Chapter 153 - 154

Chapter 153: Actually, I...

Villa, Night—

The wealthy man leaned against the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of beer.

His gaze drifted toward the sofa.

His daughter—Vanessa Ming—was watching SpongeBob SquarePants with Blazing Wind by her side.

Every so often, the two girls, one big and one small, would burst into silly, goose-like laughter.

Ever since his wife passed away from heart disease, and his daughter was diagnosed with the same hereditary condition, he hadn’t seen her laugh so freely in a long time. The last time she had smiled like that was when Derek Su and Stella won first place wearing racing suits printed with her photo. The camera had zoomed in on the suits at just the right moment, and the unexpected surprise had kept her happy for quite a while.

He had always felt he owed his daughter.

He was constantly busy. The entire Longteng Group revolved around him as its core.

To cure her illness, he kept a relentless eye on the progress of drug development, which meant sacrificing countless hours he could have spent with her.

Vanessa Ming’s favorite thing to do was stay alone in her room and watch races.

Her greatest wish was to compete on the track with a Mecha Girl. And yet, she refused to contract any Mecha Girl.

She believed it would delay that Mecha Girl’s future, even if signing a contract would bring in a great deal of money.

Between saving his daughter’s life and spending more time by her side, Beto Ming chose the former.

If giving up the entire Longteng Group could buy Vanessa Ming a healthy body, he would hand it over without hesitation.

But that was nothing more than wishful thinking.

Even with today’s advanced medical technology—capable of regrowing lost limbs—there was still no effective treatment for heart failure and its complications.

Although her heart could be removed and replaced with a mechanical core, Vanessa Ming refused. She wanted to remain human, not become a half-mechanical lifeform.

Beto Ming respected her choice.

As a result, every profitable project under the Longteng Group was redirected to support pharmaceutical research.

...

That night, Beto Ming let his daughter watch TV a little longer.

Until midnight.

Until Vanessa Ming’s eyelids began to droop.

Blazing Wind carried the feather-light girl into her room and tucked her in.

She was so thin that Blazing Wind felt as though she were holding a wisp of cotton that might float away at any moment.

Standing by the bed, she watched the girl’s peacefully sleeping face for a while, her expression growing softer and softer.

Better not disturb the little angel’s sleep...

Just as she turned to leave, she heard a faint murmur from the girl’s dreams.

“…Mm… You’re not allowed… not allowed to bully Blazing Wind…”

“...The championship… it’s okay… mm…”

Blazing Wind’s nose stung, and her throat felt as though a lump of lead were lodged inside.

She rubbed her eyes, stepped out, and gently closed the door.

Beto Ming gestured to her from the living room.

They walked out onto the balcony together.

He had just taken out a cigarette, but after glancing at Blazing Wind, he put it away.

“Thank you for letting me stay the night,” Blazing Wind said, lowering her head in gratitude. “If you hadn’t helped me, I’d probably be sleeping under a bridge tonight.”

In truth, her situation was even worse than she let on.

Without enough food to replenish her energy consumption, she couldn’t deploy into vehicle form. That meant she could only rely on her own legs to get around. Once she was too hungry to walk, she would likely be picked up by some black-market boss—lured in with promises of room and board, then tricked into signing an underground contract to race in illegal competitions. Those contracts weren’t protected by Mecha Island at all.

“It’s nothing. My daughter likes you. You can stay here as long as you want.”

Earlier that day, Beto Ming had taken his daughter for a follow-up checkup. On the way back, he happened to pick up Blazing Wind. He had initially been suspicious of her identity, but after a few casual questions, she had confessed everything through tears.

He knew she had already terminated her contract with Chloe Qin and was now free.

His subordinates had verified the information.

Every detail was true.

She had spent the entire afternoon trying to find a club, but not a single one was willing to take her in.

“What are you planning to do from now on?” he asked, glancing at the awkward-looking girl beside him.

“I… I don’t know.”

Blazing Wind shook her head timidly.

The man before her had eyes sharp as knives. She didn’t dare meet his gaze.

It felt as if nothing she said could escape his scrutiny.

As though she had no secrets in front of him.

“I do have a suggestion,” Beto Ming said calmly, looking at the traffic flowing below the balcony. “You know Stella Club, right? Its owner, Derek Su, is a friend of mine. If you’re willing, I can introduce you to them. But I should tell you in advance—the Stella Club was just established and doesn’t have many drivers. You might have to rest for a while after you join. Still, you can learn from Derek Su and build up your skills and experience. His character is trustworthy. When a suitable driver comes along, he’ll assign them to you. He won’t treat you like a tool the way Chloe Qin did.”

Blazing Wind’s eyes brightened.

Stella Club… the club founded by the man known as The Magician.

She had wanted to go there earlier, but she was afraid of being thrown out.

When she voiced her concerns, Beto Ming chuckled.

“Do you really think someone like Derek Su would blame an innocent Mecha Girl for a dispute on the track? Back then, Chloe Qin was your driver. Following her orders was your duty. There’s no need to worry about being driven away.”

Blazing Wind felt tempted. She was just about to agree when the image of the sleeping girl inside suddenly flashed through her mind.

If she went to Stella Club, Vanessa Ming would probably be alone again.

“Vanessa…  can’t she contract a Mecha Girl?”

“She can. She just doesn’t want to.” Beto Ming smiled helplessly, his eyes full of heartache. “She’s stubborn. She’s afraid of holding back a Mecha Girl’s future, so she refuses to sign a contract.”

“Is this illness really impossible to cure?”

“For now, yes. We can only keep her alive.” Beto Ming shook his head. “She has to limit her water intake, avoid strenuous activity, keep her heart rate from rising too high, and avoid emotional extremes—no deep sadness, no overwhelming excitement. Otherwise, she’ll suffer chest tightness, heart pain, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, she could even lose consciousness. That’s why she can’t take a Mecha Girl onto the track. Given how much she loves racing, just sitting in the cockpit at the starting line might kill her from nervousness and excitement alone.”

Blazing Wind lowered her head and pressed her lips together.

One was the thing she loved most in life.

The other was her fragile existence.

To have to choose between the two was unbearably cruel for Vanessa Ming.

“Alright, enough of the gloomy talk.” Beto Ming forced a smile. “So? Shall I send you to Stella Club?”

Blazing Wind looked at him, then thought of the pale child resting in the bedroom. A sudden impulse rose within her.

“Actually, I… I…”

She hesitated, the words at the tip of her tongue yet impossible to articulate.

What had happened to her was simply too bizarre.

She had gone through a tornado without a scratch, while her driver had nearly died.

That alone was shocking enough.

Yet she had somehow changed from an ordinary Mecha Girl into a top-tier one.

Yes.

The moment Blazing Wind regained consciousness, she realized something unbelievable.

She had awakened a special skill.

...

Chapter 154: A Natural Talent (Two-in-One)

Blazing Wind didn’t know what her special skill was.

It wasn’t because she was foolish. The problem was that her special skill could only be activated with a contracted driver.

Other Mecha Girls could demonstrate their skills directly. She couldn’t.

When top-tier Mecha Girls left Mecha Island, the island would conduct a special test to confirm whether their special skills could be used, so they would clearly understand their own abilities. But she had awakened her special skill midway through her growth—something that had never really happened before.

She had a faint feeling that her ability might help Vanessa Ming step onto the racetrack and fulfill her dream.

But she couldn’t be sure.

If she gave that child hope, only for it to end in nothing, wouldn’t that be crushing?

Beto Ming had said that Vanessa Ming’s emotions had to remain as stable as possible—neither overly excited nor overly despondent.

So the words on her lips turned into:

“Actually, I want to stay with Vanessa Ming. I can take care of her. I don’t have to go to the Stella Club.”

The Mecha Girl in front of him was willing to sacrifice her own future just to stay by his daughter’s side.

Beto Ming was deeply moved. But this wasn’t something he and Blazing Wind could decide alone.

What mattered most was Vanessa Ming’s attitude.

…

The next morning—

“No!” Vanessa Ming crossed her arms, puffed out her cheeks, and stared up at her with wide eyes. “Blazing Wind, you have to go to the Stella Club. Your performance is amazing. If you find a good driver, you’ll definitely achieve something in the future. How can you just stay in a hospital room with me every day?”

“It’s okay.” Blazing Wind gently rubbed Vanessa Ming’s head and smiled. “I actually want to rest for a while. Chloe Qin left too much of a shadow on me. For now, I don’t want to contract a driver.”

For a brief moment, Vanessa Ming’s eyes flickered with temptation.

She blinked and looked at Blazing Wind. In her mind, she saw her racing across the track like a blazing flame—the very scene from her dream last night.

Blazing Wind didn’t belong in a hospital room.

She belonged on the racetrack.

Vanessa Ming forced down the impulse in her heart and shook her head firmly again.

“No!”

“Why?” Blazing Wind crouched down, looking puzzled.

“You can choose not to contract a driver, but you still have to properly learn techniques and prepare for the future!” Vanessa Ming patted Blazing Wind’s shoulder, speaking in an old-fashioned, lecturing tone far beyond her age.

“If you don’t listen to elders, you’ll suffer for it right away. Blazing Wind, you have to be obedient. At the Stella Club, there’s Derek Su and Stella, plus three other really amazing Mecha Girls. You can learn so much there. Don’t ruin your own future!”

Seeing her act like a little adult, Blazing Wind felt both touched and amused.

“Alright.” She nodded. “I’ll listen to Vanessa and go to the Stella Club. But can I come see you every day?”

Vanessa Ming’s eyes lit up, but then she frowned.

“But… I don’t live in Tianyuan City.”

“I’ll book a place near the Stella Club right away,” Beto Ming said without hesitation, solving the problem with money.

“Hehe, Daddy’s the best.” Vanessa Ming hugged her father’s arm and acted spoiled for a moment. Then she turned back to Blazing Wind with a serious expression.

“You have to train hard every day, okay? You can only come see me after you finish your training tasks. If you don’t finish them, you’re not allowed to come. And I won’t let you watch SpongeBob! I’ll ask Derek Su whether you completed them.”

She didn’t have Derek Su’s contact information yet, but she was sure she would someday.

“Mission guaranteed!” Blazing Wind straightened and gave a serious salute.

But in her heart, she was already thinking: the first thing she would do at the Stella Club was figure out her special skill.

Then she would see whether she could contract with Vanessa Ming.

If possible, she wanted to take Vanessa Ming onto the racetrack.

…

“Name, height, weight, age, measurements… cough, sorry, force of habit. Men don’t need to report measurements.”

Inside the interview hall of the Stella Club.

A small sign reading “Interviewer” stood in front of Derek Su and Zane. A long line of applicants stretched out before them.

Just as Derek Su had expected, the global livestream of the Maratela Training Race had worked wonders.

Although the Stella Club had only placed fourth, they had made a huge impression.

First, Stella changed tires and still overtook at high speed. Then Tunbao brutally rammed through the Mecha Girl ahead. After that, Imperial Scale bulldozed through tornadoes and sand dunes without hesitation. And all of it happened while stepping on the BSC Club to climb higher.

With all those factors combined, the Stella Club exploded in popularity.

In just two days, applicants had been pouring in nonstop.

Most were applying to be drivers. A few were applying to be coaches. There were also some Mecha Girls.

But Derek Su wanted to make the Stella Club bigger and stronger.

Even if they were short on people, he couldn’t just accept anyone.

What if someone from another club came over as a spy to steal his pineapples?

Wouldn’t the Pineapple King go straight into a rage?

“Hello, boss. My name is Ma Hongjun. I’m 1.65 meters tall and weigh 210—”

“Next.” Derek Su didn’t even look up. “Go lose some weight first. Are you trying to crush a Mecha Girl to death?”

“Waaah~” The big guy applying to be a driver ran off in tears.

Derek Su didn’t waste words. If someone didn’t meet the standard, they were immediately passed over.

Zane sat beside him wearing sunglasses, mostly serving as background decoration.

Suddenly, a faint fragrance drifted over. A tall figure stopped in front of Derek Su and Zane.

Gasps and murmurs spread through the room.

Zane froze, then quickly sat up straighter and lowered his sunglasses to get a clearer look.

“Name, height, weight, age.” Derek Su spoke while lifting his head, intending to confirm whether the applicant was a girl.

What entered his sight first were long legs wrapped in jeans.

Above them was a slender, defined waist, a full chest, sharp collarbones, and a cold, delicate face.

A Mecha Girl.

And she felt strangely familiar.

Purple hair. Green eyes.

Who was she again?

“Miss Mecha Girl, we seem to have met before. Do you remember?” Derek Su looked her up and down.

Absolute Shadow’s cool expression stiffened slightly, turning awkward.

“You’ve driven me before. How could you forget?”

“Wait—” Derek Su raised a finger and thought hard. “You’re that… that guy’s Mecha Girl, right? What was it… Absolute something? Absolute Slash?”

“It’s Absolute Shadow.” The tall girl sighed, her gaze turning faintly resentful.

She had thought Derek Su would at least remember her. After all, that time had been quite pleasant for both of them.

Apparently she had overestimated her importance. He had forgotten her completely.

“Oh, right, Absolute Shadow!”

Derek Su finally remembered. He had driven her before.

But wasn’t she Miles Wang’s Mecha Girl? Why was she here at the Stella Club?

Had Miles Wang sent her to spy?

Derek Su narrowed his eyes slightly.

“I’ve already left the SSC Club. I’m no longer Miles Wang’s Mecha Girl. I’ve been looking for a suitable club lately. When I saw your race in the Maratela Desert, I realized you had opened a club. There wasn’t any news at all. If not for that race, I wouldn’t have known.”

Absolute Shadow explained her situation, sounding a little shy.

Derek Su thought to himself: no news was completely normal. Plenty of clubs in Tianyuan City were hoping he would fail.

“So you want to join the Stella Club?”

Derek Su’s gaze had already displayed Absolute Shadow’s stats.

【Drifting: 70 points】

【Acceleration: 81】

【Cornering: 70 points】

【Boost Charge: 50 points】

【Stability: 65 points】

【Impact Resistance: 72 points】

【Endurance: 71 points】

These stats no longer impressed Derek Su much. After attending the exhibition auction and acquiring Imperial Scale and Tunbao—both absurdly strong—Absolute Shadow’s stats could only be considered decent.

And as for speed-type Mecha Girls, he really wasn’t lacking.

So…

Derek Su laced his fingers together and began his soul-searching question.

“What do you think you can offer that would attract our club?”

If this were any other club, Absolute Shadow would have turned and left.

But this was Derek Su’s club.

She would never forget the sense of fulfillment and comfort she had felt when he drove her.

She knew there were many outstanding Mecha Girls around Derek Su.

dIt would be difficult for her to become his primary or even secondary choice.

But she didn’t ask for much. Sooner or later, drivers in the Stella Club would learn Derek Su’s techniques. She could simply choose talented ones.

She had prepared carefully for this.

“First, my performance is solid. I can serve as the main Mecha Girl for ordinary drivers. I have extensive track experience and don’t require additional tuning. Second, I’m hardworking and obedient. I’ll follow all instructions. I can handle any task in the club—even serving tea and pouring water.”

“Finally…”

Absolute Shadow placed a suitcase on the table.

“One million. For you personally, boss.”

Derek Su’s expression changed. He cleared his throat lightly.

“Do you think I’m the kind of person who can be bought with money? Just putting cash on the table like that makes it meaningless.”

Before he could finish, Absolute Shadow set down another suitcase.

“This one million is for the club.”

Derek Su: “Well, even if you do that—”

Bang. A third suitcase landed on the table.

“This one million is a welcome gift for the club’s seniors.”

Absolute Shadow looked at Derek Su and took out five modules.

“These are my modules. They’re built-in, all purple modules. If you need them, you can use them.”

Zane was completely stunned, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit a duck egg.

The other applicants were equally dumbfounded.

Several Mecha Girls compared Absolute Shadow’s conditions to their own, then quietly stepped out of the line in shame and left.

Derek Su’s gaze shifted back and forth between the suitcases and the five modules in her hand. His expression slowly turned blank.

“Can I ask something? How are you this rich…”

Absolute Shadow curled her lips into a smile.

“When I signed the contract with Miles Wang, I required that all prize money from competitions belong to me. Miles Wang is the young master of SSC, so he never lacked money. Later, I took him to many training races. I don’t have many expenses in daily life, so after three or four years, I saved quite a lot.”

“In addition, I have lifetime membership at the medical station and a few small businesses of my own. My performance might not be the very best, but I do have some business sense.”

“That’s not all. If you think it’s not enough, I can add more.”

Derek Su swallowed with difficulty.

“It’s enough. More than enough.”

He broke into a wide smile and eagerly reached out his hand.

“Congratulations, Absolute Shadow. From today on, you’re a member of the Stella Club. Not because of the money, of course. It’s mainly because I think you’re truly a natural talent among Mecha Girls!”

“A natural talent?”

A hearty laugh rang out from the entrance.

The big sponsor guy walked in.

Behind him, Blazing Wind pushed Vanessa Ming in her wheelchair.

Beto Ming glanced around and smiled.

“Derek, I’ve brought you a Mecha Girl today too. Absolutely a natural talent!”