My Ex-Boyfriend Became the Back of My Car - Chapter 1

Under the dim light, Tang Zhou sat eating instant noodles while watching a TV drama. Suddenly, a news bulletin interrupted the program. “We interrupt with breaking news. At 2:30 AM on July 3rd, a car accident occurred on the 11th Street of Jiangqiao Avenue, resulting in one fatality and one injury.”

“Initial reports indicate the accident was caused by a drunk truck driver speeding and colliding with a passenger vehicle traveling normally. The truck driver died on impact, while the car driver, though showing signs of life after emergency treatment, has been diagnosed as potentially never regaining consciousness. The injured party is Feng Cang, CEO of the Feng Group… Stay tuned for further updates.”

The name “Feng Cang” struck Tang Zhou like a thunderbolt. His chopsticks froze mid-air, and his gaze snapped toward the TV—but the segment had already ended, the screen shifting to another scene. He blinked. He must have misheard. That bastard Feng Cang would never get into an accident before Tang Zhou himself did. Shaking it off, he resumed eating nonchalantly before cleaning up. As he stood, his foot caught on the table leg, sending a sharp pain through his shin.

Tang Zhou frowned slightly but acted as if nothing happened, tossing the empty noodle cup into the trash. Then his phone rang. His slender fingers swiped across the screen, and Shao Yan’s tearful voice spilled out.

“Tang-Tang, I’m devastated! How could this happen to my idol? In the prime of his life, now he might spend the rest of it in a coma—what’s the difference between that and death?”

“I never got to repay him or even say thank you… Why is fate so cruel?”

Tang Zhou’s heart skipped a beat. He pressed a hand to his chest and asked quietly, “Yan-Yan, which idol are you talking about?” It wasn’t an unreasonable question—Shao Yan had so many idols even she lost track, let alone him. The reply nearly made him drop the phone again.

“My greatest idol, Feng Cang! I’ve told you about him—CEO of the Feng Group, that famously kind philanthropist…” Her words blurred into white noise. Tang Zhou mechanically comforted her like a puppet on strings. Finally, he murmured, “He’ll be fine. He has to be. Heaven favors the good.” Then he hung up. The words were for Shao Yan—and himself. Tang Zhou stared out the window. Outside, rain poured in sheets amid flashes of lightning and thunder. Chilled wind carried droplets to his face. His long lashes glistened with moisture, and the streaks on his cheeks made it seem as though he’d been crying.

From his angle, he had a clear view of a giant screen broadcasting updates on Feng Cang’s accident. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning tore across the sky, lashing toward the screen as if to shatter it. Yet the screen remained intact—the lightning vanished the moment it made contact.

Tang Zhou lowered his gaze. He hadn’t misheard or mis seen. That bastard really was in trouble. His brow furrowed. He tugged at his collar, fingers twitching instinctively toward his pocket for a cigarette—only to grasp empty air. He clicked his tongue. He’d forgotten. He quit smoking long ago. Under that bastard’s nagging. He then entered the bedroom and plopped onto the bed, spotting that adorably ugly dinosaur plushie. Grabbing it absentmindedly, he gave it a little shake and pursed his lips. “Damn it, why won’t you just leave me alone?

Feng Cang, we already broke up—so why does my heart ache when I hear something happened to you? Your absolute scumbag, you liar! I haven’t even settled the score with you yet… How could something happen to you?” Then he buried his face into the plushie’s belly, his voice muffled. “You little troublemaker, tell me—that bastard’s definitely gonna be fine, right?” Just then, his phone rang again. Tang Zhou ignored it—he wasn’t in the mood to take any orders right now. But the ringing persisted relentlessly, as if it would never stop unless he answered.

Tang Zhou lifted his head. His hair, already damp from the rain, had curled even more messily from his earlier actions, tangled up just like his current state of mind. “Can’t you see I’m pissed off right now? Stop rushing me!”

Despite his grumbling, his hands moved quickly—he was afraid that if he delayed even a second longer, his phone would explode from all the notifications. His current phone couldn’t handle much more.

Tang Zhou opened the ride-hailing app and skimmed through the orders, only to freeze in shock. It was already 9 PM. During the day, he drove for work, but in his free time at night, he drew comics. Thanks to his unique art style, he had gained some recognition as a manga artist. As he read the job request on the app, a chill shot up from his feet straight to his brain. Was this someone’s idea of a prank? Pretending he hadn’t seen it, Tang Zhou turned off his phone—only for the ringing to start again immediately. His brows furrowed so tightly they could’ve crushed a fly.

With nothing left to lose, he tapped “Accept Order.” Fine, he’d play along—he wanted to see who was behind this bizarre task. One hand stuffed in his pocket, the other holding a sketch of his own car from the job details, Tang Zhou strode toward the vehicle with an exaggerated swagger, his peripheral vision sharp for any movement around him. Staring at the car, his heart skipped a beat. Another notification chimed from his phone. Suppressing his unease, he followed the instructions—slapping the sketch onto the car’s windshield.

Thankfully, the parking lot was empty, and this spot was a blind spot for cameras—otherwise, people would’ve thought he’d lost his mind. After finishing, Tang Zhou scoffed at himself. He really must be going crazy. What kind of idiot stays up late doing stupid stuff like this?

The next second, his breath hitched. What the hell just happened? Why had the sketch disappeared? He stared at his empty hand, then glanced around—up at the sky, down at the ground—before rubbing his eyes. Was he hallucinating? Had he even been holding anything just now? He must be exhausted. It had to be his imagination.

Tang Zhou hesitated, then turned to leave. “Zhou, Zhou… long time no see.” A voice called out from behind him, freezing him in place. He knew that voice all too well—it was the one he listened to every night just to fall asleep.

But hadn’t he been in a car accident? How was he here? Was he actually okay? Or… had he become a ghost? Was this all his doing? Tang Zhou spun around—but there was no one behind him. The area was completely empty except for him and the cars. As if that voice had been nothing but an illusion.

But now he didn’t think he was hearing things, because he could sense a pair of eyes watching him intently from the shadows. Had Feng Cang really become a ghost? His entire body tensed up, fists clenched tightly, as if ready to charge forward and fight someone at any moment.

“Zhou Zhou, I’m right in front of you,” Feng Cang stared fixedly at Tang Zhou as the car wheel moved slightly. He’s thinner—had he been having a hard time this past year? He wanted to ask why Tang Zhou had broken up with him back then, blocking and deleting him without a word.

But he was afraid—afraid of hearing answers he didn’t want. He was nothing but a coward. Until that moment when the car crash left him hovering between life and death, sinking into darkness, he desperately wanted to see Tang Zhou one last time—to demand why they had to separate. Had he done something wrong?

It seemed the heavens heard his prayer. He was given another chance at life, bound to a system. At first, he thought silently accompanying Tang Zhou would be enough, but gradually, he grew unsatisfied. He couldn’t accept it. He needed to uncover the truth. He wanted to stand openly by Tang Zhou’s side again, to embrace him once more.

Tang Zhou watched in disbelief as the car in front of him moved—the voice was coming from it. Someone tell him why he was hearing a car speak, and in his ex-boyfriend’s voice no less. Tang Zhou shook his head. “This has to be a hallucination.”

Feng Cang sighed at Tang Zhou’s dazed expression, the unruly tuft of hair on his head as lively as its owner. “This isn’t a hallucination,” he explained patiently. “I know it sounds unbelievable, but it’s true. After the accident, my soul became attached to your car.” Hearing the explanation, Tang Zhou relaxed slightly. So that bastard was fine after all. He eyed the perfectly ordinary-looking car before him, then scoffed.

“And what? You thought scaring me like this was the way to go? And since when are we on such familiar terms?” Feng Cang, wasn’t bothered by Tang Zhou’s attitude—he was just as endearing as before.

“My apologies, Mr. Tang,” he said sincerely. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. This was the only way to get your attention. I need your help.” Tang Zhou stretched his stiff limbs and plopped down cross-legged on the ground, uncaring of the dirt.

“What help? Finding a priest to perform last rites? Don’t worry, Mr. Feng, I’ll get you the best exorcist money can buy. After all, having you haunting my car gives me the creeps. Rest in peace already!”

“And since you’re my ex, I’ll give you the friends-and-family discount—99,000. Make sure to pay up afterward. You know how it is—all my money was swindled away by some heartless con artist.” Feng, the heartless con artist, chuckled at the image Tang Zhou had of him. Watching Tang Zhou’s contradictory behavior, he grew more determined to uncover the truth.

“Mr. Tang, I still have unfinished business. How can I rest easy? I have elderly parents…” He glanced at Tang Zhou, who despite being an adult could still pass for a high schooler, then added, “And young children to care for. I can’t just leave—who will inherit the family fortune?”

Tang Zhou stopped fidgeting, clasping his hands together as he stared intently at the car, as if trying to see through it. A year apart, and Feng Cang had become so eloquent—was this really the same silent, aloof CEO he once knew?

“Mr. Feng, you’re absolutely right. It would be a shame if you left just like that. After all, I still need to collect a debt from someone.” He then leaned closer to the car, resting one hand on the headlight. “Go on then! Tell me how I can help you. Once this is done, I trust someone of your stature wouldn’t renege on a debt.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll repay you double when it’s over.” For the first time, Feng Cang gave a genuine smile. If Tang Zhou truly agreed to this, then the car accident that led to this bizarre encounter wouldn’t have been in vain. Slowly, he uttered the words, “Marry me.”