No one can be sure what happens behind closed doors.
Zhang Jifei was around forty years old, dressed in a formal black suit. Putting his age aside, his appearance alone suggested maturity, with the seasoned composure of a corporate elite. He spoke very little; after the initial pleasantries, the conversation was mostly carried by the two younger individuals.
"Then we'll leave it to Mr. Zhang Ji," Zhang Mingzhi declared. "We'll put in our best effort on our end as well."
After Zhang Mingzhi's assurance, Zhang Jifei also spoke. Frankly, they had done pretty much all they could. Now, it was up to the racing committee to decide. Their young master's qualification was certain, but the final selection held significant suspense.
After concluding their discussion, the group exited the office. As they left, Lin Yan was still training on the simulator.
"A young hero!"
Upon seeing Lin Yan, Zhang Jifei exclaimed in admiration. To be honest, he had previously looked down on this young man, considering him uneducated and only interested in chasing girls.
This assessment was based on his character, not his status; Zhang Jifei didn't consider himself qualified to judge the latter. He never expected that the person he once disdained would genuinely shock him in his most proficient domain.
Zhang Jifei stood at the pit box entrance for half a minute before finally moving, leading the two young reporters out of the pit box.
As they departed, Zhang Mingzhi hurried off to inquire about the situation with the racing committee.
The next day at noon, Eastern European Time 11:30 AM, the qualifying session for the Valencia Grand Prix began.
At the pit box entrance, Lin Yan was the first to emerge. The red GP22 rolled out of the Ducati pit box, slowly navigating the passage leading to the track.
As Lin Yan, clad in his red racing suit, appeared, the Chinese spectator stands behind his pit box erupted into a sea of red. Dense with people in red clothes and hats, heads bobbed everywhere, and cheers filled the air.
For this race, Lin Yan's fan base had reached a new record. On the track, his personal fans alone numbered over one hundred thousand, accounting for one-third of the total spectators. This included not only Chinese nationals but also many foreigners, a lineup reminiscent of Rossi and Marquez in their prime.
While his car slowly glided through the pit lane, Lin Yan stood up in his seat and waved to the spectators, greeting his fans. To be honest, the crowd today exceeded his expectations; so many people were present, it felt like a return to the past.
In his previous life, as a seven-time champion, his fan numbers were similar to the current crowd. It had taken seven years to reach that level, but in this life, he achieved it in just one year.
It made sense, really. His current strength was at his peak level from his past life, perhaps even higher.
"The first to appear is our Lin Shen, still in his signature red suit and with a car devoid of any sponsor logos. Though the suit is the same, our Lin Shen today is a far cry from his past self."
As the qualifying session commenced, Hao Dong began explaining Lin Yan's achievements throughout the year to his livestream viewers, showering him with praise.
"From start to finish this season, Lin Shen has secured eleven pole positions, twelve race victories, and set the fastest lap records on twelve different tracks..."
Simultaneously, in a remarkably similar script, commentators from various countries repeated the same lines, detailing Lin Yan's numerous accomplishments in the GP season.
Honestly, even long-time fans who had followed Lin Yan closely were still astonished by these words, finding it hard to believe such achievements came from a twenty-year-old rookie.
"Wait, they've talked so much, why aren't they mentioning the World Championship? They didn't say anything last race, are they not going to mention it this time either?"
As they listened, people in the spectator stands suddenly focused on a key point.
"Yeah, man, if you hadn't said anything, I'd almost forgotten. After the last race, our Lin Shen was clearly the World Champion, so why didn't the officials issue an announcement? And we haven't seen the trophy or the golden helmet either."
"Good heavens, twenty days have passed, and I almost forgot about it. That's right, our Lin Shen had already secured the championship early last time, so why wasn't the award ceremony held sooner?"
Many in the spectator stands remembered, and a low murmur of protest arose.
However, this protest was short-lived and quickly subsided because the audience soon noticed something astonishing, something even more significant than the fact that their idol hadn't been officially declared champion.
Emerging from the pit lane passage, the speed limiter was released, and Lin Yan's car quickly accelerated. At the same time, a large number of drivers flooded onto the track, and the qualifying session was about to ignite.
"Wow, look at that, why is sister-in-law holding two little babies? They're so cute!"
With the director's intervention, Su Mojin, watching the race while holding her children in the pit box, was captured by the camera.
"Are these Lin Shen's children? I heard not long ago that sister-in-law was pregnant, so it must be true."
"They're so adorable, it makes me want a child too!"
In the spectator stands, a young woman said sweetly in a childish voice. It was better not to look at her weight, but if one did, she was comparable to a tank.
The director's move was brilliant; he had held back this footage, waiting for the right moment to divert the audience's attention.
The Valencia track was not difficult. Once on the circuit, Lin Yan's speed was incredible. The red GP22 led the way, with Ren Fei and Luns closely following. The three red GP22s formed the vanguard, leading the entire qualifying pack.
Smooth cornering, gear shifts, braking – the three moved in unison.
The GP22, having undergone numerous upgrades, not only enhanced Lin Yan's performance but also significantly benefited Luns and Ren Fei. Luns' current skill level was comparable to Qiong Hai's, and on tracks with longer straights, he could even dominate Qiong Hai. While the person couldn't compete, the car certainly could.
The Valencia track was very flat. After a series of quick changes in direction, Lin Yan had already opened up a gap.
At every corner, Lin Yan pushed his braking to the limit at the apex, executing the maneuvers with exceptional fluidity and grace.
"Yu Ning, do you see? The one leading on the track is your daddy."
In the pit box, Su Mojin gently said to Lin Yu Ning, whom she held in her arms.
In front of her was a cameraman, yet she seemed oblivious. After so much time, she had learned to be confident in front of the camera.
"Young Madam, Madam and the others have arrived."
Just as Su Mojin was engrossed in the race with her two babies, Fu Qingyun and the others arrived.