Chain Reaction

Chapter 122 Chain Reaction
The noise was real; the impact and shock were also real.

In a short period of time, information came in waves, leaving no time to catch one's breath, causing the sweltering air to freeze briefly.

Complete loss of responsiveness.

That's why the voice was so clear and bright, like a gentle spring flowing into my heart, dispelling the murky and dull atmosphere.

“Lu. Zhi. Zhou”

She tried to pronounce each word accurately, but it was still difficult and a struggle, yet she did not give up.

"exciting competition!"

In an instant, all eyes turned to Rosanna Sepplayton.

Sepreton felt a little embarrassed and shy, and instinctively wanted to run away, but she controlled herself and forced herself to stand firm.

She admitted that she had never watched any of Lu Zhizhou's races, not even one. All her knowledge of him came from news reports. Those words were crammed into her head to ensure that she could play the role of a qualified fake racing fan without giving herself away, but it all remained on paper.

It has no flesh and blood. It has no soul.

To her, Lu Zhizhou was just a name, a name that only appeared in news reports.

Until this weekend at Silverstone Circuit, until I'm there in person to watch his race—

The final burst of energy in qualifying, the unstoppable lead in the main race, and of course, the dramatic twists and turns of the sprint race.

The name gradually came alive as it was infused with energy, and the driver, encased in a helmet and racing suit, became more concrete and vivid. Beyond the name, the driver acquired a face, an image, and even began to possess a soul.

"Lu Zhizhou" is no longer just a GP3 rising star with a price tag.

Standing in the paddock, Sepplayton could clearly feel the escalating atmosphere. Everyone was discussing "who can beat Lu Zhizhou." The pressure piled up layer by layer. It wasn't just about supporting the British driver; it was more like a coordinated attack on the champion, trying to pull down the high-flying Lu Zhizhou. It was pure malice.

Now, the results are in: Lu Zhizhou was ultimately unable to continue his winning streak, and the entire audience in the stands is cheering and celebrating his "defeat".

Sepreton couldn't bear to watch. She couldn't believe that people would cheer and rejoice over someone's "failure," especially a seventeen-year-old. Although she knew that this was competitive sports, this was real life—cold, ruthless, and even angels couldn't fly—she still couldn't bear it.

So, she appeared here simply to offer some support.

However, when he actually stood in front of Lu Zhizhou, Sepplayton was stunned, his mind went blank, and he had no idea what to say.

Sepreton felt a pang of regret, but thinking of the blatant malice, she forced herself to stay and bravely met Lu Zhizhou's eyes.

“A beautiful win,” she said.

Lu Zhizhou was taken aback, then a smile crept onto his lips. "Are you sure?"

Lu Zhizhou turned to look at where the race car was parked, but suddenly couldn't find the sign for second place. He looked around in confusion, not understanding what was going on. His planned witty response was awkwardly left unfinished.

The onlookers who had just witnessed everything burst into laughter, rarely seeing Lu Zhizhou so honest and adorable.

Sepplayton was no exception, his smile completely radiant.

"Starting from eighth place, they chased all the way to second place."

"Despite being hit by the opponent, he still did not give up the game."

"They were towing a race car with a damaged front end, guarding it closely and holding onto their position at all costs."

"Finally, second place finished, marking his sixth consecutive podium finish of the season."

"In my opinion, this is a victory, a victory that is in no way inferior to any other game this season, because you have overcome all difficulties and all odds to get here, haven't you?"

After a pause, Sepreton raised his right hand high, revealing an ART team hat with Lu Zhizhou's signature clearly visible on the brim.

"In my heart, you are the champion."

"So, please keep fighting, okay? That way, the value of this hat can double in the future, and I'm waiting to become rich overnight."

Sepplayton gently put on his hat, pressing it down firmly, his bright and cheerful smile shining in the rising morning sun.

My blood boiled in my chest.

Lu Zhizhou's lips also curled up in a smile, blooming in the morning light. He said, "It's a deal."

Roar! Roar!
The ART team staff cheered and applauded for Lu Zhizhou, and Borrepeller, standing in the crowd, let out a long sigh of relief and finally found a smile again.

As expected, news of the GP3 sprint race quickly spread throughout the paddock, and the heated discussions reached a whole new level.

Unexpectedly, the one who broke Lu Zhizhou's winning streak was not Russell of ART, nor Bokolać of the Trident, but Han Shilong.
This story has truly taken an unexpected turn.

This season, Han Shilong, who was highly anticipated and widely regarded as a championship favorite, has been a huge disappointment, completely overshadowed by other drivers. However, when the spotlight shifted and expectations were dashed, he seized the opportunity to break through and became the first driver in GP3 this season to break Lu Zhizhou's winning streak, instantly drawing all the attention back to him.

Furthermore, this is Han Shilong's home turf.

The audience was overjoyed; the media were ecstatic, celebrating wildly as if they were on steroids, as if Han Shilong had won more than just one sprint race.

Strangely, the hunting grounds presented a completely different scene—

It was just a sprint race, and Han Shilong already carried countless expectations. Such a victory is really not worth discussing. Isn't it a matter of course?

The focus remains on Lu Zhizhou.

A second place, a second place worth a fortune. Any professional who understands the process of the competition knows the significance of this second place.

This is not only the second time they withstood the pressure after a five-game winning streak, but also the second time they held on after being fouled and forced to cut back defensively.

On the surface, Lu Zhizhou's winning streak has finally come to an end, and Han Shilong has proven himself; but in the eyes of professionals, only Lu Zhizhou is still worthy of discussion.

In fact, his value is still rising. After all, Lu Zhizhou's competitive spirit, displayed amidst chaos, head-on confrontations, and pressure, is truly remarkable.

To be precise, this should be the first time people have truly seen Lu Zhizhou as a person, stripping away the advantages of ART racing and seeing the driver's own mental qualities and racing ability. Regardless of whether he is driving a fast car or a slow car, the driver's inherent aura is the truly precious part.

From another perspective, Lu Zhizhou should actually thank Alesi; this second place is more valuable than the championship.

Sure enough, after the GP3 sprint race ended and before the F2 sprint race began, a chain reaction unfolded like dominoes.

Horner was the first to be affected.

"Not only his technique and ability, but also his mentality and temperament, I see in him the determination of a champion and the instinct of a killer. I would love to see him wearing a Red Bull racing suit next season."

A heavy weight, yet it falls gently.

……

boom!
The office door was pushed open, and Horner was startled. He looked up and saw Jos Wistappen, who was furious and staring at him with a deathly glare.

Horner regained his composure and said, "Please come in."

The subtext is a sarcastic remark that Joss didn't knock and showed no manners whatsoever.

However, Joss ignored him completely, fixing his gaze on Horner, "What are you doing? Talking nonsense in front of the media again. Don't think I don't know your tricks."

Horner sat as still as a mountain, leaning slightly back in his chair, looking very relaxed, like a homeroom teacher listening to a student's parents' complaints. "Jos, giving media interviews is my job. Just as I can't stop you from giving interviews, you shouldn't interfere with my work."

In fact, Jos has made many pronouncements in the media, constantly attacking and disparaging Ricciardo, and believing that Red Bull should allocate resources to his son. He has been using the media to stir up trouble and put pressure on Horner, and his big mouth is no less outspoken than that of Djokovic's father.

"Damn it." Joss immediately swore.

Not content with just one sentence, he looked Horner in the eye and added, "Damn, Christian, you know what I mean. You've been fawning over that baby racer in the media just to put pressure on me and gain an advantage in Max's contract renewal negotiations. That's all you're capable of."

The mask is torn off, and bayonets clash.

However, Horner didn't even blink, staring intently at Joss. "Are you scared?"

Joss was taken aback. "What?"

Horner, "I said. So, are you scared?"

Joss, "Get out!"

Horner said, "Jos, Red Bull is a place that values ​​fair competition. If Max is afraid of head-to-head competition, you can just say so. You're scared, you want to go back to Toro Rosso, you don't believe Max can become a world champion. Don't worry, there's no one else here. You can say it."

Joss raised his middle finger, and then both hands weren't enough. "Get lost. Don't try to figure Max out with your own logic. Let me tell you, Max will prove himself. Bring on any competition you want!"

After making those harsh words, Joss didn't wait for Horner's response. He turned around and strode away, but instead of leaving the P room, he grabbed someone at random.

Where is Max?

Clearly, Joss believes his son needs to be wound up and prove his worth at Silverstone.

Red Bull's youth academy has always been known for its intense competition, cultivating young drivers through a "breeding ground" approach.

Red Bull has only been involved in Formula racing for a short time, a full ten years at most. Moreover, they are somewhat unique. Red Bull is an energy drink brand; they don't produce cars or even sell them. Therefore, they have always been an odd presence in the paddock, facing attacks from others.

That's why they took extreme measures from the very beginning. Two teams and two squads were the starting point, while youth training was the fertile ground.

In established teams like Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, McLaren, and Renault, their youth training academies often have high entry barriers, and trainees may even have to pay fees to get a trial opportunity. But Red Bull doesn't. Adhering to the principle of casting a wide net, Red Bull opens its doors wide and covers most of the training costs out of its own pocket, welcoming all young people to its youth training academy.

Therefore, the Red Bull academy is a mixed bag, much like the audition site for "American Idol".

The direct result of this approach is that the competition is extremely fierce. Some students are kicked out before they can even stay for a week, while others are still coldly abandoned after pouring their hearts and souls into the place for two years. The academy is a battlefield where the competition between students is exceptionally brutal.

This is also Marko's unwavering team-building principle; he believes that the drivers selected after being tempered by blood and fire are the true chosen ones.

Pressure is necessary, and not only that, it needs to be pushed to the extreme.

This approach extends beyond the youth academy to Red Bull and Toro Rosso, whose driver roster turnover rate is often higher than that of other teams.

Therefore, Horner wasn't worried at all about Jos's furious outburst. He believed Marco would side with him and shut Jos up.

In fact, judging from Jos's reaction, he must have felt threatened by Lu Zhizhou. While he was relieved that Verstappen's six-time F3 champion record had not been broken, he was still shaken after surviving the ordeal. He broke free of his restraints and recklessly broke down the door to put pressure on Horner.

But in Horner's view, Marco probably didn't take Lu Zhizhou seriously at all. Verstappen was still his favorite, and he was actually looking forward to Verstappen's performance after feeling threatened by Lu Zhizhou. Horner should be happy to see Horner's behavior in front of the media.

While Red Bull was embroiled in internal strife, Mercedes-Benz remained calm and focused, fully committed to Sunday's race.

Now is a crucial moment for the drivers' and team championships to battle it out, and Toto Wolff has a clear sense of priorities and will not let his focus get distracted.

Wolff didn't knock on Hamilton's lounge door until the end of the main competition and the weekend had concluded.

"Please come in," came Hamilton's weary voice from inside.

Wolf pushed open the door and poked his head in. "Lewis, how are you feeling?"

Hamilton shook his head slightly, his brow furrowed with weariness and frustration. "No, man, I don't feel well. I need to clear my head tonight. There's no time to catch my breath before heading to Budapest, is there?"

Wolf nodded. "Of course."

Hamilton looked up at him. "What's wrong?"

Wolf waved his hand. "No, I was thinking of inviting you to dinner, but it seems that's not a good idea."

Hamilton didn't think much of it. "Sorry, maybe next time, okay?"

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Wolf took his leave. Before closing the door, Hamilton could be seen sitting in a chair, head in his hands, deep in thought. He looked tired and agitated, clearly frustrated.

Wolfe closed the door, let out a soft breath, and without lingering, turned and left.

Actually, there's a secret within Mercedes-Benz that no more than three people know, and they're all top executives—

Wolf has always been interested in Verstappen and has been trying to speak with him directly.

Verstappen skipped a level to enter F1 and then immediately joined Red Bull, creating a youth storm. One of the people in the paddock most sensitive to this storm was Wolff.

Wolf believes the future belongs to young people and is convinced that Verstappen can achieve great things.

During this offseason, after being betrayed by Rosberg, Wolff had been thinking about the position of Mercedes' number two driver. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, he did not have time to make a plan. In a rush, Wolff chose Bottas as a temporary replacement, but Wolff had been making plans since then.

There is no doubt that Verstappen's talent is undeniable among the younger generation of drivers; but now, Lu Zhizhou has emerged out of nowhere without warning, and is in no way inferior to Verstappen in his prime, and may even be better.

Wolf couldn't help but wonder if Lu Zhizhou would be a more suitable candidate.
If he wanted to make a long-term plan, he had to incorporate Hamilton's opinion. He had just tried to gauge Hamilton's stance before taking further steps. But clearly, the timing was wrong.

Toto Wolff is a businessman who believes that business requires a framework, a plan, and a vision. Making decisions on a whim might lead to a stroke of luck and overnight riches, but relying solely on inspiration and luck will not get you far. At this point, a reliable plan becomes crucial.

Wolff has been planning ahead. He has never believed that Bottas is the future of Mercedes. If Mercedes wants to continue to win championships, he needs to find a reliable partner for Hamilton, and perhaps someone who can inherit Hamilton's mantle and shoulder the mission of the future.

Verstappen, he's a perfect choice.

Verstappen is still young and impulsive, like a rough diamond. He needs two or three years to be polished. What people see as his shortcomings are precisely what Wolf sees as his strengths, because Verstappen can learn and grow from Hamilton and transform into a leader.

Wolff had a brilliant plan: for the first two or three years, Verstappen would assist Hamilton; then, Verstappen would take the lead while Hamilton assisted him. This would give Mercedes an advantage for the next five to ten years, allowing them to stay ahead of their competitors in the paddock.

Therefore, Wolff has always had his eye on Verstappen.

But now, Lu Zhizhou's sudden emergence has disrupted the existing order.

Firstly, Lu Zhizhou is more mature and rational. The potential he demonstrates is not only in speed, but also in strategy, rationality, and teamwork.

Secondly, Red Bull is unlikely to give up Verstappen, which means Mercedes-Benz may have to put in more effort to sign him; however, Lu Zhizhou is a rookie who has just emerged and is of little value to Arrivabene, making it easier for him to snatch him away.

However, there may be a problem here—

Once Lu Zhizhou steps onto the track, he may be able to convert his talent and potential into real impact faster than Verstappen, meaning he has a higher chance of threatening Hamilton in the short term.

Of course, this is just theoretical speculation, a prediction and a judgment. It is also possible that Lu Zhizhou will be exposed as a fraud after entering F1 and quickly disappear from the crowd. "Fake" players exist not only in basketball and football, but also in the world of motorsports. However, when making plans, Wolff still has to consider all possibilities.

If not careful, young players like Lu Zhizhou and Verstappen may not be able to help the team, but instead become ticking time bombs in the team.

Some might say that the fierce competition between Hamilton and Rosberg last season was truly a headache, much like the "OK combination" of the Los Angeles Lakers around the turn of the millennium, which almost cost Mercedes the Constructors' World Championship and Drivers' World Championship, leaving them empty-handed.

Doesn't Wolff worry that the same thing will happen again?

the answer is negative.

Wolff wasn't worried at all. The perspectives of drivers and team principals are different. For drivers, the threat from their teammates could directly harm their interests, and Hamilton and Rosberg disliked each other. But for team principals, healthy competition within a controlled range is the best motivation to stimulate drivers to perform at their best, and both sides may unleash each other's full potential.

Wolff disagrees with Red Bull's strategy of "breeding the enemy," but that doesn't mean he disagrees with internal competition within the team.

After all, the essence of competitive sports is competition.

This is why Wolff is trying to talk to Hamilton today. He needs to test the waters and lay the groundwork for future actions. In addition, Wolff is prepared to figure out Hamilton's preferences, whether it's Verstappen or Lu Zhizhou, and whether Hamilton has his own opinion.

At Silverstone, Hamilton defended his home turf, going from pole position to victory in a perfect weekend. Wolff thought Hamilton must be in a good mood.

But that's not the case. Hamilton is clearly still unhappy with Bottas's aggressive behavior.

Bottas won the Austrian Grand Prix last week, further closing the gap on Hamilton in the points standings, and his pursuit of the Drivers' World Championship is definitely not just talk. This week at Silverstone, Bottas once again launched a strong attack on Hamilton, making no secret of his ambition to defeat him.

Furthermore, Hamilton realized that Wolff was condoning, and even encouraging, Bottas's actions—

Because Mercedes needs to extend its lead over Ferrari in the constructors' championship, Wolff needs Bottas to continue to perform well.

Hamilton was not pleased with this, feeling that his interests were threatened, so he gave Wolff a subtle rebuff.

Wolf did not persist.

Standing in the corridor, Wolf's thoughts raced through his mind before settling back into calm.

There's no need to rush.

When you get anxious, you're more likely to make mistakes, which your opponent might exploit, or you might make a mistake yourself.

Perfect, let's observe further.

Verstappen performed exceptionally well at Silverstone, finishing fourth. Although he didn't make it to the podium, he was only behind Mercedes and Ferrari, once again proving his talent with his performance.

Compared to Lu Zhizhou, Wolff still slightly favors Verstappen. After all, GP3 and F1 are two different things, and there is no reason to ignore the F1 strength right in front of him just because of the potential shown by GP3.

So be patient and continue to observe.

Wolff did not hesitate any longer and strode away.

Unlike Wolff, Arrivabene saw Vettel storm into the locker room like a tornado, leaving a trail of feathers behind. The pit room was silent and trembling, and no one dared to breathe. Instead of avoiding the situation, he faced it head-on.

In today's race at Silverstone, Vettel suffered a front left tire blowout on the penultimate lap, causing him to slip from third to seventh place. This incident ended his hard-fought race near the end, and his lead in the drivers' championship quickly dwindled to just one point, putting him neck and neck with Hamilton.

Vettel was furious, enraged, and unable to contain his anger.

For Arrivabene, the opportunity was just right—

“Sebastian…” Arrivabene knocked on the open door and called out from the doorway.

Vettel took a deep breath trying to calm himself, but he failed. "Not now, Maurizio, I'm not in the mood for conversation right now."

Arivabene didn't leave. "I understand, I get it. You need some private space, but..."

He paused deliberately, and Vettel looked up irritably, glaring angrily at Arrivabene.

Arivaben then continued, "What do you think of Lu?"

Vettel didn't react immediately. "Who?"

Arrivabene, "GP3".

Vettel finally came to his senses. "GP3? Who cares about GP3? Maurizio, today's race was a disaster. We should focus on the present. Not just me, Kimi's front left tire also blew out, didn't it? What happened? This is unacceptable!"

Arrivabene nodded. "I understand, it's the responsibility of the team's technical staff. But I'm worried that Sergio might not have the patience, and he might consider promoting that baby rider."

The F1 weekend at Silverstone was a disaster for Ferrari.

Near the end of the race, Vettel and Raikkonen both suffered tire blowouts. Vettel dropped to seventh place, while Raikkonen maintained control and held onto third place. However, Mercedes' excellent performance put Ferrari in the spotlight.

Not only are they trailing in the team standings, but their lead in the drivers' standings has also shrunk to just one point. Mercedes is making a full comeback, and a crisis is looming.

Next, there will be one more race in Hungary, after which F1 will enter its summer break, returning at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium at the end of August.

According to FIA regulations, there are 24 days without races during the summer break, during which all team factories must be forced to close for 14 days and suspend all work. At the same time, this period is also the window for teams to negotiate driver contracts, and the driver lineup for the following year is basically finalized during this period.

Thus, the summer break is jokingly referred to as the "Silly-Season".

The so-called "season of boredom" originated in the 19th century. Every summer, major officials and important figures in Europe and North America would go to the beach for vacation, and since no major decisions or key events would occur, the news media, bored out of their minds, would begin reporting all sorts of unsubstantiated rumors and gossip.

Boredom is also stupidity, and can also be understood as chaos.

The F1 summer break was the same, with all sorts of transfer rumors and personnel changes being irresponsibly thrown out by the news media, which was both foolish and noisy.

For Ferrari, if they perform poorly at the Hungarian Grand Prix and fail to bounce back strongly, or even be overtaken by Mercedes, the upcoming summer break could be very tough. Raikkonen's contract renewal is back on the agenda, and Arrivabene may also face intense scrutiny.

Clearly, this is a situation Arrivabene doesn't want to see. At this crucial juncture in Ferrari's championship race, he doesn't need any news that could shake morale.

Therefore, he needs to plan ahead and strike first before the Hungarian leg, nipping any potential chaos in the bud.

Marchionne may have refused to listen to Arrivabene's opinions, but Vettel, as the core of Ferrari's entire championship victory, carried a different weight.
Arrivabene needs Vettel to step up.

Sure enough, Vettel, who was already furious and irritable, exploded with anger at the slightest provocation and suddenly stood up.

"what?"

Arrivabene nodded, confirming his words, "It's still in the discussion stage, but the baby stroller driver did appear in the meeting log."

“Ridiculous.” Vettel laughed, a laugh born of extreme anger—

He could hardly believe his ears. "Are you kidding me? GP3? Are you expecting another Verstappen to emerge? Wake up! Look at Verstappen's performance now. Do you want to see racing cars or bumper cars? Isn't the track chaotic enough?"

"Grass."

"No, it's not about him. Kimi, what's wrong with Kimi? I like Kimi, we have a great working relationship, and I hope he stays."

In fact, Arrivabene never said that Lu Zhizhou was preparing to replace Raikkonen; he only hinted at it, but that was enough.

Arrivabene believes Vettel should be able to help shift the focus and help them regain their center of gravity during the summer break, avoiding any unexpected problems.

Arrivabene stopped there, saying, "I agree, 100% agree. We are competitive now, and for the first time in years we are really close to the world championship title. It's all thanks to you and Kimi. I like our current lineup, and we are on the right track."

“But Sebastian, it’s not enough for me to just believe you. You know I’m just an employee too. Your voice needs to be heard by those above.”

Vettel nodded without hesitation. "Okay, I understand."

Letting out a long breath, Vettel rubbed his messy hair. "Look at Mercedes last year, and look at the chaos Jos Verstappen created. The lessons are clear. We need a team, we need Kimi, that's the key to winning the championship. Those arrogant, self-important fools will just pretend to know everything again..."

Anger escaped his lips, but Vettel immediately realized he had said the wrong thing.

Arrivabene stared intently at Vettel, as if he hadn't heard the last "unintentional remark."

Vettel finally calmed down, walked over, and patted Arrivabene on the shoulder. "Maurizio, you've worked hard. I'll make my voice heard. Let's work together to win the championship, shall we?"

Arivabene replied earnestly, "Of course!"

A storm is brewing, and undercurrents are surging.

The well-informed larks in the hunting grounds could all sense that a storm was brewing, growing more restless as the summer break approached. These chess masters were all beginning to lay out their plans for the fierce battles during the summer break.

However, Lu Zhizhou, standing at the eye of the storm, was completely unaware of what was happening.

Perhaps the name "Lu Zhizhou" appears frequently in the mouths of the team's senior management and in meeting minutes, but all of this turmoil has nothing to do with him personally.

From beginning to end, no one had any formal contact with him.

The feeling was like a disconnect between the internet and reality. On social networks, everyone was talking about him; but in real life, no one paid any attention to him.

The stark contrast between noise and calm, chaos and ordinariness is confusing, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion, leaving one feeling somewhat disoriented.

In the past, Lu Zhizhou had often heard others say that internet traffic was just a bubble, which would disappear with the slightest breeze, and there was no need to get obsessed with it. The principle was not difficult, but without personal experience, he lacked genuine feelings and could not truly understand its meaning.

Now, Lu Zhizhou was vaguely touching upon some feelings.

Sure enough, the world he grew up in was full of danger and conflict, and things gradually became more complicated. He still had a lot to learn.

Early in the morning, Lu Zhizhou got up and woke Leclerc. The two left the apartment and started jogging along the familiar path.

After the British Grand Prix, both players immediately returned to Maranello to continue testing Ferrari's new F1 car for next year; after a short three-day stay, they traveled to Budapest to participate in the final race before the summer break.

The more chaotic the times, the more important it is to maintain the routines and habits of daily life, and to find your focus and center amidst the noise.

Neither of them spoke; only the sound of footsteps echoed softly in the sunlight.

Leclerc glanced at Lu Zhizhou furtively, only to be caught red-handed. He quickly pretended to take a deep breath and turned his head away, but his stiff facial features betrayed him.

Lu Zhizhou's laughter came from the side, "Xia Er, don't peek like that, people might misunderstand."

Leclerc rolled her eyes speechlessly. Lu Zhizhou actually had the mind to joke. "I just..." she hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

A smile appeared in Lu Zhizhou's eyes. "You're just worried that I'll become envious, jealous, and depressed, right? You're worried that I'll be anxious because of my uncertainty about the future?"

“Charles, do you remember New Year’s Day? I thought I was going to have to say goodbye to racing back then, but now I’ve been given a year’s chance. It’s all an unexpected surprise. I won’t complain or be sad. I’ll just enjoy this year of happiness. That’s the only thing that matters.”

"Besides, Charles Leclerc, don't you have faith in me?"

It was described lightly, yet it carried a powerful weight.

Leclerc couldn't help but glance at Lu Zhizhou again, and just as she was about to speak, she noticed that the phone on Lu Zhizhou's arm started to vibrate.

Good morning, this is Lu Zhizhou.

Good morning, this is Cyril Abitebor.

(End of this chapter)