The F1 Baku race had already ended. Around the circuit, people were either cheering for Pérez's victory or lamenting the unfortunate outcomes for Verstappen and Leclerc.
Only Alex Sun and Guanyu Zhou—who had just finished their F2 race—sat in the Ferrari VIP suite joking quietly with each other. Their relaxed mood stood in sharp contrast to the surrounding excitement, and this unusual scene happened to be captured by several cameras in the distance.
The two of them were clearly framed on the broadcast screen as the paddock commentator's surprised voice echoed through the speakers.
"Is that Guanyu Zhou and Alex Sun? They just finished the F2 race and still stayed to watch the F1 race. That's quite unexpected."
Alex Sun had sharp ears. The moment he heard their names, he quickly slapped Guanyu Zhou's hand away and whispered urgently,
"Cut it out, Zhou. I think we've been spotted. Let's get out of here."
As soon as he finished speaking, he took advantage of Guanyu Zhou's brief distraction, slipped out of his grip, and headed quickly toward the exit of the VIP suite.
Guanyu Zhou reacted a half-beat too late. Just as he was about to follow, several fans nearby recognized him and immediately surrounded him.
Pens were pushed into his hands. Photos were held out for autographs. One person after another crowded around him, trapping him firmly in place.
No matter how much he tried to gesture that he wanted to leave first, he couldn't escape. All he could do was watch helplessly as Alex Sun's figure disappeared through the exit.
Taking advantage of Guanyu Zhou being trapped by fans, Alex Sun didn't linger. He quickly left the VIP suite and walked straight toward the parking lot.
When he arrived, he leaned casually against the door of a red Ferrari 296 GTB. With his hands in his pockets, he looked toward the distant track while patiently waiting for Guanyu Zhou to free himself. His thoughts slowly began to drift.
The car had been arranged for him by Rebecca Lin.
Just thinking of Rebecca Lin made Alex Sun smile unconsciously, a warm feeling spreading through his chest.
Rebecca Lin wasn't only his team assistant, regularly updating him on the development of the F1 team and the progress of various matters. She had also taken on the role of his personal assistant, organizing every detail of his daily life with meticulous care.
He still remembered when they first arrived in Baku. Rebecca Lin had deliberately taken him to the underground parking garage of the hotel, away from the busy paddock, and said to him with a calm, earnest expression,
"You're in a different situation. You need to fully focus on F2, fight for an F1 seat, and at the same time manage major decisions for the F1 team remotely. Your energy is limited. There's no reason to waste it on everyday trivial matters."
"You just focus on training and racing. I'll handle the team matters and your daily life. Everything will be arranged properly."
As she spoke, she took out a Ferrari key from her bag and handed it to him, then pointed toward a red car parked nearby with a gentle smile.
"You can't take a taxi to the track every time. It's inconvenient and wastes time. Just drive this. Focus on your racing and managing the team."
His thoughts drifted back to the days before he met Rebecca Lin.
Back then, racing was the only thing in his world. He had completely immersed himself in it, leaving no time to take care of himself, let alone worry about daily life.
Life had been simple and rough.
He rotated between just three sets of clothes. At the team base, he spent his days either training or sitting in front of the simulator, completely focused on refining his racing skills.
When he traveled to race weekends, he never arranged transportation. He always rushed back and forth to the circuit by taxi. Even when it was inconvenient or rushed, he never once thought about spending energy on things unrelated to racing.
It wasn't until Rebecca Lin appeared and took over all those daily responsibilities that he was finally able to clear his mind and devote himself entirely to racing without distraction.
While waiting for Guanyu Zhou, Alex Sun pulled out his phone and sent the dinner address to Leclerc and Verstappen.
It didn't take long before he saw Guanyu Zhou walking out from the passageway with a smile, accompanied by a fan. The two chatted casually as they walked.
Guanyu Zhou spoke gently and patiently with the fan, but when his eyes landed on Alex Sun leaning against the Ferrari with a relaxed expression, he immediately remembered that this guy had slipped away earlier and left him alone surrounded by fans.
The smile on his face disappeared instantly.
He turned to the fan beside him, nodded toward Alex Sun, and said with a grin,
"Come on, isn't that the Alex Sun you were looking for? You were just saying you couldn't find him. Getting my autograph was only a backup option, right?"
The fan hurriedly waved his hands in embarrassment.
"No, no, that's not what I meant, Guanyu! I'm not looking down on you. I just really wanted to get Alex Sun's autograph and a photo."
Seeing this, Alex Sun walked over with a smile and extended his hand naturally.
"Hello. I'm Alex Sun, a F2 driver. Thanks for your support."
The fan instantly became excited and grabbed Alex Sun's hand tightly, stumbling over his words.
"Alex Sun! I've been following you since winter testing! Your first sprint race in Baku was incredible!"
"I'm your idol—no, wait, you're my fan—no, I mean you're my idol!"
Alex Sun couldn't help laughing at the fan's flustered reaction.
"Relax. You don't have to be so nervous. Why don't you look behind you?"
The fan turned around immediately and met Guanyu Zhou's completely speechless expression.
That look clearly said, "Didn't you just say I was your idol? Now that Alex Sun is here, I'm nothing?"
The fan froze in place, completely at a loss, unsure who he should appease first.
Seeing the fan so flustered, Guanyu Zhou couldn't keep up the act anymore. The stern look on his face faded as he smiled and patted the fan on the shoulder.
"It's fine, I'm just joking. Didn't you want a photo with him? I even brought him to you. Go on, take it now, or this rascal might slip away again."
When Alex Sun heard the word "rascal," spoken through gritted teeth, he immediately shot back,
"Do you lose points for switching expressions that fast? Why are you teasing your own fans like this?"
After that, he turned back to the fan with a gentler tone.
"Don't worry about it. How do you want to take the photos? Your call."
The fan quickly steadied himself, his eyes full of excitement.
"I'd like to take one photo of just the two of you first, and then a group photo with the three of us. Is that okay?"
Alex Sun and Guanyu Zhou exchanged a glance and nodded with smiles.
They stood side by side beside the red Ferrari 296 GTB, leaning casually against the car door. The tension from racing had faded from their posture, replaced by a relaxed confidence unique to young drivers.
Through the camera lens, the two energetic young men stood together with the bright red Ferrari behind them. Their gazes drifted toward the distant racetrack, their eyes filled with passion and expectation for racing.
Sunlight fell across them, casting a soft glow that perfectly captured the warmth and vitality of the moment.
After taking the photo of the two of them, they invited the fan to stand between them in front of the car for a group photo.
Once the photos were finished, they patiently signed autographs and politely said goodbye. After watching the fan leave happily, they turned toward the red Ferrari.
Alex Sun unlocked the car with the key.
Guanyu Zhou casually asked, "Did you send the messages? When did you buy this car?"
"Yeah, already sent. Sister Rebecca Lin arranged it for me. She was worried I'd keep running around," Alex Sun replied with a smile as he sat down in the driver's seat.
"Damn, you've got great luck," Guanyu Zhou said while quickly climbing into the passenger seat and fastening his seatbelt.
The car slowly drove out of the parking lot and headed toward the restaurant.
Leaning back in the passenger seat, Guanyu Zhou kept talking nonstop.
One moment he was reviewing his mistakes in the F2 race, complaining about unexpected incidents on the track. The next moment he was talking about Leclerc's disappointment and reflecting on the chaotic twists of the F1 race.
Alex Sun held the steering wheel steadily, occasionally responding with a few words but mostly listening quietly.
In his mind, scenes from the race replayed again and again.
Leclerc's tense expression as he crossed the finish line.
Verstappen's frustration after the tire blowout.
And those sudden, unpredictable moments that changed everything.
He couldn't help feeling a quiet emotion rise within him.
This was racing.
There were cheers and glory, but also regret and frustration. Yet it was exactly this mixture of highs and lows, and the passion to give everything, that made every driver willing to chase it without hesitation.
Before long, the car came to a smooth stop in front of the restaurant they had agreed on.
...
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