[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 117

“Logout.”

[Ending session.]

Having achieved today’s goal, I disconnected without looking back. While raising my ranking and maintaining my skills was important, right now, the priority was the matter at hand concerning Mr. Yooihyun.

Understanding the direction and characteristics that would completely transform Ferrari’s race car with various projects was necessary. I had to research or study what was required of the driver. The amount of exercise needed to increase in intensity or frequency compared to when I was in Korea. Although there was a strength-assist suit, with my current body, I couldn’t guarantee my own race sustainability.

I felt like I needed to change myself first before changing the tires, as my physical condition was lacking.

Additionally, there was a set routine assigned to the driver at Ferrari. Activities such as exercise, driving, research and development, and participation in various events formed a model guideline for spending the day.

Thanks to Minoto, who valued the increased efficiency that comes from autonomy, there was no strict need to follow the schedule. However, the timetable contained only the essentials, representing a rigorous and meaningful efficiency to spend the day. Once I actually tried living by it, I often found myself giving up before even completing a day.

That’s probably why most people cannot stick to their schedules. Living that way is just too exhausting.

“Still, it’s not enough.”

However, at this moment, I felt that even this grueling schedule of Ferrari was insufficient. I couldn’t even imagine the end of the road.

Perhaps, even if I were to rearrange my schedule by my own free will, I wouldn’t stray far from that framework. I was planning to follow the schedule but use my time flexibly as needed.

Having changed into workout clothes, I packed my change of clothes and headed outside. As I waved to the staff who recognized me while heading to the gym, I could see the still-busy laboratory through the window frames.

The laboratory, running 24 hours, was both a research center and an accommodation in itself. True to the engineers who value efficiency, they considered it a waste of time to move to their accommodations and named the shabby little space they made in a corner of the lab as the “night watchroom.”

As the saying goes, it must be true since that’s how they feel.

Even now, many engineers and mechanics, beaten down by work, were trying to sleep in the self-proclaimed night watchroom that barely concealed the bright lights.

A fine beam of light, like silk thread, squeezed through the panels, diluting the darkness and filling the laboratory to the brim, leaving no place else to go. Despite the relentless noise of tools clashing and machines running mercilessly pounding in on the night watchroom.

These people, filled with tireless passion, seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep. It was an environment where one would think sleep would be impossible, yet sleeping in it was proof that fatigue had accumulated to the point where such distractions couldn’t wake them.

“Engineers and mechanics have it tough.”

Though I had often witnessed it in my past life, nothing had changed even after ten years in 31.

Seeing them sleeping in such conditions, instead of in nice accommodations, made my heart ache. It was not a feeling of sympathy or pity but a sense of sorrow that stemmed from empathy.

I, too, had experienced sleeping in such a space, so I knew well. When I woke up, my body felt unexpectedly comfortable, but my heart felt extremely uncomfortable. It was a time of deep contemplation and reflection about the basic human rights that made me question if I had to live like this… It would dawn on me the moment I opened my eyes.

Still, because I loved my work, I could endure like that. When I saw the race car being gradually upgraded to perform better, it filled me with pride.

It was still an area I couldn’t understand, but during my time at Ferrari, to borrow the words of a colleague engineer who had children, it was as if “this race car is my first child.” There was no need to elaborate on how great the sense of achievement and affection towards work was.

Having withdrawn my worrying hand from them, I hurried my steps.

Who was worried about whom? I was too busy with my own tasks.

“Let’s go, quickly.”

I was the bud that would blossom into the fruits of their efforts. At the end of the long straw that they had desperately reached for, it was my responsibility to beautifully bloom as a flower filled with all hope and expectations.

The blooming was not simply something that came as time passed. It was about tugging time with a tenacious hand to meet the most beautiful moment.

The bud was blooming.

*

*

*

“Wow, this is Ferrari’s headquarters…”

Having run and run, I sent a silent thank you to the car that transported us to Ferrari’s headquarters and, as I stepped out of the car, witnessed the grandeur of the headquarters building and the expansive grounds, I even forgot about the existence of the car.

The red color, which is the symbol of Ferrari, wrapped the entire building with an elegant and glossy finish, exuding luxury. A color that could easily seem gaudy if used carelessly.

Perhaps because Ferrari’s red embodies the image of a powerful engine and furnace that could burn anything, it felt purely positive.

Surrounding it were well-crafted walking paths and gardens formed in regular patterns. If seen from above, it would surely look like a geometric pattern or some kind of design. The varieties of flowers peeking out and the vibrant green trees lifted my spirits just by looking.

“It feels like coming to an amusement park… Is that the headquarters building?”

Admiring the tall building, Mr. Myung-jin explained with a subtly proud expression.

“That’s right. This building houses the overall departments concerning Ferrari’s corporate operations. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yes, really…”

It truly was beautiful. I felt that I could devote my entire life if I could work in a place like this.

When I expressed such feelings, Mr. Myung-jin chuckled and said, “That might last a day or two, but after a week, you’ll get tired of it. As for the red color, it will become tiresome, you know? That’s why I don’t really pay attention to traffic lights.”

“Oh come on, no way.”

Lies. In this fantasy-like land that seemed straight out of a fairytale, how could I possibly get bored while doing what I wanted to do?

I might lose interest eventually, but at least for now, I felt like I wouldn’t get tired of it no matter how much time passed.

“This is where Ji-hyun will stay for the next year. It’s a single room, and the door can be opened with your registered employee ID on the application…”

After entering Ferrari, the first place Mr. Myung-jin took me to was my accommodation. I was already stressed over the cumbersome suitcase, and just wanted to throw it somewhere, so this worked out perfectly.

I shoved the suitcase, which I had been carrying around with difficulty, into an unseen corner.

True to being a large corporation, no, a global corporation, Ferrari’s accommodation was very luxurious for what it was. It had everything one could need, and anything lacking could be ordered, with the company welfare covering most of it. It couldn’t be more reliable.

I’m sorry, Mom and Dad… But it’s better than home! They said they’d get me anything I want. How about committing the outrageous act of buying a whole box of chocolate milk!

While planning such a huge indulgence that could easily be called a crime, Mr. Myung-jin, who had taken my smartphone, returned it to me and said.

“Everything is ready. This is your temporary employee ID. Your ID is LJH0001 and the password is 0000. It’s the initial setup, so you can change it to something convenient later. From now on, you just have to swipe this for entering the accommodations, restaurant, or lab.”

“Oh, the employee ID…”

On the smartphone’s home screen was a real employee ID prominently displaying my photo along with the name Ferrari.

Although it was a temporary ID, I shouted in my heart at the dreamlike achievement I had reached at the young age of nineteen. While I maintained my composure on the outside, if it were only me here, I would have cried out in joy.

Having waited for me to relish my happiness, Mr. Myung-jin, as if this was nothing, proclaimed that the real one hadn’t even been seen yet. He spoke with a noted authority.

“Next, we’ll move to the F1 research institute.”

The F1 research institute. A repository of advanced technology concentrated with the essence of mechanical engineering. Perhaps a reunion place where Hyun might be waiting for me.

It was waiting for me.

The noisy interior of the research institute.

In the distance, between a foreign man of an unknown nationality and a boy who was clearly Korean, I saw her familiar face. “Familiar” didn’t even do justice; “family” was a more appropriate word for her.

She was still the same here.

With delicate features that could make anyone feel small standing next to her, her long black hair glimmering under the light. Even her slender figure seemed fitting for a driver. Nothing about her had changed from head to toe, and she appeared so absorbed in her work that she didn’t even notice I had arrived.

“This is the department researching air ducts…”

I’m sorry, but Mr. Myung-jin’s kind explanation didn’t penetrate my ears at all. His gentle voice faded into the background, becoming a warm backdrop for our reunion, flowing like the BGM of a movie.

In an instant, the surroundings quieted, and my vision blurred, zeroing in on her, lost in her work.

Without realizing it, my steps towards her began like a curious adventurer approaching the truth. Slowly, very slowly, I increased my pace.

One step, two steps, three steps… At the end of those steps.

Finally, there she was.

“I’m back.”

She looked up. That face I had longed to see now finally acknowledged me.

“…Hyun-a.”

Yooihyun. At the end of the fixed gaze, my reflection appeared in Hyun’s eyes.

Suddenly, I felt something warm streaming down my cheek.

I still wasn’t quite an adult yet. You seem so calm…

What should I say? I pulled out a single phrase from the emotions I had bottled up inside and delivered it to her.

“I missed you.”

A lot.