[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 119
“Long time no see, Logan?”
“Se-, senior?”
Just as Logan, who had just woken up and was tidying his messy hair, rushed out with bare feet, he greeted her with fidgeting toes.
Like most engineers of all ages and nationalities. Shin Juhyun was also an idol to Logan, the head engineer in charge of the technology department at F1 Ferrari.
More than a decade ago, Logan had witnessed firsthand the impact of several results that began with her genius ideas, as she had worked as an engineer for Ferrari. Thus, the name Shin Juhyun held a more special meaning.
To him, Shin Juhyun was a senior engineer, an idol, a star, and a dream.
So, the current situation was that of a star that he could never reach, suddenly appearing at his doorstep while he was awake.
It was as absurd as the sky touching the ground or mixing water with oil.
Logan, who had reigned as a king in the laboratory, truly bowed his waist for the first time in a while.
If Logan was a king, she was an emperor. And she was Korean. As a form of maximum respect, he greeted her in a Korean manner.
“How did you come here without any notice? You could at least have given me a hint… I would have gone to pick you up at the airport.”
“It’s fine, it’s not like a great person is coming. It would just bother the staff for no reason.”
“Still, it’s none other than senior Shin Juhyun…”
Logan was at a loss for what to do. It was true that Shin Juhyun was not someone who should receive such treatment. The reason Ferrari had grown this much was largely due to the overwhelming results in F1, all of which could be said to have been created by her.
Every year, she had invented remarkable technologies and applied them perfectly. While it couldn’t be said that it was entirely her achievement, since it was a team sport, when considering the share of contributions, it would be undeniable that she was the major shareholder. Even Michael Schumacher, who was called the emperor of his time.
Such was she. It had been quite some time since she retired and left Ferrari, but her influence from that time had not faded; she was a living legend. If the chairman of Ferrari knew she had come, he would likely wake up in the middle of the night to go greet her.
It wouldn’t be surprising if a feast were held in her honor.
Knowing this, Shin Juhyun purposely did not officially announce her visit to Italy. She had simply contacted a former colleague with whom she shared a friendship.
Only Logan and her former colleague and Jihyun Lee knew that she had come.
The legendary figure of Ferrari, who was acknowledged by engineers as a master, Shin Juhyun, waved her hand and handed something to Logan.
“This is good for your health. I drink a pack of this every morning. I brought it for you since you seem to be struggling these days.”
“This again… Thank you, senior.”
What she had handed him was none other than deer antler velvet, a tonic made from deer velvet. Logan, who had received it before, accepted the velvet box with care.
After turning on the light by feeling along the wall, Logan organized the box and seated her in the honor seat. However, Shin Juhyun politely declined and sat in a different spot.
The seat was one for the current head of the Ferrari technology team, and she believed she had no right to sit there after her retirement.
However, it was not appropriate for Logan to occupy the honor seat with the senior there, so he sat directly across from her, ending a long negotiation.
“So, what brings you here? I’m glad to see you after so long… but I heard you completely retired.”
After a few exchanges of greetings, Logan took the liberty of directly getting to the point. He had a strong intuition that she had a clear reason for visiting.
He also wanted to hear what that reason was directly from her.
He wanted to quickly confirm that the oasis that was Shin Juhyun in the desert was not a mirage.
“There is no such thing as eternal retirement. If I’m needed, I can return at any time.”
A response close to positivity. However, not yet. He couldn’t relax until he received a definite answer.
Logan swallowed hard and asked, “Does that mean…”
“Yes, that’s right. A few years ago, it seemed I was unnecessary, but not anymore. I’m also concerned about my team that holds my entire life.”
“I only feel sorry for you, senior.”
A complex array of emotions rose on Shin Juhyun’s face, which was slightly smiling.
Ferrari was, before being a company, a part of her life where she had spent her golden years. It was something filled with precious memories that had risen along with her and shared the glory.
Now, as the team faced collapse after collapse, nearly on the brink of a complete member replacement, she could not remain inactive.
Like Logan had, Shin Juhyun took the risk of being rude and expressed what she had been holding back.
“Is there an extra room? I’m sorry, but please prepare a place for me in the accommodation, Logan. Is that alright?”
An impolite request to accept back a retiree who had walked away on her own.
However…
“Senior, you know there are plenty of rooms… you prefer the first floor, right?”
Ferrari, which had flourished in an era, was Shin Juhyun and Shin Juhyun was Ferrari; who would dare to say it was rude to her?
Shin Juhyun nodded and took a deep breath.
“Long time no see, Ferrari.”
The past Ferrari was greeting the present Ferrari.
*
*
*
A day, two days, three days, four days… Since the first weekday and the day Jihyun arrived. Time flowed mercilessly. Why does time seem to pass more quickly when you’re in a rush? It felt like the speed at which one day passed was accelerating with each passing day.
The director, drivers, engineers, mechanics, and everyone burned their bodies and minds, striving to use their time as densely as possible. A prime example of this was the existence of a shabby temporary sleeping area that could barely be called a guardroom.
It was a space merely separated by a single panel.
Since I lacked knowledge of engineering, I thought I would never sleep there.
“Let’s sleep here together tonight, Hyun-a! It’s more cozy than I expected, here.”
“Do we really have to sleep here? I have work to do at the accommodation…”
“Ah, seriously! Looking back, this will all be a memory. Just trust what this older sister says.”
There had been a few times when I had been forced to use it because of Jihyun being involved in Enrique and Won-jin’s suspension project.
Sleeping there turned out to be quite uncomfortable. It was as if I wasn’t sure if I was being told to sleep or not. Light leaked in from all sides, and the irregular sounds that pierced my eardrums made separating sleep impossible.
I wondered who could possibly fall asleep here.
Looking around, it seemed that the only one unable to sleep was me. Everyone else was deep in slumber, snoring away.
How on earth was this possible? Did they all get hit on the back of the head with a piece of lumber?
“Jihyun, this place is weird…”
As I turned to Jihyun to discuss these bizarre people, I found Jihyun was also participating in this strange parade. No, it would be more accurate to say she was leading it.
Her pose while asleep looked more comfortable than anyone else there. Her legs were sprawled out in a great “V” shape, and her hands were very free, resting on her stomach, hugging me, and even raising them in celebration…
In other words, there was no communication happening at all.
Since everyone else was sleeping soundly except me, I started to wonder if I was the abnormal one, and deciding to just close my eyes and try to sleep again.
Oh! Maybe it was the placebo effect? Strangely enough, as I made up my mind to sleep, my dozing seemed to gradually turn into actual sleep…
Not a chance.
Bang! Clank! Rattle! Whirr!
As my vision faded to darkness, the sounds of machinery became clearer. Because of that, my consciousness only became sharper.
Determined that I definitely couldn’t sleep, I suffered through three long hours before finally dragging my exhausted body into the accommodation to sleep. The next day, when I met Jihyun, I shared my grievances.
“How on earth did you sleep there? It was bright and noisy. I couldn’t sleep at all!”
Her response to my mystery from last night was shocking.
“What? If it’s too bright, you can wear an eye mask, and if it’s noisy, you can put in earplugs. Didn’t you use those?”
“Huh? What eye mask? What earplugs?”
Jihyun, what are you talking about? An eye mask? Earplugs?
“…Did I not give you an eye mask and earplugs?”
“….”
“….”
“You…”
“I’m sorry…”
That day, I did all my exercise for the day by chasing after Jihyun, who was fleeing.
Several days passed.
The long-awaited news came from Enrique, Won-jin, and Jihyun Lee.
“Driver Yooihyun, the suspension system design is complete. Come and take a look.”
“Hyun-noona! It’s done! The hybrid suspension is complete!”
“Hey! Yooihyun! I finished my first project! Come see it right away!”
As usual, while I was diligently training at the gym, the varied high and low voices were ringing alarms.
Thanks to that, I had to sneak out of the gym to escape the gazes of others.
“This is it!”
In the hurriedly dragged into the laboratory, there was a complicated but neatly drawn design and methodology that, while I didn’t fully understand, seemed to be functioning perfectly. The organic operation method and stages were impressive even to me, who didn’t know much.
I wondered who had called me; Leclerc was already standing next to me, nodding along with the design.
“This is the final version. We’re going to implant this into the race car main command to control the suspension.”
Enrique explained confidently. Their words meant that only practical application remained.
“Then should we test it right now?”
Then they should do it right away.
I had waited long enough.