A live stream that dramatically transformed a depressed schoolgirl shocked netizens across the count

Starry Temporary Base.

Ah Biao stood next to the leather sofa, holding his phone.

The computer screen lit up with the competition registration page, the countdown ticking away second by second. Ye Xingyu's information card was at the top of the candidate list, and the status bar next to her ID photo still showed "pending signature".

Xiao Yunlong sank into the sofa, his fingers tapping on the edge of the solid wood table.

Click, click, click.

"Does she dare hang up the phone?"

"Gu Qingshang hired a lawyer and focused on the clause that high-risk projects require the individual's sole consent."

Ah Biao handed over the documents sent by the legal department.

"The notice of objection to performance has been delivered, requesting us to provide the event approval document, accident insurance policy, vehicle inspection report and rescue plan."

Xiao Yunlong picked up the water glass, brought the rim to his lips, but didn't drink.

"Her agency contract is still in effect, so what right does she have to choose her jobs?"

Ah Biao flipped to the legal opinion page and pressed his index finger against the bolded clause.

"Regular notices can be pursued according to the contract. However, the co-driver role in a race involves personal risks, and the registration system requires the applicant to sign a voluntary agreement. Ye Xingyu refused to sign, so the organizing committee will not accept her application."

Another page was turned.

"The complete risk assessment materials were not submitted in advance. Even if her name were submitted, it wouldn't pass the review."

The water glass slammed back onto the table, half a glass of water overflowing the rim and flowing along the wood grain towards the documents.

"How much courage did Chen Lang give her?"

The registration countdown jumped to eight minutes and forty-three seconds.

Ah Biao pulled out a tissue to cover the water on the table, his eyes still following the numbers on the screen.

"Young Master Long, the passenger list is finalized tonight. If we delay any longer, your car won't pass the registration review."

Xiao Yunlong gritted his teeth and covered Ye Xingyu's information card with his palm.

"Let the legal department figure something out."

"The legal department has already responded."

Ah Biao turned the phone screen towards him.

"No one can complete the process without the person's signature."

The page emits a notification sound every few seconds.

Seven minutes and fifty-two seconds.

Xiao Yunlong grabbed the mouse and dragged Ye Xingyu's profile card out of the candidate list.

Where is Xu Yan?

"She's followed the vehicle twelve times; she knows the callouts and video recordings inside and out. She just asked if they'd still be running tomorrow night in the heavy rain."

"Let her do it."

"She wants her signing bonus doubled, and the maximum coverage accident insurance. The vehicle inspection report and rescue plan must be delivered to her before the race, and she reserves the right to withdraw at any time."

Xiao Yunlong stared at the empty name column, the timer ticking down by another dozen seconds.

"Give it all to her."

A Biao called Xu Yan to confirm the rainfall risks, compensation, insurance coverage, and exit conditions item by item. The electronic consent form was sent, and the signature and identification documents were quickly returned.

The countdown has two minutes and sixteen seconds left.

Enter Xu Yan in the passenger seat name field.

Ah Biao checked the ID number and pressed the submit button.

Page refreshed.

[Application materials are under review]

Xiao Yunlong tore down the photo of Ye Xingyu that was pasted on the corner of the table, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash can.

"The contract is still in effect; she won't go far."

He grabbed his car keys and pushed open the side door of the base. The night wind swept into the room, causing the documents on the table to rustle and turn.

"After she finishes her run tomorrow night, she'll come back and beg Xingyao to save her a spot."

In the Bai family's courtyard, the iron pot was almost empty.

Su Niannian carried an empty plate into the kitchen, followed by Bai Weiwei carrying several porcelain bowls. Shen Qingci sealed the papaya shreds container and gathered the scattered chopsticks from the table. Gu Qingshang put away the voice recorder and documents, placing them one by one into a waterproof bag.

Ye Xingyu sat under the grape trellis, holding a half-full cup of hot tea in both hands. The table was littered with empty bowls, chicken bones, and a few vegetable leaves. Just as she was about to get up, Su Niannian called out to her through the window.

"Sit down. You don't need to wash the dishes today."

Ye Xingyu steadied herself on the edge of the table.

"Then what should I do?"

"Have some tea and chat with us."

Chen Lang sat at the square table, his chopsticks reaching into the bottom of the pot to pick up the last piece of chicken.

"This task suits her. Let the loser do the dishes."

Su Niannian poked half her body out of the kitchen.

"Who lost?"

Chen Lang put down his chopsticks, picked up his own bowl, and then took away the empty plates stacked next to the pot.

"I."

Su Niannian picked up a rag and wiped the stove.

"He accepted his defeat quite readily."

She stuffed the empty plate into the sink, turned on the tap, and rinsed the porcelain plate with clean water, pushing the oil stains down the drain.

Su Niannian stopped washing her wrist halfway through.

"Chen Lang, is your passenger seat still empty from the day of the race?"

Chen Lang stood in the courtyard, holding a bowl and a plate, his eyebrows raised.

Why are you asking this?

Su Niannian turned off the tap, wiped her hands on her apron, and patted them against her chest.

"Wow. I can learn how to call out locations, record videos, and monitor road conditions. If something goes wrong, I'll sit next to you and yell at you until you come back to your senses."

Bai Weiwei leaned against the kitchen door frame, a dishcloth draped over her wrist.

"You can shout all the way while riding on the back of a motorcycle."

"That's a way to release stress!"

Su Niannian turned around and retorted, then spread her hands towards Chen Lang.

"It's settled then. Give me the registration form. We'll get high insurance coverage, and my parents will be the beneficiaries."

"Who's engaged to you?"

Chen Lang put the bowls and plates back on the table, the porcelain making two crisp sounds.

"This has nothing to do with how quickly you learn."

He looked up at Su Niannian, his voice lowered.

"There will be heavy rain tomorrow night. The flooding, subsidence areas, and visibility at the bend will all be problematic. The co-pilot needs to wear full protective gear, complete an impact test, and familiarize himself with callout, communication, and escape procedures."

Chen Lang paused, his gaze sweeping over the people at the table.

"If I bring someone into the car, I'm responsible for bringing them back. A second's distraction on the track can reduce the distance I can cover for a situation by tens of meters."

"You don't need to come up with me for this match."

Su Niannian opened her lips, but the words she had prepared stuck in her throat. She grabbed the edge of her apron, rubbed it a couple of times, and didn't reach for the registration form again.

Bai Weiwei put down the rag and leaned against the doorframe, watching Chen Lang. Gu Qingshang pressed the last document into a waterproof bag, and just as he zipped it halfway up, a hand was raised from under the grape trellis.

She had sandalwood prayer beads wrapped around her wrist.

The porcelain plate in the sink slid half an inch from Su Niannian's palm and hit the bottom of the sink.

Clang.

Bai Weiwei straightened up, and the rag draped over her wrist fell onto the threshold. Ye Xingyu held a teacup, the rim of which stopped at her lips, a few drops of tea spilling onto the back of her hand. Gu Qingshang gripped the zipper of his waterproof bag, his movement frozen in place.

Four pairs of eyes looked across the table and landed on Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci usually avoids even the cameras of strangers. During the day, when she agreed to take photos with tourists, it took her quite a while to stand next to them. Now, she didn't lower her raised hand, nor did she hunch over the crowd.

Su Niannian ignored the plates in the sink and stepped out of the kitchen.

"Qingci, why are you raising your hand?"

Shen Qingci took out her phone and unlocked the screen. The event registration system was still on the application record page, with her name, identification information, and electronic signature displayed in sequence.

[Voluntary co-driver application submitted]

Su Niannian stared at the line of words, her lips moving a few times.

"When...when did you submit the application?"

Bai Weiwei bent down to pick up the rag, grabbing it twice before she could hold it steady. She looked up at Shen Qingci, then at Chen Lang, the rag in her hand twisted into a ball.

Ye Xingyu put down her teacup, the bottom of which hit the table.

"Qingci, that's the Nine Bends. There might be another downpour tomorrow night."

Gu Qingshang pulled out a chair, picked up her phone, and checked the registration records page by page. When she saw the electronic application form and insurance confirmation page, she looked up, a line appearing between her brows.

"You even signed a disclaimer?"

Shen Qingci put her phone away, pressed her left hand against the Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist, and met Chen Lang's gaze.

"I've reviewed the vehicle's dynamic parameters, I participated in building the track model, and the callout list and rescue routes are also on my computer."

Su Niannian walked up to her and swallowed hard.

"This isn't like sitting on the back of a motorcycle. You used to hold onto our clothes to walk across a busy road."

Shen Qingci did not avoid her gaze.

"That's why I registered in advance."

A corner of the charcoal fire in the courtyard collapsed, and sparks rolled into the ash. The people around the table remained standing there, and no one even took the bowls and plates from Chen Lang's arms.

Shen Qingci lowered her raised hand and placed the phone in her palm.

"I am Chen Lang's co-pilot."