Why race if you don’t have money?

Chapter 132 Reunion with Old Friends in Australia

Cinderella time?
Chen Xiangbei was no stranger to underground racing. Every night, when it was late at night and everyone was quiet, that was when street racers were active, just like Cinderella who had to take off her glass slippers at midnight.

Macau Island is only so big. Although the Guia Circuit is located in Taipa, which is a relatively remote area, this remoteness is relative. It is still full of large casino hotels such as Lisboa, MGM, and Mandarin Oriental.

Unlike Hong Kong Island, which has outlying islands and rural areas like Yuen Long, underground racers at least have some room to maneuver.

"With its size and road conditions, how could Australia possibly have underground racing like Cinderella?"

Upon hearing Chen Xiangbei's question, Qin Lianjie knew what the other man was thinking.

So he laughed and explained, "Street racing atmospheres are more likely to emerge in bustling and developed areas. Think about the Princess Road race, which used to be the most famous race on Hong Kong Island. Wasn't it also in the bustling Kowloon district?"

After Qin Lianjie said that, Chen Xiangbei felt that there was indeed some truth to it.

In the 1990s, when street racing was at its peak in Asia, Princess Road was the most famous racing route on Hong Kong Island. Jackie Chan's movie "Thunderbolt" and Ekin Cheng's "Legend of Speed" were both based on Princess Road in Kowloon.

Conversely, the more familiar mountain road race scenes of later generations were influenced by increasingly strict street controls and the popularity of the Initial D movie two thousand years later.

Otherwise, who would bother driving an hour or two to a remote, impoverished mountain to brave the cold wind?

"However, in recent years, with the construction of the Taipa Coloane Circuit, street racers have had a limited opportunity to race on the Macau Island track. Such Cinderella moments are rarely seen on the streets of Guia anymore; the competition usually takes place on the hilltops of Yuen Long on Hong Kong Island."

"Only on the eve of the annual Grand Prix, when the streets are cleared out due to the race, can street racers have a rare moment of celebration."

After listening to Qin Lianjie's explanation, Chen Xiangbei nodded subconsciously.

Indeed, for drivers in Hong Kong and Macau, where land is extremely valuable, it is difficult for them to experience the ultimate feeling of racing on the track, and even the street racing of the past has gradually become history.

The Grand Prix held in Australia provides them with an opportunity and space to experience both professional and street racing at the Guia Circuit. This allure is irresistible even to professional riders, let alone street riders.

"Hey north, how about it, are we still doing test runs?"

With the number of sports cars in the pit lane soon exceeding twenty, and more and more spectators and street racers appearing out of nowhere, it was clear that tonight was going to turn into a grand underground racing event.

Although the Guia Circuit is 6.2 kilometers long, street racers are not as law-abiding as Chen Xiangbei, nor do they have his control and driving skills.

At that time, the Volkswagen R36 will become a slow car on the track, with an extremely high risk of rear-end collisions.

Qin Lianjie thought Monday would be the best time to familiarize himself with the track, but he did not expect that street racers in Hong Kong and Macau had the same idea.

"forget it."

Chen Xiangbei shook his head.

Driving the Volkswagen R36 at the current speed for a test run is already considered the lowest trim level, making it difficult to simulate the speed and driving experience of a race. It's purely for familiarizing oneself with the road conditions.

Now, with a bunch of underground drivers joining in the fun, and the constant slowing down and swerving makes it even harder to run, it adds a lot of unnecessary risks. It's better to go back to the hotel and rest.

"Okay, let's go back first."

Qin Lianjie also understood that running down the road would be pointless, and echoed that he planned to leave.

But at that moment, a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup race car did not head to the maintenance lane of the racing building, but instead stopped directly on the passenger side of Chen Xiangbei's Volkswagen R36.

As the car window slowly rolled down, a young face with a buzz cut came into view.

"Qin Lianjie, are you also planning to race the Guia Circuit tonight?"

The young driver with the buzz cut asked a question in a lukewarm tone.

Qin Lianjie is quite well-known in the underground circles of the Pearl River Delta, and he also owns a large modification shop on Hong Kong Island with extensive connections, so it's normal for street racers to know him.

"No, I was just passing by."

Qin Lianjie vehemently denied it, saying he had no time to participate in tonight's underground event and didn't want to reveal the news of Chen Xiangbei's test run.

Upon hearing this reply, the flathead rider lost interest in continuing the conversation.

Just as he was about to step on the gas and head towards the maintenance lane in front of the racing building, a sports car happened to pass by, its headlights shining through the window onto Chen Xiangbei's face.

Upon seeing Chen Xiangbei's appearance clearly, the flat-neck driver instantly changed his mind, a look of excitement appearing on his face. He floored the accelerator, blocking the Volkswagen R36 in front of the GTR, then got out and walked towards the driver's seat.

Chen Xiangbei was puzzled by this action and his first reaction was to look at Qin Lianjie in the passenger seat.

Could it be that these two had some past conflict?
But Chen Xiangbei soon realized that the one with the "grudge" wasn't Qin Lianjie, but himself...

The driver with the buzz cut leaned over the driver's side window of the Volkswagen R36, a playful smile on his face, and reached out his hand, saying, "Let's get acquainted. My name is Zhang Zhendong. I was formerly a student at Huasai Sports and am now a professional driver for the Japanese Taisan team."

Zhang Zhendong?
Upon hearing the name, Chen Xiangbei paused for a moment.

Although she had never met him before, she had heard of him in her past life, and in this life they had developed an inexplicable connection.

In some ways, Zhang Zhendong can be considered his "senior".

So he politely extended his hand and shook hands, saying, "Hello, my name is Chen Xiangbei."

"I know you, and I've been waiting to run a race with you for a long time."

"We missed the Donghai Underground Race last year, how about we try the Dongwangyang Circuit today?"

Zhang Zhendong's eyes were filled with fighting spirit. Chen Xiangbei might not have paid attention to him, but he had been staring at Chen Xiangbei for a long time!
As the holder of the fastest lap record at the Huasai Base, Zhang Zhendong learned almost immediately that someone had broken his lap record, and at that time he was already interested in Chen Xiangbei.

I was very curious. Huasai Sports was about to go bankrupt, and the newly recruited students only trained for one or two months at most. How could they easily break their own track record?

Only a handful of people have made it big in the domestic go-karting scene, and Zhang Zhendong knows them all, but he's never heard of Chen Xiangbei.

Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult for the two to cross paths. However, when Zhang Zhendong heard that Chen Xiangbei had signed up for the Donghai Underground Competition, he was eager to meet this "racing genius" and see if he was really that talented.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Zhendong learned from sponsor Peng Sheng that Chen Xiangbei had achieved an astonishing time of 3 minutes and 58.33 seconds in a manned race that night, which completely ignited his competitive spirit.

Unfortunately, Chen Xiangbei was ultimately unable to participate in the East China Sea Underground Tournament, which led to much criticism regarding the value of Zhang Zhendong's championship.

After all, Chen Xiangbei's lap time with the Subaru STI has almost become a legend in the underground racing scene of Donghai, and Zhang Zhendong's championship speed was only slightly ahead by less than three seconds.

Considering Chen Xiangbei's casual nighttime drive, plus the fact that he had a passenger in the front seat, he might actually be faster than Zhang Zhendong.

The title of "King of the Underground" was questioned, and Zhang Zhendong later learned that Chen Xiangbei had also taken away the "sponsorship" that Peng Sheng had prepared for him.

With old and new grudges piled up, Zhang Zhendong was eager to compete with Chen Xiangbei to prove his strength.

Tonight, I've finally got this opportunity!

"Sorry, it's not convenient."

Chen Xiangbei politely declined.

Given his current status as a professional cyclist, it's not really appropriate for him to continue racing in street circuits, especially on such popular routes.

"What, are you scared?"

A mocking smile appeared on Zhang Zhendong's face, his tone filled with provocation.

Whatever Chen Xiangbei was "afraid" of, he saw it as a sign of weakness.

Upon hearing this, a smile also appeared on Chen Xiangbei's face.

Zhang Zhendong was not yet famous in this era, but he would have been a household name in Chen Xiangbei's previous life.

This fame refers not only to his professional achievements, but also to Zhang Zhendong's youthful arrogance.

The story of Zhang Chi's five-year ban in Han Han's movie "Pegasus" is based on him.

Many professional drivers participate in street racing, which is at most an open secret, the kind of thing only heaven, earth, you, and I know. Apart from the special period of the 1980s and 90s, after 2000, no one would openly admit to it; if asked, the answer would simply be that they never raced.

However, Zhang Zhendong is the only one in recent years to have been caught speeding on the street...

However, personality often determines destiny. It was precisely because of his youthful vigor and unwillingness to admit defeat that Zhang Zhendong was able to join the Porsche Young Driver Training Program and become the first "four-time champion" in CTCC history.

Until Ma Qingye transitioned to motorhomes and won the WTCC World Championship, Zhang Zhendong was firmly in the position of the number one motorhome driver in China.

"Zhang Zhendong, don't cause trouble."

Qin Lianjie gave a serious warning, saying that this kid was only eighteen years old this year, a year younger than Chen Xiangbei, and was in the "wildfire boy" stage where he was completely unresponsive.

Is challenging someone to a duel considered looking for trouble?

"When did you, Qin Lianjie, become so cowardly?" Zhang Zhendong shrugged and spread his hands. He just wanted to sense what was wrong with Chen Xiangbei's strength.

Just as the group was talking, the Hong Kong street racers who were chatting not far away also noticed the scene of the Porsche 997 "intercepting" the Volkswagen R36 and looked over with curious eyes.

Qin Lianjie is practically a local bigwig in Hong Kong, and Zhang Zhendong is even more so. Last year, he won the title of "Underground Car King" and has now joined the veteran Japanese Taisan team to prepare for the Grand Prix GT race. He is currently riding high on his career.

Their conflict is definitely a major underground drama!
However, everyone's attention was quickly drawn to the driver's seat of the Volkswagen R36.

One of the street racers felt he looked familiar and couldn't help but ask his companion, "Fatty, I feel like I've seen the R36 rider somewhere before. Do you remember him?"

Upon hearing this, the street racer nicknamed "Fat Otaku" stared intently at Chen Xiangbei and frantically searched his memory, which actually helped him recall something.

A look of shock instantly crossed his face, and he said, "If I'm not mistaken, isn't he Chen Xiangbei, who's participating in this year's Grand Prix F3?"

It's fine if no one mentions the name, but as soon as the name "Chen Xiangbei" is mentioned, the memory in my mind immediately matches this face.

"It should be Renault champion Chen Xiangbei, the man whose appearance is said to be comparable to Edison Chen of Guangzhou and Shenzhen!"

Someone shouted something, and the drivers and spectators in the pit lane went wild. No longer content with watching from a distance, they all crowded around, wanting to get a closer look.

"Damn! It really is the racing legend Bei. I even saw him at Nanyun Mountain."

"The racing legend has come north to the East Sea!"

"I never expected to meet Chen Xiangbei. He is China's first F1 test driver."

"He's more than just a test driver; he might become the first official driver!"

As various discussions arose, many underground racers at the scene became increasingly excited.

Perhaps Chen Xiangbei's fame hasn't spread to the general public like Yao Ming or Liu Xiang. That's why when Fatty Wang and Glasses Zhou greeted him at the airport with banners, outsiders looked at them like they were idiots.

However, within the racing world, Chen Xiangbei's name has become a household name.

The reason is simple: the title of China's first F1 test driver is just too prestigious!
Faced with the sudden "star-chasing" scene, Chen Xiangbei was completely unprepared and did not even expect to be so famous in Hong Kong.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, he managed an awkward smile and waved.

Zhang Zhendong was unusually excited by the scene of everyone watching. He was wondering how to get Chen Xiangbei to agree to a race, and the street racers came to his aid.

The more people pay attention and scrutinize the situation, the more awkward and embarrassed Chen Xiangbei will become.

After all, if the news got out that a dignified F1 test driver wouldn't dare to accept the challenge, could Chen Xiangbei afford to lose face?
Just as the street racers were cheering, two more cars drove up one after the other. The one in front was an Audi R8 GT3, and the other was a Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG, a "suit-wearing thug".

A young man was sitting in the Audi R8. When he saw Zhang Zhendong, he immediately got out of the car, walked over, put his arm around Zhang's shoulder, and asked, "Brother Dong, what's going on?"

"I ran into Chen Xiangbei and I'm planning to run a race with him."

Chen Xiangbei?
Upon hearing the name, the young man's face lit up with surprise, and he turned around and shouted in the direction of the Mercedes S65.

"Sister, Chen Xiangbei is here too!"

The sound was so loud that Chen Xiangbei instinctively looked over.

As the rear privacy glass of the Mercedes-Benz S65 rolled down, a familiar face was revealed – it was Dong Yuanxi, Chen Xiangbei's "old classmate".

The two looked at each other across the distance. Chen Xiangbei's eyes were full of surprise. How could Dong Yuanxi be here?

On the contrary, Dong Yuanxi's eyes were very complicated, and it was impossible to know what she was thinking at that moment.

"Chen Xiangbei, do you dare to run a race with me?"

Seeing that the time was almost right, Zhang Zhendong deliberately raised his voice and questioned him.

Upon hearing Zhang Zhendong's words, the street racers, who were still engrossed in "idol worship," immediately looked at each other with surprise.

No wonder Zhang Zhendong's Porsche 997 was parked across the street in front of the Volkswagen R36; he was challenging Chen Xiangbei to a fight. And judging from his words and posture, Chen Xiangbei probably wouldn't dare accept?

Holy crap, it's quite surprising that an F1 test driver wouldn't accept the challenge.

"What's going on? Zhang Zhendong is getting too close to Chen Xiangbei?"

"Zhang Zhendong's dissatisfaction with Chen Xiangbei has been well-known in the industry for a long time, and you're only finding out today?"

"Bei Du is an F1 test driver, surely he can outrun Zhang Zhendong?"

"Formula racing is different from street racing; it's hard to say."

The street racers watching were buzzing with discussion. Looking at the smug expression on Zhang Zhendong's face, Chen Xiangbei guessed what the guy was up to.

"I won't run."

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Xiangbei refused again.

He never intended to run, and now that he's in the public eye, there's even less chance he'll actually run.

"Chen Xiangbei, I think you're really afraid of losing."

Zhang Zhendong continued to use provocation with a contemptuous smile.

Seeing that the other party was relentless, Chen Xiangbei's expression turned cold.

I can understand youthful arrogance, but it's okay to be ungrateful.

He replied calmly, "It's not that I'm afraid, but..."

"You do not deserve!"

Before Chen Xiangbei could even utter those three words, a voice beside him spoke them out for him as if by telepathy, though the Chinese pronunciation wasn't quite standard.

Upon hearing this voice, Chen Xiangbei turned around and a smile appeared on his face.

It seems today is truly a day of "meeting old friends in a foreign land," with so many familiar faces appearing.

That's right, the visitor was none other than Hoshino Yoshi, Chen Xiangbei's "old classmate" in Japan!

Chen Xiangbei once stepped forward to help Hoshino Yoshiyuki run a race at the Suzuka Circuit.

So today, Hoshino Yoshimi intends to get his revenge.

Furthermore, Hoshino Yoshi's "mouth double" was not intended to humiliate Zhang Zhendong, but rather to state the truth!
A touring car driver chose to challenge an F1 test driver; I wonder what this guy was thinking.

There's no need for Chen Xiangbei to lift a finger; he can handle it all himself.

"You're only qualified to run with Xiang Beijun if you can beat me."

Hoshino Yoshimi stood in front of Zhang Zhendong and replied to him in English.

Zhang Zhendong also knows Hoshino Yoshimi, who is a disciple of former Japanese F1 driver Suzuki Akuri and is serving as a substitute driver for the ARTA team in this competition.

"Chen Xiangbei, if I beat him, would you dare to take the challenge?"

Zhang Zhendong ignored Hoshino Yoshi and instead asked Chen Xiangbei a question.

His only goal has always been to run a race with Chen Xiangbei.

"no problem."

This time, Chen Xiangbei agreed without hesitation.

The reason is simple: at least for now, Zhang Zhendong is absolutely no match for Hoshino Yoshi, no matter what race car he drives!
With Chen Xiangbei's assurance, Zhang Zhendong didn't waste any more words and got into his Porsche 997.

Hoshino Yoshino nodded to Chen Xiangbei, then turned and got into the ARTA team's dedicated racing car, the Honda NSX, known as the "Ferrari of the East".

The intense duel between the two instantly attracted the attention of the drivers off the track. Chen Xiangbei then told Qin Lianjie something, got out of the car, and walked towards the Mercedes-Benz S65 not far away.

Seeing this, Dong Yuanxi also got out of the car. Today, she was wearing a white dress, which made her look very quiet and elegant. The sea breeze in the distance blew by, making her hair dance in the wind, adding a unique beauty to her appearance.

"Chen Xiangbei, it's been a long time."

"Well, long time no see."

(End of this chapter)