Chapter Text
Lan Wangji doesn’t sleep a wink. He’s never been nervous for a race before. He trusts his brother’s strategy and he trusts his own skill as a driver, but the idea that Wei Wuxian will humiliate him with the consequence of their bet if he loses makes his head spin.
He stops trying to sleep around 4 a.m., climbing out of bed and going to take a shower, even though he knows he’ll just need another one later. When he looks in the bathroom mirror, he notices that there are heavy bags under his eyes. He clenches his fists, disappointed in himself. How could he let a competitor affect him so deeply? Even a cold refreshing shower can’t wash Wei Wuxian’s face from his mind. By 5 a.m., he’s dressed and ready to go, and a knock at his comes at 5:30.
“Wangji, I brought you breakfast,” comes Lan Xichen’s voice through the door.
Lan Wangji opens the door for him. “Xiongzhang, good morning.”
Lan Xichen comes inside carrying a takeaway bag and a drink tray. “I thought we could eat together. It's been a while since we really talked with just the two of us, and you’ve been seeming more anxious lately, so I wanted to check on you.” He passes Lan Wangji a paper cup filled with tea from the drink tray
“I’m not anxious,” Lan Wangji lies. “Everything is fine.”
Lan Xichen sighs. “I know you’re upset that you lost pole position. Any driver would be. But starting first doesn’t equate to finishing first. It's important to remember that when you get discouraged.”
“I’m not discouraged.”
“Wei Wuxian is an intimidating rival,” Lan Xichen continues, ignoring his brother’s comment. “He’s quick on the straights. If you don’t get past him at turn one, he’ll gain ground.”
Lan Wangji opens his mouth, but Lan Xichen isn’t done speaking and cuts him off.
“However, Wei Wuxian is a reckless driver. He’s prone to mistakes like exceeding track limits and speeding in the pit lane that will get him penalties, especially when he’s put under pressure. I have no doubt you’ll be able to get ahead of him. The problem is staying ahead. He has a knack for overtaking.”
“I know that,” Lan Wangji says. Does his brother think he’s stupid?
“Of course you know,” Lan Xichen says. “But when you’re concerned or unsure, it's good to go over what you know. It makes everything else seem less daunting.”
Lan Wangji lowers his head. “I appreciate Xiongzhang’s guidance.”
Lan Xichen pats his shoulder. “There’s no need for that now. I want you to win just as much as you do.” He hands his younger brother a stemmed bun from the paper takeaway bag. “So eat up and do your best. I believe in you, Wangji.”
The Gusu team meeting is a blur for Lan Wangji. His lack of attentiveness isn’t too much of an issue, since the strategists are mostly focused on getting Su She into the points, but it does serve to make Lan Xichen even more worried about his younger brother’s mental state.
“Wangji,” he says as Lan Wangji is pulling on his helmet, getting ready to line up on the grid. “Relax.”
“I am,” Lan Wangji says.
Lan Xichen doesn’t have time to argue with him, so he goes back into the garage without another word.
Lan Wangji sneaks a look at the Yunmeng team’s garage. Wei Wuxian has his helmet on, so Lan Wangji can’t see his face, but his body language is relaxed as he talks to a member of his pit crew, like he doesn’t have a care in the world. Lan Wangji clenches his fists. Someone calls out to him to say that it’s time to line up on the grid, but Lan Wangji barely registers it.
The formation lap goes well though. No technical problems, which is more than can be said for the Qishan team. Wen Chao doesn’t even make it around the circuit, and is forced to retire before the race even starts. That cools Lan Wangji’s head a bit, reminds him that he knows what he’s doing. He’s familiar with the track and with the car. He won’t let Wei Wuxian psych him out with stupid mind games.
He grips the sides of the steering wheel and takes a deep breath as he stares up at the start lights, waiting for the first one to turn on. When it does, he grips his steering wheel tightly with gloved hands. His heart pounds loudly in his chest as he watches the second light turn on, then the third, the fourth, the fifth…
“It’s lights out, and away we go— Wei Wuxian immediately hugging that inside corner, effectively cutting off Lan Wangji, nearly pushing him off the track. No doubt Gusu isn’t happy about that, but Lan Wangji isn’t out of this race yet. We’ve barely started, there’s plenty of time for the tables to turn.
Behind them, Wen Xu and Jin Zixuan are battling for P3, Jiang Cheng has made up two positions, and— oh! Wen Chao and Su She have brushed against each other! Not quite a collision, but that’ll likely be a yellow flag. Right now it’s unclear what damage both of them have taken and if the track is clear…”
“Who?” Lan Wangji asks over the radio when he’s notified of the yellow flag. He glares at the back of Wei Wuxian’s car a he takes the second corner.
“Wen Cho and Su She,” Lan Xichen’s voice answers. “We’re assessing the damage, but Su She may have to retire. But don’t worry about that and keep your focus. You’re currently 1.06 seconds behind. Keep up the pace for now, and you can try to overtake when DRS is enabled.”
“…and the track is clear, but unfortunately Su She has had to retire. Wen Chao is on his way out of the pit after having his front wing replaced, but he’s lost valuable time. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji is only 1.03 seconds behind the Wei Wuxuan, who is fighting to hold onto P1…”
32 painfully uneventful laps later, Lan Wangji is still stuck in second.
“Wangji, you need to get within one second before we can use DRS,” Lan Xichen says over the radio as if Lan Wangji doesn’t already know that.
“He’s too quick on the straight,” Lan Wangji says simply, although it’s painful to admit. Wei Wuxian always accelerates out of reach before Lan Wangji can make it out of the turn.
“Just stay calm and look for an opportunity. There's still 21 laps to go.”
He has been looking for an opportunity. For 32 laps now. He wants to scream in frustration, but he says nothing.
“You’re quicker around turn 9. Try to catch him there.” Lan Xichen is trying to hide the desperation in his voice, but Lan Wangji can still hear it. He’s aware of the pressure. He’s Gusu’s only chance for points, meanwhile, Yunmeng is currently holding P1 and P4.
“Understood,” he tells his brother over the radio, looking at the back of Wei Wuxian’s stupid purple car. He’s tired of this view.
“…We’re now on lap 43 and Wei Wuxian is still in the lead with Lan Wangji close behind. This race is looking good for Yunmeng, Jiang Cheng is fighting with Nie Mingjue for P4, but that’s without factoring in his penalty for speeding in the pit lane some 15 laps back. Will he make another pit stop to serve the penalty, or will it have to be added at the end? Meanwhile, Jin Zixuan is a ways behind the two leaders, but he’s still pretty secure in P3 with a 9.2 second lead…”
“Box, Wangji. Box,” comes Lan Xichen’s voice over the radio.
Lan Wangji ignores him, gripping the steering wheel tighter.
“Wangji!” Lan Xichen says.
“What if Wei Ying doesn’t pit?” Lan Wangji says. The ‘then we’re screwed’ goes unsaid.
“Your tyres are worn down. You can’t keep this up much longer. If you don’t pit now, the gap will slowly but steadily get wider. Not to mention, Jin Zixuan is gaining on you.”
Lan Wangji takes a long shaky breath. “Understood,” he says, pulling into the pit lane as he comes up on it.
The pit crew makes good time, but Lan Wangji can’t help the feeling that it’s a waste. Wei Wuxian is slipping out of reach. He pulls out of the pit lane still a couple seconds ahead of Jin Zixuan, and immediately floors the gas, but Wei Wuxian is already out of sight.
It’s fine , he tells himself. There are still 9 laps left. He can catch up. Even if Wei Wuxian doesn’t make a second pit stop, Lan Wangji is on fresh tyres. He’ll be making better time.
“...There’s only one lap left in this race, but Lan Wangji is showing promise to take over first position as he’s gaining on Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian with one pit stop, Lan Wangji with two, we’ll see which strategy was the right call soon. Lan Wangji is closing the distance, just 3.6 seconds behind now going into turn 3. Wei Wuxian is holding onto his lead, but he’s struggling a bit on those worn tyres…
They’re approaching turn 16 now, and Lan Wangji is pulling up, trying to overtake, but Wei Wuxian just barely shuts him out, keeping P1 for now. We’re all on the edge of our seats to see how this will play out. They’ve just turned onto the final straightaway, Lan Wangji has pulled out next to Wei Wuxian as they race toward the finish. They’re nearly neck and neck now, this is going to be a photo finish, and… there’s the checkered flag! The winner is Wei Wuxian by just two-tenths of a second! What a race! Now here comes Jin Zixuan to take the last podium spot, then Nie Mingjue in 4th, and Jiang Cheng in 5th after serving that unfortunate penalty.”
“It’s okay,” Lan Xichen assures his brother once Lan Wangji has stepped out of the car. “We’ll do better next time. Don’t beat yourself up over it,” he says, even though they both know that those words will not stop Lan Wangji from beating himself up over it.
Two-tenths of a second. If he’d just been a little quicker… He stops himself before he can spiral. He knows there’s no point in going through what-if scenarios now. He ducks into the garage and heads to his driver’s room for just a moment of peace and quiet, mentally preparing himself to watch Wei Wuxian gloat.