Chapter 24: Nan’an Station, A Successful Conclusion

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Nan’an Station, A Successful Conclusion

Seeing Senior Reporter Zhi’s expression, Wu Shi knew he had just made a joke that no one would get yet.

After all, Car King Shu was still perfectly healthy at this time, enjoying his retirement.

To cover his tracks, he said bluntly, "Because it’s easy to get injured."

Zhi Shiwei glanced at Ling Kang and understood.

"By the way, why did you come over now?" Wu Shi asked Ling Kang. The race was already over. ’Did you rush here just to listen to the officials speak?’

Before Ling Kang could answer, Zeng Tianyi walked over after his weigh-in and said candidly, "Boss! You’re incredible!"

"Oho! You’re calling him ’Boss’ now too?" Ling Kang’s grinning face was just asking to be punched.

"If your arm wasn’t in a sling, I wouldn’t hold back." Zeng Tianyi felt helpless against this motormouthed teammate.

"Were you letting him pass back there?!" Ye Zhaohui’s voice cut in.

"I!"

Seeing who it was, Zeng Tianyi was struck speechless. He hadn’t let him pass, but he was too embarrassed to admit his form had broken because he’d been startled.

"He was just pushing the limits and spun out," Wu Shi chimed in to help him.

"Hmph." Ye Zhaohui was not happy.

After the race, when his technician told him that Wu Shi had passed Zeng Tianyi in a single corner, he immediately assumed it had been intentional.

"Wu Zhaohui, what are you ’hmphing’ about!" Wu Shi retorted, annoyed.

"What?" Ye Zhaohui froze.

"You said it yourself. If I won this race, you’d take my surname." Wu Shi paused, then emphasized, "Hello, Wu Zhaohui."

"You, you, you... I, I..." Ye Zhaohui’s face turned beet red.

"Oh my, and you’re accusing others of throwing the race? The way you got passed looked a lot like you were letting him by, too. Or is the skill gap between you two just so massive that an overtake looks like a courtesy?"

Ling Kang jeered. A loss was a loss, so why start blaming others the second you were off the track? He just couldn’t stand this Ye Zhaohui. The guy was too difficult—even more so than Zeng Tianyi.

"You, you, you!!!"

Ye Zhaohui’s face flushed an even deeper red. He had no fear arguing with people when he was in the right, but when he was in the wrong, he always found it hard to speak.

"Brother, just stop looking for trouble all the time," Ye Ningning said unhappily, sniffling.

"I... Argh!" Ye Zhaohui stormed off in a huff.

"Ningning, you should go check on your brother," Wu Shi said.

"Okay." Ye Ningning nodded. Seeing how furious Ye Zhaohui was, she worried he might do something rash and felt a little regretful about what she had just said.

"This Ye Zhaohui, I swear..." Ling Kang shook his head. It was the same old story: the guy was just too difficult.

"Alright, little ones, time to get ready for the award ceremony!"

Zhi Shiwei said. She didn’t like getting involved in children’s squabbles, mainly because in her capacity as a reporter, it wouldn’t be appropriate to take sides.

The podium setup was pretty much the same everywhere: a raised platform with a light blue cloth backdrop behind it, emblazoned with the event’s theme.

Amidst soaring music, a race official announced the final results.

"For the NCJ-A group: in third place, Zeng Tianyi; in second place, Ye Zhaohui; and our champion, Wu Shi! Let’s welcome our winners to the stage!"

Wu Shi and the others ascended the podium as grand, majestic music began to play.

"Next, we have the honor of inviting the Deputy Director of the Nan’an Sports Bureau, Ye Lan, to present the awards to our competitors!"

As the official’s voice faded, gasps of surprise came from the crowd below.

"What’s going on? A city bureau official is here?"

"That’s rare!"

An official dressed in a white women’s pantsuit walked onto the stage. She was followed by a hostess carrying the trophies on a tray.

She first presented the award to Zeng Tianyi, offering a couple of polite compliments, then moved on to Ye Zhaohui.

"Zhaohui, congratulations on second place," Ye Lan began.

"Aun—... Thank you, Director!" Ye Zhaohui’s eyelid twitched as he stuck to the proper form of address.

"Keep up the good work."

Ye Lan encouraged him with a gentle smile, then came to Wu Shi’s side and handed him the champion’s trophy. She said:

"Little Wu Shi, congratulations on your championship! You gave everyone a truly spectacular race! Even an outsider like me could feel the passion and thrill of motorsports!"

"Thank you for the praise, Director Ye. As a race car driver, it’s just what I’m supposed to do." Wu Shi accepted the trophy.

"Yes, not bad at all!" Ye Lan commented after looking him up and down.

According to procedure, the next step was a photo op, but suddenly a loud cheer erupted from the crowd.

"WHOA!!"

"The champ is awesome!"

CLAP CLAP CLAP!!!

Some people were shouting, others were applauding.

Clearly, his spectacular performance had left a deep impression on many people.

This was something Wu Shi hadn’t expected. After all, low-level karting events were usually like playing a single-player game—no one cheers for you, and not many people care.

He raised the trophy high, a triumphant smile on his face.

*CLICK*~

The photographer snapped the picture.

The Nan’an Station event had come to a perfect conclusion.

...

In this era before high-speed rail, the trip from Nan’an back to Peng City was a long one.

"Uncle Li, thanks. I can get upstairs by myself." Wu Shi thanked the technician who had dropped him off at his door.

"Alright, I won’t come up then. Go home and get some good rest." The technician waved.

Wu Shi stretched. ’Man, sleeping in a sleeper car on a green-skinned train is not comfortable at all. Time to go home, shower, and sleep.’

*CLICK.*

He opened the door to his home. The lights were on, and he could hear the sound of running water.

"Dad? You’re back?"

No response. ’Is he in the shower?’

Wu Shi didn’t think much of it, grabbing a bottle of Coke from the fridge and sitting on the sofa to wait.

After a long while, the sound of the water faded.

PATTER~ PATTER~

The footsteps sounded a little strange. Wu Shi glanced over subconsciously and saw Louise walking out, casually wrapped in a bath towel, her wet hair draped over her shoulders.

Their eyes met.

"Ah! Wu Shi?! When did you get back!!" (in English)

Louise yelped. Since the towel was wrapped loosely, she immediately ducked back into the bathroom.

A dark look crossed Wu Shi’s face. He picked up the landline from the coffee table and dialed his father.

"Hey, Dad, why aren’t you back yet?" There was a hint of accusation in his voice.

"Son? You’re back! Martina and I are out buying a few things."

"You’re out buying things this late?"

"Ahem." Wu Zhenlin cleared his throat.

Wu Shi was speechless. "You could have at least told me beforehand."

"Oh dear~ Little Wu Shi, is Louise alright?" Martina’s voice came through the phone.

"She’s fine. I’m a little tired, so I’m hanging up now. Bye."

Hearing Aunt Martina’s voice, Wu Shi knew Louise would definitely be staying over. He sighed.

Louise was cute, sure, but sometimes she was just too much. All that racket wasn’t cute at all.

Wu Shi hung up and called toward the bathroom, "I’m heading to my room!"

He had initially thought his dad was showering and was waiting in the living room to take his turn, but he never expected it to be Louise.

A short while later, the sound of a hairdryer started up.

Wu Shi didn’t know if Louise was dressed yet, so he just turned on his computer to browse for some interesting news.

Glancing around, his eyes landed on a Big Eye News report about the CKC Nan’an Station. The headline photo was the one of him, smiling, holding the trophy high.

*Hiss!*

’Damn,’ he thought. ’I actually look pretty handsome.’