216: Chapter 216 Supercar Club

The morning sun had not yet fully spread, but the garage door of the hillside estate was already open.

Li Xin had changed into a light grey quick-dry top, with a thin black jacket over it.

His pants and shoes were sporty, unassuming, yet comfortable, ensuring he wouldn't feel restricted sitting in a low-chassis car.

When he walked to the garage entrance, the custom black Bugatti had already been moved to the open space outside, waiting for him.

Chen Hu stood on the driver's side and handed him the car keys.

"Boss, the tank is full, and the tire pressure has been adjusted."

"Good."

Li Xin took the keys, sat inside, and adjusted the seat and rearview mirror.

He pressed the start button, and the engine sound rose from behind, low and steady.

A red Ferrari 812 was parked outside the gate, with Luo Maifa in the driver's seat; the window was down, and half his face was poking out.

He wore dark sunglasses and a matching thin red jacket, exuding a flashy vibe from head to toe.

"Let's go." He gestured to Li Xin with his chin, then rolled the window back up.

The two cars left the estate one after the other, driving along the coastal road toward the racetrack.

It was still early, and there weren't many cars on the road.

The sea was on the left, grey-blue in color, with sunlight peeking through the clouds, spreading a layer of fine white specks across the water.

After driving for about forty minutes, they merged onto the highway, and after another stretch, turned onto a side road leading to the mountains.

The roadsides turned into vast lawns and neatly trimmed shrubs, with the occasional scattered large villa; the iron gates were tightly closed, and the yards were deep, making it impossible to see the full view of the houses inside.

The entrance to the racetrack was a black iron gate, with an inconspicuous metal plate embedded in the gatepost, engraved with the track's name and founding year.

The security guard at the gate wore a dark uniform and stood outside the guard booth, holding a tablet.

Seeing their cars approach, he glanced at the license plates and tapped on the tablet, and the iron gate slid open slowly.

Luo Maifa drove in first, and Li Xin followed behind.

The scale of the racetrack was much larger than he had expected.

The main grandstand was a three-story structure with a grey-white concrete facade and dark glass windows.

The pit lane and starting grid in front of the grandstand were neatly arranged, with the ground paved in dark grey asphalt and clear, vibrant markings.

In the distance was a winding track that rose and fell with the terrain, and one could see tire walls and guardrails erected next to the distant curves.

There were already quite a few cars in the parking lot.

Li Xin took a glance and saw three McLarens, two Porsches, and a silver-grey Aston Martin—different from the one last night, this one had its wheels changed and was likely an old car that had been on the track.

A Ferrari, a Lamborghini, and a Pagani were parked near the entrance to the pit lane, with a few people standing around, mostly dressed in casual sportswear, holding helmets and water.

Luo Maifa parked the car and walked over, taking off his sunglasses and hanging them on his collar.

"Chen Jingming is over at the VIP lounge; let's go over and say hello first."

"Sure."

The two passed through the starting grid and took the passage behind the pit lane to the second floor.

The VIP lounge occupied half the floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the first turn of the track, offering a wide view of the entire straight and the complete route to the turn entrance.

The room was furnished with several sets of light-colored sofas and low tables, and in the corner, there was a small bar with an ice bucket and champagne glasses, along with a coffee machine emitting white steam.

Chen Jingming stood by the window, holding a cup of coffee and talking to someone.

Seeing Li Xin enter, he put down his coffee cup, walked over, and reached out.

"Mr. Li, long time no see."

His speaking pace was unhurried.

"The last time we met was at that wine tasting event last year."

"Mr. Chen has a good memory."

"Of course, I still remember the feeling of that '82 Latour you brought back then."

Chen Jingming smiled and stepped aside.

"This is Mr. Zhao, who works in high-end real estate development. Mr. Zhao, this is Li Xin, the expert in the collection circle I told you about."

Mr. Zhao was older than Chen Jingming, around fifty, with a lean build, wearing thin-rimmed metal glasses and a dark casual suit without a tie.

He reached out and shook hands with Li Xin.

"It's an honor."

"Mr. Zhao is too kind."

The three stood by the window and chatted for a while.

Mr. Zhao asked Li Xin if he had been following the market for overseas auctions recently.

Li Xin mentioned a few things about the small auctions in Europe recently without going into detail, stopping right there.

Mr. Zhao nodded after listening and did not press for more.

Chen Jingming brought the topic back.

"Today's arrangement is as follows: free laps in the morning, unlimited laps, but safety first; everyone is here to have fun.

Lunch is arranged at the outdoor BBQ area at noon, and from two to four in the afternoon, there will be a private collection exchange meeting. Anything can be exchanged—watches, antiques, red wine, anything. Do you have anything you need to prepare in advance?"

"No, I brought a coin."

"Alright then." Chen Jingming raised his wrist to check his watch.

"It's about time to go down. The first group starts at ten; which group do you want to run with?"

"Whatever, just put me in the same group as Luo Maifa."

"I'll have someone arrange it."

Li Xin went downstairs and took his helmet out of the car.

It was matte black, with no sponsor logos on the sides, looking clean and sharp.

When he held the helmet, he could feel the chill of the lining, as he had taken it out and left it in a ventilated place for the night before leaving in the morning.

Luo Maifa was already waiting at the starting grid, leaning against the door of his Ferrari and talking to the person next to him.

Seeing him approach, he raised his hand to greet him.

"Brother Xin, we are third in the first group. There's a McLaren and a Porsche in front of us, both experienced hands, so just follow them."

"Got it."

The starting grid was busy for about ten minutes.

Staff placed indicator lights and cones at the track entrance, and two uniformed coaches stood on the side, briefly explaining safety points to the drivers.

It was nothing more than the usual rules: speed control in curves, division of overtaking zones, and what the yellow flag meant.

Li Xin stood on the periphery, listening from start to finish.

He knew most of the content in his heart, but he didn't lose focus.

At ten o'clock sharp, the red light turned green.

The lead McLaren darted out first, its engine sound exceptionally bright on the empty track, the low idle speed suddenly peaking and tearing out a sharp roar.

The silver Porsche followed closely behind, then Luo Maifa's Ferrari, and at the end was Li Xin's Bugatti.

Driving out of the curve at low speed, the Bugatti's body was very stable.

The suspension tuning was on the softer side, and the first turn was completed with smoothness exceeding expectations.

A light tap on the accelerator, the revs rose, the car body sank slightly, firmly gripping the road surface.

The total length of the track was just over three kilometers, with over a dozen curves.

Li Xin kept a safe speed throughout, not pressing the accelerator hard, and never overtaking in the curves.

His gaze was locked on the taillights of Luo Maifa's Ferrari in front, keeping a distance of about five car lengths, and he steadily followed for the entire lap.

After running a few laps in a row, he steered to slow down and drove into the pit lane entrance.

He parked the car, turned off the engine, and took off his helmet, placing it on the passenger seat.

He hadn't sweated much, just a mark on his hair from the helmet.

Luo Maifa's car hadn't returned yet, so he leaned against the side of the pit lane and waited for a while.

In the distance, a red Ferrari turned into view, its speed slowly dropping, and its line into the pit was steady.

"How was it? Did it feel okay?" Luo Maifa took off his helmet and shook his hair.

"Not bad, the track is paved quite well, and the grip is good."

"They maintain the track asphalt regularly here, repaving it at the beginning of every year; otherwise, there would be seams after running for a long time."

The two walked to the rest area, grabbed two bottles of water, and chose a table with a sun umbrella to sit down.

There was champagne chilling in an ice bucket; Luo Maifa opened a bottle, filled two glasses, and pushed one over to him.

Li Xin took the glass but didn't touch it, just placing it on the table.

The rest area gradually became lively.

A few people who had just finished running the track gathered at a table to chat, some holding phones to take pictures of the supercars parked neatly nearby, while others huddled in the corner drinking coffee or flipping through magazines.

No one was shouting, everyone kept their voices down, and the overall atmosphere was quiet.

Near noon, Chen Jingming walked down from the second floor.

He was in dark sportswear, clutching a black notebook.

He sat opposite Li Xin and placed the notebook gently on the table.

"Most of the people here today are in industry or involved in collecting. If you are interested, I can introduce you to a few people.

Many have just returned from abroad and have some private collections circulating privately."

"Sure, I'm not in a rush to collect things, I'll just walk around and look first."

In terms of net worth, these people couldn't compare to him at all, and their collections were even further behind; anything he casually brought out could shock everyone.

But he didn't reject the other party's kindness, as he had come here to relax anyway.

Chen Jingming nodded gently.

"Understood, that's my thought as well. Everyone is just here for a simple exchange."

"With your ability, there's no need to take the initiative to strike up a conversation. Just by standing here, people will naturally come over to talk to you about collections."

Luo Maifa took a sip of champagne on the side, not interjecting.

Before long, a tall, thin man walked over.

He wore a light blue shirt, looked to be in his early fifties, and had his hair cut extremely short.

He held a coffee in his hand, stopped beside Chen Jingming, and his gaze landed on Li Xin.

"Is this Mr. Li?"

"Yes." Chen Jingming stood up and stepped aside to make room.

"This is Mr. Zhang, who deals in high-end watches and spends his time running between Europe and Southeast Asia."

Mr. Zhang extended his hand; on his fingers were two rings, one a plain silver band and the other set with a flat sapphire.

"Mr. Li, I hear you've collected some good things."

"It doesn't amount to much, I just like to hunt for them myself."

"The process of hunting is a pleasure in itself." Mr. Zhang sat down nearby and placed his coffee cup on the table.

"I've returned from Europe and recently Acquired a batch of 19th-century French and Switzerland pocket watches. A few are enamel with pearl inlays, and they are in good condition. If you're interested, you can take a look another day."

"Oh? 19th-century enamel with pearl inlays? That perfectly coincides with the peak of Geneva craftsmanship. Just hearing the description makes me imagine the delicate miniatures. I must go see them another day and, while I'm at it, sponge a pot of good tea off you."

"You're too kind; they're just small pieces I happened to acquire. I would be very happy for you to come; I'll prepare some aged tea by then, and I'd love to learn from you."

"Haha, then I won't stand on ceremony; I'll make a special trip another day to sponge some tea."

Li Xin laughed heartily, and after a few moments of casual chat, they each went their separate ways.

The outdoor barbecue at noon was set up on the open-air terrace next to the lounge area.

Two rows of grills were lined up, and chefs in white uniforms and tall hats kept turning the steaks and bone-in sausages on the grill pans.

The aroma of the barbecue, wrapped in the scent of charcoal and charred fat, drifted far away on the hot breeze.

Several rows of stainless steel insulated food warmers stood in the serving area, filled to the brim with various dishes.

A large platter of shucked oysters lay on crushed ice, garnished with a few slices of lemon.

Caviar was served in small bowls, accompanied by soda crackers and sour cream.

A whole roasted lamb leg was set on an iron rack, its skin roasted to a shiny golden yellow. Fat kept dripping down onto the charcoal, sending up wisps of white smoke.

Li Xin took a steak and some roasted vegetables and sat down in a spot near the edge. The wind blew in from the sea, carrying a mixture of salt and charcoal scents.

At this moment, Mr. Zhao came over with a plate and sat down next to Li Xin. "Mr. Li, are you alone?"

"Yes, Luo Maifa went to another table."

Mr. Zhao nodded, cut a small piece of lamb, and chewed it. He finished that bite unhurriedly, wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin, and then began to speak.

"Mr. Li, if I may be so bold as to ask, I heard you have items from the Mughal period in your collection. Is that true?"

"I have some. Not many."

"I've also been looking at Mughal artifacts recently." Mr. Zhao's tone was very steady, as if he were chatting about something trivial.

"Last month at a small auction in London, I saw a set of late Mughal jewelry, set with rubies. The condition was good, but the price was bid up beyond my expectations, so I didn't take it."

"The market in London has been a bit high lately."

"Then, do you think it's appropriate to buy now?" Mr. Zhao asked very directly, without any probing in his tone; he just wanted to know the answer.

Li Xin finished the last piece of steak, put down his knife and fork, and picked up his glass to take a sip of water.

"For Mughal items, those in good condition are becoming fewer and fewer. Prices are trending upward, but not everything is rising. It depends on the craftsmanship, the provenance, and the condition. If there is a complete record of provenance, it's worth taking even at a higher price."

After listening, Mr. Zhao didn't bring it up again, turning instead to chat about his feelings on the track, saying his car wasn't tuned quite right today and he planned to have the mechanics look at it later. Li Xin responded briefly, not pulling the topic back.

At two in the afternoon, the private exchange meeting began.

The event moved to a small conference room in the innermost part of the lounge area.

The long table was covered with dark velvet, and the seats were arranged according to the order of check-in.

Li Xin sat by the window; to his right was a middle-aged man wearing a fedora, and the seat to his left was still empty.

Chen Jingming first went on stage to give a brief opening, the gist of which was to thank everyone for coming, stating that the principle of exchange was voluntary, not to use market price as the sole reference, and to prioritize personal connection. After finishing, he stepped aside and let the people below communicate freely.

Mr. Zhang was the first to stand up. He took a wooden box from under his seat and opened it; inside lay a silver pocket watch. The watch case was enamel-painted with a landscape, and the edge was inlaid with a circle of tiny pearls. He placed the wooden box in the middle of the table for everyone to pass around and examine.

After being passed around, it reached Li Xin's hands. He opened the case to look at the movement; the polishing of the gears was very fine, the pattern on the balance wheel was still visible, and there was no obvious rust. He closed the lid and passed it to the next person.

When it was Li Xin's turn, he took a small velvet bag from his pocket, opened it, and poured out a gold coin onto the velvet cloth. It was golden, less than three centimeters in diameter, with a circle of embossed text on the edge in ancient Persian. He placed the gold coin in the center of the velvet cloth.

"A gold coin from the Mughal period, in perfect condition, with clear text." He said simply.

Several people took turns looking at the gold coin; some used a magnifying glass to carefully examine the marks on the edge, while others just weighed it in their hands.

Finally, a middle-aged man sitting at the other end of the table, wearing a gray fedora, took a silver medal, placed it on the velvet cloth, and pushed it toward Li Xin.

"See if this is suitable."

The silver medal was in relief, with a theme of a common religious scene in medieval Europe. The background color was dark, and the surface had slight wear, but the edges of the relief were still there and not worn smooth.

Li Xin picked it up to examine it. On the back was a line of tiny Latin inscriptions, written in a neat script.

"This works." Li Xin pushed the gold coin over.

After getting the silver medal in his hand, he looked at it again under the light. The inscription on the back was a common religious blessing. The engraving wasn't top-tier, but it was well-preserved. He put the silver medal into the velvet bag and returned it to his pocket.

For the rest of the afternoon, Li Xin didn't take the initiative to find others to trade with. He sat in his seat drinking water, occasionally chatting with the person next to him, asking about unrelated matters.

Chen Jingming walked over and sat for a while, asking with a smile, "How do you feel about today?"

Li Xin returned the smile.

"It's quite nice; it's rare to steal half a day of leisure. This event is interesting; it's much more comfortable than wandering around aimlessly outside."

"That's good; all the preparation for today was worth it."

Chen Jingming didn't stay long and went to greet others.

Around three o'clock, the wind started to pick up outside, blowing the edges of the umbrellas in the lounge area. Li Xin glanced out the window; the clouds were thickening.

Luo Maifa came down from upstairs and sat down next to him.

"Are we about done? I need to go to your manor later; I'll move those paintings there to store, for use on the wedding day."

"Sure, just follow me in your car."

The private exchange meeting lasted until four o'clock. When Chen Jingming announced the end of the event, everyone began to leave one after another.

Some stayed to continue drinking tea and chatting, while others went to the garage to prepare to leave. Li Xin greeted Chen Jingming and went downstairs to get his car.

On the way back, the two cars drove one after the other, not going very fast. The clouds in the sky pressed lower, changing from grayish-white to light gray. The wind blew from the side, and the car body occasionally felt a slight lateral pressure.

Arriving at the manor gate, the iron gate was already open. Luo Maifa parked his Ferrari in the courtyard, got out, walked to the trunk, opened it, and moved out two long, rectangular picture frames wrapped in bubble wrap.

"Just these two. Su Wan picked them out and said to place them at the entrance of the wedding venue. Please keep them for me for now; I'll come get them Acquired."

Li Xin took the frames and carried them into the house. The frames weren't heavy, about two or three jin each, but they were nearly a meter long, making them awkward to carry horizontally, so he stood them upright against the wall in the entryway.

"Is it okay to put them here?"

"Sure, just don't bump the corners." Luo Maifa brushed the dust off his hands and stood at the doorway without walking inside.

"Then I'll be going first; I still have to go to the hotel to confirm the sound system tonight."

"Drive safely."

Luo Maifa left. Li Xin stood in the entryway and adjusted the angle of the two paintings to make them lean against the wall more securely. Then he went upstairs, washed his hands, and sat in the study for a while.

Outside the window, the sky darkened, and the wind was still blowing. The leaves of the banyan tree in the courtyard flipped in the wind, revealing their grayish-white undersides.