Derek Su looked up and saw the sponsor. What a rare guest.
He told Zane to take over the interviews, then quickly led Beto Ming, Blazing Wind, and Vanessa Ming into the lounge off to the side.
"Sir, what brings you here? We haven't even used up the racing suits yet."
His eyes fell on the little girl in the wheelchair, who was staring at him with bright, sparkling eyes. He smiled. "Is this your daughter? She's just as cute as in the photos."
"Yes, my daughter." Beto Ming nodded.
Blazing Wind felt awkward under Derek Su's gaze.
At The Blade Path Training Match, she and Chloe Qin had taken the initiative to stir up trouble. In the Maratela Training Race afterward, they hadn't gone looking for conflict, but they had still been Derek Su's opponents. Now, standing in front of him, she lowered her head in embarrassment, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the floor.
"Derek Su, I'm your fan!"
Vanessa Ming was visibly excited the moment she saw him. Her pretty face flushed red—though the redness carried a faint, unhealthy tinge. Beto Ming's expression changed, and he hurried to take out her medicine, but Vanessa Ming had already taken several deep breaths and steadied herself.
She shook her head at her father.
She didn't want her idol to see her taking medicine.
Vanessa Ming pulled out a racing suit and a marker she had prepared in advance. Blazing Wind immediately pushed her up to Derek Su. Holding the racing suit in both hands, her eyes shining with longing and joy, she said, "Please sign it for me, idol!"
Derek Su naturally couldn't refuse such a little angel. He signed without hesitation.
He had once suspected that the old man's claim about his daughter's illness not being too serious might be exaggerated. But seeing Vanessa Ming now—her knuckles so thin the bones were clearly outlined as she clutched the suit—it was obvious that beneath her clothes she must be nothing but skin and bones.
With that kind of wealth, would the old man really deny his daughter good food and care?
It could only be her condition. Strict dietary restrictions. Perhaps IV drips were her main source of nourishment.
"Yay! I got my idol's autograph!" Vanessa Ming cheered, hugging the racing suit tightly. She giggled. "Mission accomplished today! In the future, I'm definitely going to race on the track wearing a suit signed by Derek Su!"
"You'll have that chance." Derek Su gently patted her head.
The sponsor stayed for a while before leaving with Vanessa Ming, leaving Blazing Wind behind at the Stella Club.
He only introduced Blazing Wind's basic background. As for his true identity and anything related to the Maratela treatment team, he didn't mention a word.
"Blazing Wind, train hard!" Vanessa Ming waved her pink-cased phone and grinned mischievously. "I've got Derek Su's contact now. If you slack off at the club, I'll know anytime~"
Blazing Wind waved back at the little angel.
How could she possibly slack off?
If becoming world-class could cure Vanessa Ming's illness, she would give everything she had.
Blazing Wind knew that many people's gazes in this world were fake. But she refused to believe the purity in Vanessa Ming's eyes was fake too. If Vanessa Ming and Beto Ming turned out to be as good at deception as Chloe Qin, she would accept that.
"Blazing Wind?" Derek Su smiled as he looked her over.
Today really was a double blessing. First the wealthy Absolute Shadow Mecha Girl, and now Blazing Wind.
The club not only had enough Mecha Girls now—it even had one extra.
You couldn't underestimate the number of Mecha Girls in a club. The more they had, the more drivers they could attract. And the overall quality of the Mecha Girls reflected the club's strength, naturally drawing talented drivers to apply.
"Boss, I'm sorry about what happened on the track."
Blazing Wind's face flushed red. She lowered her head in apology, twisting her skirt so hard it nearly tore.
"Whether it was at The Blade Path or the Maratela the other day, I'm really sorry!"
Facing Derek Su alone was manageable.
If Stella were here too, she'd want to sink into the ground.
Bang!
The door was shoved open by Ironhead.
"Wow, Master, it's lively today!" Stella walked in from outside.
She had a pineapple helmet perched on her head and shopping bags slung over her shoulder. Through the opening, you could see they were filled with all kinds of novels.
Imperial Scale and Tunbao followed behind her.
Imperial Scale held a pink pig plushie in her arms. Her pretty face was expressionless, almost cold. Her chin rested on the plush pig's head as her gaze swept around the hall, finally settling on Blazing Wind with a trace of caution in her eyes.
Tunbao carried a pile of large and small shopping bags, her face dark, teeth clenched, resentment written all over her.
"So many people came to apply today! Our Stella Club is really famous now!"
Stella bounced over and plopped down beside Derek Su.
Imperial Scale sat on the sofa close to Blazing Wind. Tunbao crab-walked over, dumped the shopping bags onto the coffee table, threw her head back onto the couch, then wriggled toward Imperial Scale's long, pale legs like a squirming caterpillar.
Almost everyone's gaze landed on Blazing Wind.
Her face turned bright red, and with a hiss, a puff of white steam shot out from her head.
She covered her burning cheeks, her brain feeling like it was about to short-circuit.
What do I do? What do I do…
Why did everyone have to show up? This is so embarrassing!
What if Derek Su refuses my apology? What if he won't let me join the club?
Should I run out crying? Walk out coolly? Or cling to the doorframe until I get kicked out?
When I leave, should I step with my left foot first or my right?!
Ahhh…
This is impossible!
...
"What's there to apologize for?" Derek Su said. "Competition on the track is normal. I can even understand Chloe Qin's actions. I've seen worse… Mr. Ming already told me you've terminated your contract with Chloe Qin. You want to join the Stella Club? No problem at all. We welcome you."
"Huh?" Blazing Wind looked up blankly, revealing her red, rabbit-like eyes.
Stella beside Derek Su was all smiles.
Tunbao and Imperial Scale didn't seem to object either.
The Stella Club—what she had considered hell-level difficulty—was cleared just like that?
Oh, just ignore me.
What she didn't know was—
Derek Su wore a sincere expression, but in his heart he was chanting: Free talent is great. Free talent is sweet. Free talent is unbeatable.
Stella beside him was indeed smiling.
"I'm going to be the queen! I'm going to be the queen! Keep smiling, keep smiling… keep smiling! Hehehe~"
As for Imperial Scale and Tunbao…
One was wondering where to place the pig plushie.
The other was thinking about what to eat for lunch. And if nothing else worked, maybe chop Derek Su into pieces and pickle him.
After all, she had been the one forced to carry so many heavy bags!
"Really? I can really, really join the Stella Club?"
Blazing Wind asked again and again.
The sudden happiness left her tongue-tied.
The corners of Derek Su's lips lifted into a sly smile. "Of course you can. But before that, let your boss here give you a checkup."
He narrowed his eyes and focused.
Blazing Wind's attribute panel appeared before him.
At first, Derek Su didn't react.
The stats were the same as before.
[Drifting: 70 points]
[Acceleration: 89 points]
[Cornering: 60 points]
[Boost Charge: 80 points]
[Stability: 68 points]
[Impact Resistance: 72 points]
[Endurance: 74 points]
But beneath those attributes, there was something new—something that made his pupils contract sharply.
Holy—
It was a special skill.
Called—
Hyper-Core Synchronization!
...
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