Lap 18.
The front left tire of the Hawk VF-25 was no longer black. It was striped with white canvas.
Every time Ye Tian turned the wheel, the car shuddered violently, threatening to disintegrate like a tower of Jenga blocks.
Behind him, inside the Crimson Energy cockpit, Max Vesper was foaming at the mouth.
"The Chinese kid's tires are dead! Why hasn't he pitted yet?! He's blocking the race! I'm going to crash him off!"
However, inside the Hawk cockpit, Ye Tian was calm.
Actually, he was calm to the point of being unprofessional.
"Gary."
Ye Tian pressed the radio. His heavy breathing filled the global broadcast.
"I'm here," Gary replied, sweat dripping down his nose. "If you want to box now, the crew is ready..."
"No. I'm not pitting."
Ye Tian cut him off. His tone suddenly shifted. It became... playful.
"Do me a favor. Look at the media pen. What is Reporter Snow Jiang doing right now?"
PFFT!
On the pit wall, Koma spat his water all over the monitors.
The world paused.
Bro!
You have seven World Champions behind you trying to kill you!
Your tires are about to explode!
You are taking a corner at 300 km/h, and you are asking what the pretty reporter is doing?!
"Ye... are you serious?" Gary sounded like he was about to cry. "Focus! Focus on the race!"
"I am focused." Ye Tian jerked the wheel to catch a slide. "I'm just worried she might catch a cold. Tell her: In three minutes, put on her jacket."
The Media Pen.
Snow Jiang was wearing a headset, listening to the team radio feed.
She froze.
A flush of red started at her collarbones and shot up to her ears. The "Ice Queen" looked like she was melting.
Reporters around her turned to stare. The British journalist whistled.
"Ooh, Snow! Is that your boyfriend? Broadcasting a weather report just for you?"
"Shut... shut up!"
Snow Jiang stammered, trying to maintain her professional face, but her heart was beating like a drum.
This jerk!
It's a global live broadcast! He's calling me out while fighting for his life?
"And look at the sky..." Snow looked up at the pitch-black Bahrain night. It was clear. Starlight. "Where is the rain? Is he losing his mind along with his tires?"
However.
Just as she was mentally cursing him for being a "smooth-talking playboy"...
On the track, Ye Tian's eyes narrowed.
[System Radar: Massive Storm Cell approaching.]
[Time to Impact: 120 Seconds.]
This was why he didn't pit.
If he swapped to fresh dry tires now, he'd have to pit again for rain tires in two minutes. That would be race suicide.
He was waiting for the water.
He was gambling everything on the sky.
"Vesper wants to pass me?"
Ye Tian checked his mirror. The dark blue monster was twitching, ready to strike.
"Since Miss Jiang is watching, let's give her a show."
Main Straight.
Max Vesper lost his patience. He slammed open his DRS wing.
"Die, rookie!" Vesper roared, pulling alongside.
As the two cars entered the braking zone side-by-side, Ye Tian didn't defend the inside line like before.
Instead—he took his hands off the wheel.
With millions watching, Ye Tian turned his head toward the onboard camera (which he knew was broadcasting to the big screen).
He brought two fingers to his forehead.
A crisp, arrogant Salute.
For you.
Next second.
The sky broke.
CRACK-BOOM!
Lightning split the desert night.
And then, the heavens opened.
Rain. Torrential, biblical rain. Instant flood.
"RAIN?! ACTUAL RAIN?!"
The crowd screamed!
Max Vesper, who was mid-overtake on slick tires with his DRS open, hit the wall of water.
Dry tires on a wet track are like ice skates.
"NO!!!"
The Red Bull lost all grip instantly. Vesper spun like a top, screaming as his car slid helplessly into the gravel trap!
But Ye Tian?
His tires were worn down to the canvas. They had no tread.
But he was ready.
[System Skill: Rally Drift Master.]
As soon as he finished the salute, his hands snapped back onto the wheel.
He didn't try to grip. He embraced the slide.
He flicked the car sideways, drifting through the wet corner with perfect grace, leaving the spinning Vesper behind in a cloud of dust and spray!
He was the only one left on the track!
Everyone else was sliding off, spinning, or crawling!
Media Pen.
A cold wind swept through the stands, followed by the downpour.
Reporters shrieked, scrambling for cover.
Except for Snow Jiang.
She stood there, stunned. Rain soaked her hair instantly.
She stared at the giant screen, watching the white car dance alone in the rain.
Her mind replayed his words:
"Tell her to wear a jacket."
An electric current shot through her body.
He was accurate.
He was arrogant.
And... god help her, at this moment, that man's silhouette was dangerously attractive.
She subconsciously clutched the jacket next to her. Her face burned. She forgot to manage her expression for the camera.
"That lunatic... he actually predicted it."
On the radio, Ye Tian's voice came back. Smug.
"Gary. Ask Reporter Jiang. Is she wearing the jacket? If she gets wet, I'll be heartbroken."
"Shut up! Drive the car!"
Snow Jiang couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed the team comms unit from the Hawk press officer standing nearby (the director didn't cut the feed; this was gold). She yelled into the mic.
Hearing the woman's voice—angry, but shaking with something else—Ye Tian laughed inside his cockpit.
"Yes, Ma'am. Whatever you say, Wifey."
BOOM.
The Chinese livestream servers crashed.
The chat was moving so fast it was a blur:
"WTF! Flirting on the main channel?!"
"Is this FX or a Dating Show?!"
"Goddess Snow is blushing! I'm heartbroken!"
"He shook Vesper into the gravel while hitting on a girl! KNEEL BEFORE YE GOD!"
Team Hawk Garage.
Koma looked at the rain, then at the timing screen.
Ye Tian hadn't pitted. Everyone else had pitted for fresh dry tires just a few laps ago. Now, they had to pit again for wets.
Ye Tian saved a whole pit stop.
"GENIUS! HE IS A STRATEGIC GENIUS!" Koma fell to his knees. "We are going to win! Get the Full Wets ready! NOW!"
Ye Tian stopped laughing.
The rain was getting heavier.
Flirting time was over.
It was time to feast.
"Rain God... Online."