Unable to resist Meng Ai's pure, pleading gaze, Shen Qi took the initiative.
"Let's add each other as friends. It'll make it easier to talk about races later."
"Mm, okay!"
Meng Ai's voice rose, and she lifted herself slightly onto her toes, showing a little of the joy of someone cheering. But her expression still tended toward blankness, and her movements were rather stiff.
Just to be safe, Shen Qi reminded her, "Be careful when dealing with strangers. There are plenty of good people, but quite a few bad ones too."
"Mm!"
Meng Ai smiled happily, though her expression was still rather blank and stiff. He had no idea whether she had taken his words in.
"Tch, what a buzzkill." A mocking voice came from the departing crowd.
"Yeah, that weird little girl got lucky and advanced too. Driving a car that looks like that-what awful taste. She's really sullied our Ayaka's stage."
"So annoying. She's practically a monster here to ruin everything."
"Oh, forget it. With her pathetic little bit of skill, if she actually faced Miss Ayaka, she'd get left so far behind nobody would know where she'd gone."
"Of course I know that monster can't compete with Miss Ayaka. I just don't want anything filthy in Miss Ayaka's field of vision."
The remarks drifting over in fragments contained no profanity, yet they cut deeper than curses.
Looking displeased, Shen Qi swept his gaze over that group of spectators. They showed neither guilt nor fear. Instead, emboldened by their numbers, they raised their chins arrogantly.
"What? You're just a driver coasting along in a D-class car. Am I wrong? How long could you even last against Miss Ayaka?"
Shen Qi said nothing more. He simply felt sorry for Ayaka.
Being saddled with fans like these was enough to