Adam pinched the bridge of his nose, realizing he'd truly forgotten: Nathan Lynch was back. The Alvarez and Lynch families were the most prominent in Mercity, their histories going back generations. Naturally, Adam and Nathan had grown up as close friends. Nathan's return was a big deal, and now Carly, Benjamin, and Melody were all waiting at Club 1996. Melody's cheerful voice chimed in through the phone: "Adam, hurry up and come!"

Melody had always liked Nathan. Her dream was to marry him, but Nathan's high standards made it nearly impossible for any woman to catch his eye.

Adam replied, "I'll be there soon." As he stood, he wondered why it bothered him so much that Celine was out looking for other men. Why was he even angry? She was just a girl from the countryside, someone with nothing better to do than chase men—shallow, that was all she was. She couldn't compare to Carly. If she wanted to play, so be it. Let her play with whoever she wanted.

That night, a Ferrari sped down the road with a roar, its sleek frame cutting through the air like lightning. Robin leaned back in the passenger seat, enjoying the breeze. "Celine, where did you get this car?"

Celine, wearing oversized black sunglasses, was at the wheel. The wind whipped through her long hair, making it dance wildly as she drove with a carefree and confident air. "Adam gave it to me."

At the mention of money, Robin's annoyance toward Adam eased slightly. "Adam might be a complete jerk, but he's definitely generous. I mean, huge checks, sports cars, and houses—he gives them all away without a second thought."

Celine's lips curled into a faint smile. That was true enough.

Just then, a soft ding sounded from behind them. A silver Lamborghini, clearly modified, sped up to catch them. Celine glanced in her rearview mirror and saw the car pull alongside. She recognized it immediately. Many heirs of top families loved fast cars, racing, and customizing their rides.

Now side-by-side with her Ferrari, the Lamborghini's driver—a strikingly handsome man—looked at her with amused interest. "Hey, pretty lady, I don't remember seeing you around Mercity before. How about exchanging phone numbers?"

Celine hadn't expected a casual nighttime drive to turn into an unsolicited flirtation. Without responding, she turned her gaze back to the road and pressed harder on the accelerator. The Ferrari surged forward, cutting through the night like an arrow.

"Wow!" Robin shouted, thrilled in the passenger seat. "Celine, that was so cool!"

Celine arched an eyebrow. Back when she was abroad, she'd dabbled in street racing. Shaking off a challenger was no big deal. But then her smile froze. The Lamborghini was catching up again, its driver raising an elegant eyebrow and flashing a playful grin. His expression said it all: he found this incredibly interesting.

Celine didn't say anything, and she pressed the accelerator again. The Ferrari responded with another burst of speed. But the Lamborghini remained relentless, chasing her down the road. The sight of two luxury sports cars weaving through traffic turned heads everywhere.

They soon reached a crossroads. With a calculated move, Celine faked a turn, causing the Lamborghini to adjust to follow. In the same instant, she spun the wheel sharply and darted into a narrow alley. The Lamborghini attempted to follow, but a loud bang sounded as a massive truck barreled into the intersection, blocking its path.

Nathan had no choice but to stop his car. He watched helplessly as the Ferrari disappeared down the alley. Before it vanished, a slender, fair hand emerged from the driver's side window. The lady gave him a thumbs-up—then turned it upside down.

Nathan couldn't help but smile. After years away from Mercity, he had finally encountered someone intriguing.