license to drive on a race track. You can't drive."
Xiao Yanzhi: "…"
Xiao Yanzhi's face was grim. He could only look up at the two figures on the top of the mountain.
She had just gotten into his car, and now the two of them were standing together, enjoying the view from above.
This was her new life.