"Kai!"
"Kai!"
The setting sun was like fire, the fierce wind fluttered the flags. Although the race had ended, beneath the vast sky of the Shanghai International Circuit, rolling heat waves were still surging and boiling.
In recent years, F1's market share in mainland China had risen steadily, and the attraction of the Shanghai Grand Prix continued to ferment. Major teams' confidence soared, scrambling to target this piece of cake, trying to seize the initiative. But this year, this race welcomed an unprecedented blowout growth.
During the Grand Prix, the Shanghai track attracted a full 200,000 spectators, not only easily refreshing the record but also increasing the previous highest record by over 30%. Using practical actions to prove that the so-called market potential was not an estimate but a fact being staged, F1 and major teams looked sideways one after another.
Reason?
Needless to say, the facts before eyes wouldn't lie,
A red wave spread mightily and endlessly on the Shanghai track. The engine roar had settled and quieted down, replaced by deafening singing to the heart's content. Faces flushed with excitement were written with joy and happiness, singing and dancing to vent inner fanaticism.
These years, racing enthusiasts in mainland China had been waiting bitterly, waiting for the zero breakthrough of Chinese drivers in F1, waiting for the Shanghai track to witness the appearance of a home driver. The long wait finally ended. Suddenly, they found the dreamed-of thing was being staged, and far exceeded expectations,
The driver wearing the red Ferrari battle robe got on the podium in his first expedition on the Shanghai track. Everything was perfect, even perfect to the point of lacking a sense of reality.
So.
The sea of people chose to stay, not rushing to leave. If this was a dream, let this dream last a while longer, a bit longer.
The pit crews busy packing up coming and going couldn't help but stop temporarily, quietly admiring this grand scene.
Their footsteps covered the globe, witnessing different home courts and admiring different fanaticism, but all paled before this brilliant and dazzling red.
Rustlingly, they couldn't help discussing. No one expected the 2018 season to have such an opening, a baby driver leading strongly.
Between whispers, blood couldn't help bubbling and boiling, hearts surging, cheering and jumping for joy.
However, everything being staged before eyes had no comparability in front of the traffic frenzy of social networks,
#KaiSecond#, #KaiPodiumThreeConsecutiveStops#, #ShanghaiTrackWitnessHistory#, #SoF1IsSoExciting#, #KaiHighEnergy#.
Various topic tags exploded across the board, swiping the screen strongly in the top twenty of the hot search list. The breakout index broke the chart, even more surging and crazy than the moment Kai won in Melbourne. After all, the doorstep was different after all, let alone a magnificent race.
Passers-by who knew nothing about F1 developed incredible interest in racing, scrambling to ask what this race was about.
Actually, the most difficult place for F1 to break out lies in the threshold of watching races. Not mechanical thresholds, but racing and strategy thresholds. If not understanding the importance of tires, fuel load, car setup, team strategy, then watching F1 races is just watching cars circle on the track, boring enough to make people drowsy,
So, besides overtaking, what else can be watched?
If just because of a moment of excitement and hot blood, hurriedly turning on the TV to watch F1, probably it wouldn't take long for enthusiasm to disappear completely.
Precisely because of this, F1's market promotion and mass base need paving, brewing, deepening; not that easy.
Before eyes, the opportunity appeared again. A group of onlookers showed interest. Fanatical fans naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity. Social networks rarely presented a thriving scene. No abuse, no attacks, no cynicism. Enthusiastic netizens actively popularized science and answered questions, trance-like returning to the time when the internet just broke into people's lives in the millennium era.
Because of Kai, fans were all firmly united together.
Racing enthusiasts shared their opinions unreservedly, letting people understand as much as possible that this second place was hard-won, worth a thousand gold, even more precious than a championship. Not only on the tactical level, but also on the paddock power struggle level, and even more on the track competitive level.
"Undoubtedly, Kai poured out all his strength and burned to the very end."
Later, someone shared videos.
One was the moment Kai fell into bitter silence in front of media interviews; the other was the moment Kai buried his head in Jiang Mo's shoulder.
Without words, one could see Kai's unwillingness and regret. Even almost unable to stand steady, exhausted, he was still full of nostalgia and pity for the race.
Two videos exploded across the board from forwarding volume to viewing volume to comment number. The topic tag #IamProudOfKai# emerged suddenly, topping the hot search list strongly.
Overwhelming, ubiquitous. In the next few hours, it seemed everyone was discussing F1. The whole world spun around Kai.
Fully breaking out,
F1 had never been so hot.
Everything was seen in the eyes, leaving traces mightily. Sponsors became restless one by one, unable to control their joy and impulse anymore.
Overnight, Kai became a gold mine. Everyone yearned to share a piece of the pie.
In the social network era, traffic is king. No one could ignore the stormy waves set off by Kai. The ability to break free and break out strongly made people look sideways.
However, things were not that simple. The root lay in F1, different from all other sports; this is a money-burning sport.
The target audience of F1 events is relatively special. Although possessing a large number of racing enthusiasts as a base, the core is those high-end people, wealthy people owning sports cars, yachts, famous watches. Whether oil tycoons, tech upstarts, or celebrities, all in one net.
Naturally, when brands choose F1 for sponsorship investment, they need to establish their target audience; having a definite object in view is wise.
Moreover, F1 sponsorship itself is very special, divided into team sponsorship and personal sponsorship.
If it's a top team like Ferrari, exposure is high, but competition is fierce. Team sponsorship for a year might need tens of millions of dollars. Not only need to consider European tax issues but also consider the team's pickiness and strictness. Truly worthy of being called a sport where money is thrown like dirt.
Maybe sponsoring twenty million dollars a year only gets a position in an inconspicuous corner of the Ferrari body. Getting on the body is successful, but not necessarily visible to anyone. Might even need fanatical Tifosi holding magnifying glasses to find the existence of the brand logo.
Then, market promotion and commercial return need more consideration.
Giving up team sponsorship and choosing personal sponsorship is relatively simpler. The sponsorship amount isn't that outrageous, but the decline in exposure is also a fact.
Here, cooperating with drivers of small teams might not be that troublesome, but for big teams, for brand image, they also have veto power over the choice of driver's personal sponsorship brands. Especially Ferrari, facing a newcomer like Kai, personal sponsorship is estimated to be difficult.
Even a legendary brand like Rolex faces many considerations when sponsoring F1.
In addition, Kai is just starting out, popping out of a rock. Not only the paddock reserves attitude, but the brand side also needs to weigh the potential value.
Before eyes, Kai's momentum is like a rainbow, but whether it can be maintained, and how long it can be maintained, are all question marks because there are too few reference books in the past.
What's more, Kai's traffic blowout is just overnight topping. He hasn't proven his market value temporarily. How to sponsor, and how much to sponsor, are all unknowns.
F1 is not other sports where brands can sponsor 500,000 dollars to test the water and see the effect before deciding subsequent strategies. The water test here might be millions or even tens of millions of dollars.
Various difficulties and restrictions were all placed before eyes, yet still couldn't stop the fanaticism of the brand side, swarming up all at once.
...
Frenzy!
Yili, Huawei, Geely, Anta, Alipay, NIO, Anmuxi, etc., etc., scrambling to be first, swarming in. Nicolas Todt was so busy his feet didn't touch the ground.
Actually, this was just the tip of the iceberg.
F1's situation is special, often requiring long-term vision and overall layout. Those brand sides trying to enter motorsport started layout a few years ago. They need to consider the entire market and their brand positioning, and won't disrupt their plans just because of the emergence of a Chinese driver. But undoubtedly, Kai's appearance is a positive factor, increasing their confidence.
However, Ferrari lying across the front is a severe challenge.
Obviously, they also have their own market planning. Starting with the Chinese market, aiming at the entire Asian market, Kai is the cornerstone of the plan.
And those brands originally not interested in F1 naturally wouldn't act rashly because of the short-term traffic blowout. Even if Kai's emergence is indeed covetous, long-term layout is still needed. The result of a momentary impulse is often hitting a wall head-on, bedraggled.
However, this still couldn't stop the restless and surging brands swarming in like a flood.
Comparable to a volcanic eruption.
Unexpectedly, before facing the big mountain of Ferrari, brands hit the wall of Nicolas Todt first.
Obviously, Nicolas understood what kind of game F1 is. This is a real capital contest.
If greed swallows reason just for some immediate petty profits, that will become the beginning of destruction. Planning, layout, reason, endurance, not because of timidity and caution, but seeking the full picture. This is the correct way to open the realization of a magnificent blueprint.
Back in Maranello, Nicolas chose to go all out not for today. Because he believed everything before his eyes was just the beginning.
Brembo. Richard Mille. Ray-Ban.
Nicolas chose sponsorship brands not only because of contract figures but also needed to consider brand value and Kai's personal brand image.
So, these brand meetings were crucial. Nicolas not only needed to complete a large amount of investigation himself but also needed to understand the brand's value and philosophy, as well as their reasons for hoping to cooperate with Kai, future cooperation direction, brand value positioning. Everything needed to be cautious and serious.
Not making things difficult; the fact is quite the opposite. It is a necessary means for long-term cooperation.
These days, Nicolas was busy like a spinning top unable to stop. Even sleep time was countable on fingers, supported entirely by caffeine.
Pushing open the hotel room door, Nicolas's steps were light, like riding clouds and fog. Clearly walking on flat ground, but seemed to be drifting in the void.
Seeing Kai sitting in front of the table writing furiously at a glance, the corners of Nicolas's mouth rose. "Your mom and dad went back?"
Kai didn't look up. "Yeah, went back early morning. They both have work. Accompanied me these days, both delayed a lot of work. My dad's phone hasn't stopped since yesterday."
Nicolas sat down heavily diagonally opposite Kai, looking at the souvenir pile like a small hill before him, laughing dumbfoundedly. "Silvia didn't let you off."
Kai shook his hand, squeezing his biceps exaggeratedly. "More exaggerated than homework. You should know how severe our homework is, right?"
"Haha." Nicolas laughed out loud directly.
Placed before eyes weren't homework and exam papers, but souvenirs. A pile from FIA official, a pile from Ferrari, all requiring Kai's signature.
Frankie Penny said 1,500 promotional photos, 1,500 hats, and 500 T-shirts, but Kai couldn't count them at all,
Only more, not less.
"Ferrari is fine, I understand, but what's with the FIA? What fun are they joining?" Kai shook his wrist; harder than driving.
Nicolas wasn't surprised. "Do you know this year's F1 official souvenir shop sales figures?"
Pausing, Nicolas didn't keep him in suspense. "Tripled compared to last year. Your sales alone exceeded the sum of everyone else, including Lewis."
"The FIA needs you. These signed gifts, distributed to sponsors and other official activities, bottom out instantly. If not for Silvia stopping them, the FIA would wish to trap you here signing day and night."
Kai tilted his head. "So, next time I have friction overtaking on track, shouldn't they not penalize? Does this count as home court whistle?"
Nicolas was stunned, completely not expecting Kai's brain hole. Eyes full of smiles. "Haha. I'll operate behind the scenes to see."
Meeting Kai's gaze, Nicolas also joked along. "Shh. This matter needs to be kept secret from my dad."
Atmosphere relaxed instantly.
Immediately after, Nicolas changed the topic. "Negotiations basically settled, remaining are contract details, but both sides have reached a consensus. Ferrari also nodded there."
"Kai, you are finally about to have the first heavyweight team sponsorship."
Kai was still busy signing, multitasking. "Wow, so smooth? I thought at least would pull back and forth for a while."
Nicolas nodded. "I predicted so too, but your performance on the Shanghai track was too excellent, increasing our chips. Everything is because of you."
Before eyes, they were discussing Lenovo.
As mentioned before, all brands wanting to enter the paddock start layout early, not changing strategy because of whether a Chinese driver appears in the paddock,
Lenovo is one of them.
After years of planning and layout, Lenovo finally signed a cooperation agreement with Ferrari, officially appearing on the Ferrari body in the 2018 season, becoming a partner.
These were all determined before Kai signed with Ferrari. Then, Kai appeared, and the Lenovo side immediately became restless.
Ferrari plus Chinese driver, Lenovo had no reason to miss it. They could fully seize the opportunity to add more possibilities to this cooperation,
Maximizing benefits.
Contact between Lenovo and Nicolas started last October, but at that time, Kai had nothing; what he held was just a possibility. To Lenovo, Kai was just icing on the cake. Regardless of whether there was Kai, the cooperation between Lenovo and Ferrari had already been negotiated.
So, the Lenovo side was also very tough.
Lenovo's cooperation sincerity was undoubted; but at the same time, they didn't hide their ambition,
Twenty million dollars in team sponsorship, two million dollars in personal sponsorship. Conditions very generous. The only requirement was Kai signing an exclusive cooperation agreement.
Simply put, in the future, Kai is not allowed to sign with other technology brands. At least within the contract period, Lenovo must be the only technology brand on Kai's racing suit and hat.
Ambitious. Lenovo relied on its cooperation with Ferrari, preparing to control the situation firmly, excluding competitors in the technology industry all at once.
Nicolas refused. He couldn't possibly agree.
So, cooperation negotiations deadlocked instantly.
In front of capital, everything is numbers. Everyone has their own stance, striving for benefit maximization. Negotiation games are full of variables.
The Lenovo side was exceptionally tough. They firmly believed they had the advantage. Cooperation with Kai should be them benefiting Kai, not Kai giving them assistance.
At the same time, Nicolas was also tenacious. On the surface, he seemed to be cooperating and working hard, but he never compromised, trying to persuade Lenovo,
"Retreating to advance." Nicolas showed the ability of a top agent.
He explained his viewpoint unhurriedly, layer by layer. Exclusive cooperation wouldn't bring any advantage. Not only would it not, but after completely binding Kai and Lenovo, both brand images might fall into a dilemma of stagnation, which is fatal for technology brands.
After all, technology is closely related to innovation.
If it were food, fashion, and other brands, exclusive cooperation's exclusivity is necessary; but for technology brands, this is an act of cutting off one's own vitality. At that time, both Kai and Lenovo would suffer, beneficial to no one.
More importantly, Kai should become a national idol, a public resource. The greater his influence, the more traffic feedback Lenovo harvests.
Otherwise, both sides would be trapped within Lenovo's boundaries, drawing a prison for themselves.
In fact, if Lenovo hoped to open up the situation through cooperation with Ferrari and Kai, winning a place in the Asian and even global market, then they should assist Ferrari and Kai to a higher level. While they seize the opportunity to play a leading role, subsequent cooperative brands all follow behind Lenovo. Lenovo is the biggest beneficiary of traffic frenzy.
Exclusive cooperation looks strong, but in fact equals binding Kai's hands and feet, making the cake smaller and smaller. Only by opening arms to welcome competition can the cake possibly be made bigger.
Of course, Nicolas fully understood Lenovo's strategy, but the method was wrong. They shouldn't restrict Kai, but should increase team sponsorship, grasping the initiative.
Undoubtedly, Ferrari is the highest stage in the F1 paddock. Even if missing the championship for many years, it is still the king of traffic. Mercedes and Red Bull still can't surpass. Lenovo should promote Ferrari's success, and improve Kai's status in the team by increasing Ferrari sponsorship.
The ultimate goal lies in achieving Kai's success in Ferrari, driving brand publicity effect with the success of driver and team, and increasing brand voice.
"You should open up possibilities."
Nicolas showed his resilience. Although always lowering his posture, he always stuck to the bottom line and principles, continuously persuading Lenovo during the negotiation process.
Negotiations back and forth lasted more than six months, but never made much progress. But both sides didn't break up either, always keeping in touch.
Until the new season unveiled, Kai won in Melbourne, breaking the balance of cooperation between Nicolas and Lenovo. Because now Kai was no longer a rookie "having nothing." Overnight becoming the leader of young drivers, breaking a series of records with a posture of emerging out of nowhere.
Negotiation position, subtle changes occurred.
However, the smart part about Nicolas lay in that he wasn't triumphant or domineering, didn't change a face overnight to turn from defense to offense. He still maintained steadiness, sticking to his previous views. He believed cooperation was the correct choice; Kai and Lenovo could spark.
Step by step, Nicolas finally reached the finish line at his own pace,
Less than forty-eight hours after the Shanghai Grand Prix ended, Nicolas finally finalized Kai's fourth sponsor, a heavyweight cooperation.
In fact, although only sleeping forty-five minutes last night, Nicolas didn't feel tired at all. The whole person was boiling warmly like soaking in a hot spring.
Watching the busy signing Kai before his eyes, the smile on Nicolas's lips rose completely. "Your performance on the Shanghai track, no one can refuse. And who can refuse?"
"Maurizio Arrivabene? Sebastian Vettel?" Kai replied.
Nicolas knew all about the things in the pit lane. Not Kai complaining, but Frankie Penny informing, the agent needed to help clean up the mess.
Although Nicolas had a slight headache, he supported Kai 100%, and believed Kai made the correct choice, whether on the track or in the meeting room.
Nicolas waved his hand. "Maurizio will realize you were thinking for the team."
Kai looked at Nicolas meaningfully. "Oh, Nick, now I can be sure you are an agent. Full of nonsense comes handy. I'm not that kind."
"Haha." Nicolas laughed out loud directly.
After Kai joked, he didn't say more. "So, Lenovo?"
Nicolas lifted his chin gently. "Yes, Lenovo."
"Team sponsorship increased to thirty million dollars, personal sponsorship five million dollars. Kai, from now on, you are also a driver with a team backer."
Of course, Brembo, Richard Mille, Ray-Ban were all official partners of Ferrari. These sponsors would all become Kai's backers.
Maybe Kai was still the Ferrari number two driver, but he wasn't a lamb to be slaughtered without a voice now.
Negotiating this cooperation down, Nicolas also exhaled a long breath. In this capital game of F1, if Kai wanted to pry the lever, he must possess enough capital support,
Lenovo was just the first step.
"Actually, the key doesn't lie in Lenovo. This cooperation is equivalent to releasing a signal, stating our position and stance, as well as brand image market value."
"Next, we will completely open up the situation. Not only in your hometown, top global brands will also see."
Looking at the eager Nicolas rubbing his hands, a smile appeared in Kai's eyes. "Looking at your meaning, you already have a target?"
Nicolas showed a smile mysteriously. "Of course. However, we need to plan. Some brands, we can lower our posture slightly to attack actively; some brands, we need to maintain patience waiting for the other party to come to the door; and some brands might still need paving."
With a few words, a magnificent blueprint seemed visible.
"However, leave these things to me. You just focus on yourself on the track." Nicolas said. "I believe in you; you've always done well."
Kai: "You have your profession, I have my profession. We divide labor and cooperate, right?"
"Haha, divide labor and cooperate, right, that's it." Nicolas laughed heartily.
Meanwhile, Frédéric Arnault sat leisurely and lazily in the hotel lobby, crossing his legs, picking up the newspaper in hand, pretending to be reading.
However, his gaze kept paying attention to the elevator direction, seeming to be waiting for someone. Every time the elevator opened, he could be seen straightening his body slightly.
Until that figure appeared. Arnault paused, didn't stand up immediately, instead settled down, quietly watching the other party's every move with peripheral vision.
That, was impressively Kai.
...
Frédéric Arnault, the third son of Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of luxury goods group LVMH. Only twenty-three years old this year, just graduated from university.
Obviously, this young master didn't need to worry about employment issues. After running a mobile payment startup with friends, he still entered the family business, joining TAG Heuer under LVMH, forming a sixty-person smart watch team inside, ready to join the wave of the times.
Actually, the smart watch was just a trial, a step. Starting management operation from a small team; once the time was ripe, he would take over the entire TAG Heuer.
So, since entering TAG Heuer last year, Arnault had been observing and learning.
He noticed TAG Heuer had been trying to keep up with the times these years. The entire design became more and more modern, changes very big. However, in competitiveness with other watches, it didn't gain the upper hand, instead losing steadfast die-hard old customers, which put the brand's image positioning in a dilemma.
In TAG Heuer's history, the sixties and seventies were the peak. At that time, the sports style established by TAG Heuer racing chronographs was highly praised.
Racing, a sport closely related to watches. After all, this is a sport where victory is decided by chronometers.
Naturally, Arnault turned his gaze to F1.
In fact, not just the watch department, LVMH Group had also been trying to break barriers in the past two years, combining high-end, elegant luxury brand images with aristocratic sports through sponsoring sports projects, just like Rolex's strategy these years, realizing chemical reactions through cross-border cooperation.
Racing culture's unique technology, fashion, and cultural attributes, the characteristic of continuously traveling around the world breaking barriers, allowed F1 to transcend pure sports competition, possessing highlights that global sports like football and basketball don't have, deeply grasping the consumption psychology and consumption needs of global high-net-worth individuals, while providing high-end brands with globalized, cross-regional, long-time exposure opportunities.
In 2013, Rolex signed an exclusive title cooperation with F1. Rolex banners hung above all tracks. After the contract expired this year, both sides renewed again.
Undoubtedly, this was a win-win.
Actually, all along, LVMH Group had close cooperation with F1, but it was never the group's focus. They didn't invest a lot of energy here.
Arnault believed, not just TAG Heuer, LVMH's group businesses could all welcome breakthroughs on the F1 field,
Once successful, this would be his resume, the chip to become group leader in the future.
If wanting to promote cooperation of this level, must plan for the long term and overall layout. Arnault didn't waste time, entering the paddock as a spectator.
Then, he noticed Kai.
Honestly, in the 2018 paddock, no one could ignore Kai. Originally Arnault came for Hamilton and Verstappen, but his gaze couldn't leave Car 22. The charm displayed inside and outside the track was truly impressive.
Of course, Arnault didn't ignore the Richard Mille on Kai's wrist, but he didn't care at all. If needed, just throw money.
Accurately speaking, after learning Richard Mille was Kai's first sponsor brand, Arnault became more interested. Maybe this meant Kai was the breakthrough TAG Heuer was searching for bitterly?
However, precisely because of this, Arnault was somewhat curious. Kai, who was still struggling in GP3 back then, had a resume blanker than now. How was Richard Mille persuaded to sign Kai exceptionally?
Rumor has it this signing didn't even pass through Nicolas Todt.
Arnault decided he wanted to contact Kai privately to see. Otherwise, if he wanted, he had a hundred ways to meet Kai on formal occasions, but those social occasions with clinking glasses and fragrant clothes and temple shadows would have no fun, right?
Rarely seen, the third son of LVMH Group sat in the hotel lobby, learning spy methods from movies, holding a newspaper to cover his tracks.
Beside him were two bodyguards. Arnault could relax, but they couldn't. Fully alert, muscles tense. One couldn't help lowering his voice to persuade, "We don't need to wait here, we can call Todt directly..."
"Shh." Arnault signaled the bodyguard to shut up. "I don't know you, remember? Don't talk to me."
After speaking, Arnault turned his head to look at the elevator direction again, vaguely cheerful, uncontrollably excited.
"Here he comes. Here he comes!"
Arnault noticed that figure immediately, exclaiming repeatedly. At this time, he calmed down instead, pretending to continue reading the newspaper, thinking about how to create an encounter naturally without being seen through by the other party. So, when those women tried to pretend to encounter him, how exactly did they do it?
"...Sir, we should leave immediately. A crowd is gathering." Although having a headache, the bodyguard was still conscientious, fulfilling his responsibility.
Arnault didn't understand. Crowd? Where did the crowd come from?
Ignoring cover, turning head straight to look over. At a glance, could see two girls popping out from nowhere, faces like peach blossoms and eyes like spring water approaching gradually. The two were slightly nervous, pulling each other and encouraging each other. Although hesitant, they still walked towards Kai with small broken steps.
Groupies?
"...Kai..."
A timid call came from behind. Kai was slightly surprised, turning reflexively. Then saw two girls dressed in long dresses standing in front, looking over eagerly. Cheeks flushed, expressions stiff, hands trembling, unclear whether excited or nervous.
Kai showed a polite smile. "Hello, is there anything I can help with?"
One girl tried to speak, stammering for a long time without saying anything meaningful, just tremblingly handing over the Ferrari number 22 hat in her hand.
Another girl kept covering the lower half of her face with a hat, voice tense saying, "Can you sign for us?"
Kai was stunned. Following the flight, this was the second time. Seems Frankie Penny making him sign so many souvenirs wasn't wasted effort.
"Of course." Kai took the carbon pen and hat, bowing head to sign quickly, still slightly unfamiliar.
"Number!" The girl said.
Kai was slightly surprised. Number 22? "No problem." He wrote a 22 next to the hat's number 22.
Resultantly, "Your phone number." The girl said boldly.
Kai laughed dumbfoundedly, shaking his head gently. "Sorry, that's not allowed."
Looking at the two girls in front who were shy to the point of speaking unclearly, yet asking for a phone number so boldly, this scene really made Kai feel funny.
Instantly, smile bloomed. "Almost fell for it, just a little bit."
The girl who kept covering her face with a hat couldn't control anymore, cheeks instantly crimson, but still stared at Kai intently, emboldening herself to say loudly, "Kai, you are really good-looking."
Kai widened his eyes. Was he just flirted with?
However, before Kai could counterattack, intuition sensed crisis immediately. Something was wrong. Peripheral vision could see the surroundings surging vaguely.
What was going on? Crowds were continuously drilling out from corners?
Situation, seemed more than a billion points wrong?