Chapter 157: Highway Chase

As the year drew to a close and the new one approached, darkness fell rapidly over Binhai City. Before long, the night officially descended, and streetlights began to cast a dim, yellowish glow, illuminating the asphalt roads.

The number of pedestrians on the streets did not decrease with the arrival of night. On a weekend evening, the area was teeming with shoppers. Crowds bustled back and forth, and jaywalkers frequently darted across the road.

Under these circumstances, Lin Yu found it quite tricky to handle the situation after discovering that a Mercedes-Benz, suspected of belonging to Liang Tian's subordinates, was tailing them.

Stepping on the gas to shake them off was clearly out of the question, and sitting ducks would inevitably be captured. If he fell into Liang Tian's hands, not only would Xiao Qiangwei suffer, but he, Qi Yue, and Yang Zhilin would also undoubtedly be implicated.

"What should I do?"

While driving, Lin Yu furrowed his brow and pondered. Although relying entirely on his own strength to shake off the pursuers was possible, the risk was far too high, and it would not provide a permanent solution.

Should he call Hu Rongchang directly? This group had not actually done anything yet and could not be considered criminals, making it a difficult case to handle.

"Sister Qiangwei, turn around and see if that Mercedes behind us is Liang Tian's car." Thinking of this, Lin Yu spoke up.

Hearing this, Xiao Qiangwei shuddered uncontrollably. Liang Tian and his thugs were like an inescapable nightmare to her, and she was terrified at heart.

"Don't be afraid, Sister Qiangwei. With Lin Yu here, nothing will happen." Seeing Xiao Qiangwei looking identical to a frightened white rabbit, the slightly more mature Yang Zhilin offered words of comfort.

Meanwhile, classmate Qi Xiaoyue, who was rather carefree, remained deeply immersed in a beautiful dream. In her dream, she was strolling with Lin Yu through Provence, the world-famous hometown of lavender, experiencing the breathtaking fragrance of the flowers together. The dream was so sweet that the girl still wore her signature triumphant smile in her sleep.

At the same time, Xiao Qiangwei, whose trembling hand was being held by Yang Zhilin, bravely turned to look back. With just one glance, she immediately confirmed that the Mercedes indeed belonged to Liang Tian.

"Yes, it's Liang Tian's car. What should we do now?" the girl asked timidly, her trembling voice revealing the terror in her heart.

"It's fine, nothing will happen. Don't worry, Sister Qiangwei," Lin Yu consoled her before casting a glance at Qi Yue, who was sleeping so sweetly.

Initially, he had wanted to have Qi Yue contact Qi Dachun, utilizing the latter's formidable influence to suppress Liang Tian's persistent gang. However, seeing the girl's serene sleeping face, he simply couldn't bear to wake her. Between rationality and sensibility, he made the unprecedented choice of sensibility.

"Silly girl, heaven as my witness, I cherish you. The kind of cherished love held in the palm of one's hand."

Gazing tenderly at the girl, Lin Yu took out his phone and called Lian Jin, instructing him to gather his men and wait for him near the seaside.

Doing this was somewhat risky, far from an absolute foolproof strategy, and might even plunge his group into danger. Yet, a sudden surge of fervor overtook Lin Yu; he wanted to use Liang Tian's subordinates to test the capabilities of Lian Jin and his men.

He figured that with over thirty people on his side, they ought to be able to handle four or five opponents!

On the other hand, he stubbornly decided not to wake the sleeping girl.

Glancing at the tailing black Mercedes through the rearview mirror, Lin Yu noticed that the car was simply following steadily behind. The occupants probably thought they hadn't been noticed and intended to make their move suddenly after he parked.

Having reached this conclusion, Lin Yu tentatively slowed down a bit and found that the vehicle indeed merely trailed along without attempting to overtake.

With that realization, he had a plan in mind. He led the trailing Mercedes on a detour for over ten minutes before finally turning onto the coastal highway leading to the sea.

Unlike the bustling downtown area, this section of the coastal highway saw very few vehicles and pedestrians. With the road conditions changing, Lin Yu took the opportunity to accelerate.

The reason he chose to resolve the matter by the sea was his intention to settle Xiao Qiangwei in the relatively safer Baishan Cadre Sanatorium.

A minor hermit hides in the wilderness, a mid-level hermit in the city, and a great hermit in the imperial court. Arranging for her to stay in a quiet sanatorium where almost nobody paid attention could be considered hiding in the wilderness.

Shortly after entering the wide coastal highway, Lian Jin called to inform Lin Yu that they were in position, right by the seaside where the coastal highway ended. The group numbered thirty-six, with about ten of them possessing some martial arts background.

Feeling that this lineup was strong enough to crush even Jet Li and Jackie Chan if they teamed up, Lin Yu finally set his mind at ease.

Just at that moment, however, an unexpected turn of events occurred. Finding the road deserted, the black Mercedes behind suddenly accelerated and swerved in front of the white BMW. It was blatantly attempting to force the BMW to a stop.

If he allowed himself to be forced to a halt, the consequences would be unimaginably disastrous. There was no way Lin Yu would let them succeed so easily. Frankly, having recently gained experience driving a Ferrari at speeds exceeding two hundred kilometers per hour, he retained a certain level of confidence in his driving skills.

Facing the black Mercedes that had suddenly cut in front of him, Lin Yu did not panic. He gently tapped the accelerator and suddenly decelerated, instantly widening the gap between the two cars by relying on the Mercedes' delayed reaction.

Taking advantage of this seven-to-eight-meter distance, he spun the steering wheel toward the wider left lane while simultaneously shifting into fifth gear and slamming his foot hard onto the floor.

The white BMW surged forward like a swift white lion in the night, surpassing the length of the Mercedes in less than ten seconds. Furthermore, since it had initiated acceleration first, it grew faster and faster, rapidly widening the distance from the Mercedes.

Seeing the black Mercedes falling further and further behind, Lin Yu smiled faintly. This kind of speed and passion was the rhythm he loved most.

Having easily evaded the interception by the Mercedes, Yang Zhilin and Xiao Qiangwei also felt a great weight lift from their chests, suppressing much of their nervous tension. Still, the two girls remained somewhat fearful since they were unaware of Lin Yu's next move, especially with the black Mercedes stubbornly continuing to trail them.

Compared to the asphalt roads in the city center, the coastal highway was much wider, roughly three lanes across, and completely devoid of traffic and pedestrians after nightfall. Thus, Lin Yu drove with considerable ease, running straight through any red lights he encountered.

The BMW's power delivery favored mid-to-high RPMs. Combined with the low roar of the engine, it gave the car an extra touch of a sports car. Coupled with the unique inverted-L Tiptronic transmission, as long as the throttle was properly controlled to maintain mid-to-high RPMs, the driving experience was absolute bliss.

Moreover, since this BMW had been modified, it felt even more like a sports car. Lin Yu fully understood the saying: "Drive a BMW, ride in a Mercedes."

When he kept the speed steady at around one hundred and sixty kilometers per hour, the lagging Mercedes refused to be outdone. Through gradual acceleration, it managed to close the distance between the two vehicles significantly.

Seeing the Mercedes in the rearview mirror giving chase relentlessly, Lin Yu hardened his heart and shifted into the highest sixth gear. With only a few kilometers left to their destination, he wanted to make a high-speed dash straight to the end. Doing so would also make the waiting crew look at him with newfound respect.

Things progressed as he anticipated. Once he pushed the speed past one hundred and ninety kilometers per hour, the Mercedes, having already exhausted its utmost limits, could barely match his pace with zero possibility of catching up.

Watching the unyielding streetlights, landscaped trees, and buildings or construction sites along the roadside blur backward at breakneck speed, not only did Lin Yu find it thrilling, but Yang Zhilin and Xiao Qiangwei—two typically quiet girls—also felt an intense surge of excitement and exhilaration.

Inside the white BMW, only classmate Qi Yue remained blissfully unaware, sleeping soundly and occasionally emitting lovely murmurs in her dreams.

Yet, crises always strike unawares. Just as Lin Yu was driving right up to an intersection, a black Passat B5 suddenly pulled out from the road on his left.