F1: Starting with a Simulator Master

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can see three futuristic-looking devices inside.

A full-motion platform simulator, featuring a massive triple-screen display, a wind simulation system, and active hydraulic pedals.

"That's a fully simulated cockpit I just ordered from Germany. It costs hundreds of thousands of yuan, much more expensive than those go-karts outside."

Xu Zihao spoke as if he were entertaining a group of distinguished guests, his tone so sincere that it brooked no argument:

"The air conditioning is on inside, and there are free drinks. Whether you want to experience speed or compete, it's the best choice."

It's safe and professional. All expenses today are on me, so please feel free to make yourselves at home.

"No... bro, could you ask us first?"

Xu Zihang's face turned bright red, and his voice, though not loud, was clearly anxious.

It's one thing to be controlled at home normally, but today is his birthday, and he's also the host.

Now, in front of the whole class, my brother has arranged for me to play a simulator. The problem is, there are dozens of students, but only three simulators. How am I supposed to distribute them?

Feeling powerless in front of everyone made him feel utterly humiliated.

"Dude, my friends are all here watching. You're closing off the track so we can play on the simulator. What if they don't want to play? Can you stop assuming your arrangements are always the best?"

Xu Zihang looked displeased. Although it was a racetrack that his family had taken over, it had only been open for less than a week, and all he knew was that go-karting could be done there.

"Besides, isn't this a go-kart track? What go-kart track would allow those wide-body sports cars on the track? They simply can't perform properly here!"

He looked at the group of classmates behind him, dressed in their finest attire.

Although everyone wore awkward smiles, no one dared to say no under the pressure of this "extraordinary hospitality."

This atmosphere of being forced to accept goodwill made Xu Zihang feel very uncomfortable.

Even though he was the host, he felt like a puppet who couldn't make decisions in front of his friends.

"Zihang, I'm doing this for your own good."

Xu Zihao spoke gently, and even considerately straightened his younger brother's collar.

"You don't have racing licenses, do you?"

Xu Zihao knew very well who in the local wealthy second-generation circle was into cars; none of Xu Zihang's classmates were on that list.

Bringing up the race photos now is just to shut up the younger brother.

"What if I lose control on the curve? Damaging the car is a minor issue; if I get hurt, how am I supposed to explain it to Dad? How are you supposed to explain it to your families?"

"As for your statement that you can't fully utilize your abilities?"

Xu Zihao smiled and pointed to the track layout map on the wall behind him:

"This track is different from other tracks in China; it wasn't designed by Dr. Yao."

Instead, they commissioned Hermann Tierke Studio to design a complex track.

Go-karts, GPs, and RVs can all be made to run by simply modifying their layout.

You know the Baku Grand Prix in Azerbaijan, right?

Xu Zihang was in a bad mood and didn't understand the other person's intentions, so he turned his head away and didn't want to talk to this older brother.

Xu Zihao, unsurprised by this, continued:

"Baku Station was designed by Hermann Tilke's studio."

Xu Zihang understood now; it was the F1 Baku Grand Prix, a street circuit.

He had been suppressed the whole time, and just as he was about to speak up and show off, his second brother spoke first, suppressing him with his bloodline.

"Do you see those white connecting roads?"

By simply opening these features, you can switch from a 1.3-kilometer go-kart track to a 2.7-kilometer touring car track.

Xu Zihao's words carried a hint of boasting, but his tone remained calm.

"If I wanted to, I could even run F3 here. Professor Chen Pengfei is usually very busy, so it's not easy for him to make this trip. Please understand."

"But it's my birthday..." Xu Zihang panicked, "We came here to drive a real car..."

"May your birthday be peaceful and safe."

Xu Zihao immediately shut Xu Zihang down with one sentence, and patiently tried to persuade him again:

"Go ahead, go play the game. It's a good opportunity for that super expert to show off his skills. Real cars are too dangerous; you can play them when you're adults."

That last sentence was too blunt, like a thorn that precisely pierced Xu Zihang's pride.

Treat him like a child.

They see Luo Xiu as a keyboard warrior.

This logic of "I give you the best, so you have to accept it" is more upsetting to Xu Zihang than simply resorting to insults.

"Don't treat me like a child; he's not here to play games!"

Xu Zihang clenched his fists, raised his head, and spoke with anger in his voice.

"He's faster than Chen Pengfei! Why don't you let him give it a try!"

The air in the P room suddenly became quiet.

Chen Pengfei, who was looking at the data, paused for a moment when he heard his name called, but then continued with his work, pretending not to hear.

Xu Zihao's smile finally faded a little.

He looked at his ignorant younger brother and shook his head.

"Zihang, how have I been teaching you? Blind confidence born of ignorance is very dangerous."

Xu Zihao's patience was wearing thin, and he was no longer concerned about his younger brother's feelings.

He walked up to the glass room and pointed to a string of numbers on the screen.

"This is the ACC, Monza circuit, GT3. Mr. Chen just went up there to warm up and ran a lap time of 1 minute 47.121 seconds."

"These are the results of a professional driver just casually playing around on a simulator."

Xu Zihao turned around, his eyes filled with a condescending scrutiny.

"Since you say your friend is a master, then how about this?"

"I won't make things difficult for you. If he can achieve Mr. Chen's score on this simulator for three consecutive flight laps..."

Xu Zihao held up one finger, seemingly calculating what kind of lesson he should teach these children.

"Running within 107% of Teacher Chen's score in a short period of time."

That is, within 1 minute and 54 seconds.

"As long as he can stay inside this threshold, I'll admit he's not playing the game properly, and..."

Xu Zihao was probably angered by his younger brother, and these words were tantamount to offending Luo Xiu.

Given her usual tactful and diplomatic nature, she would never speak like that.

But since he had already said it, he couldn't take it back.

He glanced at the graphics card box in Luo Xiu's hand, his expression apologetic, and he was trying to think of a way to make amends.

"And today I'm having the venue cleared so I can specially schedule a time slot for your go-karting event. I'll pay for all the tickets."

Since things had come to this point, he felt that he had been tactful enough and had managed to salvage the situation somewhat.

"But if we can't run it,"

Xu Zihao's smile faded, his gaze turning serious, as if he were reprimanding a student who had made a mistake.

"That means you're not ready yet. So listen to me, go play the simulator and stop thinking about going to the track."

Xu Zihao felt that his words were reasonable.

This approach both saved face for the younger brother, giving him a chance, and used scientific standards to dissuade these arrogant children from leaving, thus ensuring their safety.

In his view, even with some simulator experience, maintaining a consistent 107% performance level compared to professional athletes is an insurmountable physical barrier for these high school students who have never even been on an actual race track.

"Tch, 1 minute and 54 cents? Who do you think you are?"

Zhang Wei, standing in the crowd, couldn't help but mutter something under his breath. His voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Anyone can achieve that kind of time; I've run under 1 minute and 50 seconds before."

Xu Zihao looked over with a playful expression.

"You can run around at home until you break down, and then you can start over. But here, everyone is watching you, and I'm watching you too."

He took a step forward, not intending to be too disrespectful, but also to give the impression of the kind of pressure adults exert on children.

"And this is new equipment."

For a true racer, the test isn't whether they can guess the fastest lap, but how quickly they can adapt to an unfamiliar machine.

Even if you were to go up there right now, could you guarantee you could run three laps without your hands shaking?

His gaze swept over the crowd, and he said calmly:

"I'll give you three chances. If you go off the track even once, you lose. Do you still dare to say you can do it with your hands?"

Zhang Wei was speechless for a moment, but he couldn't save face and wanted to argue, but he didn't know what to say.

Xu Zihang saw this, gritted his teeth, and looked at Luo Xiu again.

"How is it, God Luo?"

Luo Xiu is Xu Zihang's last hope.

Xu Zihao also looked at the boy who hadn't spoken until now with a half-smile.

Luo Xiu finally raised his head.

He first glanced at the six-cylinder all-wheel-drive platform, the professional direct-drive base, the active hydraulic pedals, and the carbon fiber steering wheel.

That was a configuration he could hardly even dream of.

He tilted his head back and finished the last sip of cola; the cold liquid made his body increasingly excited.

Then, he patted Xu Zihang on the shoulder to comfort him.

She glanced at Xu Zihao again.

Luo Xiu understood that he meant no harm.

You're wrong.

But Luo Xiu was very unhappy.

Xu Zihao was taken aback: "What?"

Luo Xiu pointed to the screen that displayed '1:47.121'.

"If this is the performance record of a professional driver..."

If you use the guise of "doing what's best for you," you can presumptuously make decisions for others.

"That's too slow."

That's incredibly shameless.