C3 If I Die

With every turn Jian Jia took, her chest would constrict and the grip on the wheel loosened. Her hands trembled as beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. "Fuck," she shakily breathed out, unsteadily parking her car in front of the gates.

By the time she had reached the door, her face was already white and her hands were already sweating from the continuous pain. "Mrs. Zhang," she murmured before sputtering into a series of coughs.

Mrs. Zhang immediately assisted her to the sofa as soon as she had seen her, before pouring the young woman a glass of warm water. Her forehead creased with worry as she observed her trembling figure.

"Madame," she said worriedly. "Is something wrong? Do you need me to call the doctor?"

"N–no, just...just bring me the medicine box. Over there." Squeezing her eyes shut, she pointed at the small drawer under the wine cabinet. At this point, she could barely hold her own as she slumped against the cushion.

"Yes, Madame." The old woman didn't even wait for her to repeat as she took the box from the cabinets.

She slowly opened the stainless container and grabbed an unnamed bottle. The labels were all torn, but she didn't seem bothered as she took out four pills and downed them in one go.

Within a few minutes, her pale face gradually tanned, and her breathing returned to normal.

"Thank you," Jian Jia slowly said. However, just as the old woman was about to leave her alone, she immediately called out, "Don't tell anyone about what had happened here. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Madame." Nodding, Mrs. Zhang returned the box back to where she had found it.

Jian Jia wasn't willing to say what had happened, and Mrs. Zhang didn't dare speak about the incident. At that point, she was also convinced that she couldn't tell Zhai Yaotian about this.

After sleeping for an entire day, her body had improved–at least slightly.

Instead of staying at home like her doctors would've repeatedly insisted, she decided to go to the Thunder Car Club her father had founded. Every day, she'd practice there, racing on the track in the inner court. Although it was slightly more tame than what the other professional race car drivers had experienced, it still took a toll on her body.

However, despite this, the blowing wind and searing sunlight weren't enough to stir her away. No. All she could think about was Zhai Yaotian. He was one of the best racers in the country, conquering both his local and international competitors. He was a sight to behold.

As his wife, the last thing she wanted was to embarrass him.

Jian Jia had dreamt to be a racer who could walk side by side with him. However, her physical condition had prevented her from getting a racing license. As such, that dream was only meant to stay in her mind.

Yet, she wasn't discouraged. For as long as she could wear her uniform and drive right past him, that was enough for her.

It wasn't like he cared for her anyway.

Wincing at the thought, she shrugged. After six years of chasing after him, she had gotten used to Zhai Yaotian's indifference. The loneliness, although painful, had numbed her completely, and she couldn't be bothered.

The only thing she was scared about was the continuous pangs from her heart and how they had grown worse and worse by the day.

If she had died like Hsu Lanyi, what would happen to Zhai Yaotian?

Who'd take care of his cold self? Who'd warn him about his racing habits? Who'd be there to love him...to care for him? Her lips tilted downwards. If she really had died right now...

Would he choose a cemetery for her and have 'My Wife' engraved on her stone?

Would he even mourn for her death?

Jian Jia parked the car by the finish line, taking off her helmet. That was enough for the day. Her mind in a complete daze, she walked into the changing room to grab her clothes.

Although the race engine had been music to her ears before, she couldn't find it in herself to stand it any longer. Her heart clenched in response as if agreeing with her, much to her disappointment.

As she came out of the changing room, a burst of loud, crisp laughter came from the reception hall in the far right.

Curious, she walked over, only to wince in disbelief.

Zhai Yaotian was raising his phone up to his face. His lips were spread out into a wide grin as his eyes glittered in enthusiasm. The young girl sitting right beside him giggled in response.

She had never seen him so affectionate before...at least, with her.

For Hsu Xuanyi, on the other hand, it must've been the only behavior she could actually stand. After all, the woman was none other than Hsu Lanyi's younger sister. Her hands clenched into fists.

Ever since Hsu Lanyi had passed away in an accident during the race, she had no one else to rely on. Being Zhai Yaotian's assistant, she could only stay by his side, and he let her.

Despite her enthusiasm, everyone knew why he had asked her to stay by his side as his assistant despite rejecting many other female applicants. It's because the young woman looked too much like his ex-lover. Even Jian Jia knew of it.

Her heart thumped painfully in her chest.

Raising her hand to cover her ears, she turned to the other side of the hallway, determined to leave the both of them alone.

The last thing she needed to hear was Hsu Xuanyi's bright laughter, and she certainly didn't want to see her husband being so gentle to other women when he couldn't even look at her in the eye.

Tears rolled down her face, splotching the carpets beneath her, but she didn't care. All she wanted was to stray away from that scene, hoping and praying that it would all come to pass.

However, as the sky gradually turned dark, the image was still fresh in her mind. As she sat in the office of the club, she tapped her fingers onto the desk, not bothering to go back.

After all, wherever she went–home or office, she was alone. There was no difference. At least here, she had a reason for it.

Suddenly, a knock came from her door.

Jian Jia raised her head to see Hsu Xuanyi walking in. She was beautiful with her delicate makeup and short skirt. The woman was practically the spitting image of her older sister, if not for her more youthful glow.

"Ms. Jia, it's been a long time." Without waiting for an invitation, she sat down on the sofa.

Instead of answering her, she simply gazed at the racing manual in her hand. the last thing she needed was to converse with the uninvited woman in front of her.

"Are you angry that I didn't address you as Mrs. Zhai? I was supposed to, but Mr. Yaotian had told me that the only person I could address as Mrs. Zhai is my late sister Lanyi." Her smile became more and more fake. "I hope you don't mind."

Taking her silence as a form of encouragement, the younger woman proceeded to talk even more.

Jian Jia frowned, and the grip she had on the racing manual tightened even further. Without waiting for more comments, she stood up and walked straight towards the office door.

"If you have anything else to say, just say it," she said coldly. "Unlike you, I don't have all the time in the world."

The perfume wafting around Hsu Xuanyi was enough to make her dizzy. The entire office stunk of her scent.

"I..." The young woman blinked in surprise.

Not taking her 'no' for an answer, she quickly chased after Jian Jia, following closely behind her like a dog in tow.

"You know," she started speaking. "For the past three years, Mr. Yaotian didn't go to the cemetery to visit my sister. Instead, he stood by my side and taught me everything I needed to know. You, however, have been living in great solitude for so long. I pity you."

At her words, Jian Jia stopped in her tracks.

The disdain and ridicule in Hsu Xuanyi's words were obvious, but she wasn't angry. Instead, she raised her brow and stated, "I've never wanted to compete with the dead, and for you, you've obviously got no one else to rely on. A pity. In the future, once you find a husband for your own, Yaotian wouldn't need to work so hard."

Her face was calm and placid, and Hsu Xuanyi clenched her fists in response.

"In the future? You're the one who chased the man for years, and even when you got what you wanted, he couldn't even look in your direction!" she spat. "Don't you think you're the one who's shameless?"

"What did you just say?"

Suddenly, a familiar sound of footsteps came from the other end of the corridor. A thought occurred to the younger woman, and she hid a smile on her lips.

"Look, I know you hate my sister, but she's already dead! What have I ever done with you?" Hsu Xuanyi gave a heart-wrenching scream, breaking into sobs. "Do you really hate me that much?"

"I'm not hearing any more of your nonsense." Jian Jia scowled, pulling the younger woman's hand, and was just about to leave.

However, instead of saying anything more, Hsu Xuanyi suddenly let go. Her entire body fell backward.

"Ah!" Her eyes widened in surprise as she rolled down the stairs.

"What are you–" Surprised, Jian Jia was about to go down to see how the younger woman was doing when someone had pushed her from behind. "Ah!"

Bang!