In Spirited Away, soot sprites constantly popped out from every corner of the boiler room. One second, it seemed empty; the next, you were surrounded on all sides.
It was exactly like that now.
Frédéric Arnault swore he had been sitting in the hotel lobby for over thirty minutes. People came and went, but he had never noticed this many people.
Where had they been hiding?
Arnault was baffled. He looked left, then right. More and more people were emerging, two here, three there. It was overwhelming. They were converging on Kai from all directions.
His bodyguards dutifully advised him to leave. They shouldn't join the commotion. Arnault needed to consider his safety; such crowded encirclements were prone to accidents. A stampede could happen in a blink.
Arnault should abandon the plan.
This frustrated him. He felt his perfect plan had died before it even began.
However, just then, a scream exploded like thunder in the lobby. "Kai! Aaaaaah!"
One stone stirred up a thousand waves. Order shattered. The air instantly turned into a heat wave, surging from all directions.
Frenzy!
Arnault turned to look at Kai, who was checking out at the front desk. In a thousandth of a second, he cut off his hesitation, stood up, and rushed out.
Bodyguards: ???
Arnault sprinted. Despite looking tall and thin like a bamboo pole, he loved sports, tennis, running, surfing.
However, he had never sprinted in a public place. It was strange, and thrilling. But he couldn't care less now.
Arnault had only one thought: Opportunity.
Since he didn't want to meet Kai in a formal setting and exchange empty official pleasantries, but wanted to see Kai's true face in private, this was the chance.
Not to be missed.
He acted instantly, shedding his usual demeanor and sprinting toward Kai.
"Run!"
Arnault shouted at Kai, waving his right hand, signaling him to leave the encirclement. Breaking away quickly was the only correct choice.
Little did he know, in Kai's eyes, this scene looked completely different. That tall, thin guy looked like just another fanatical fan, no different from the crowd swarming from all sides. Men and women were everywhere. Nothing special.
Moreover, Kai didn't have time to scrutinize every face. He only felt the surging wave and sounded the alarm.
He had experienced this once at the airport, so he lacked experience; but judging from that one time, escaping promptly was the correct response. Being surrounded meant being outnumbered; it would get messy.
Decisively, Kai turned to the front desk and pushed his key over. "My agent will check out later. Sorry."
The receptionist smiled. "No problem, Mr. Lu, go ahead."
But Kai had no time for pleasantries. He turned to leave, only to feel a gust of wind head-on,
That tall, thin guy was like the Fat Monk (Pang Toutuo) from The Deer and the Cauldron, tall, thin, limbs uncoordinated. He drilled through the bustling crowd, took the lead, but slipped and couldn't brake. He charged straight at Kai, about to cause a chain reaction collision in public.
Kai stepped aside, refusing to be a crash pad. The "Fat Monk" was about to slam into the front desk at full sprint speed.
Arnault: ?
Just then, Kai raised his right hand to the "Fat Monk's" right shoulder. Using the opponent's force, he pushed gently and stepped forward. The "Fat Monk" spun 360 degrees against Kai's arm and back, his uncontrolled inertia easily neutralized.
Arnault felt the world spin, mouth dry, heart pounding so hard he almost vomited. Yet, he felt a faint thrill and excitement.
But he couldn't care about that now. Arnault immediately stood on Kai's left, blocking the crowd like a bodyguard, and asked over his shoulder:
"Where are your bodyguards?"
Kai blinked. Bodyguards? What bodyguards? Where would he get the money for bodyguards? But it seemed this "Fat Monk" before him was ready to help?
"Unemployed," Kai replied.
Arnault heard the joke in his tone and laughed. "You need to leave ASAP, or this will get out of control."
Kai didn't answer. He saw two men in black suits following closely behind. They looked like the "Fat Monk's" bodyguards, anxious, decisive, carving a path through the crowd, closing in fast.
So, this "Fat Monk" wasn't an ordinary fan?
Just right. Because of the two bodyguards' actions, the surging crowd slowed down.
Opportunity!
No time to communicate. Kai patted the stranger's shoulder. Since someone volunteered to be a shield, no need to refuse. "This way."
One leading, one blocking, they moved toward the door with surprising coordination. Kai was overwhelmed.
Facing wave after wave of fanatical fans, he smiled and nodded. "Sorry. Next time. Watch out, be careful."
People shoved gifts into Kai's arms. Kai had never seen such a battle array. He wasn't sure if he should accept, but realizing he couldn't take them all, he refused everyone. "Sorry, I can't accept your gifts."
"But thank you."
Busy and crowded, the two quickly left the hotel lobby. Chilly wind blew on their faces, colliding head-on with the rolling heat wave. A storm raged.
The vehicle waiting in the outer lane pulled up in time. Kai dove into the car first. He was about to turn and thank the "Fat Monk" and the two bodyguards for their help, but saw the "Fat Monk" also pushed into the car by the crowd. He closed the door, sealing the crowd out.
But at the same time, the two black-suited bodyguards were also shut out,
The two were clearly terrified. Rushing to the front, they slapped the window, seemingly shouting anxiously.
Unfortunately, the "Fat Monk" didn't care at all. He patted the driver's shoulder. "Go. Now."
Seeing the zombie siege scene, the driver didn't have time to ask. He released the handbrake, and the vehicle started slowly, finally leaving the surging crowd behind.
Looking back, a dense mass of people. Some relentlessly chased, trying to outrun the car on foot, shouting hoarsely.
Of course, the two black-suited bodyguards were also in the crowd, hands on hips, looking at the taillights unwillingly, panting.
Withdrawing their gazes, Kai and the stranger exchanged a look and burst into laughter.
Although bedraggled, sweating, hair messy, showing signs of escaping death, the carefree joy in their chests continued to surge. Smiles bloomed fully.
Kai: "Do I need to drop you off at the next intersection? Otherwise, once on the highway, you'll have to follow me to Pudong Airport. Your bodyguards might be scared to death."
The first half was fine, but at the second half, the smile on the "Fat Monk's" face slowly collapsed,
Exposed already?
...
Since childhood, Arnault lived a life of luxury, protected tightly in a birdcage like a canary, with no freedom to speak of.
Of course, Arnault didn't complain. In fact, he enjoyed this life and accepted his inherent privileges frankly. Not long after graduation, he entered the family business smoothly, gearing up to make a career in LVMH Group.
However, very, very occasionally, Arnault would be curious: if he deviated from the track a little, took a risk, would there be a different experience?
So, after graduation, he tried starting his own business; besides aristocratic sports like tennis and equestrianism, he tried surfing.
Today was the same.
Although everything was a chance encounter he meticulously planned for the group's future strategic layout; deviating slightly, he found it exceptionally exciting.
A kind of carefreeness, a kind of wantonness.
Arnault was preparing to talk freely about everything that just happened, it was like a roller coaster. But turning his head,
"Do I need to drop you off at the next intersection? Otherwise, once on the highway, you'll have to follow me to Pudong Airport. Your bodyguards might be scared to death."
That's it?
Smile collapsed directly.
Arnault couldn't believe his ears. Subconsciously, he tried to struggle. "...What did you say?"
A smile appeared in Kai's eyes. "Bodyguards. I noticed just now, two black suits. They looked very worried about you."
Arnault: ...
@#%&$€, a bunch of mumbling, all in French. Although Kai couldn't understand it all, having been with Leclerc for a long time, he could tell those words weren't very beautiful.
Arnault looked at Kai hopelessly, saying nothing.
Kai shrugged lightly. "Need me to pretend I know nothing? I can do that."
Arnault finally couldn't hold back, bursting into laughter, looking relieved. "If I say everything is a coincidence, do you believe me?"
"Yes, of course, why not." Kai looked frank. A string of words came out, clearly affirmation, but the irony couldn't be hidden, obviously teasing. "Just like the Fat Monk going to block Wei Xiaobao, everything is a coincidence."
"Fat?" Arnault looked down at himself. "Are you sure?"
Only then did Kai realize and start explaining the origin of the "Fat Monk" to Arnault. He was originally fat, but took a poison, and because there was no antidote, his body shape changed, forcibly evolving into a thin bamboo pole. This was a plot and character from a martial arts novel.
Arnault was stunned. "How did you know I was fat when I was a kid?"
Kai blinked. "...I don't even know your name. So, I guess I'm a prophet but haven't realized it myself?"
"Haha." Arnault couldn't control anymore, laughing holding his belly.
Sure enough, Kai was an interesting guy!
Arnault actively extended his right hand, introducing himself. "Frédéric, very nice to meet you."
"Kai."
Arnault narrowed his eyes, with some interest. "I heard before that F1 has a new driver this year, eloquent and humorous. Now I finally experienced it personally."
Kai opened his mouth slightly, unable to hide his astonishment. "This is unfair. You know me like the back of your hand, but I know nothing about you. Why do I feel this is a trap?"
Arnault deliberately restrained his smile, putting on a serious posture. "No, you are a prophet. You already know my childhood secret kept for many years, don't you?"
Kai raised his eyebrows slightly. "Thanks for the revelation. Now it seems if I leave the paddock one day, I might not need to worry about future livelihood."
"Ha." Arnault. "You? I don't believe it. Now the whole paddock is watching you; you don't need to worry about livelihood."
"Just like they watch Max Verstappen?" Kai asked back.
Arnault was stunned.
Kai: "In the world of competitive sports, there is no mercy. Without results, everything is false. Sponsors' patience is very limited."
Arnault: "Then seize the opportunity now, sign more sponsors, grab a handful and leave. Anyway, they have so much budget, take it or leave it."
"Haha." This time it was Kai's turn to laugh heartily. "That's a good idea. I should remind my agent to seize the opportunity before eyes."
"Unfortunately, I don't like being a marionette."
A trace of confusion appeared in Arnault's eyes. "Marionette, what do you mean?"
"Puppet, literal meaning." Kai shrugged lightly. "Brand sponsorships put goods on him one by one, T-shirts, watches, shoes, backpacks, food."
"You've seen the mannequins in the display cabinet, right? He's just there, changing clothes constantly throughout the four seasons, but no one ever notices the mannequin's face. Can be replaced anytime. There are always younger, fresher, prettier faces in line."
Arnault lifted his chin slightly. "But, you can seize the current opportunity, ask for high prices as much as possible, make a fortune and leave. If replaced later, then replaced. Those checks are already all in your pocket."
"And then?" Kai said.
Arnault: "What then?"
Kai: "Right, then there is no then."
"Because you are just a display rack without life or soul. Brands can't see your value; the market also can't see your value."
"Brand sponsorship hopes to see market feedback. But if the general public feels no compatibility between the model and the brand, they naturally refuse to pay. Without market value, other brands won't come again. This is equivalent to cutting off your own retreat with your own hands, like a gambler."
"In Chinese, this is called 'draining the pond to catch all the fish' (killing the goose that lays the golden eggs)."
Steady, calm, wise, far-sighted.
Arnault couldn't believe it. Kai was even younger than himself, yet kept a clear head in the wave of overnight fame, not losing reason in ecstasy.
So, did Richard Mille see this quality in Kai?
Originally just a probe, but now Arnault was truly interested. But on the surface, Arnault didn't show it. "Talking about brand image and brand value from the beginning, things might be a bit difficult."
Kai waved his hand heroically. "Don't worry. If unemployed, I can always read crystal balls and tarot cards, shouldn't starve to death."
"As for today, the prophecy I just made for you won't be charged separately, considered as thanks for your righteous help in the hotel lobby just now."
Arnault completely didn't expect the twists and turns of events. Looking at Kai's serious expression, he couldn't control anymore and laughed heartily,
Mood refreshed.
Arnault was wondering where to get off, but found the vehicle entered a hotel driveway and stopped slowly. He looked out the window with surprise, accident and shock gradually surfacing in his eyes, looking at Kai incredulously.
They actually came back!
Kai met Arnault's shocked face. "In Chinese, this is called a carbine shot (returning to the scene)."
Sure enough, the hotel entrance had quieted down. The crowd basically dispersed. Arnault's two black-suited bodyguards were still standing there calling constantly.
Arnault simply couldn't believe everything happening before his eyes. When exactly did Kai arrange all this? Arranged everything thoughtfully and properly?
Just getting off the car, the two black-suited bodyguards rushed up immediately to confirm Arnault's situation. But Arnault stared blankly at Kai who was leaving.
He felt that although Kai stood under the spotlight now, watched by everyone, still no one truly saw through this young man's potential.
Baby Driver, really that green and immature?
...
"Careful! Careful! Excuse me! My vision is limited now, can't see ahead, please note!"
Zhou Guanyu held a brown cardboard box in his arms, stuffed with various trophies growing stubbornly towards the sky, blocking his sight line, so he had to be careful when going up steps, constantly making sounds to remind.
Anthoine Hubert, who had just put down a box, turned and walked up quickly. "Guanyu, here, give it to me!"
Zhou Guanyu's voice came from behind. "No no no, don't worry, I can do it."
Hubert quickly stepped aside, allowing Zhou Guanyu to enter the second floor, looking at that box dumbfounded. "Why did you choose this box? Charles should have moved this himself."
Zhou Guanyu looked left and right, putting the box on the dark gray coffee table. "Because this is the lightest one. You should look at the boxes behind."
Seemingly honest, actually cunning. Zhou Guanyu chuckled.
Hubert was stunned, giving Zhou Guanyu a thumbs up. "Smart!"
Only now did Zhou Guanyu have time to look around, exclaiming in surprise. "Wow, couldn't tell from outside the space is so spacious. Balcony? There's actually a balcony? The view outside is really..."
Lost voice in admiration!
Zhou Guanyu, as if fascinated, left the living room involuntarily, walking towards the balcony outside.
Before eyes was a spacious two-bedroom apartment. One room on each side, a transparent living room in the center. Opening the door, one could see golden sunlight spilling down in front. The azure ocean extended endlessly along the line of sight to the end of the horizon, sea and sky merging into one.
Originally the space wasn't wide, but it gave a feeling of relaxed and happy mind.
The decoration dominated by light gray, dark blue, beige, and carbon black highlighted unique texture, simple and generous, yet inadvertently revealing a touch of elegance. Furniture all complete, ready to move in. At this time, corners were being filled with luggage bit by bit, feeling vitality again.
This is Monaco, where land is gold, and also the heart of the racing world,
Currently, among twenty drivers in the F1 paddock, twelve lived here.
Undoubtedly, tax advantages were indeed unique, but not all. For F1 drivers, geographical location and environmental advantages were also crucial.
Monaco is only 24 kilometers from Nice International Airport, thirty minutes by car, seven minutes by helicopter. Convenient transportation allowed them to easily travel to races and return home to rest as soon as possible after races, instead of living in hotels.
In addition, not just active drivers, many retired drivers and drivers waiting for opportunities to return to the paddock also lived here, gradually forming a small circle of F1 drivers. Not only well-informed but also sticking together and learning from each other. They were competitors, but also peers. Facing capital, unity among drivers was crucial.
Of course, there was a key that couldn't be ignored: Capital.
Monaco operates year-round. Top brands, top tycoons, top capital gather here. Many negotiation cooperations in the paddock take root and sprout here. If needed, driving a yacht away from public sight to conduct private negotiations in the open waters of the Mediterranean is also an option.
Various reasons gave Monaco a unique position in F1. Drivers often yearned to live here, like entering the back garden of the paddock.
Only a few exceptions. For example, Alonso, he still enjoyed his life in Spain; for example, Grosjean, Ocon, these French drivers, they didn't enjoy tax advantages in Monaco, so chose to live in Switzerland.
However, life in Monaco wasn't affordable for every driver,
Random ordinary apartment rent started from 5,000 euros. Slightly more spacious ones would be 8,000 or even 10,000 euros. This was just rent. Parking spaces, property fees, daily living expenses, etc., were all huge expenditures.
To this, Kai teased that there, breathing a mouthful of air should be more expensive.
Since the new season, Kai had been living in Maranello. To him, actually no impact. Not only convenient for work but also entering and exiting with the team, saving worry and effort. It had many positive helps for him, a rookie, to adapt to F1 as soon as possible. But Nicolas had different ideas.
Monaco, not only entering the paddock core, adapting to the racing atmosphere; but also part of the brand image, crucial for contacting brand sponsors.
However, Monaco was indeed expensive. Considering Kai's rookie salary, he really couldn't afford it. Brand sponsorship checks weren't deposited into the account all at once; so, Nicolas had been busy communicating, trying to find a better solution. He finally succeeded,
Kai and Leclerc shared an apartment, Ferrari sponsored part of the rent.
Just right, Leclerc had been considering moving out of his mother's apartment to start independent life; sharing not only shared pressure but also could find a better apartment in a better location.
Everything couldn't be better. So it happened. Ending the Shanghai race, the two young men began moving busily.
Watching Zhou Guanyu's steps, Hubert followed involuntarily. Bathing in early spring sunshine, opening arms seemed to wander in endless gold and azure. Breeze blowing gently, the air filled with a lazy and casual breath, couldn't help letting time flow slowly from fingertips.
"Hey! You two! Help!"
A voice came from behind. Pierre Gasly had a box in front of him, panting and sweating profusely, hands on hips, pushing the box forward with his knees.
Gasly and Hubert were roommates, currently living in Nice. Today they two and Zhou Guanyu came to help together.
Gasly left the box near the door carelessly, ignoring whether it blocked the way, and collapsed straight onto the sofa with a thump, grumbling and complaining, "No, I can't do it, you guys continue."
Kai's teasing voice came from the door. "Oh, Pierre, can't do it already? Girls don't want to hear that."
Gasly sat up straight abruptly. "Hey! Kai, don't talk nonsense!"
Hubert laughed exceptionally happily, but didn't talk nonsense, quickly stepping forward to move the box Gasly left, avoiding blocking Kai's path.
Seeing Zhou Guanyu also coming over to help, Kai shook his head. "Not much left. Should we decide what to eat for lunch first?"
Gasly shouted, "Let Charles treat. Treat! Almost all his luggage, did he empty his house?"
Hubert looked around. "Yeah, Kai, why do you only have one suitcase? Is this all?"
Kai shrugged lightly. "I don't know how things developed to this point either. I'm still not mentally prepared for life in Europe."
From three months of academy life to one year of GP3 then evolving into entering F1, honestly, Kai was prepared to leave anytime. Maybe part of the reason he always lived in Maranello was that he never truly believed he entered the F1 world. Luggage wasn't much different from when he came to Rome for street racing back then. Pick up the backpack and leave anytime.
Until now, finally having a foothold in Monaco. Did this mean Kai finally gained a firm foothold in the racing world?
...
"Indeed, you were prepared to leave the academy back then." Zhou Guanyu awakened the memory. Just a year ago, Kai was prepared to turn and leave dashingly.
Hubert and Gasly didn't know this, not hiding their astonishment.
"How could Ferrari be willing to let you leave?" Hubert exclaimed.
Gasly patted Hubert's shoulder. "Of course they weren't willing, that's why he appeared here, driving the Ferrari everyone dreams of."
"Now, if he wants to leave, Ferrari would be even less willing."
Kai looked at Gasly with a smile. "I didn't know you also like Ferrari?"
Gasly: ... "Go go go, I am Red Bull's person in life, Red Bull's ghost in death. Just watch, soon I'll drive a Red Bull car to surpass you."
Kai raised an eyebrow slightly. "Not a Toro Rosso car? Oh, your team principal will be heartbroken."
Gasly rolled his eyes, turning to look at Hubert. " was he so annoying in ART before?"
Hubert looked serious. "No, he was always very likeable."
"Anthoine! Whose roommate are you exactly! Mine! Mine!" Gasly shouted hopelessly.
Leclerc's panting voice came faintly from the door. "You guys... you guys... didn't we agree to help!"
Kai turned and went up to help quickly. Gasly complained smilingly behind. "Didn't look at your luggage, all yours alone. I think this apartment probably can't fit it."
Leclerc finally straightened his knees. Hubert threw a bottle of mineral water over casually. Leclerc caught it. "Two more boxes downstairs. We need to be quick, otherwise the traffic police will come to issue a ticket."
Zhou Guanyu walked over quickly. Hubert also prepared to help. Kai waved his hand. "Anthoine, lunch, we need to order lunch first. I don't trust Pierre. If waiting for Pierre to order, we might not eat until night. Next might really have to gnaw on tree bark."
Speaking while following Zhou Guanyu, two people went downstairs busily. Gasly's complaining voice came from behind.
Leclerc stopped the Frenchman. "Pierre, move my things to the bedroom first, don't be in the way here. I'll organize slowly tonight."
Gasly tried to drag Hubert into the water, but was interrupted by Leclerc. "You are lazy alone, quick!"
Gasly was hopeless. Although starting to get busy, the chattering complaints in his mouth didn't stop. "Where did you get so many things? Look at Kai!"
Leclerc didn't care at all. "I moved everything out of home, of course a lot. Kai basically has nothing in Maranello, same as living in a hotel. You look again in half a year, it will be different then."
"Che, you think Kai is you." Gasly's mouth was unforgiving.
Even downstairs, could still hear the chirping behind. Kai laughed directly. "Bad, going to encounter noise complaints on the first day of moving. We should buy some small gifts later to apologize to neighbors. Does this work in Europe?"
Zhou Guanyu lived in London since thirteen for deep study in racing career. "Of course, a piece of Black Forest or Tiramisu will do."
"Small gift, heavy sentiment."
Kai: "I thought so too. After all, comparing financial resources, we probably aren't qualified. Who knows if a billionaire lives next door."
Zhou Guanyu imagined the scene and chuckled. "Open the door, next door is Dua Lipa. Roughly that feeling, right?"
The smile in Kai's eyes also surged. Glancing at Zhou Guanyu, asking in a relaxed tone, "How does it feel currently, in Prema?"
Zhou Guanyu's smile paused slightly, then exhaled a long breath. "Adapting. Not adapting to the team, but adapting to the mindset of the new season."
"I want to impact the championship."
Kai's eyes lit up slightly. "This is the Zhou Guanyu I know."