Chapter 30: Sacrificing the Small for the Big

“Even if our people worked nonstop to barely fix the car, it wouldn’t be in optimal condition and would only add more risks.

“Plus, we’d be starting from the maintenance zone.”

He turned his head and looked at Feng Miwan, making his decision.

“So, my suggestion is that we DNS tomorrow’s race—do not start.

“Preserve our strength, pool all our resources and energy to fully repair the car, then go all out for the next race—the Modu Circuit.

“Sacrifice the small for the big, and double our lost points there! What do you think?”

Feng Miwan listened to her brother’s analysis seriously, knowing it was the most rational choice right now.

She nodded. “Bro, I’ll follow your lead. For the next race, I definitely won’t let you down.”

“Good!”

“Oh, right, Bro,” Feng Miwan lifted her gaze to him. “Have Mom and Dad contacted you lately?”

Feng Yuxiao chuckled at her words.

“They? They’ve long run off traveling everywhere, living it up without a care in the world. No time to worry about you and me.”

“Mom and Dad went traveling?”

Feng Miwan’s eyes widened slightly. “No wonder they didn’t even watch my race livestream this time. After the crash, they didn’t even call. I thought they were just busy and forgot.”

Feng Yuxiao shook his head helplessly. He gave her a few more instructions about follow-up training and maintaining her physical condition, and Feng Miwan agreed to all of them.

Just as Feng Miwan was about to say goodbye to her brother and head back to the hotel, Feng Yuxiao’s phone on the table suddenly vibrated several times in a row. The screen lit up, showing a bank transfer notification.

Feng Yuxiao glanced at it casually, but his eyes widened in shock. He picked up the phone in disbelief and carefully counted the zeros after that string of numbers.

He looked stunned.

“What… what’s going on?

“Where did this huge sum come from?”

Feng Miwan leaned over curiously to look, equally shocked by the sizable amount.

“Yeah, Bro, who sent this? Did they transfer it by mistake?”

At that moment, a smug voice came from the entrance of the maintenance bay.

“Of course it’s from your rich lady here! Who else?”

The two turned back in surprise to see Zhao Shutong leaning against the doorframe with a grin, holding two large bags that clearly brimmed with food. The aroma of barbecue wafted faintly from them.

Feng Miwan stared at her in astonishment.

“Shutong?!

“How did you get here? And this money…”

“Why can’t I come?”

Zhao Shutong walked in and set the late-night snacks on the workbench, dusting off her hands.

“I watched the livestream and saw your team’s car smashed to bits. I knew your team must be broke right now.”

“Your lady here doesn’t have much, but she’s got money! Take this as a loan for emergencies—no need to thank me!”

Feng Yuxiao finally reacted, deeply moved.

“Shutong, this… this is too much! And we can’t accept it! I’ll figure out the team’s funding issues myself. How can we use your money!”

“Oh, come on, Yuxiao Bro, don’t stand on ceremony with me!”

Zhao Shutong waved her hand dismissively.

“Consider this money an investment, okay? When Miwan wins the annual championship, split the prize money with me!

“Besides, I’m lending it to Miwan, not you! Right, Miwan?”

She winked at Feng Miwan.

Feng Miwan looked at her best friend, warmth flooding her heart, her nose tingling again.

Feng Yuxiao knew this was Zhao Shutong’s kindness, but he stuck to his principles.

“Shutong, I appreciate the gesture, but we really can’t take the money.

“The team has its rules for operations. We’ll take the snacks—thank you. But return the money right away.”

Zhao Shutong put her hands on her hips.

“Return what? I spend my money on whoever I want!

“If you won’t take it, I’m taking the snacks back too!”

Feng Yuxiao was amused by her unreasonable stubbornness and shook his head.

“Fine, fine, you win. But we’ll talk about the money in detail tomorrow.”

He checked the time.

“It’s getting late, and I’ve got a lot to handle here. Miwan, walk Shutong back to the hotel. Take the snacks with you—don’t waste her thoughtfulness.”

“Mm, okay.”

Feng Miwan nodded and picked up the two bags of aromatic late-night snacks.

“Yuxiao Bro, you sure you don’t want some? It smells amazing!” Zhao Shutong tried to tempt him.

“Nah, you two eat. I still need to oversee them disassembling the gearbox.”

Feng Yuxiao waved them off and turned his attention back to the data on his screen.

Feng Miwan and Zhao Shutong exchanged a glance, grabbed the snacks, and left the maintenance bay together, heading toward the hotel.

The cool night breeze dispersed some of the oppressive feeling from the maintenance area.

As they neared the hotel entrance, Zhao Shutong nudged Feng Miwan with her elbow and whispered,

“Wow! Miwan! Quick, look! One o’clock direction! A top-tier beauty! That aura, that figure—perfection!”

Feng Miwan sighed helplessly. “Shutong, not again… Can you chill for a sec?”

“I’m serious!”

Zhao Shutong waggled her eyebrows.

“She’s totally your type! That cool, ascetic vibe! Want your sis to scout ahead and get her WeChat?”

“No thanks, you can…”

Feng Miwan was at a loss for words, about to say “keep her for yourself,” when her gaze casually drifted in the direction Zhao Shutong pointed.

Her words cut off abruptly.

The tall figure standing under the hotel entrance streetlamp, dressed in a simple trench coat and holding a bag… wasn’t that Xiong Yibai?!

At that moment, Xiong Yibai seemed to sense the gaze. She turned her head and spotted Feng Miwan frozen in place, along with the expressive Zhao Shutong beside her.

She paused, then walked toward them.

Feng Miwan felt nailed to the spot as Xiong Yibai drew closer, her brain short-circuiting.

Zhao Shutong saw her dumbfounded look and whispered smugly in her ear,

“Hm? Keep her for myself what? Go on!”

Feng Miwan snapped back, her ears burning, and whispered back, “You go fight the air yourself!”

Just then, Xiong Yibai reached them.

Her gaze lingered for a moment on Feng Miwan’s slightly reddened eyes, then on the snack bag in her hand, before settling on her face.

Feng Miwan said in surprise,

“Yibai?

“You… how did you get here too?”

Xiong Yibai’s expression remained calm as she lifted the bag in her hand, which bore the logo of a well-known porridge shop.

“My purpose seems to be the same as your friend’s.”

Feng Miwan looked at the light, nourishing porridge in Xiong Yibai’s bag, then at the greasy barbecue in hers and Zhao Shutong’s. She was dumbfounded.

She… she had come specially?

Zhao Shutong took in the scene, her eyes darting gleefully between the two, and chimed in cheerfully,

“Oh my! What a coincidence! What does this mean? Great minds think alike!”