Volkswagen Group—once a titan—hadn't just lost face. They didn't make Ward's 10 Best Engines shortlist this year.
Worse still, the company they once mocked? Audi. And not the German one—this was Audi China.
They took both first and third place.
Walter, VW's chief designer, stared blankly at the screen, unable to process it.
"We… lost."
Not just technologically, but in dignity. The moment the results dropped, the humiliation spread like wildfire. Walter's earlier tirade in the lounge was already being whispered through the halls.
He had mocked Haifeng's Audi team publicly, arrogantly, only to be slapped twice—once by the results, and again by the reactions.
And it was all his fault.
"If I hadn't listened to that idiot Assef…" Walter muttered. "This whole mess is on him."
Assef—the China regional director—had told him to "teach Audi a lesson." Show them who was boss.
So Walter strutted into the lounge with his nose in the air, only to walk out with it broken.
The disgrace? Permanent.
Haifeng didn't even acknowledge him. Nor did the Audi team.
They had no time for clowns.
Inside the Audi camp, cheers broke out like a dam bursting. Some engineers screamed. A few cried. Even Xu Zhilin—the usually composed head of design and Haifeng's cousin—wiped away tears.
They'd done it.
For the first time in history, an engine independently developed in China, with full intellectual property rights, had won international gold, not just once, but twice in the same competition.
First place. Third place.
It was a breakthrough moment.
The Audi brand had always sold well domestically and globally. But now, it wasn't just visible—it was undeniable. The world was watching.
"Zhilin," Haifeng said, smiling, "you've earned this."
He clapped her on the shoulder. "Better get ready for interviews. Don't make us look bad."
Xu Zhilin blinked. "Me? Interviews?"
"You're head of design. Who else would it be?"
"But Master Tang led the core design. I'm his student. This honor belongs to him."
Haifeng raised an eyebrow at Tang San.
Tang grinned, pulled Xu aside, and whispered something.
Xu's eyes widened. Then she nodded, her expression turning resolute.
"If Master said so… I'll do it."
"What'd you tell her?" Haifeng asked.
Tang leaned in. "I said I'm not suitable for public appearances."
Haifeng burst out laughing. "Nice save."
Just then, Junko Toyota walked over. Her gaze found Haifeng's, unreadable.
"Feng-kun, congratulations. The world knows your Audi now."
Haifeng smirked. "Compared to Volkswagen's meltdown? We both had a good day."
Junko giggled. "You're terrible. But you're not wrong."
"I'm flying back to China tonight," she added. "When you return to Piaocheng, I'll come visit."
"I'll be waiting," Haifeng replied smoothly. "See you soon."
With Junko gone, Xu Zhilin led the team to their interviews, flanked by reporters and cameras.
It was their moment—and their honor.
Haifeng and Tang San returned to the hotel. There was still work to do before they flew back tomorrow.
No one slept that night. Not Haifeng. Not Xu Zhilin. Not a single Audi employee in the U.S.
The celebration banquet would wait until they were back in China.
But tonight? Tonight was theirs.
Back home, the internet exploded.
Audi had won on their merit, with their engine—no foreign help. No licensing.
The headlines hit like fireworks:
Audi China Shocks the World—Beats Europe, America, Japan, and Korea!
Dongche.com had been on-site and pushed the story live within the hour. Editor-in-chief Du Chengnan made sure every mainstream Chinese platform picked it up.
Audi didn't just win awards.
They won pride. They won history.
They won the world's attention.