Upon hearing this, Ryan Brooks frowned, rubbing his hands together as he said, "Isn't this a bit much? We just met and..."

"Stop dawdling. If you're a man, get in the car." Alice Reed said as she opened the driver's door and got in.

Ryan Brooks opened the passenger door. Glancing at the car's interior, he found the modifications were extremely aggressive. To reduce weight, all comfort features had been stripped out, leaving only two racing seats in the front, along with the steering wheel, gearbox, and other essential driving components. There were also things like a turbo gauge and a roll cage.

Ryan Brooks was a bit surprised by the modifications, but he didn't show it.

He sat down in the racing seat, started taking off his clothes, and looked around the car. He said to Alice Reed, "This car is so cramped, and the seats can't move. It's a bit hard to maneuver in here."

Alice Reed watched as Ryan Brooks lifted the hem of his T-shirt, her lips trembling slightly, and asked, "You... what are you doing?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to show me your driving skills? Go ahead." Ryan Brooks raised his eyebrows, continuing to take off his clothes.

Alice Reed was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood what Ryan Brooks meant. Her eyes widened as she grabbed Ryan Brooks's hand to stop him from undressing, shouting, "I meant my driving skills behind the wheel, not... not that kind of 'car shaking'!"

"Uh, your driving skills? You should've made that clear. I was wondering why you'd do this on our first meeting—it really gave me a shock."

Ryan Brooks let go of his shirt hem, patted his chest, and put on a look of being startled.

Alice Reed was speechless, thinking to herself, "He took advantage of me physically and verbally. Even if he helped me just now, I have to get back at him. Once the car gets going, he'll see what I'm made of."

Without another word, Alice Reed started up the old Jetta. The exhaust made a throaty rumble, instantly spiking adrenaline.

Hearing the sound as the car started, Ryan Brooks immediately judged that the engine had been swapped for a V8 twin-turbo. The entire intake, exhaust, cooling, and other systems had all been upgraded. Aside from its appearance, this old Jetta was completely transformed.

"Buckle up."

After ignition, Alice Reed's eyes became focused, as if she were a different person. She floored the gas, and the old Jetta shot forward, racing down the road.

The speedometer climbed rapidly, soon reaching 140 km/h. Keep in mind, this was in the city, where the speed limit was 60 km/h. 140 was insanely fast—everything outside was flying past the car in a blur.

"So, how does it feel? Pretty thrilling, right?"

Alice Reed controlled the old Jetta, a look of excitement and pride curling at her lips. She glanced at Ryan Brooks beside her, her eyes suddenly filled with surprise and disbelief.

She had expected Ryan Brooks to be pale with fear, begging her to slow down. But to her astonishment, Ryan Brooks was calmly looking out the window at the scenery, his expression composed, as if the car was going 40 instead of 140.

"How can this be? He must be scared stiff. Yes, that's it—he's definitely scared stiff."

Chapter 005: Bicycle God

The car slowed at a deserted intersection, then turned into an alley.

The scene ahead changed. Bright lights shone everywhere, all from car headlights. On both sides of the street, dozens of cars were parked—at least fifty—including modified cars and supercars.

"Street racers!"

Ryan Brooks raised an eyebrow, instantly realizing what the goth girl in the driver's seat was up to. No wonder she had modified her car so aggressively—she was part of the street racing crowd.

Alice Reed seemed to have some reputation in the racing scene. As soon as her old Jetta arrived, it drew everyone's attention. Men and women alike gathered around.

Alice Reed got out of the car. A young man with a cold expression laughed, slapped the Jetta's hood hard, and shouted, "You're ten minutes late. I thought Miss Nie was scared and wouldn't dare to show up."

"David Thompson, I, Alice Reed, am not afraid of anyone, least of all you." Alice Reed shot back at the man called David Thompson, snorting coldly. "Cut the crap. Are you ready? If you are, let's start the race."

"Of course I'm ready. Just get ready to lose tonight."

David Thompson sneered, raised his hand, and gestured. A man in a racing suit with a cold expression stepped out from the crowd.

"George Washington." Seeing the man appear, Alice Reed's face changed. She pointed at David Thompson and said, "David Thompson, you're shameless! You actually brought in a professional driver, and a Japanese one at that!"

"When we set up this race, we never said the driver had to be me. What, are you scared?" David Thompson shrugged, looking smugly at Alice Reed, and sneered, "If you're scared, just admit defeat. I won't even take the one million bet—just call me 'good big brother' and that's enough."

Hearing this, the lackeys behind David Thompson burst out laughing in perfect sync.

Alice Reed gritted her teeth and said defiantly, "Just a little Japanese guy? Like I'd be scared of him. Let's race!"

"Hold on."

David Thompson stopped Alice Reed, who was about to get back in the car, looking arrogant as he clapped his hands and shouted, "Bring out my ride for tonight!"

Vroom vroom vroom...