Chapter 4 The Racing Queen

Matthew wore a somber expression, wanting to leave but feeling reluctant since he couldn't spot Clara. At that moment, Lillian ran up to him, saying, "Matthew, I'm confident I can break Eris's three-year-old record this time." Her voice was soft, and her eyes held a hint of shyness. Matthew glanced at her and nodded without speaking. Lillian felt a surge of sweetness, like honey, at Matthew's attention. Finally, he was looking at her properly. She hurried backstage to change into her racing outfit. On the track, the cars lined up, with one particularly eye-catching purple-painted car drawing everyone's attention. The race commentator, upon seeing the car, was momentarily stunned before speaking into the microphone excitedly. "Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we're all captivated by this purple race car. It is said to be the legendary Eris's car, making its first appearance in three years." As soon as he finished speaking, the audience erupted in excitement. Racing Queen Eris was a mythical figure who had never lost a race she entered. But three years ago, she had suddenly retired and disappeared from the public eye, along with her beloved car. "Purple Angel? Is it really Purple Angel? Could Eris be here?" "That's impossible. She retired three years ago. Why would she suddenly race again?" "But if it's not her, who else could handle the Purple Angel?" To the fans, the Purple Angel was synonymous with Eris. No one else could drive it. Eris's fans were ecstatic, believing their racing queen was finally back. They waited eagerly for the race to start, knowing one lap would reveal if it was truly her. Matthew had searched outside for a long time but couldn't find Clara. Frustrated, he rubbed his temples and was about to leave when he heard the announcement that Racing Queen Eris was competing. Matthew was usually indifferent to such events, but the return of the racing queen who had retired for three years piqued his interest. He wanted to see who this legendary racer was. After a moment of thought, he sat in the stands, waiting for the race to begin while still scanning the crowd for Clara. Soon, the race started. Lillian shot out first, her pink car speeding like an arrow. The Purple Angel started in third place, moving steadily. Clara sat inside, reacquainting herself with the car she hadn't touched in three years. It had been three years, but she finally felt the familiar connection with the car. At the first corner, Lillian executed a beautiful drift, causing the crowd to scream in excitement. The Purple Angel took the corner in a regular manner, without any flashy techniques. Eris's fans in the stands were disappointed, beginning to doubt that their racing queen was behind the wheel. At the second corner, the Purple Angel continued in the same unremarkable manner, using no special techniques. "What's this? At this level, driving Eris's car is an embarrassment," one fan exclaimed, clearly dissatisfied with the Purple Angel's performance. "I'm betting on the pink car this time. Looks like the racing queen is about to be dethroned." "Yeah, I feel the same way." Clara couldn't hear the audience's comments. All she could hear was the roaring of the engine. She floored the gas pedal, and the car roared like a beast. Lillian was extremely nervous, thinking silently that as long as she didn't make any mistakes this lap, the championship would be hers. Just as she believed she had first place secured, the Purple Angel suddenly caught up, startling her. She quickly tried to relax, convincing herself that the driver couldn't be Eris herself. Gritting her teeth, she planned another drift to shake off the Purple Angel. Unfortunately for her, Clara gave no such opportunity. Clara slammed the gas pedal, and the car let out a beastly roar, drifting past in an instant. Lillian, sitting in her car, was momentarily stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened. How did the Purple Angel get ahead of her? The audience was equally stunned, holding their breath. The commentator's voice was filled with indescribable excitement. Just when it seemed the Purple Angel would crash into the bend, causing everyone to hold their breath, the car suddenly executed a sharp drift. The wheels spun rapidly, kicking up a cloud of dust as the car sped forward like lightning. The crowd erupted in cheers and screams, the noise deafening. "It's Eris!" "The queen is back!" Daniel's heart pounded, and he took a deep breath, trying to keep up. If Clara pulled off two more maneuvers like that, he was sure he'd have a heart attack. Matthew's heart raced as well. He realized he had never felt this tense before. With the Purple Angel in the lead, it was clear that victory was imminent.