[TS] Formula One Streamer - Chapter 47
Saaaah…!
As I caressed my cheek, the wind scattered, and the scenery faded into the background of my gaze.
On the street, I saw busy people moving around and street trees swaying cheerfully.
Buuuuuum…
“Leisure is nice…”
How long has it been since I’ve enjoyed such relaxed driving?
I was slowly moving forward, feeling the fierce yet low growl of the Mercedes Benz AMG GT R that Kang Ho-yun had given me.
Today’s driving was different in purpose from previous drives.
If my driving until now had aimed for victory, today the only goals were romance and leisure.
Thus, heading towards my destination, I was enjoying the leisure and romance, disengaging the autopilot, and literally enjoying driving firsthand.
-211 km left to the destination.
The destination is Yeongam Circuit.
If someone were to ask why I’m going to a circuit for a healing trip themed on leisure and romance, I wouldn’t have an answer.
However, unlike my world where F1 has withdrawn, this earth is enjoying a global popularity for F1 thanks to For One.
Thus, Korea’s Yeongam Circuit has also become a world tourist attraction, dramatically developing the surrounding area.
Yeongam Circuit, which has been re-highlighted due to For One, underwent a renovation with astronomical amounts of investment.
The track’s quality has improved, hundreds of lights have been installed on the track and stands for night races, and the traditional Korean style Gukbap Bridge has become even more grand, resembling a castle.
Is that all?
The race control center and paddock club, transformed with the motif of Gyeongbokgung, are worth visiting on their own, even outside of the circuit.
“Today, I’m stopping here!”
Yeongam Circuit, which has become a world tourist attraction? I can’t resist…
If you’re Korean, especially if you’re a Korean F1 driver.
You can’t help but visit Yeongam Circuit.
Since I had plenty of time and didn’t want to ride on the monotonous highway with the same scenery,
I drove along the winding national roads, like a thousand colorful fabrics, savoring the views each landscape provided.
When I got hungry, I entered anywhere to have a meal, and when drowsiness hit, I parked my car under any quiet shade and took a nap.
Thus, experiencing a life of leisure was overflowing with happiness.
“Should I just quit everything and live happily…?”
But then, when I arrived at my destination, Yeongam Circuit, with the beautiful night view flowing with stars and the moon in the background,
“F1 is happiness.”
I realized the life within me as a driver.
The parking lot was crowded with cars and people even at night.
People, whether friends, couples, or families with children, formed a huge crowd.
Is this really the rural Yeongam Circuit?
The splendid circuit’s exterior, along with the tall buildings and shops surrounding it, were magnificent enough to make one mistake it for the heart of Seoul.
It’s surprising that such a rural area can prosper purely because of the circuit’s existence. Seeing it with my own eyes, I once again marveled at For One’s influence.
Click!
Grrr…
I got out of the car and joined the crowd, walking around the circuit.
I pulled my hat down tightly, but there were so many people that I didn’t really need to hide.
Around the circuit entrance, there were stores selling goods from various F1 teams.
Naturally, Benz boasted an overwhelmingly long waiting line, clearly demonstrating the immense popularity of Hamilton and Verstaphin.
“Is it true that even if they get criticized, it’s still Hamilton and Verstaphin?”
Benz, sweeping the top two spots in the F1 competition, might be criticized for taking away the intensity of the race, but there’s no denying its popularity.
Champion Hamilton and the only rival capable of challenging him, Verstaphin, were both in the same team, Benz.
People were spending time at stores affiliated with their favorite team or driver, and scenes worth seeing alone were unfolding everywhere.
“Dad! Buy me a Benz uniform! Hamilton! Verstaphin!”
“No way. Other team uniforms are no good. There can’t be other team uniforms in a Tifosi household.”
“Waaah!!!”
The sight of a child bursting into tears in front of the Benz shop due to the firm opposition of a true Tifosi dad was not rare.
“This time, Red Bull will beat Benz and achieve the championship. Don’t you think so?”
“No, this time it’s McLaren. Red Bull fell to fourth after Verstaphin transferred. McLaren is third, now and before.”
“Bro, did you just insult our team?”
“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant…”
The subtle tug-of-war between couples rooting for different teams often turned into love quarrels.
Watching such human and relatable exchanges, I couldn’t help but smile with happiness.
How long has it been since I’ve had a leisurely perspective like this, and how long since I’ve smiled so purely?
Watching others’ happiness, their joy seemed far from my own, and I felt a sudden wave of sadness.
“Everyone is with their precious people.”
I was the only one alone among ‘us’ people.
Thus, it naturally made me ponder who my precious person is.
Who would be there when Jin Hyun-woo was around?
If I had to name the most valuable thing to me back then, I would answer without hesitation: myself or the race car.
If I were to choose among tangible things besides those two and abstract concepts…
It would probably be Enrique Tilko, the engineer from Spain who took care of me.
Tilko was a very capable engineer who understood engines and racing, tuning my race car and the entire race.
He was the engineer assigned to me when I achieved three consecutive championships since my debut, so what more explanation is needed?
We had spent nights discussing engines and circuits in our hotel rooms, and we were so close that we even walked the rainy track together to design races.
“He’s not here now, though…”
Yeah. The problem is that Tilko isn’t in this world.
So who is around now as Yooihyun?
If I try to list anyone I know, I couldn’t even fill both hands.
My friend Jihyun Lee, my senior Kang Ho-yun, his friend Park Ha-jin…
“Is that it?”
I wiggled my ring finger as if about to fold it to make it seem like there were more, but no matter how I thought about it, there just weren’t.
Besides, I’ve only met Park Ha-jin twice and haven’t talked much, so that’s hardly enough to count.
I might as well say that I know streamer Sre and speed racer Kim Woo-hyuk better.
Counting like this, I realized I’ve been living a rather miserable life.
But though my life as Jin Hyun-woo has ended, my life as Yooihyun has just begun.
It’s only been just over two weeks since I became this body, so I could say that my life as both Jin Hyun-woo and Yooihyun is in its early stage, like a developing fetus.
To be precise, it’s a fetal stage starting from nineteen… but regardless, I can say life has started anew.
“If I do well from now on, that’s all that matters.”
Regaining my spirits, I stopped when I reached the main gate of the circuit.
As expected, entrances are made grand; the entryway, built magnificently and splendidly with the concept of Gyeongbokgung, revealed itself.
This earth seems to have made great advancements in architectural engineering and design, as the wooden framework of Hanok and modern architectural style harmonized without a shred of awkwardness, exuding elegant beauty.
This place is a world that has developed so much in just ten years due to the reincarnation.
Even though I thought it was no different from the original earth, it had a remarkable ability to make me admire it unexpectedly.
Of course, this spot is the hottest photo spot, and many people were taking pictures or couple shots.
Since I believe that all I have left are photos, I raised my phone and took some pictures.
I took several shots to show my face, and while I’m used to others taking my photo, selfies felt completely different.
Most were asymmetrically cut off at body or entrance, horizontal lines mismatched, or expressions awkward.
Yet, the overwhelming beauty of Lee Hyun covered my poor photographic skills.
In this case, the grand entrance of Yeongam Circuit was nowhere to be seen, and only Yooihyun’s flawless visage was present.
Should I be sad about my terrible selfies, or should I rejoice in having a perfect face…?
While contemplating this, as I was about to enter the circuit, a group of boys approached me.
They all had similar outfits, making it seem like they had come from a school retreat or a field trip.
Most notably, their flushed, youthful faces confirmed they were students.
One of the boys came up to me and spoke.
“Ah, hello. I’m sorry, but could you take our picture? We want to all be in it, but there’s no one to take it for us…”
The boy politely offered his phone with both hands, bowing his head and not making eye contact with me.
Or rather, it might be more accurate to say he couldn’t.
After all, Yooihyun isn’t just an ordinary pretty girl.
Even I, who had lived as a man, knew that feeling well.
“Looks like you lost rock-paper-scissors. Let me have it, and I’ll take it for you.”
“Th-thank you!”
I gladly took the phone and started snapping pictures of them.
I took each shot with care so that the background showed well and all their faces were visible.
Click! Click!
The boys struck various poses with each shot, laughing and chatting amongst themselves.
Children of that age are just so adorably innocent in situations like this.
“We’re done! Thank you!”
“Thank you, miss!”
“Thanks, beautiful miss.”
After taking about ten pictures and browsing the gallery, I was in for a surprise.
Despite my full effort, the results were utterly disappointing.
I returned the phone to them with a somewhat awkward expression, but the response was surprisingly good.
It seems that boys tend to value the memories captured in photos more than how they themselves appear in them compared to girls.
They seemed genuinely pleased.
“Well, I’m off now.”
I left, receiving endless expressions of gratitude.
And yet, I fell into an immense sense of self-doubt and embarrassment.
Miss… Did I just call myself that?!
I shook my head vigorously, denying the biological gender of Yooihyun, finally regaining my composure.
Night racing had ended at Yeongam Circuit.
The race that day wasn’t F1 or Formula 1 racing; it was a super race conducted with regular modified cars, yet the stands were packed with people.
The reason was the audience event.
Among the spectators, volunteers were being selected to have the rare opportunity to race the circuit alongside a driver.
Although the virtual reality of For One is excellently made, driving the circuit in reality is another story.
“Should I give it a try…?”
The selection criteria were based on a draw, and with many applicants, the probability of winning was extremely low, so I filled out the application on the tablet with no expectations whatsoever.
If I win, great; if not, whatever.
But life teaches that if you expect something, it often doesn’t happen, and if you don’t expect it, it does.
The voice of the caster boomed through the speakers.
“The next winner is… Yooihyun!”
Oh? Is this really happening?