"#Lettel" — a portmanteau of "Lu" and "Vettel" — was sweeping across social media with the destructive force of a hurricane, stealing all the traffic.
One narrative claimed Vettel was trying to defend his throne while Kai was preparing to usurp it, painting them as rivals locked in a love-hate relationship.
Another claimed Vettel was generously pouring all his knowledge into helping Kai adapt to the paddock, burning himself out to illuminate the path for the younger generation, a touching story of passing the torch.
Yet another narrative suggested they were enemies who couldn't stand each other, but for the sake of Ferrari and the Tifosi, they set aside their differences to fight side-by-side, joining forces to bring back the World Championship.
Blah, blah, blah. All sorts of imaginations and rumors were everywhere.
And it wasn't just limited to the Russian Grand Prix. Footage from last season—Vettel in F1, Kai in GP3—had become fertile ground for fans' wild imaginations. They edited together moving, epic sagas, instantly stealing all the spotlight from the internal rivalry between Ricciardo and Verstappen. They became the most hotly discussed teammates since Hamilton and Rosberg.
The wind had suddenly changed direction.
Just two or three days ago, both inside and outside the paddock, people were loudly debating how the malicious competition between Kai and Vettel might destroy Ferrari's championship prospects, claiming the two were like fire and water, their relationship irreparably torn. Then, in the blink of an eye, the storm cleared, and the narrative took a 180-degree turn.
The public opinion war was escalating. Invisible daggers continued to fly. Every team in the paddock was now showing their true colors.
However, regardless of the raging traffic on social media, whether the East Wind prevailed over the West Wind or vice versa, ultimately, they had to step onto the track and settle things with real swords and spears. That is the essence of competitive sports.
Clearly, Mercedes understood this well. The tighter and more tense the situation, the more the defending champions displayed their foundation. Their ability to withstand the continuous assaults from Ferrari, Red Bull, Force India, and Williams over the years to achieve four consecutive championships was no accident. Their determination to secure a fifth consecutive title finally bared its fangs.
After suffering consecutive reversals by Ferrari in Monza and Singapore, and even losing their lead in the Constructors' Championship, Mercedes was sharpening its knives from top to bottom. This was when Toto Wolff truly showed the brilliance of a top-tier Team Principal.
On one hand, he stabbed Ferrari in the back to cause interference. On the other hand, he repeatedly praised George Russell to stimulate Valtteri Bottas's fighting spirit. Simultaneously, he stood at the very front, blocking all rumors and gossip, giving the technical team the space to focus entirely on the car.
For a time, he was incredibly busy—working behind the scenes, strategizing, and showing great courage and decisiveness. Mercedes united completely, inside and out.
And they reaped rich rewards on the track.
At the Russian Grand Prix, Ferrari and Mercedes continued their relentless entanglement, fighting to a standstill. But this time, Mercedes refused to repeat their mistakes. They withstood the pressure and shocks, gritted their teeth, and secured a crucial victory. Following Spain and Belgium, it was their third 1-2 finish of the season.
Hamilton took the win; Bottas took second.
Ferrari's performance was still excellent, but they lacked a little something in Sochi. Kai finished third, Vettel fourth. Their gap to Mercedes wasn't large, but unfortunately, they never found an opportunity to turn the tide. Their rivals simply performed better.
Mercedes found its footing and retook the lead in the Constructors' Championship. Simultaneously, Hamilton briefly shook off Kai's relentless pursuit, expanding his lead in the Drivers' Championship. Without a doubt, the Russian Grand Prix was vital for Mercedes.
Compared to the inseparable battle between Mercedes and Ferrari, Red Bull was somewhat frustrated.
Although Verstappen finished fifth and Ricciardo sixth, ensuring the "Big Three" still swept the top six positions, and Red Bull didn't completely lose their standing, the gap by which the two Red Bulls trailed in the race was somewhat exaggerated. Verstappen crossed the finish line twenty seconds behind Vettel. This was definitely abnormal.
Returning from the summer break, when Ferrari hit a slump, Red Bull briefly surpassed them in Belgium, even closing in on Mercedes. But in just one month, Red Bull was left behind again, the gap widening. For Christian Horner, this was not good news.
Red Bull's goal for the season wasn't just to maintain their status among the Big Three. Their ultimate goal was the World Championship, and that hadn't changed. Horner refused to be satisfied with the status quo.
In fact, the biggest talking point in Sochi wasn't Mercedes or Ferrari, but Sauber—finishing in seventh place!
Who could have predicted that the highest-placed car outside the Big Three would be a Sauber?
Charles Leclerc, driving his Number 16 car, burst onto the scene, proving with actual on-track performance that his talent was second to none. He incredibly broke out from the midfield, not just satisfied with points, but continuing to climb within the points-paying positions, shining brilliantly.
However, praise aside, amidst the endless discussions surrounding the midfield and backmarker teams, the focus never strayed far from the Constructors' Championship battle.
After all, a single point could dictate the direction of ten million dollars.
Moreover, the battle for the Constructors' Championship this season had reached a white-hot stage, continuing straight from Sochi.
At the subsequent Japanese Grand Prix, the Big Three were still locked in a fierce, inseparable battle.
Mercedes firmly seized the opportunity, their momentum unstoppable. They not only maintained their strong stability but astutely capitalized on Red Bull's bounce-back, which entangled Ferrari, to expand their lead.
This highlighted a weakness that had repeatedly plagued Ferrari in recent years. In critical moments, Arrivabene couldn't keep up with Wolff's calculations, nor could he shake off Horner's cunning entanglements. Following the 2017 season, Ferrari was once again bogged down in trouble during the final championship sprint.
At the Suzuka Circuit, Hamilton won, Bottas took second. Mercedes secured another 1-2 finish. In a brutal, head-to-head clash, Kai carved a bloody path to take third, stepping onto the podium once again, barely clinging to Mercedes, refusing to be completely shaken off.
But a revitalized Red Bull bounced back strongly. Ricciardo finished fourth, Verstappen fifth, forcefully pushing Vettel down to sixth.
In the fierce battle for the Constructors' Championship, Red Bull was playing a crucial role in swaying the situation.
People naturally assumed that Horner, who couldn't stand the sight of Mercedes, would try his utmost to unite with "the enemy of his enemy," Ferrari, to pull Mercedes from the throne. But clearly, Horner didn't see it that way. He indeed wanted Mercedes to fall from grace, but it had to be Red Bull that accomplished such a feat.
If Red Bull couldn't do it?
Then Ferrari shouldn't even think about it!
The scheming Wolff, truly a master of his craft, accurately grasped Horner's stubborn refusal to bow his head, and simultaneously manipulated Arrivabene's obstinate arrogance. He firmly seized the opportunity, completing two epic races in Russia and Japan.
Now, Mercedes instantly widened their lead in the Constructors' Championship. Furthermore, Hamilton tied with Kai—both having won six Grands Prix this season. The defending champion was charging toward both championship trophies with an absolutely dominant and resolute stance.
Wolff was preparing to further accelerate, completely pulling away, using the gap created by Ferrari and Red Bull's entanglement to decisively establish their championship advantage.
However, this time, someone stepped up, disrupting Wolff's perfect plan with a stunning performance.
"KAI! ZHI! ZHOU!"
"God! God! God! Car 22 crosses the finish line first by a millimeter! The race is over! The winner is decided!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the 2018 United States Grand Prix is Kai Zhizhou!"
"The eighteen-year-old wins his seventh race of the season, shaking off Hamilton once again to become the sole leader in the number of wins this season."
"Unbelievable! How did he do it?!"
"Wow!"
"A magnificent race, a thrilling and incredible race, and another strong contender for the race of the season!"
"Just when everyone thought the championship outcome was a foregone conclusion, that Mercedes would break the balance as usual, pulling far ahead and completely snuffing out all speculation about the team and driver championships, two young men unexpectedly joined forces to make a different sound."
"Kai Zhizhou! Max Verstappen!"
"At COTA (Circuit of the Americas), Kai beat Hamilton by a slim margin of 0.070 seconds to take his second pole of the season, a perfect lap that caught Mercedes off guard. Verstappen, due to a power unit change, had to start from eighteenth."
"Two positions, two strategies, but the two young geniuses completed a wonderful race in their own ways!"
"Amidst various accidents and situations, with the Safety Car deployed three times and team strategies completely scrambled, Verstappen chased all the way from the back of the pack to the front, aiming to replicate Kai's miraculous comeback in Singapore."
"But this time, Kai executed an extreme defense on almost completely worn-out tires, incredibly withstanding Verstappen's attacks for ten laps, and ultimately crossing the finish line first with a narrow advantage of 1.281 seconds, taking his seventh Grand Prix victory of the season."
"From pole to victory! Kai has done it again!"
"Despite the difficulties, despite the thrills, despite Ferrari's continued struggles, Kai still withstood the pressure, turning the impossible into the possible once again!"
"When everyone believed Mercedes would remain dominant to the end, when everyone believed Hamilton would continue to defend his glory, when everyone believed the paddock order remained unbreakable, the two youngsters, Kai and Verstappen, joined hands to complete an incredible race, announcing the arrival of a youthful storm with their actions."
"The paddock is ushering in unprecedented chaos and turmoil!"
"God, I absolutely love this sport."
His scalp tingling, his whole body trembling as if struck by lightning, Croft exhausted all his energy, detonating a roaring, passionate outburst.
You couldn't blame Croft. The United States Grand Prix truly shattered expectations and overturned the situation, once again pushing the season's excitement to a new height.
On the other side, Wolff's calculations had been precise. He cleverly used Red Bull to snipe Ferrari, allowing Mercedes to shed the burden and pull far ahead.
But in reality, Mercedes was always the target. No matter how hard they tried to hide, there was nowhere to run. Even though Red Bull and Ferrari were fighting bitterly, it didn't stop them from splitting their forces to besiege Mercedes. Wolff's strategy of sitting back and reaping the rewards quickly backfired.
Kai, first.
Verstappen, second.
Hamilton, third.
The podium positions had subtly changed. The gaps between the top three were small, all finishing within two seconds of each other, showing how fierce and tight the race was. But the bloody duel between the two youngsters continued until the last second, making Hamilton look somewhat powerless in comparison.
Everything was exactly as Hamilton had said. The F1 season is long and arduous, like a marathon. It requires not only speed but also endurance and stability. Entering the sprint phase, the high morale and active energy displayed by the two youngsters were very likely to become the key factors in changing the situation.
Moreover, Vettel finished fourth, Bottas fifth.
Mercedes had just widened the gap, but Ferrari narrowed it again, keeping the suspense of the Constructors' Championship alive.
More importantly, Red Bull was becoming the spoiler.
Although Ricciardo retired again in the US, suffering his 101st power unit failure of the season, completely shattering Red Bull's hopes for the Constructors' Championship—leaving only Mercedes and Ferrari in the race—Red Bull was like a ticking time bomb. No one knew what kind of chain reaction it might cause. It could hurt Ferrari, but it could equally hurt Mercedes.
Clearly, Horner didn't plan to play it safe. With third place in the Constructors' Championship basically secured—unable to catch up to the front, and with no threat from behind—Horner could let loose and do whatever he wanted. They were ready to play the deciding factor in this championship battle. As for who benefited and who suffered, that wasn't Horner's concern.
Then, following the United States Grand Prix, Red Bull proved themselves again with their actions in Mexico.
Max Verstappen took the victory!
Since the Monaco Grand Prix, Verstappen had undergone a transformation and breakthrough. He had been growing and improving constantly, but Mercedes and Ferrari's overall performance this season had been too strong, leaving Red Bull without an opportunity. But Verstappen finally managed to carve a bloody path, winning his second race of the season following Shanghai.
This was not only Verstappen's first win of the season but also his first Grand Prix victory in a full year. His last win was also in Mexico. Breaking his year-long drought by successfully defending his title in Mexico was undoubtedly of great significance to Verstappen.
After the race, Verstappen was exceptionally happy and excited.
The sudden rise of Kai and Leclerc this year had brought immense pressure on Verstappen. The records he held had all been broken by Kai, and his position in the paddock had become precarious. Private bombardments from Jos and Marko made Verstappen increasingly silent and irritable.
Now! Finally!
A Grand Prix victory. Like a long drought meeting sweet rain, Verstappen finally vented all his frustration.
Originally, this was supposed to be Red Bull's first dominant race of the season, a 1-2 finish sweeping the top two spots. But the shadow of tragedy unfortunately fell on Ricciardo once again. On Lap 61, with only ten laps remaining, Ricciardo suffered a power unit failure, his eighth retirement of the season.
A collective sigh swept through the paddock. Even his rivals felt sorry for Ricciardo. This talented driver shouldn't be, and didn't deserve to be, so ravaged by fate.
After the race, Kai was the first to congratulate Verstappen.
It truly was a wonderful race. Verstappen's performance was dominant. Led by Verstappen, the top four drivers lapped the rest of the field, forming a leading pack with a massive gap, clearly conveying Verstappen's thirst for victory.
Verstappen looked slightly surprised, but looking into Kai's sincere eyes, he managed a fist bump in response.
Turning around, Kai found the dejected Ricciardo in the crowd. The two ribbed and joked with each other. Obviously, Ricciardo had little energy left even for jokes, but seeing Kai carelessly thanking him for helping with his championship bid, Ricciardo knew it was a provocation but fell for it anyway.
"Get lost, get lost! If you actually win the championship this season, you have to give me at least half the prize money."
Exchanging banter, the two mercilessly roasted and hurt each other, but Ricciardo finally recovered some of his spirits.
It wasn't 100% accurate, but looking at the results, Ricciardo's power unit had failed him for the 99th time, and the biggest winner on track was indeed Ferrari: Vettel second, Kai third.
For the seventh time this season, both Ferrari drivers stood on the podium, continuing their strong recovery from the US Grand Prix. The key wasn't just keeping both Mercedes cars behind them, but the points from two podium finishes, which helped Ferrari continue to eat away at the gap in both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships.
Wolff's calculations had been sharp, cleverly using Red Bull to entangle Ferrari while watching from the sidelines. But he hadn't expected Red Bull's indiscriminate attacks to sweep across the board. Mercedes, watching the show, became victims too. It wasn't clear if this counted as dropping a rock on their own feet.
The race in Mexico was even worse than in the US: Hamilton fourth, Bottas fifth.
Mercedes could now clearly feel the oppressive and impactful pursuit of Ferrari. The advantage they had fought so hard for in the previous two races had been completely wiped out.
In the US, Kai won.
In Mexico, Verstappen won.
For two consecutive Grands Prix, their rivals disrupted Mercedes' overall plan. The two young men, full of hot blood and passion, forcefully broke through the siege. Even with Mercedes giving it their all, they still carved out a bloody path, snatching victories from the tiger's mouth.
Young blood was truly becoming a new force in the paddock!
This instantly pushed the intensity of the 2018 season championship battle to unprecedented heights. It also caused a massive surge in interest and concern from fanatic fans, casual viewers, and passing observers. The traffic swept across the entire internet, and the attention that had gathered because of Kai's sudden emergence completely boiled over.
Who could have guessed that what started as minor curiosity about Kai would accidentally lead to witnessing the most thrilling season since the hybrid era began? The enthusiasm of casual observers and pure bystanders was fully mobilized. F1's mainstream popularity continued to heat up, ushering in a wave of fanaticism.
"Mercedes! Let me tell you, it's definitely Mercedes! The defending champions aren't vegetarians; they excel at tough battles like this."
"I'm really tired of Mercedes continuing to dominate. Please, Ferrari, rise up!"
"I'd say Mercedes has the better odds. Wolff is experienced, Hamilton is tough, and Bottas is willing to play support. In critical moments, teamwork is key, and Ferrari is a bit lacking there."
"I'm just looking forward to seeing Ferrari return to the top. I've waited too long for this day."
"Car, driver, strategy—Mercedes is still slightly better. Ferrari relies entirely on Kai. No matter how good the baby driver is, he can't drag an aircraft carrier to catch up with a united Mercedes all by himself."
"Uncertain. Can't read it. Anything is possible. Honestly, I think it depends on Red Bull's mood. The decision of who wins the championship is actually in Horner's hands right now."
"Stop talking. It should depend on Verstappen. If he's unhappy and crashes into someone, whoever gets caught is unlucky. Or maybe... Haas's Magnussen?"
Discussions, analysis, jokes, and gossip—a total explosion!
Professional and unprofessional; blind and rational; fanning the flames and gloating—all sorts of voices were endless.
F1 hadn't felt such a passionate atmosphere in a long, long time. As expected, the ultimate magic weapon of competitive sports is unpredictable suspense.
When Mercedes was far ahead in a league of its own, even though Mercedes fans celebrated collectively, other fans and casual viewers lost interest. But now, both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships were hanging in the balance, possibilities were wide open, the mainstream index skyrocketed, and massive traffic swept through social media. A scene of a hundred flowers blooming and a hundred schools of thought contending played out like a carnival.
For the teams and drivers, the pressure was mounting. The margin for error in F1 is already only a thousandth of a second, but now it seemed to be compressing and tightening even further. The slightest deviation could lead to vastly different results. They had to face it head-on with flesh and blood.
But for the casual observers, the third act climax of the great show that was the 2018 season was just beginning. F1 had seemingly never been so good to watch.
After the Mexican Grand Prix, the championship situation was plunged into chaos. Every point was worth its weight in gold, enough to alter the season's outcome.
In the Drivers' Championship, Hamilton was in first place with 331 points, followed closely by Kai with 321 points. The gap between the two drivers was only ten points.
Vettel was third with 250 points; Bottas fourth with 242 points.
Actually, saying it was unclear wasn't entirely true. It wasn't that hard to understand.
There were only two races left in the 2018 season: Brazil and Abu Dhabi. That was it. All drivers, including Vettel, had been eliminated from the championship fight. Even if Hamilton and Kai scored zero points in the remaining two races, and Vettel won both, it wouldn't matter.
The contenders for the season's Drivers' World Championship were down to the final two: "Hamilton vs. Kai."
This was a 100% surprise. At the start of the season, the head-to-head duel between the two four-time World Champions was undoubtedly the focus of all fans. But no one expected a baby driver, arriving halfway through, to crash the party, steal all the attention with destructive force, and stand proudly in the championship fight.
This scene inevitably brought to mind the 2007 season. At that time, rookie Hamilton and Ferrari's golden boy Raikkonen fought for the Drivers' World Championship until the very end. With two races left in the season, Hamilton still led by 17 points, just two steps away from making history as the first rookie to win the Drivers' World Championship in F1 history.
90% of the odds were on Hamilton's side. The paddock and beyond were ready to witness history, but reality played a cruel joke.
Raikkonen won both of the final two races, and combined with Hamilton's fatal rookie mistakes, the Finnish Iceman successfully secured his only Drivers' World Championship trophy.
That was also Ferrari's last championship win.
A full twelve years had passed. Like a cycle of the zodiac, Hamilton found himself in this position again, facing another Ferrari driver challenging for the Drivers' World Championship. But this time it was slightly different. Hamilton was aiming for his fifth championship, while the baby driver was looking to accomplish the feat Hamilton failed to achieve back then: winning the championship in his rookie season.
It must be said, fate is truly coincidental and mischievous.
So, who would have the last laugh this time?
There were still two races left in the season. The finishing order of each race could lead to vastly different results, and if someone retired, the championship suspense could end abruptly.
But this is F1. High risk, high excitement, rapidly changing. No one can control everything 100%. It's all about the thrill.
Moreover, the Drivers' World Championship wasn't the only suspense. Comparatively, the Constructors' World Championship was the real thriller—
Mercedes, 573 points.
Ferrari, 571 points.
A two-point gap, two races. It truly defined a hair's breadth. A difference of one position could decide the outcome of the 2018 season; a difference of one point could mean a difference of twenty million dollars.
Worth its weight in gold. Now they finally had an intuitive and real experience of that phrase. No wonder netizens were going crazy. Who would want to miss such excitement?
November 8th, Wednesday, Sunny.
São Paulo, Brazil. The F1 circus continued its southward journey from Mexico, stepping steadily toward the season finale.
The Brazilian Grand Prix has witnessed some unforgettable classic moments in F1 history, especially at the Interlagos Circuit. Located in the suburbs of São Paulo, it hosted the first Brazilian Grand Prix in 1973.
Later, for most of the 1980s, the Brazilian Grand Prix was held in the capital, Rio de Janeiro. In the 1990s, with the introduction of a shorter layout, the Brazilian Grand Prix returned to Interlagos.
This return witnessed the peak of local hero Ayrton Senna's career. In 1991, Senna won a famous, long-awaited first home victory here, igniting the passion of the local fans.
Two years later, Senna triumphed at home again, cementing his status as the God of Racing.
Throughout the 1990s, the Brazilian Grand Prix was held early in the season, in the spring. In 2004, this race was moved from the beginning to the end of the calendar, which had symbolic significance. Several annual World Championships were subsequently decided here.
The most unforgettable decisive moment was in 2008.
Brazilian driver Felipe Massa won the race and had seemingly locked up the World Championship. But Lewis Hamilton refused to repeat the mistakes of the 2007 season. In the final corner, he completed an overtake, moving from sixth to fifth, ultimately beating Massa by a single point to win his first Drivers' World Championship title.
And Massa... never got another chance to touch the World Championship. The tragic runner-up finish of the 2008 season remained his best result.
As was the case that day, rain can always bring unexpected situations to the races at Interlagos. The word "Interlagos" itself means "between lakes," named because the circuit is located between two reservoirs. Therefore, the variable of rain can never be ignored.
However, even in dry weather, this track still delivers many exciting wheel-to-wheel battles.
More than one driver has described the Interlagos circuit as "tight and twisty." Add in the track's elevation changes, the bumpy surface, and poor track conditions that can almost rattle a driver's bones apart, along with the fanatic fans densely packing the main grandstand, it creates an illusion of claustrophobia—
Even though it's an open space, it feels like being trapped in a confined room, just like the Singapore circuit.
In fact, racing conditions at Interlagos do bring Singapore to mind.
When the weather is clear, it's hot, humid, and stifling, taking a massive physical toll. Unpredictable weather can become a spoiler at any moment. At the same time, the track itself is like a fast, thrilling rollercoaster. Corners come one after another, leaving very little margin for error. A moment of inattention can ruin a driver's entire race.
Moreover, what makes Interlagos even more challenging than Singapore is that overtaking opportunities are everywhere—
Turn 1, Turn 4, Turn 8, Turn 12.
Every corner of the track can become a place for attack and defense. Drivers not only need to wrestle with the track and their cars but must also constantly watch out for attacks from their rivals. Without the natural protection of Singapore's city streets, everyone is exposed to danger.
From both a physical and mental perspective, this is truly an exhausting circuit.
Furthermore, the Interlagos circuit poses a severe test to car performance.
Over the years, the track has undergone three major renovations, noticeably improving the surface conditions. But despite being a dedicated circuit, Interlagos remains as bumpy and jarring as a city street. For the sensitivity level of a Formula car, it's almost like racing across the African savanna.
Additionally, this is a high-downforce circuit. The key lies in aerodynamic grip for the medium and high-speed corners, while the relatively slower low-speed corners rely on mechanical grip provided by the tires.
Therefore, how to set up the car and find a balance that adapts to the driver's individual ability under different extreme conditions will dictate the flow of the race.
For the drivers, this is a test and a challenge. But for the spectators, it's a treat, an absolute guarantee of witnessing exciting duels.
Especially this year, with both the Constructors' and Drivers' World Championships undecided, the Interlagos circuit might once again become a witness to legend. F1 fans across Brazil were in a frenzy. It seemed everyone was turning out, swarming toward Interlagos.
A sea of people, rubbing shoulders—
Although Kai had experienced many big scenes this year—Shanghai, Silverstone, and Monza—being surrounded by this sea of blue and green, he still couldn't help but marvel.
"...So many people."
Beside him, Gasly immediately couldn't help but interject, "Haven't you seen the really big scenes?"
Gasly was referring to the Red Sea at Monza, but Kai thought he meant the Spring Festival travel rush (Chunyun) in China.
Indeed, compared to the Spring Festival travel rush, this was still child's play, lacking any comparability. But the nature was different. "Do you see the fanaticism on their faces?"
Samba, passionate dancing, people wearing feather headdresses and flamboyant costumes, beating drums and singing in the streets could be seen everywhere. It was overwhelming.
"Truly the kingdom of football," Kai couldn't help but remark. Today was only Wednesday, the teams' first day arriving at the track, but a grand carnival had already begun.
It wasn't just football. The fanaticism for competitive sports ran deep in their bones. Singing loudly, dancing wildly, enjoying to the fullest, using their vitality to release life's energy. Relying merely on their bodies, they could ignite the air, rivaling the mechanical roar of the paddock, creating an earth-shattering wave that covered the entire venue.
Such a scene truly hadn't been seen at other circuits in other cities. A boundless sea of people blocked the paddock entrance; they had to practically climb over mountains of people just to get in.
Gasly was already getting restless, his shoulders twitching to the beat of the drums. One look, and you knew he had experienced some wild nights in clubs.
Just then, a graceful woman in a long black dress approached, swaying her body, showing off her curves. The hem of her dress danced with her steps. The high slit of the skirt reached almost to her waist, and her subtly visible curves firmly caught their eyes amidst the fluttering black fabric.
She approached slowly, stepping to the rhythm of flamenco.
As she got closer, they noticed she was holding castanets. Her elegant dance steps blossomed in rhythm, expressive and full of charm.
Gasly smoothly followed her curves, showing restraint and gentlemanly behavior by raising his hands to dance a short number with her. Then the woman turned and approached Leclerc.
Leclerc looked slightly shy and reserved, but he still politely swayed along. However, his stiff, clumsy steps, like an old man climbing stairs, made Gasly burst into merciless laughter. Even Leclerc himself lowered his head and laughed in shame, turning and fleeing in embarrassment.
Then, the woman in the black dress twirled and slowly approached Kai with unhurried steps.
One step, another step—Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Gasly clapped the beat and cheered from the side. Leclerc stood not far away, watching the scene, laughing so hard he could barely stand straight.
The woman in the black dress spun around, her skirt flying, her eyes sparkling. A brilliant smile bloomed in the sunlight as her back pressed up against him, a beauty inviting him to dance.
But Kai vaguely sensed something was wrong. A slight pulling sensation came from behind him. Instinctively, purely by reflex, ignoring the dazzling smile before him, he reached down and grabbed with a grappling hold.
He accurately caught a "third hand" reaching out from behind.
A pickpocket!
~~----------------------
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