Chapter 102: Respect Between Old Foes

Once the danger had passed, the crowd quickly gathered once more, their curiosity piqued. Though watching the spectacle was a draw, their foremost concern was that no one had been seriously hurt.

Fortunately, the crews from both racing teams emerged unscathed, suffering at worst minor neck strain that would heal in a few days.

Emergency personnel arrived promptly, tasked with assisting the drivers in moving the vehicles to a completely safe area.

Regrettably, Ai Chixiang’s car was totaled—there was no way to lift it by hand this time.

The collision had been severe, utterly wrecking the front end of Ai Chixiang’s car. The engine compartment was crushed and shattered beyond recognition.

In stark contrast, Mo Shu’s car remained almost miraculously intact.

Though the brunt of the impact struck the relatively fragile B-pillar on the vehicle’s side, externally, Mo Shu’s car had only a few scratches where Ai Chixiang’s paint had scraped it. The protective “tank aura” surrounding it was proving increasingly formidable.

Thankfully, Wang Yining had chosen to ride with Mo Shu rather than evacuate with Wang Yu, marking yet another occasion where she had saved Mo Shu’s life.

Mo Shu glanced sideways at his co-driver and couldn’t help but quip, “You really are quite the heroic tomboy.”

“...” Wang Yining shot him a glare. The moment her illness had passed, he was back to his usual teasing; the man never seemed to take anything seriously.

Indeed, Mo Shu often lacked a proper demeanor, but in critical moments, his choices deeply moved Wang Yining.

From the moment he forced Ai Chixiang’s car to stop, Mo Shu had, without hesitation, chosen to absorb the impact on the side closest to him.

In other words, Wang Yining, sitting in the passenger seat, had Mo Shu as a human shield, combined with the “tank aura” reinforcing the car’s structure, effectively reducing her risk of injury to nearly zero.

As the saying goes, true character reveals itself in moments of crisis. Mo Shu’s actions were a shining testament to his exceptional qualities.

Such a significant incident prompted the official media team to respond swiftly, immediately covering the accident.

“Mr. Mo, how are you feeling now?” a female reporter holding a microphone began the live interview.

“I’m fine, no serious injuries,” Mo Shu replied calmly.

“Under such dangerous circumstances, you chose to help your rival. Could you share what was going through your mind at that moment?” the reporter pressed.

Mo Shu sensed an underlying intent in the question. The rivalry between Carbon Black Gold and the Divine Racing Team was well-known across Europe. She was clearly trying to probe for his response to the “Martin Tonight Show” controversy.

“Heh, nothing special. A life’s at stake—that’s all there is to it,” Mo Shu answered. Until he devised a foolproof strategy against the Vermin family, he would avoid openly escalating tensions.

“Alright then, wishing you greater success ahead, thank you!” The reporter’s eyes betrayed a hint of disappointment. A scoop involving both rival teams’ top drivers would have catapulted her to fame and fortune.

Finding no sensational news from Mo Shu, she quickly ended the interview and shifted her attention to Ai Chixiang, who had just been freed.

“Mr. Ai, what are your thoughts on Mr. Mo’s act of assistance?”

Ai Chixiang merely scoffed.

“...”

The reporter persisted, holding her microphone steady.

“Hmph! Mo Shu... he’s a madman,” Ai Chixiang finally said, taking a moment to gather his words.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Don’t interrupt me!”

“...” The reporter was growing weary. Dealing with a volatile, eccentric driver was never pleasant.

“I’m saying Mo Shu is crazy. But... that madness makes me respect him a little,” Ai Chixiang admitted, grudgingly offering a rare compliment.

“Wait, what did he just say?” some onlookers found it hard to believe their ears.

“He said he respects Mo Shu.”

“Really? Is this the beginning of a truce between Divine Racing and Carbon Black Gold?”

“Seems like it, especially since Mo Shu saved Ai Chixiang!”

“Hope they reconcile soon. Then I can support both teams without the inner conflict!”

“Dream on! I’ll never support Divine Racing, you traitor!”

The crowd erupted in disorder once more. Ai Chixiang’s words were explosive news.

More than explosive—they were earth-shattering.

The female reporter was nearly moved to tears, already envisioning her promotion and raise. She had even drafted the headline in her mind: “Ai Chixiang Betrays Benefactor! Furious Rebuke of Divine’s Mo Shu!”

See how a simple good deed can be twisted?

“Can I understand this as you and Mr. Mo burying the hatchet?” she pressed, suppressing her excitement to dig deeper.

Ai Chixiang lowered his head, a dark, bitter smile playing on his lips. “Reconcile? Impossible! Mo Shu is my lifelong rival! I must...”

“Defeat him—completely and utterly!” he spat the words through clenched teeth, his voice rising in intensity. The word “defeat” nearly pushed him to hysteria. The reporter was stunned and wished she could pack up and flee immediately.

The crowd fell silent, unable to grasp Ai Chixiang’s capricious mood swings between friendship and hostility.

Perhaps, he was the true madman—a maverick walking a dangerous path.

Until one spectator shouted out loud:

“Self-sacrifice to save others! Hero Mo Shu!”

Indeed! Everyone had nearly forgotten Mo Shu’s heroic rescue of the crowd and aid to Ai Chixiang. It was only right to cheer and express their admiration for such valor.

“Self-sacrifice to save others!”

“Hero Mo Shu!”

Even the Europeans knew the power of rallying cries! This encouragement felt oddly familiar to Mo Shu, like a warm return to his homeland.

“Alright! Alright! Thank you all! Please, hear me out!” Wang Yu appeared at the crucial moment, determined to seize every opportunity to overturn the Vermin family’s slanders against their team.

“I hope everyone understands that what people say is not always the truth! You’ve all seen Mo Shu’s actions today. He is not the villain portrayed on television, nor is he someone who would harm others. I earnestly ask for your tolerance and time for our team and Mo Shu. We Chinese often say, ‘Strength is revealed over time; true hearts are revealed by endurance.’ I hope you will judge us rationally. Thank you!”

Mo Shu listened with a wry smile. Old Wang was truly giving his all for the team, unafraid to make a public spectacle if it meant defending them.