Ling Kang stormed over, pointed at the large numbers on the display board, and said:
"This is what you call your first time on this track? With just one practice day and one timed session, you post a time I might not achieve in my entire life?!"
"What else could it be? Did I sneak in some extra practice last night?" Wu Shi scratched the back of his head, feigning a look of confusion.
"You! You! You! Ugh, forget it! You're a genius, seriously. I have to admit it. I can't believe the day has come where I, Ling Kang, have to admit someone else is a genius. Sigh!"
Ling Kang's anger melted into a heavy sigh. But before anyone could comfort him, he immediately slung an arm around Wu Shi's shoulders and said, "Alright, you've gotta teach your little bro a thing or two this time."
"Damn, with how cocky you were acting, I thought *I* was the little bro!" Wu Shi laughed.
"Hahaha, no way, no way! Big Bro, from this day on, you're my one and only Big Bro!" Ling Kang said cheerfully.
Zeng Tianyi stepped forward. "Wu Shi, congratulations! Pole position again."
"Thanks."
"Who's that Ye Zhaohui guy?" Ling Kang asked with a frown.
"I think he's a local driver," Zeng Tianyi said, a little dejected. He hadn't beaten him, ending up in fourth place.
"By the way, Big Bro, do you know how to overtake?" Ling Kang turned and asked.
"Haven't had the chance to try lately, but I'm pretty sure I can."
"Damn, you're putting on an act! Big Bro, don't tell me you're one of those drivers who's great at leading from the front but sucks at attacking and defending?" Ling Kang retorted.
"*Ahem!* Now that you mention it, I feel like I have to prove myself."
Wu Shi walked over to the large track layout, pointed at it, and said, "Overtaking is actually pretty difficult on this track."
On the Sanshui Track, Turn 1 is a right-angle corner, which presents an opportunity at the start of the race. After that, your only real chance is to get a slipstream on the straights.
But the CKC series uses spec cars, so there's no DRS, KERS, or any of that stuff. If you want to overtake, it all comes down to raw skill in the corners.
"The line through Turn 1 is forgiving because it's followed by a long straight, giving you plenty of room to correct your trajectory. Before the right-hander at Turn 2, there's a left kink. You want to occupy the inside line on the left, but you can feint as if you're going to cut into Turn 2 from the right. That will bait the driver ahead into defending, and then you can switch back to the inside."
Wu Shi went through it step-by-step, explaining to Zeng Tianyi everything that could be done at every corner of the track.
Indeed, he knew Ling Kang had likely brought up the topic so that he would give some pointers to their dejected friend. So, he told them everything he could think of.
Unfortunately, he hadn't paid attention to Ye Zhaohui before and didn't know the young driver's racing style. Otherwise, with his vast racing experience, he could have offered even more targeted advice.
"No way! I refuse to believe this is your first time on this track!" Ling Kang shouted.
"You're right, it isn't my first time," Wu Shi said after a moment's thought, nodding.
"I knew it! You finally admitted it!" Ling Kang's face broke into a smug, knowing grin.
"Counting yesterday's untimed practice session, I guess this would be my second time," Wu Shi replied.
"What? Are you messing with me?!" Ling Kang's face fell.
"Haha, Wu Shi, you really are talented," Zeng Tianyi said, his laugh a bit forced.
Seeing his expression, Wu Shi knew Zeng Tianyi was still wrestling with his own issues. He couldn't offer any comfort right now; it would feel like a rich man's pity, a blow to someone with a great deal of pride.
So he didn't reply, patting Ling Kang on the back instead.
"What, and I'm not?" Ling Kang immediately shot back.
"Uh, of course you are, too..." Zeng Tianyi chuckled.
"Then how come I lost to you last year?" Ling Kang snorted.
Zeng Tianyi froze, saying nothing.
"Alright, let's head back and rest. We need to be ready for tomorrow's race," Wu Shi said, ending the conversation.
Back at the hotel, Wu Shi lay on his bed, thinking about the debate between talent and hard work.
'What a pointless topic.'
After a moment of contemplation, he silently reached his conclusion.
Time for sleep.
The next day, the Sanshui Track was no more bustling than the Peng City Track. Aside from the drivers, there were only coaches, mechanics, and parents. There were hardly any real spectators.
With so few drivers in the NCJ-A group for this round, there wasn't much to see unless there was a crash.
Throughout the pre-final, Wu Shi led the pack with Ling Kang right behind him. Ye Zhaohui and Zeng Tianyi had a few skirmishes, but their positions remained unchanged.
As soon as the race ended, Ling Kang turned to Zeng Tianyi. "Tianyi! You needed to dive down his inside! What were you so afraid of?!"
"I... I couldn't control the kart..." Zeng Tianyi said, shaking his head.
"Tianyi," Wu Shi began, not to criticize what happened on the track, "I remember when I first met you. You were calm and serene, but your attacks were sharp, and you had this air of being in complete control."
"Every driver has their own style. You can only change that style deliberately. You shouldn't let external pressures force you to change it."
Zeng Tianyi remained silent, his expression blank.
"Keep your head up. Back in Peng City, whenever I checked my mirrors, I saw you right there," Wu Shi said, patting his shoulder.
After the break, the final race began.
Wu Shi's consistency was undeniable. Starting from the front row, he was uncatchable unless he had a mechanical issue.
Ling Kang, however, was in a bit of trouble, nearly getting passed on the inside by Ye Zhaohui at Turn 6. But it was precisely because of their battle that Zeng Tianyi managed to close the gap and stick to Ye Zhaohui's tail.
Under pressure from behind, Ye Zhaohui could no longer risk an attack and had to periodically change his line to block Zeng Tianyi, which caused his lap times to drop even further.
"What an exciting battle!"
"Oh! They made contact!"
"It was just a side-to-side scrape. They both kept their karts under control."
Their duel made the final race quite a bit more interesting.
Unfortunately, Ye Zhaohui managed to keep Zeng Tianyi pinned behind him right up until the checkered flag waved.
After the race, Wu Shi and Ling Kang went to look for Zeng Tianyi but couldn't find him.
Wu Shi, on the other hand, got held up.
"Hello! Young Mr. Wu Shi, I'm a reporter from Big Eye Sports Media. I'd like to ask you a few questions, if you have a moment?" A woman in a stylish business suit approached him, crouching slightly to hold out a microphone.
"I'm busy. I have to go find my friend," he said, turning to leave.
"C'mon, kiddo, it'll just take a minute. Just a few questions?" the reporter persisted, pulling him back with an arm around his shoulders.
The situation felt as turbulent as his mood, a stormy sea with dangerous undercurrents.
He saw his dad and Boss Chen walking over and was about to use them as an excuse to break free when he heard Boss Chen exclaim in surprise, "Big Eye News? What are you doing here?"
"Hello~ And you are?" the reporter asked, looking up at the two men.
"Hello there. I'm the track director for the Peng City Station, the first round of the CKC series," Boss Chen said, offering his business card.
Seeing the way Uncle Chen treated the reporter, Wu Shi realized this Big Eye News must be a pretty big deal.
"A pleasure to meet you. And this gentleman here, if I'm not mistaken, must be young Wu Shi's father?"
"That's right. Hello," Wu Zhenlin replied.
"Wow, you're both just as handsome!" the reporter said, a cute dimple appearing in her sweet smile.
"Are you here to interview Xiaowu?"
"We are~"
"Hahaha, excellent!" Boss Chen laughed. He then leaned down and whispered in Wu Shi's ear, "Xiaowu, just do the interview. We'll talk later."