Speed ​​God

Chapter 174 Leveraging
No motivational quotes, no encouragement, no comforting words, only challenges—

Leclerc watched Lu Zhizhou's departing figure and unconsciously straightened his back.

Lu Zhizhou was right. He chose this path not because racing was easy, but precisely because it was a challenge.

He still remembers that when he was four or five years old, his father took him go-karting for the first time, and he fell in love with it and couldn't wait to try it a second time.

Although their father also had a racing dream and earnestly hoped that they would carry on that dream, he never forced them. In fact, he always tried to dissuade them, reminding them that it was a long and arduous road, and that he would fully support them if they gave up.

There were three times when Leclerc considered giving up.

The first time was when Lorenzo gave up, the second time was when the family no longer had any financial support, and the third time was when his father was diagnosed with a serious illness.

However, after each setback and disappointment, my inner passion only grows stronger.

He loves racing, not because it's easy, not because he can always win, but because drivers always have to face numerous difficulties and constantly push their limits.

The beauty of a dream lies not in its ease of realization, but in its ability to ignite passion and motivation, injecting energy into every day of life.

The frustration is real, the setbacks and the pain are real, but he will no longer run away from it.

Leclerc looked up and gazed at the figure's back. Wasn't this a role model? A latecomer to the field, a sudden rise to prominence, yet he had surpassed him.

Not only him, but Lu Zhizhou has already surpassed many, many drivers.

Therefore, he should catch up with Lu Zhizhou as soon as possible. He never entered the hunting grounds because the path was smooth and easy.

"Zhizhou!"

Leclerc shouted and quickly chased after him on his skateboard.

"How about we have a simulator match tonight? The loser treats us to dinner."

Lu Zhizhou turned to look back. "Anything on the menu? It's not pizza again, is it?"

Leclerc chuckled. "No, not pizza. Anything on the menu."

One after the other, the two newcomers to the paddock sped along under the moonlight and night, having just finished their match in Monaco and immediately throwing themselves into a new competition.

At the same time, the hunting grounds were also rife with intrigue and hidden dangers.

The Mercedes-Benz service area was still brightly lit; no one had packed their bags and left. Toto Wolff had to admit he had misjudged the situation.

He believed Lu Zhizhou was a driver with potential, but he did not expect that potential to be so great that he would threaten Mercedes-Benz in his first season.

Wolff has always favored Verstappen, believing that Verstappen's potential is worth the risk. He has been keeping a close eye on the situation and closely monitoring the internal struggles within Red Bull.

But now it seems that Lu Zhizhou's potential is even greater than Verstappen's. If the Melbourne safety car was an accident and a pure coincidence, then the Monaco overcut truly demonstrated Lu Zhizhou's all-around abilities, not just driving skills.

It is extremely regrettable that Mercedes-Benz, which had initially gained the upper hand, was ultimately outmaneuvered by Ferrari. Wolff condemned his own caution in this matter. And now, Lu Zhizhou is becoming Ferrari's deadly weapon in threatening Mercedes-Benz.

He could no longer sit idly by and wait for his death.

Of course, like Red Bull, Ferrari is not a monolithic entity internally. Power struggles at the top can create many opportunities. Just like Verstappen, it is not impossible for Mercedes-Benz to put Lu Zhizhou in the silver racing suit.

However, this requires careful consideration and there's no rush.

The immediate priority is to adjust the strategy; the 2018 season is the most important.

Mercedes-Benz needs to give Lu Zhizhou enough attention and not treat him as an ordinary rookie, but as a stumbling block in front of the defending champions.

Not only is he the team champion, but Lu Zhizhou also holds an advantage in the race for the driver's championship.

Externally, Wolff believes that Vettel and Lu Zhizhou must have many conflicts. Vettel will not be satisfied with Lu Zhizhou's position in the drivers' championship. He needs to sow discord and stir up trouble from time to time. The disaster of his rival's backyard is an opportunity for Mercedes-Benz to establish an advantage.

Internally, Wolff believes the team's strategy needs to change. They have always regarded Lu Zhizhou as a simple number two driver, but now it seems that Lu Zhizhou may still be the number two driver. Two Grand Prix wins are not enough to change the situation, but the strategic position of this number two driver is becoming more diversified.

Not only Mercedes, but Red Bull probably did the same; when formulating their race strategy, they all overlooked the threat level of this baby driver.

No, starting today, we can no longer call him "baby driver," because that means their team still lacks a proper understanding of Lu Zhizhou's threat and potential. Perhaps he can use this nickname to launch attacks in front of the media, but it needs to be prohibited within the team.

"Knock knock!"

A knock came at the door, and Wolf responded loudly. Hamilton and Bottas were the ones who opened the door.

The first step for Wolff is to communicate with both drivers, ask for their opinions, and make them aware of the change in Lu Zhizhou's strategic position.

The season is not even a third of the way through, there is still time to make adjustments. Wolf is not the type to refuse to admit mistakes. As long as he can continue to win the championship, what is so difficult about admitting his mistakes?
While Mercedes-Benz was holding intensive internal meetings, Red Bull was no exception.

Wolff and Horner may dislike each other, but it must be said that the person who understands you best is often your enemy.

Horner immediately realized that their strategy today had failed; Ricciardo followed Vettel into the pits, a move that determined the course of the match.

If Red Bull continues to ignore Lu Zhizhou's value, their strategy for the next game may repeat the same mistakes.

But Horner's thoughts were more complicated, because he knew Arrivabene's pride. Red Bull only needed to make a slight gesture to show that they were starting to take Lu Zhizhou seriously. If Mercedes-Benz also started to focus its fire on Lu Zhizhou, Arrivabene would soon become alert.

This means that Vettel will remain the core player when Ferrari formulates its strategy.

Therefore, what Red Bull needs to do is adjust the position of Lu Zhizhou, the smokescreen, during the strategic game, and create a trap to make Aliwabene fall into it.

Even if Arrivabene doesn't fall for it, as long as they can make him hesitate, that's Red Bull's chance.

Horner knows about Ariwabe's long-standing problem with strategic choices, and he will make full use of this weakness; moreover, compared to Lu Zhizhou, Horner is still better at dealing with Vitter.

After all, Vettel came from Red Bull. Horner was able to cultivate Vettel into a world champion, and now Horner can naturally seize on Vettel's weaknesses and turn them into a shortcoming that leads to Ferrari's tragedy.

Horner needs Arrivabene to continue to believe in Vettel; that's Red Bull's chance.

Therefore, Red Bull definitely needs to adjust its strategy for the future.

However, in Horner's view, they are facing another serious problem, a fatal flaw!
Lu Zhizhou?
Of course, vigilance and preparedness are necessary, and strategic adjustments are essential, but Horner does not believe that Lu Zhizhou poses such a high threat.

This is also the essential difference between Horner and Wolff.

Although Horner had noticed Lu Zhizhou during last year's GP3, he never believed that Lu Zhizhou's racing talent was superior to Verstappen's.

Horner has never been and will never be truly worried about Lu Zhizhou's threat, because he believes that Ricardo and Verstappen have all the elements to become future world champions, and Red Bull has no need to worry about the "talent" issue in the short term.

The only problem lies in the discord and infighting within the management. Jos Verstappen's terrifying controlling nature, Marco's treacherous manipulation of public opinion, and the power struggles at the top tearing apart resources are all affecting their attack on the championship.

If they are willing to temporarily set aside their prejudices and give Ricciardo some trust, Ricciardo is fully capable of becoming a world champion; everything is ready now.

Next, Ricciardo led the team back to the top of the championship, Verstappen grew rapidly, and the team completed a seamless transition between the old and new generations. Everything seemed perfect.

Unfortunately, while Horner was willing to set aside his own interests and do everything he could to help Verstappen grow, Jos and Marco refused to give Ricardo the space to make his mark.

Therefore, they do need to adjust Lu Zhizhou's position strategically, but Horner is not worried about Lu Zhizhou disrupting the hunting grounds at this moment.

To be honest, Jos and Marco are much more troublesome.

However, there is an even more serious problem than that of Bijos and Marco, a fatal flaw that could potentially destroy all of Red Bull's efforts at any moment—

engine.

The problems surrounding the engine have been ongoing for quite some time, and for both Red Bull and Toro Rosso, this has been a serious constraint.

Currently, Red Bull's engine supplier is Renault.

This traditional French engine manufacturer has always maintained a high-handed attitude, relying on being one of only four engine suppliers in paddock, and taking pride in its long history and glorious achievements in paddock. Despite the fact that it should be an equal partnership, it has always treated Red Bull, its customer, with a condescending arrogance and bossiness.

Red Bull is clearly the client, yet it has somehow ended up feeling frustrated as the service provider.

With the Monaco Grand Prix concluded, Horner's dissatisfaction with the Renault engine reached a new peak.

Verstappen's power unit malfunctioned during qualifying.

During the race, Ricardo's power unit malfunctioned.

Horner wasn't worried about Lu Zhizhou. Others saw Lu Zhizhou's feat of overcutting in twelve laps, but in Horner's view, if it weren't for Ricciardo's power unit problem, Lu Zhizhou would never have been able to overcut successfully. This championship should have belonged to Red Bull.

More importantly, if Ricardo can win the title at Monaco after Shanghai, it will give Horner more leverage to compete against Marco within the team.

Red Bull's resources are now quietly shifting towards Verstappen, as the pressure on him both on and off the track is mounting. Marko is putting pressure on Verstappen while also pressuring Horner, demanding that Red Bull give him their full support. The fundamental reason why Verstappen's performance on the track has not met expectations and is now even being completely overtaken by Lu Zhizhou is that the team has not given him 100% support.

Horner also had his own difficulties. Ricciardo was clearly the number one driver, but now Marko was interfering in the team's affairs and giving Verstappen more support, which directly caused the team to be hesitant when formulating race strategies and trapped itself.

The real problem is that Ricardo's contract expires this year.

Within the team, Ricciardo is Horner's most steadfast partner. He has been trying to renew his contract, as he needs Ricciardo to stay and become a pillar against Marko's influence. He needs to leverage Ricciardo's strength to gain more say within the team.

But clearly, words alone are not enough. Ricardo needs more sincerity and more leverage, otherwise he would not be willing to waste his youth at Red Bull to benefit others.

A Monaco Grand Prix title may not fundamentally change the situation, but it can certainly give Horner more breathing room and room to adjust.

result?

It's all Renault's fault.

Horner's attention was now entirely focused on Renault, rather than on Lu Zhizhou.

After the match, Horner immediately lodged a strong protest with Renault, as he had lost the championship because of Renault. His tone was much harsher than usual, and he launched a full-scale attack without holding back any sentiment.

Red Bull is a Renault customer. Red Bull pays for the engines, and Renault provides them. Therefore, Renault has the responsibility and obligation to provide the best service; otherwise, Red Bull will switch engine suppliers.

Horner couldn't imagine any client being more frustrated than them.

After venting his anger and hanging up the phone, Horner immediately calmed down, as if he hadn't been the one who had just been furious and out of control.

It was all just a performance; he needed Renault to understand their frustration and anger.

The next step is to adjust their mindset and formulate a strategy. Monaco did not come away empty-handed. Horner believes that Red Bull has the ability to challenge for the championship. If Mercedes and Ferrari only have eyes for each other, Red Bull does not mind disrupting the party and taking over the initiative in the season championship battle.

As for Lu Zhizhou...

Horner rested his chin on his hand, his brow furrowed in deep thought, then stood up and hurried out of the office, asking around until he found Vestapin.

Sure enough, as expected, Verstappen was watching race footage; his life revolved entirely around racing, with almost nothing else to do.

Since the start of the new season, Verstappen has experienced dramatic ups and downs. The sudden emergence of Lu Zhizhou has indeed brought enormous pressure. All the records that he was once proud of have been rewritten by Lu Zhizhou. The media and trolls have taken advantage of his misfortune and begun to question Verstappen's talent.

Verstappen's aggressiveness has become more apparent in recent tournaments; he is more eager than ever to prove himself.

In Horner's view, Monaco was a turning point.

Despite a problem with the power unit, Verstappen steadied himself and proved his ability by climbing from twentieth to ninth place on Monaco's notoriously difficult overtaking circuit.

Horner doesn't think Jos and Marco will praise Verstappen, but he believes that if Verstappen is given some recognition, he will undergo a transformation.

Lu Zhizhou might be a tool to unlock Verstappen's potential. Aside from being wary, he can make full use of Lu Zhizhou's remaining value.

"Hey, Max, still not home? What's this, Lu Zhizhou's twelfth lap?" Horner looked at him with a kind expression, walked up to him, and gently patted Verstappen on the shoulder.

That's the difference between Horner and Marco.

Marco is used to applying pressure and using harsh methods to force out potential; a gem cannot be made without being carved. Horner, on the other hand, is flexible and knows how to teach according to aptitude.

Perhaps Verstappen is still firmly in the hands of Jos and Marco, but who knows, once Verstappen has grown stronger, he will become Horner's biggest trump card?

The opportunity is right in front of us.

Horner looked at Verstappen with a kind gaze, like a loving father.

“You are already great. You don’t need to compare yourself to anyone. No one can be your comparison. Your only opponent is yourself.”

"Even Lu Zhizhou is not an option."

At this very moment, Lu Zhizhou, who is on his private jet: Achoo!
Wait, who's talking about him?

Ah sneeze!

Once he started sneezing, he couldn't stop. He sneezed three times in a row. He looked left and right, but he couldn't see anyone else in the huge private jet. Only the buzzing of the engine and air conditioning was surging over his eardrums. It was as if he had entered a crack in time and was briefly disoriented.

Instead, it startled Arno, who was leaning back in his chair and almost asleep. He opened his eyes abruptly, pretending to be busy and not dozing off.

Then, their gazes met in the air.

Arno looked slightly embarrassed, cleared his throat, and awkwardly changed the subject, "How's your revision going? I honestly don't know why you insisted on coming home to take this exam."

“A promise.” Lu Zhizhou smiled, not exposing Arno’s attempt to change the subject. “I promised my mother that I wouldn’t neglect my studies, nor would I abandon school entirely because of racing.” “I know I don’t need to take this exam. But a promise is a promise, and I’ve always believed that some things are more important than simple gains or losses, wins or losses.”

"Racing is cool, but it's not my whole life."

From GP3 to F1, the world is a dazzling spectacle of extravagance and intrigue, especially Monaco, where the glitz and glamour of finery and clinking glasses create a mesmerizing atmosphere.

Now Lu Zhizhou understood a little better why countless young prodigies in the world of competitive sports fall like shooting stars, swept up in the glitz and glamour of fame and fortune overnight, and could easily succumb and lose themselves completely in the spotlight if they weren't careful.

This is also why Jiang Mo has always insisted that Lu Zhizhou needs to complete his studies.

Experience life with your feet on the ground, and don't get lost in the bubble of fame and fortune.

Nothing is more sobering than piles and piles of test papers and exercises.

Arno glanced at the thick stack of exam papers. Since boarding the plane, Lu Zhizhou had been studying diligently, and Arno knew that Lu Zhizhou was not just talking.

The closer you get to it, the more surprises you'll experience.

Arno was full of praise there, but in Lu Zhizhou's view, it was no big deal. After downplaying it, he took the initiative to change the subject.

"By the way, thank you for letting me take a private plane back to Shanghai."

Arno snapped out of his reverie and waved his hand, "Just something I did."

A smile appeared in Lu Zhizhou's eyes. "Perfect timing, you've come to Shanghai from Monaco; perfect timing, you're planning to go to Montreal next?"

Arno could hear the teasing in Lu Zhizhou's words, but he remained very calm, spreading his hands and saying, "Just passing by."

Lu Zhizhou gently raised his chin and uttered a meaningful sigh, "Ah, just like a taxi, right?"

Arno scrutinized Lu Zhizhou closely, making no attempt to hide his curiosity. "When did you figure that out? This isn't a coincidence."

Lu Zhizhou was not surprised at all, with a matter-of-fact expression. "The third son of the LVMH Group is willing to invite a stranger to ride on his private jet? No, this can't be a coincidence."

Arnaud spread his hands. "Why? For me, it was really just a small favor."

Lu Zhizhou tilted his head and thought about it seriously. He immediately realized his mistake, but it didn't matter. It's good to admit your mistake and correct it. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have put myself in your shoes. Obviously, we have completely different attitudes towards private jets."

Arnaud deliberately feigned anger. "Are you mocking me?"

Lu Zhizhou raised his hands in surrender, saying, "I'm not Ethan Hunt, please don't throw me off from 10,000 meters."

"Haha." Arno burst out laughing and couldn't stop. "Haha, you are indeed an interesting fellow."

Lu Zhizhou, on the other hand, seemed slightly surprised. "You know Ethan Hunt?"

Arnaud's eyes widened in strong dissatisfaction. "Of course. 'Mission: Impossible,' Tom Cruise, right? I grew up watching these movies." Noticing Lu Zhizhou's skeptical expression, Arnaud exclaimed, "What, what kind of life do you think I lead?"

Lu Zhizhou spread his hands. "I don't know. Poverty has limited my imagination."

"Hahaha." Arno couldn't help but laugh again. "So, when did you find out?"

Lu Zhizhou, "What?"

Arnault, "My relationship with LVMH?"

Lu Zhizhou: "What, should this be a secret? If necessary, I can continue to pretend I don't know anything, and we're just ordinary friends."

"To be honest, I'd be perfectly happy to continue pretending I know nothing. I don't mind that you're an ordinary person, otherwise I wouldn't know what price I would have to pay for this 'small favor'."

Arno scrutinized Lu Zhizhou closely, his curiosity growing stronger—

It was always others who wanted something from him. From childhood to adulthood, he had been surrounded by countless wolves and tigers, each trying to gain something from him. He had long since become accustomed to calculating all relationships in terms of self-interest. There were no exceptions.

but now?
The person in front of me could casually lay all the secrets out on the table, and then casually push them away, without a trace of greed.

Arnaud raised his voice, "So, what do you think I'm after?"

Lu Zhizhou glanced at it. "Shall we reveal the answer now?"

Not only did they not answer, but they also threw the question back at him, which instantly put Arno in a good mood. Talking to a smart person is always a pleasant experience.

Arno, "Was it the same when you were facing Sergio? Is that why he was so impressed with you?"

Lu Zhizhou didn't mind when the other party changed the subject, saying, "Mr. Marchionne is a good man."

Arno burst out laughing. "Sergio has countless possibilities. He could be a different type of person, but believe me, he is definitely not a good person."

Lu Zhizhou remained unmoved. "That's because we're in different positions, so we see different scenery. I say he's a good person, but that doesn't mean he's kind."

After the Monaco Grand Prix, Lu Zhizhou prepared to return to Shanghai to take the college entrance examination. However, the problem was that the Canadian Grand Prix was just around the corner this weekend, requiring them to fly directly to Montreal.

The schedule is packed.

Arrivabene objected, saying he didn't want Lu Zhizhou to be distracted and that they needed to immediately focus on preparing for the next race and continue their recovery momentum.

Especially for rising stars like Lu Zhizhou, going from Europe to North America requires more effort in terms of jet lag, culture shock, and adapting to the new environment. For Ariwabene, however, it's just a school exam and can be completely ignored.

However, Marchionne nodded.

Marchionne kept his promise. From the youth academy to GP3 and then to F1, he watched Lu Zhizhou come step by step. He knew Lu Zhizhou's perseverance and also believed in Lu Zhizhou's ability to allocate his energy to handle affairs in his busy schedule.

More importantly, this is also the key reason why Marchionne has always held Lu Zhizhou in high regard: his clarity, rationality, and ability to remain steadfast amidst dazzling temptations are the reasons why Lu Zhizhou has come this far.

It was just an exam, meaningless to Ferrari; but Marchionne understood its significance to Lu Zhizhou.

Therefore, Marchionne gave the green light and personally arranged a private jet to ensure that Lu Zhizhou's trip would be free from unexpected interference as much as possible.

While agreeing, Marchionne also didn't want to affect the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix.

However, a small accident occurred. Upon learning of this, Arnault volunteered to use his own private plane to escort Lu Zhizhou to Shanghai and then to Montreal.

reason?

On the way.

And so, Lu Zhizhou appeared here, on LVMH Group's private jet.

Indeed, as Arnaud said, Marchionne is not a good person. How could this decisive and ruthless tycoon, who can control the fate of a group, be a good person?
However, this was indeed the case for Lu Zhizhou.

Lu Zhizhou was not an innocent child. He understood that his relationship with Ferrari was a partnership, or to put it bluntly, a mutual exploitation and a clash of interests.

However, while there was cooperation, there were different ways to do it. Marchionne always trusted and supported Lu Zhizhou within his capabilities, using his influence to build a small world for Lu Zhizhou to freely express himself.

Without Marchionne, Lu Zhizhou would have had a difficult time escaping unscathed in a direct confrontation with Arrivabene.

Without Marchionne, Lu Zhizhou wouldn't have been able to return to Shanghai for his exams on Ferrari's private jet during the Monaco and Montreal matches.

Perhaps, in Arnault's eyes, Marchionne was a powerful figure with blood on his hands, but in Lu Zhizhou's eyes, that was not the case.

Is it really that simple? Does Marchionne truly wield absolute power and influence within Ferrari? Can Marchionne really do whatever he wants?

The answer is no. Marchionne must have been under tremendous pressure, seeking a balance between different interests. Every risk required courage and boldness.

That's exactly what's happening now; Arnault has volunteered to solve a series of problems for Marchionne—

Firstly, to avoid potential controversy from Ferrari's private jet being used exclusively for Lu Zhizhou's private affairs; secondly, to use the LVMH Group's banner to shield himself from those potential conflicts.

Therefore, unusually, Marchionne did not insist, and Lu Zhizhou eventually took Arnault's private plane to take the exam.

Despite the predicament and stalemate, Marchionne continued to scheme and strategize, striving to achieve his goals while simultaneously expanding his plans. No wonder Arnault didn't believe that the old fox Marchionne was a good person. At the same time, Lu Zhizhou was also very willing to have a pleasant conversation with Arnault.

Their casual chatter, which went back and forth, was surprisingly delightful.

Arno was able to get to know Lu Zhizhou better outside the track, and the energetic and youthful figure in front of him gradually merged with the number 22 speeding on the track.

"Do you think I'm a good person?" Arnaud was curious about Lu Zhizhou's answer.

The answer should be yes. After all, Arnault personally escorted Lu Zhizhou in his private jet. Anyone with a normal way of thinking should try to curry favor with Arnault, especially after learning Arnault's true identity.

The focus is on Lu Zhizhou; Arno is curious about how this young man will flatter him.
That's what's truly interesting.

Lu Zhizhou looked at Arno, a slight smile playing on his lips, "Do you want to be seen as a good person?"

Arnaud was taken aback; this wasn't the answer he was expecting. "You're dodging my question."

Lu Zhizhou didn't mind and shrugged lightly. "The point is, do you want to be seen as a leader, calm, wise, decisive, and capable of controlling the overall situation and making strategic decisions? Or do you want to be seen as Frederick Arnault, young, smart, energetic, and still willing to take risks and explore different possibilities?"

"This question is only worth answering when you find yourself."

Arno raised an eyebrow slightly. He knew Lu Zhizhou was changing the subject, but he didn't want to get caught up in Lu Zhizhou's rhythm, so he changed the subject again, "So, do you think you're a good person?"

"Haha, no." Without hesitation, Lu Zhizhou gave his answer directly.

Arnaud looked surprised. "Why?"

Lu Zhizhou met Arno's gaze openly, "If you have the chance, you should ask Sebastian Vettel; he will give you a detailed explanation."

Unexpected, completely unexpected. Arno was slightly taken aback, then could no longer contain himself and burst into laughter.

Originally, it was just a sudden whim, but now, Arnault has developed even greater expectations for this impromptu trip.

Sure enough, a good travel companion can always make the time spent on the road more enjoyable, and Arnaud began to look forward to the surprises to come.

As it turned out, Arnault's idea was proven true.

To be precise, even Lu Zhizhou himself hadn't anticipated this, and for a moment, he couldn't tell whether the scene before him was a pleasant surprise or a shock.

The heat was intense, thick and viscous, almost impossible to flow. Even the cicadas' chirping sounded weak under the blazing sun, and the crowds stretched as far as the eye could see.

The National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) is an annual event that brings the whole city to a flurry of activity. Even before the sun has risen, you can feel the tension and busyness of each family.

Looking out through the sun-blocking glass, the crowds stretched as far as the eye could see. Reporters carrying long lenses and microphones had completely blocked the entrance to the examination hall. The sheer number of people was enough to make someone with trypophobia faint on the spot, filling every corner of the field of vision. Words simply could not accurately describe the scene before my eyes.

Lu Zhizhou's jaw twitched slightly, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "...They probably didn't come for me, right? Maybe they're just a regular reporting team?"

Beside him, Song Bo nudged Lu Zhizhou's shoulder, "Boss, you have no idea how popular you are in China after the Monaco match, do you?"

"I heard that some reporters came to stake out the place last night in order to get the best view. The whole country is watching you come back to take the college entrance examination."

Lu Zhizhou blinked. "It's just an exam. There are so many test takers across the country, why would they care about me?"

Song Bo said, "Because none of them are Lu Zhizhou."

Seeing Lu Zhizhou's still incredulous expression, Song Bo waved his hand, "If you don't believe me, just try it and you'll see. I'll get off the bus first, you watch over me."

Zhang Qiaomu patted Lu Zhizhou on the shoulder, "That's right, we should just stay back and observe."

Lu Zhizhou looked slightly uneasy, "Aunt Qiaomu, even PhD students are taking the college entrance exam today, how can I..."

Zhang Qiaomu waved his hand, "It's okay, it's okay, don't worry. He's been looking forward to this day, to experience what it's like to be the center of attention."

Song Bo stood to the side with a docile expression, deliberately putting on an act of bearing humiliation, but the excitement in his eyes revealed that he was doing his best to suppress his eager impulse.

Lu Zhizhou shook his head helplessly. "Doctor, I'll treat you to dinner later. Today's exam, relax, relax as much as possible."

Zhang Qiaomu slapped Song Bo on the back. "He's still not relaxed. He's probably the most relaxed person here, acting like he's not the one taking the exam at all."

Everyone burst into laughter.

As they were talking, the black SUV slowly pulled up to a stop. Song Bo put on the Ferrari No. 22 hat, sunglasses, and mask, fully armed, made a peace sign at Lu Zhizhou, opened the car door, and got out.

Lu Cheng and Jiang Mo patted Lu Zhizhou on the shoulder and followed Song Bo downstairs, surrounding him as they walked. To make the performance convincing, the couple needed to help increase the credibility of Song Bo as a stand-in.

Before the SUV door could even close, a scream erupted from the crowd: "Lu Zhizhou!"

In an instant, a sweltering heatwave surged down towards Song Bo.

In a second! Or even less than a second! The surging crowd enveloped and swallowed Song Bo in one breath, and before he could even blink, he was already out of sight.

Inside the carriage, Lu Zhizhou stared in disbelief.

Even now, Lu Zhizhou still believes that there is no need for Song Bo to act as a stand-in to divert attention, and there is really no need to make a fuss.

But the scene before him, which resembled a giant beast opening its bloody maw, stunned Lu Zhizhou. So, what exactly happened just now?
Zhang Qiaomu wasn't surprised at all. She patted Lu Zhizhou on the shoulder and said, "Xiaozhou, it's our turn. We have to hurry. The doctor's physique will be exposed immediately, and he won't be able to hold out for long."

(End of this chapter)