The air in this coastal city carried a hint of salty dampness.
The race track was a hybrid circuit that combined public streets with dedicated racing sections, renowned for its narrow lanes, numerous bends, and difficulty in overtaking. It tested a driver’s courage and precision to the extreme.
In the days leading up to the free practice sessions, the team was unusually busy.
Feng Yuxiao held meeting after meeting, repeatedly reviewed track footage, and simulated various tuning schemes, trying to find the optimal car setup for this highly challenging circuit.
The immense pressure and desire for good results weighed heavily on Feng Miwan’s shoulders.
Especially after her stunning performance at the first station, everyone had high expectations for her this time.
The night before the practice sessions, Feng Miwan sat alone on the hotel bed. The tension and anxiety in her heart made it hard for her to breathe.
She picked up her phone and opened her chat with Xiong Yibai.
She typed and deleted several times before finally sending her rawest emotions:
“Yibai… I’m so nervous.”
Unexpectedly, the reply came quickly this time.
Xiong Yibai: “Nervous about what?”
“The practice sessions start tomorrow. This track is especially tough, with almost no room for error.”
“My wrist is healed, but it’s been so long since I’ve done high-intensity races…”
“I’m afraid my feel for the car will be off, afraid I’ll perform poorly, afraid I’ll let everyone down… I’m afraid… what if I mess it up again…”
She poured out all her worries in one go.
Xiong Yibai paused for a moment before replying:
“Your wrist has recovered very well, and the intensity has been built up gradually. In theory, it’s sufficient for the race.”
“Feng Miwan, trust your body. It’s ready.”
Feng Miwan: “I know all that in theory… but I can’t stop my mind from racing… My heart is pounding…”
Xiong Yibai:
“That’s a normal pre-race stress response. Your body is preparing you for the high-intensity focus ahead.”
Feng Miwan: “Will you come watch the race?”
Xiong Yibai: “I have a shift that day, but I’ll watch the live stream.”
Xiong Yibai: “Remember, focus on the process, not the outcome. Good luck—you’ve got this.”
Feng Miwan stared at that last sentence, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. Her heartbeat steadied a bit.
“Yeah! Got it! I’ll do my best!”
She replied, adding a fist-pump emoji.
She set down her phone and walked to the window, gazing at the scattered lights on the track below. Her eyes gradually grew resolute.
Right—focus on the process.
The next day, free practice day arrived as scheduled.
The drivers weren’t competing for positions that day; they were just finding the best vehicle setup and adapting to the track environment before the official race.
Feng Miwan was in the Maple Grove Racing Team’s rest area, doing a final check of the car tuning data with Feng Yuxiao, when she heard two familiar voices approaching.
“Sister Wan! Sister Wan!”
A vibrant voice rang out first.
Jiang Chengfeng from the Chengfeng Team, sporting a cool highlighted hairstyle and a brilliant smile on his face, strode over quickly.
Trailing behind him was the aloof Song Zhe from the Zhe Speed Team.
Jiang Chengfeng hadn’t even stopped before the words tumbled out:
“Sister Wan! Finally found you! After the Pearl City Circuit, my dad dragged me home for some ‘loving education’ and I didn’t get to congratulate you in person for the win! I’m making up for it now! Rain Battle Goddess—well deserved!”
He exaggeratedly cupped his fists in salute as he spoke.
Feng Miwan nodded at Jiang Chengfeng:
“Thanks, Chengfeng.”
No sooner had she spoken than Song Zhe scoffed coldly from the side, arms crossed:
“Save the congratulations until after this station’s race.”
“Feng Miwan, with weather this nice at Yongcheng Station, don’t dream of beating me with that lunatic, no-holds-barred risky driving again.”
Feng Miwan’s temper flared at his words, and she shot back without hesitation:
“Song Zhe, the race hasn’t started yet—who wins and who loses is still up in the air! You think clear skies mean it’s your world?”
As the tension between them thickened, Jiang Chengfeng jumped in to mediate, making a “time-out” gesture with both hands:
“Whoa, whoa! Zhe-ge! Sister Wan! We’re all top drivers from Hua Nation—can we not act like fighting cocks the second we meet?”
“What’s winning for? Isn’t it to represent Hua Nation internationally and go head-to-head with those foreigners?”
“Logically, we’re family—we should be united against the outside world!”
Feng Miwan irritably jabbed a finger at Song Zhe:
“You hear that? Is that even human talk? This nutjob picked the fight first!”
Song Zhe’s face darkened at being called a nutjob to his face:
“You—!”
“Whoa, whoa, stop! Cut it out!”
Jiang Chengfeng felt a massive headache coming on. He clutched his chest in mock heartbreak.
“You two big shots, can you spare a thought for this ‘third wheel’s’ feelings?”
“You’re at 52 points leading the standings, and 36 points chasing close—me?”
“I’ve got a measly 30! The real pressure is on me, okay!”
Song Zhe snorted coldly: “After this station, the top spot on the leaderboard will be mine.”
With that, he turned and headed toward the Zhe Speed Team’s pit area.
Feng Miwan rolled her eyes at his back, not bothering to say more to Jiang Chengfeng. She turned to Feng Yuxiao:
“Bro, I’m heading out.”
She walked straight toward her race car.
“Whoa, Sister Wan! You…”
Jiang Chengfeng watched her retreating figure, his outstretched hand hanging awkwardly in the air.
He turned helplessly, wanting to say something more to Song Zhe, but the other had already walked off.
Jiang Chengfeng: “…”
He stood there, scratching his head, and muttered softly:
“Man, I’m caught in the middle with no one happy. Whatever—time for me to prep too! Gotta catch up some points this station!”
Feng Miwan climbed into the race car cockpit, trying to put Song Zhe’s provocation behind her while recalling Xiong Yibai’s advice from the night before—focus on the process.
However, when the car actually hit the narrow street circuit, the pressure came rushing in.
Unlike wide dedicated tracks, there was almost no margin for error here—concrete walls lined both sides, and any tiny mistake meant slamming into the wall and retiring from the session.
But this didn’t scare her; it ignited her competitive spirit.
However, her car acted extremely “neurotic” through the corners, with an overly lively rear end prone to sudden oversteer—a phenomenon where the rear wheels lost grip during turns, causing the tail to slide outward, commonly known as tail drift.
She had to countersteer constantly to correct it.
And the street circuit’s high curbs—the raised concrete or rubber edges at the corners—were a nightmare.
