Chapter 283 You Saved Me at the Racetrack
Because of what Xavier said, Grace almost stalled at the start.
Grace hesitated before driving off, but Victor's car was already far ahead.
Last time, they played at a racing track, which was mainly a big circle, making it easy for spectators to watch.
This time was different; it was on a public road, an off-road track, and those obstacles were unfamiliar to Grace.
To ensure safety, Grace first aimed for stability. With Xavier beside her, she always felt extremely anxious.
After driving for a while, Grace started to speed up, determined not to lose and let Xavier serve Victor.
Victor wasn't driving fast and kept swaying in front of Grace, preventing her from overtaking him.
Xavier remarked, "Victor's driving style is flashy and showy, especially in difficult spots."
"Have you raced against him?" Grace asked.
"No," Xavier answered straightforwardly. "But that's just his personality; it's not hard to guess."
As Xavier had predicted, Victor took the opportunity to show off at the first corner. He deliberately drifted towards the outermost and widest curve, creating space for Grace to seize the moment and skillfully overtake him from the inside, capitalizing on the opening he unwittingly offered.
Caught off guard by Grace's successful overtaking, Victor quickly shifted gears and became serious about reclaiming his position.
Xavier really couldn't read people. Based on Victor's usual habits, he could predict his next move.
If this were applied to work, Xavier could completely predict someone's next move and win from the start.
Sometimes, Grace unintentionally learned a lot from Xavier.
Xavier said, "You can also sway your car a bit. Victor wants to overtake; don't give him the chance."
Grace nodded. "Okay!"
Victor had a passion for racing, and his driving skills ranked among the best in all of Skigeth. So soon, he swiftly found an opportunity to overtake Grace.
With Victor intensifying his efforts, it became increasingly challenging for Grace to find another opportunity to overtake him.
Isaac's car was also ahead but behind Victor, who was far in the lead.
As the signpost indicated the finish line was near, with the final stretch being downhill, it meant that Grace had this one last opportunity.
But Grace wasn't confident. She didn't have the overtaking skill Xavier used earlier; she couldn't do it.
"Sorry, but it looks like you'll have to serve Victor," Grace said softly.
Xavier said, "Do you always give up before the last moment?"
"Even though we haven't reached the finish line, the outcome is already decided, isn't it?" Grace said. She recognized that overtaking Victor was no longer within her grasp. Despite her best efforts to bridge the distance between them, she understood surpassing him was beyond her current capabilities.
Xavier said, "This doesn't sound like the Grace I know."
"What kind of Grace do you know?" Grace asked.
She had never discussed such things with Xavier before and was curious about how he saw her.
Xavier said, "I thought you never gave up until the last moment. Even if there was no hope, you would fight until the end. Isn't that how you were when you broke off your engagement? You knew there was no hope, but you always believed and persisted. Or is it that this is just a small bet, so you don't really care?"
"I... It's different. I do care." Grace didn't want to lose either, but sometimes she had to admit when she ws outmatched.
"It's just that it seems hopeless now." Grace saw that Victor was almost at the finish line.
Xavier said, "Do you know what it means to find hope in a desperate situation?"
Grace thought, 'Could there still be hope?'
Strangely, Xavier's voice gave her a sense of determination. She couldn't give up before the end. There might be still a chance.
Xavier said, "There are infinite possibilities in racing, and many ways to overtake. This slope isn't big, but it's enough for you to accelerate and save some speed."
He guided Grace, continuing, "You can give it more gas here. Then the car can fly a bit, and you might end up behind Isaac. The distance between Isaac and Victor isn't far, but they're on the left and right. To overtake, there's only one way: blade overtaking."
"But I've never done blade overtaking before." Grace was a bit worried.
Blade overtaking was when one wheel was on the ground, and the other was lifted, passing through the gap between the opponent's cars at an angle.
Because Isaac and Victor were close, she could only use this method to pass between them.
Xavier said, "Give it a try."
As her palms grew sweaty, Grace tightly gripped the steering wheel, fully entrusting herself to Xavier's instructions. In that moment, she sensed an uncanny connection between herself and the car, feeling as if they moved as a single entity.
There wasn't much distance left to the finish line. Victor looked at Isaac, who wasn't far behind, through the rearview mirror.
Grace hadn't overtaken him earlier, and now she had even less chance here.
Victor was already feeling smug; it seemed like the first place was his.
Actually, slowing down a bit to wait for Grace wouldn't be hard, but having Xavier serve him for a month was too tempting.
So Victor didn't slow down; instead, he sped up, preparing for the final sprint.
But just when he thought the first place was his, he suddenly saw the light beside him blocked for a second. He didn't even see what it was that flew past.
When Victor realized, the red car had already crossed the finish line.
He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe it—right before the finish line, he was actually overtaken by Grace!
Was it really Grace driving? Did she switch with Xavier midway?
When Grace reached the finish line, she couldn't believe how smoothly it went.
The overtaking maneuver was freaking her out.. Her palms were drenched in sweat, especially when the wheels lifted and the bike nearly stood upright. She felt as if she were airborne, squeezing past Victor's bike at such high speed, overtaking two bikes simultaneously.
"Well done." Xavier's voice came from beside her. It was rare to hear a compliment from him.
Grace was freaking out, while Xavier remained calm.
Grace asked, "Aren't you afraid my driving skills aren't good enough and something might go wrong?"
Xavier said, "There's nothing to be afraid of; life is full of surprises."
"No, wait," Grace suddenly thought of something. She looked at Xavier. "Didn't you say you don't know how to race?"
Xavier gave a faint smile. He unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door to get off.
Grace followed him out. "You lied to me!"
Xavier still didn't speak. Grace walked around to face him, "So last time at the racetrack, when my car lost control, it was you who risked danger to help me slow down, wasn't it? It was you, wasn't it? It had to be you!"
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