When the news spread that Purple Lightning would be running a training race tomorrow morning, all the Mecha Girls immediately became excited. Everyone wanted to go cheer her on.
Derek Su had originally planned to ask Imperial Scale if she wanted to come, but before dinner even started, Imperial Scale's pink piggy suitcase was already leaning against the shoe cabinet by the door.
She had packed even faster than Purple Lightning.
By dinnertime, Absolute Shadow finally came rushing back. After seeing Purple Lightning, the two quickly introduced themselves.
Then Absolute Shadow immediately waved her hand and had the butler bring over more than a dozen outfits and pairs of shoes for Purple Lightning to choose from.
Purple Lightning had never seen anything like this before. She was far too embarrassed to accept Absolute Shadow's things.
But Absolute Shadow put on a serious expression and said it was for the overall image and presence of the club.
With Absolute Shadow putting it that way, Purple Lightning could only blush as she tried on every single outfit and pair of shoes.
"Nice, very nice. Just changing clothes completely lifts your whole presence."
Absolute Shadow nodded repeatedly while looking at Purple Lightning in the dress.
Purple Lightning had a slender build. She wasn't flat either. Her bust was roughly around a B cup, with just a slight curve that gave her a cute look.
"Of course. She's the Purple virt… cough, Purple Lightning that I picked."
Stella circled the blushing Purple Lightning, secretly praising her own taste.
"Alright, that's enough. Hurry up and eat so we can get going!"
Derek Su called out to the Mecha Girls and glanced outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
Just moments ago it had been sunny, but suddenly the sky had turned yellowish and gloomy.
Summer weather in Tianyuan City was like that. The sky could change its mood in an instant.
"Master, it's getting cloudy." Stella scooted over beside Derek Su and looked out the window. "It's not going to turn into a huge storm, right?"
Derek Su: "..."
He quietly clenched his fist.
"Master, what time's the flight?"
"Nine-thirty."
"Oh. It won't get delayed because of heavy rain, right?"
Derek Su: "...Just rain won't delay it."
Stella nodded thoughtfully.
Then a low rumble of thunder sounded outside the window.
She instinctively asked, "Then… what if there's a thunderstorm?"
Derek Su's face immediately turned green as he hurriedly covered Stella's mouth.
...
They had only just finished a quick meal when, less than half an hour later, the sky outside was filled with dark clouds and rain began pouring down.
To make things worse, the airline called to inform them that the flight had been canceled.
Who could deal with this kind of luck?!
Derek Su shot a vicious glare toward Stella, who was sitting upright on the sofa with perfect posture, hands neatly on her knees, eyes lowered as if meditating.
That blessed little mouth of hers.
In a fantasy world, she'd probably be the founder of some prophecy sect.
"Weren't we supposed to catch a flight? Why are you all just sitting here spacing out?"
Absolute Shadow walked out of the room wearing a shirt and a tight office skirt, dressed like a professional office worker. She carried a handbag and looked at everyone in confusion.
"The flight got canceled." Derek Su gestured toward the window. "Heavy rain and thunder. For safety reasons, the plane won't fly."
"That's it? You should've said so earlier." Absolute Shadow smiled slightly. "I have a private jet. I can send you there. And I can also watch Purple Lightning's debut race for Stella Club."
Derek Su froze.
He knew Absolute Shadow was rich, but he had never really grasped how rich she was. Now it seemed her "little business" might not be little at all.
"But wouldn't private jets also be affected by thunderstorms?"
"No need to worry. Commercial flights have fixed routes. Our private jet can just fly around the storm."
That… actually made sense.
Derek Su scratched his head.
"But private jets still need flight routes too…"
Absolute Shadow rolled her eyes.
"Just spend some money and pull some connections to speed up a temporary route approval. Wait here, I'll make a call."
With that, she hurried out to the balcony to make the call.
Ten minutes later, she came back and said the route had already been approved. They could head to her villa and take off immediately.
Derek Su felt a little numb.
Maybe he had completely adapted to this world.
He was slowly starting to see himself as a poor guy.
Or maybe everyone around him was so rich that it gave him the illusion that he was the only broke one.
...
The Rona Bay Training Race was held at the Rona Strait, a 5A-rated scenic area.
Flying from Tianyuan City to the Rona Strait took at least four hours. After landing, they would still need to quickly find a hotel to rest.
Derek Su wasn't particularly good at handling these things. Back in his previous life as a top racing driver, his schedule had always been arranged by the racing team. He just needed to wake up on time and follow the plan.
What should have been a hectic travel schedule became perfectly organized under Absolute Shadow's coordination.
After getting off the private jet, a car was already waiting to pick them up. Their lodging was a seaside villa.
Even the firmness of the mattresses had been adjusted to almost match the ones at the club.
Thanks to these thoughtful arrangements, Derek Su and the other Mecha Girls had a great night's rest.
When they arrived at the training race venue, compared to some drivers and Mecha Girls who had rushed in at the last minute looking flustered, Derek Su and Purple Lightning looked refreshed and full of energy.
...
"So this is the top-tier treatment of a club's young master. This is amazing."
Derek Su sighed in admiration while looking at Absolute Shadow, who was handing out snacks and nutrient drinks to the Mecha Girls nearby.
This wasn't just a Mecha Girl.
She was practically the club manager.
"I really wonder what Miles Wang was thinking, letting you go."
"Miles Wang?" Absolute Shadow raised an eyebrow and laughed lightly. "He didn't let me go. I fired him because he was terrible at his job."
"He never had treatment like yours. Besides, he had a full management team, so he didn't need to worry about these things. You don't have a management team yet, so I'm just stepping in to help a bit. Once you build your own management team later, I won't stick my nose in anymore~"
"No, I've never thought you were meddling." Derek Su quickly explained, thinking she had misunderstood. "I think this arrangement is great. Just leave these matters to you from now on."
"Oh?" Absolute Shadow's eyes curved with a smile. "Then Boss has to teach me your driving techniques properly~"
"No problem… By the way, if you don't mind me asking, what exactly does your company do?"
Absolute Shadow blinked.
"You're curious?"
"A little," Derek Su said with an awkward smile. "Of course, if it's inconvenient, you don't have to say."
"There's nothing inconvenient about it." Absolute Shadow replied openly. "I help the Human Federation train management teams for Mecha Girls. I work with Mecha Island. They provide functional trainee Mecha Girls for free, and I handle the training. The only cost is time, so the profit margin is very high."
Derek Su silently clicked his tongue.
No wonder Absolute Shadow was so skilled and organized when handling things.
It turned out she was literally working in her own field of expertise.
...
Half an hour before the race, Derek Su took Purple Lightning to draw lots for the starting position.
Their luck wasn't great. They drew the number three starting position, meaning they would have to act as the pace-setter.
When the race was about to begin, Purple Lightning walked toward the track surrounded by almost every Mecha Girl from Stella Club.
Following behind Derek Su, her steps felt light and unsteady, and her gaze looked slightly dazed.
Nervousness and anxiety expanded in her chest like a growing cloud of cotton, pressing against her lungs until it almost felt hard to breathe.
What if she lost?
What if Derek Su was disappointed in her?
What if—
"Purple Lightning, you've got this!"
Stella raised her hand in front of Purple Lightning.
"Hey! Victory!"
Purple Lightning snapped back to reality.
Looking at Stella's bright, smiling face, the scattered light in her eyes slowly gathered again, becoming brighter and brighter.
She took a deep breath, smiled, and slapped Stella's hand.
"Victory!"
Looking at the encouraging eyes around her, the anxiety and unease in her heart quietly faded away.
She wasn't the same person she used to be.
Back then, she fought alone while enduring criticism and bullying.
Now she had the entire Stella Club behind her.
And Derek Su, a top-tier driver, personally piloting her.
More importantly—
Now she was protected by the bonds she shared with everyone here.
"There's nothing to be afraid of."
Purple Lightning turned toward the starting line, clenched her fists, and murmured to herself.
"Track… I'm back!"
...
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