The moment he twisted the doorknob open, his gaze locked onto a pair of long, perfectly straight legs.
Rebecca Lin was wearing a sharply tailored white shirt, neatly tucked into black shorts that outlined her slim yet upright waist. Black stockings patterned with fine lettering hugged her legs, catching the warm yellow light with a soft sheen that made her skin look even fairer and more luminous. A pair of pointed black heels elongated her legs to striking effect.
The assistant who normally dressed in crisp businesswear and carried herself with cool professionalism had shed that rigid edge. In its place was a subtle, deliberate allure.
Alex Sun's eyes lingered on her legs for half a second before his throat tightened and his Adam's apple bobbed. He swallowed quietly, a flicker of heat rising in his chest. He knew perfectly well this wasn't accidental—it was intentional.
That carefully restrained temptation made even his steady heartbeat skip, his breathing unconsciously softening.
Rebecca Lin caught every tiny shift in his expression. The faintest smile curved her lips, a trace of satisfaction flashing through her eyes before she lowered her gaze again, pretending to be shy and reserved. Her long lashes trembled lightly, the gesture adding a lazy, teasing undertone that made it impossible to ignore.
Alex Sun quickly regained himself, scratching the tip of his nose as his gaze snapped away from her legs to the documents in her arms.
Just left the "newbie village" and already ran into a temptress this skilled? Trying to mess with my focus?
He cleared his throat, masking the surprise and awkwardness in his eyes, and stepped aside.
"Come in. Let's talk business."
Rebecca Lin walked in on light, measured steps. The shy, flirtatious air vanished instantly as she switched cleanly into work mode. Her tone turned steady and precise, all personal warmth replaced by professional clarity.
"The key update is the collaboration progress on the Ferrari power engine. It's moving exceptionally smoothly. All core terms have been finalized. We're signing a two-year contract, expected to be formally executed and activated by mid-June."
She handed him the file, her posture composed, unable to hide the satisfaction in her voice.
"We're also pushing to obtain early access to the engine's technical parameters and interface data so we can begin chassis integration design ahead of schedule. That will significantly shorten the R&D cycle. Overall progress is well ahead of expectations."
"Additionally, we're negotiating calibration flexibility to maximize compatibility with the team's chassis characteristics and your driving style within FIA regulations. We're also advancing shared testing resources to strengthen overall competitiveness."
"Ferrari will also provide synchronized engine failure analysis reports to help optimize usage strategies and further improve power unit reliability," she added, each sentence crisp and logically structured.
As Alex Sun reviewed the documents, he asked occasional questions. Rebecca Lin answered each one clearly and methodically, maintaining professional distance throughout and ensuring he fully grasped the team's latest developments.
When the briefing ended, she gathered the papers—but didn't leave.
Her fingers tightened on the edge of the folder. The tips of her ears flushed red, the color spreading faintly down her neck. When she looked up, her eyes avoided his, though she still stole quick glances from the corner of her vision. Her voice softened, losing its workplace composure and revealing a shy undercurrent.
"About the mystery reward for qualifying… I've decided."
She stepped closer, lowering her voice further, nerves and a hint of playful tension woven into her tone.
"I noticed you play Genshin Impact during breaks, so I prepared a little surprise. I can cosplay one of the characters—you get to choose the outfit. I'll make it happen after you finish this race weekend."
Alex Sun paused, then the corner of his mouth lifted. Anticipation flickered plainly in his eyes.
"Didn't realize you paid that much attention—even noticed the game I play. So I get full say in the design?"
Rebecca Lin's cheeks flushed instantly. She clutched the folder to her chest and hurried toward the door without looking back.
"Take your time deciding. I won't disturb your rest!"
The sharp rhythm of her heels echoed down the corridor before fading.
Alex Sun's smile deepened. If she could make black stockings look that captivating, her cosplay would probably be quite a sight.
After closing the door, he found a quiet corner and shut his eyes. With a thought, he activated the system. A cold mechanical voice rang clearly in his mind:
[Ding! Host has completed the side quest "Conquer the Streets of Baku" – Qualifying Stage requirement: Advance to Q3 and secure pole position (rank ≤3), precisely control tire condition to achieve front-row placement. Requirement met!]
[Ding! Qualifying Stage reward issued: 2 free attribute points deposited into the Host's attribute panel. Available for allocation!]
A faint but distinct warmth flowed through his limbs. His body felt lighter, fatigue swept away, and his reactions seemed sharper.
Alex Sun made his decision instantly. Turn 1 at Baku was notorious—heavy braking lockups, sudden collisions, chaos everywhere. These two points had to go into Emergency Reaction.
[Ding! Attribute allocation confirmed: Emergency Reaction +2. Allocation successful!]
The panel refreshed:
Launch Control 57 (60, Baku Circuit F1–Master Level 7% bonus)
Driving Technique 83 (84, Baku Circuit F1–Master Level 7% bonus)
Resource Management 55 (58, Baku Circuit F1–Master Level 7% bonus)
Track Tactics 74 (79, Baku Circuit F1–Master Level 7% bonus)
Physical Endurance 70 (74, Baku Circuit F1–Master Level 7% bonus)
Emergency Reaction 55 (58, Baku Circuit F1–Master Level 7% bonus)
As the interface dissolved, countless avoidance strategies for Baku flooded his mind—anticipating heavy braking at Turn 1, reacting to sudden incidents, adjusting lines in split seconds. The logic felt clear, as though he had rehearsed it countless times.
Yet a sliver of doubt remained.
Even with improved Emergency Reaction, could he truly handle the unknown chaos of Turn 1 calmly?
He pushed the thought aside. Confidence steadied him. He organized his tactical notes, refining overtaking plans for the next day before resting at 22:30.
...
At dawn, Alex Sun rose on time. After a brief stretch session, he arrived at the hotel restaurant entrance, only to be stopped by a domestic media team waiting for him. A pre-race exclusive interview began.
"Alex Sun, congratulations on your first career pole and breaking Leclerc's track record! Starting tenth in tomorrow's sprint race, how's your mindset?"
"My mindset is steady," he replied calmly. "Qualifying was a team effort. The reverse grid adds challenges, but Baku offers many overtaking opportunities. We've prepared a strategy. I'll give it everything."
Asked about conversations with Leclerc and Verstappen, he added:
"Leclerc and Verstappen gave me advice about tire management and restart rhythm. It was very helpful."
"I also spoke with Guanyu. We're both looking forward to putting in strong performances tomorrow."
When pressed about his goal, his eyes carried quiet confidence.
"I'll focus on managing each lap's rhythm. Make every Overtake solid and leave no regrets."
After a quick meal, he headed to the pit lane.
Prema immediately held a sprint pre-race meeting. René Rosin presided, tone serious: safety first, aggression measured.
Mark laid out the strategy based on updated grip data and Alex Sun's pace.
"Grip has improved slightly today. We trust your lap speed—no need to be overly conservative. Push forward while keeping the car stable.
Pay special attention to Turn 1. Dense traffic, high collision risk. Stick to the braking point we planned. Anticipate the car ahead before turn-in. Avoid contact and lockups. Clear Turn 1 cleanly, and you'll have plenty of overtaking space afterward."
He added, "The car's fully inspected. Brakes and tire pressures are optimized. We'll feed you real-time data. Go for it—but hold the safety line at Turn 1. Don't rush into an accident."
Alex Sun integrated Leclerc and Verstappen's advice, outlining his heavy braking and line approach for Turn 1. He committed to balancing aggression and control.
Everyone understood: Turn 1 would define the sprint.
After the meeting, he personally checked the communication system and controls, repeatedly testing brake feel while mentally rehearsing avoidance scenarios.
Rebecca Lin arrived to double-check his helmet and race suit, quietly easing the tension.
As she handed him the helmet, her fingers trembled slightly. She glanced up briefly before lowering her eyes.
"Have you thought about the cosplay design yet? And… don't force it in the race. Be extra careful at the start."
He took the helmet, his fingers brushing her hand.
"I remember. I'll be careful. No rush on the design. Once I finish safely and get a good result, we'll choose."
Her cheeks burned red. She quickly stepped aside, ears flushed, relief hidden in her eyes.
The track broadcast sounded, summoning drivers to the assembly point. The tension surged again. The unknown danger of Turn 1 echoed like a warning bell in his mind.
Alex Sun took a deep breath, adjusted his suit, fixed the thought of clearing Turn 1 safely and building momentum steadily into his mind. After nodding to Mark and Piastri, he walked toward the assembly area.
The curtain was about to rise on the Baku sprint race.
...
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