CYNTM CHAPTER 61

“Owen and Ciel’s contributions to Formula 1 are unmatched. Their driving skills have not only endured over a decade of intense competition but have also kept them consistently at the top. They are the true champions. Competing against them and witnessing their expertise firsthand is the only way to truly grow. The golden age is still here, even though there will inevitably come a day when the performance of race cars will overshadow the abilities of the drivers. There might even come a day when race cars won’t need drivers at all. However, until those days come, this remains an era of humans, not machines. I’m very grateful that Winston and I were born in this era, with ever-evolving technology and opponents who are worthy targets.”

Hunter’s voice flowed naturally, and his expression clearly conveyed his profound respect for Owen and Ciel, as well as his optimism for the future.

“So, may I invite your friend Winston to say a few words?”

“Huh?”

“He’s right there, and you’ve glanced in his direction several times,” Mr. Cacho quipped.

The audience in the front row finally noticed and began to turn their heads, a wave of murmurs spreading through the crowd.

Mr. Cacho stood up, “Winston, would you mind sharing a few words with us?”

At that moment, a staff member even brought a chair next to Hunter. Hunter started to feel nervous. This was an ambush, wasn’t it? This part wasn’t in the program script.

“Hunter, don’t worry, I wouldn’t let the show go off track after extending an invitation.” Mr. Cacho smiled to reassure Hunter. “Besides, according to our research, Formula 1 fans are most eager to see you and Winston being interviewed together.”

Winston rose from his seat in the audience and walked towards Mr. Cacho with poise and confidence.

The audience erupted in applause as Hunter looked up and saw Winston sit down beside him.

“Winston, I remember your interview was earlier this morning, yet you stayed to watch Hunter’s interview. I bet you wanted an interview with him, didn’t you?” Mr. Cacho said.

“Actually, I was just waiting for him to finish up so we could have dinner together.” Winston’s tone was the same as in previous interviews, but his answer surprised the audience.

It was hard to believe there was someone who could make Winston wait.

“So what convinced you to come up here?”

“Because if I didn’t, Mr. Cacho would spend more time persuading me, which would reduce the time Hunter had for his interview,” Winston replied.

“But as far as I know, in the F1 world, the only person Winston cares about and looks forward to seeing is Hunter, isn’t that right? May I ask, what are some of his qualities you find so appealing?” Mr. Cacho asked.

Hunter suddenly felt Winston’s hand clasp his own under the interview table.

Hey—you! This is an interview, you know!

Hunter tried to pull his hand away, but to his surprise, Winston interlaced their fingers and gently caressed them. Hunter seemed oblivious to Mr. Cacho’s question as he instinctively traced the contours of Winston’s hand, noticing their length, strength, and the way his joints moved.

“Appealing qualities? He’s very childish.” Winston’s voice snapped Hunter out of his daze.

“What’s the advantage of being childish?” Hunter asked, dissatisfied.

“Because he’s childish, he’s not good at hiding things. Even when it comes to who he likes, he couldn’t keep it a secret for long before telling me.”

As Winston finished speaking, Hunter’s face turned red. It was clear that the “person he likes” Winston referred to was himself. Is this guy being narcissistic or just plain smug!

Hunter angrily tried to pull his hand away again, but Winston’s fingers curled and gripped his hand tighter. Hunter didn’t dare use too much force, afraid of drawing attention. When he glanced at Winston, he saw the same calm, composed expression that made him the well-mannered gentleman the media praised. No one would have guessed what he was doing with Hunter’s fingers under the table!

“Anything else?” Mr. Cacho asked, clearly intrigued.

“He buys food without checking the expiration date, doesn’t know how to pack a suitcase, gets easily tricked…”

“Mr. Cacho asked you to list my advantages!” Hunter showed an unhappy expression.

Mr. Cacho wanted to laugh but held back. Meanwhile, Winston’s fingers slowly caressed Hunter’s pinky, stroking from the tip to the base.

Hunter’s heartbeat quickened, and he subconsciously shifted in his seat. It was so hot… He wanted to rip off his tie!

“See, that’s another of his advantages. No matter how serious or cautious everyone else is around me, he always does whatever he wants,” Winston answered.

That calm, slightly cold voice sounded especially sinister to Hunter. The audience burst into laughter. Winston turned to look at Hunter, who quickly lowered his head. Winston’s thumb slid between Hunter’s pinky and ring fingers, continuously teasing the hollow space between them as if trying to extend the gap. At that moment, Hunter remembered the terrifying part of Winston that almost thrust into him…

Taking a deep breath, Hunter moved his shoulders and tightened his fingers to block Winston’s intrusion. Winston seemed to notice and withdrew his fingers, intertwining them with Hunter’s instead.

“And what about you? Do you have anything you want to say to Winston?” Mr. Cacho turned to Hunter.

“I’ll definitely surpass you one day!” Hunter declared. “Whether on the racetrack or in other areas!”

“Oh. Besides the racetrack, where else?” Winston asked calmly.

“In…” Hunter was stunned.

Nonsense! He already knew! Evil!

“In every way!”

“He admires me a lot. That can be considered an advantage,” Winston said, making Mr. Cacho laugh again.

“I admire you?” Hunter’s expression was like a lion cub with his fur all puffed up.

“Yes, wanting to surpass you in every way is indeed a sign of admiration,” Mr. Cacho said, adding fuel to the fire.

The audience laughed and applauded. Throughout the rest of the interview, Winston continued to hold Hunter’s hand. His grip wasn’t too tight, but Hunter didn’t dare pull away.

“The next race is in Singapore. I hope you both achieve good results.”

“Thanks.”

“Thank you!”

As they stood up to shake hands with Mr. Cacho, Winston finally released Hunter’s hand. Hunter sighed in relief but also started to miss the feeling of Winston holding his hand.

When they left the studio, Hunter unconsciously used his fingers to adjust his tie. Ever since Winston had walked up on stage, he had felt hot. This guy was always by his side, and his presence was extremely strong.

“How could you hold my hand there!” Hunter asked in a low, dissatisfied voice.

“Besides there, where else could I hold your hand without you pulling away?” Winston asked.

His matter-of-fact tone left Hunter speechless once again.

“What do you want to eat?” Winston asked.

Hunter originally intended to say, “Nothing,” but the words didn’t come out. Saying that in front of Winston would seem childish.

“A beef burger. I heard they’re delicious here!” Mentioning food brightened Hunter’s mood.

Ugh, it’s not like it’s a big deal; he just held my hand. It’s not like I didn’t enjoy it. In fact, maybe I even came out on top here?

Hunter squinted at Winston. “Are you smiling?”

“No.”

“Yes… you definitely are!”

“Alright, I am.”

Such a perfunctory answer, but strangely, it made Hunter inexplicably happy.

The two walked side by side down the street. Ever since learning that Winston had feelings for him, Hunter felt embarrassed and kept a slight distance between them.

Suddenly, Winston raised his hand and draped his arm around Hunter’s shoulder, pulling him closer. “Aside from what Owen taught you, haven’t you figured out a way to seduce me on your own?”

“I have… but it’s childish. I’m not as good at acting as you are… it wouldn’t work…” Hunter turned his face away, seemingly blushing again.

“Then try it now.” Winston leaned in close and also turned his face, so their noses were almost touching.

Such intimate behavior naturally attracted the attention of passersby. There were still many F1 fans in the area who hadn’t left yet, and if they saw this, it would be really embarrassing!

“You won’t find it seductive because it’s really childish.” Hunter looked down.

“Give it a try,” Winston seemed to say in a coaxing tone.

“Forget it!” Hunter circled around to evade Winston.

Winston said nothing and continued walking alongside Hunter. As they passed a utility pole, Hunter tapped his finger against it and exclaimed, “Ouch!”

“What’s wrong?” Winston saw Hunter frowning and quickly grabbed Hunter’s hand to inspect it. Luckily, he wasn’t hurt.

“Do you see anything in my hand?” Hunter asked seriously.

Winston examined it carefully, probably thinking Hunter had been pricked by something.

“Nothing.”

At that moment, Hunter suddenly flipped his hand and grabbed Winston’s finger. “You’re there! I caught you!”

Winston’s fingers trembled slightly as he looked up at Hunter. But Hunter blushed and turned away. “See… it’s childish… How could it seduce you…”

The next second, Hunter felt something warm press firmly against his lips. He lifted his head and saw Winston kissing him three or four times in succession. Hunter was kissed so much that he took a few steps back.

Winston leaned in for a kiss, licking and sucking. Although he was clearly holding back, the intensity made Hunter’s tongue quickly go numb. Winston held him tightly by the waist and backed Hunter into the shadow of a corner cafe’s awning, where the kiss became even more passionate.

As Winston embraced him, Hunter could almost hear the strong beating of Winston’s heart.

“Not childish at all.”

Hunter’s heart beat faster and faster.

Winston held Hunter for nearly half a minute before letting go, prompted by the loud growling of Hunter’s stomach. Winston laughed, “Even your hungry stomach seduces me.”

“Hey! Don’t go too far!” Hunter thought Winston’s smile was incredibly beautiful.

The two of them headed to a burger joint not far from the press center. As soon as they walked in, they saw Owen sitting by the window with Ciel across from him. Owen was resting his chin on his hand while talking on the phone, repeatedly picking up and putting down the burger in front of him. Across from him, Ciel had an impatient look on his face. Suddenly, Ciel snatched Owen’s phone away and shoved the burger into Owen’s mouth.

Hunter watched by the window for a moment, then patted Winston’s back, saying, “I find it so strange! Owen and Ciel clearly don’t get along, but they seem to have a great relationship? This is the second time I’ve seen them eat together since the last time at the pizza place!”

“That’s because the person who understands Owen best is Ciel. Their time competing together won’t last much longer.”

Winston’s answer made Hunter suddenly feel melancholic. Rumors of Owen and Ciel’s retirement had been circulating since last year. This year… might be their last season.

“It seems like we have to beat them at this Grand Prix… otherwise, there might not be another chance.”

“Yeah.”

Winston walked in with Hunter. Owen, who had just swallowed a bite of his burger, saw them at a glance and raised his hand in greeting, “Hey—Hunter! Over here! Did you guys also come for the burgers? Join us!”

When Ciel turned around and saw them, his expression soured even more. Hunter hesitated, but Owen kept his hand raised as if he wouldn’t lower it until Hunter came over.

“Let’s sit there,” Winston said.

Hunter reluctantly agreed. But in truth… he didn’t want to sit with Owen. Heavens knew what embarrassing things that guy might say. Hunter sat down next to Owen, and Winston took the seat opposite him.

Owen suddenly leaned against Hunter, resting his head on his shoulder with a depressed and pitiful look on his face, “Hunter… little Hunter… I can’t go on anymore…”

Winston glanced over, and Hunter immediately tried to move away, but Owen’s head stayed glued to him. Fortunately, Ciel, sitting across from them, couldn’t tolerate it any longer. He gave Owen’s chair a forceful kick under the table.

“Aha, Ciel, you’re just jealous of my special bond with Hunter!”

“I pity the kid! I’m jealous of your shamelessness!”

“I saw you were on the phone, did something happen?” Winston asked.

“What else could it be… my fans are just overly enthusiastic!” Owen retrieved his phone from Ciel and showed it to Hunter, “Check this out! Look! Such a unique way to express their feelings!”

Hunter was shocked. The photo from Owen’s room revealed a bed covered in dead cockroaches and clothes strewn over a yellowish puddle of unknown liquid… Hunter immediately thought of the “water grenade” he had given McGrady in the bathroom after the Spanish Grand Prix…

“Are you sure this is from a fan?” For the first time, Hunter admired Owen’s mental resilience.

“An anti-fan is still a fan!”

“The Red Bull team has already reported it to the police. The police reviewed the hotel’s surveillance footage and spotted a suspicious masked staff member entering the hotel that day. Given the complex staffing during the Grand Prix, the hotel didn’t catch it at the time. It’s still unclear how that person got into the hotel,” Ciel explained.

Hunter found Ciel’s straightforward approach far preferable to Owen’s tendency to ramble.

“Moreover, the police have advised Owen to be extra cautious about his safety right now. And yet, he dares to wander around alone. What if that lunatic runs into him and stabs him in the process?”

Hearing Ciel’s words, Hunter couldn’t help but start worrying about Owen’s safety.

“Aren’t you always with me? I hadn’t even taken a step outside before Ciel dragged me back! You guys tell me, do you think he’s madly in love with me? After finding out about my stalker, he came straight to the hotel to check on me!”

Ciel rolled his eyes dramatically. Even Hunter found Owen insufferable at that moment.

“Red Bull has switched hotels, but until they figure out how that person managed to get into Owen’s room, no place is truly safe. I told Owen to have his assistant stay with him tonight, but he brushed it off and even wanted to face the stalker alone…” Ciel’s expression suggested he was on the verge of shoving the entire hamburger into Owen’s face.

And honestly, Hunter had been tempted to do just that for a while now.

Winston remained silent and headed to the counter to order food for Hunter.

Owen winked at Hunter, “You two are getting along?”

“What… what does that have to do with you!”

“Haha, little Hunter is stuttering! It’s adorable when you stutter! Watch out, or Winston might just take a bite out of you!”

Hunter realized that having a normal conversation with Owen was impossible! Winston returned with the burgers, setting a large cup of orange juice and two burgers in front of Hunter.

“Why orange juice? Shouldn’t burgers be served with Coke?”

“Coke is carbonated,” Owen replied nonchalantly.

“But it’s not like we’re racing now! The next race is over a week away!”

Hunter silently conveyed with his eyes: I hate you! I really do!

“Oh, you little fool! Winston is doing this for both of your sakes!” Owen chuckled.

“For both of us? How?”

Owen leaned toward Hunter, pretending to whisper but speaking loudly enough for everyone at the table to hear, “Coke kills sperm!”

“Huh?” Hunter paused.

Ciel burst out laughing as well.

“Ciel, if you’re that concerned about Owen, there is another solution,” Winston, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

“What solution?”

“You could sleep with Owen.”

As soon as Winston finished, Ciel bristled like a cat, “Like hell I’m sleeping with him!”

“Oh? I thought you were dying to sleep with me! How disappointing!” Owen said.

“I’ve even got my funeral suit ready for you!” Ciel angrily bit into his burger.

As Hunter was amused by the two, he suddenly felt something brush against his ankle. He was still wearing suit pants, and the tip of the other person’s leather shoe clearly lifted the hem of his pants, slowly inching upwards. Just as he was about to take a bite of his hamburger, he froze.

The only people across from him were Ciel and Winston, and Ciel was too far away to reach his ankle even if he tried.

It had to be Winston! What was this guy up to!

However, the guy in front of him showed no change in expression, calmly preparing to take a bite of his hamburger. Winston’s downturned eyes were something Hunter had always liked. As Winston bit into his food, the tip of his shoe reached halfway up Hunter’s calf. The pressure exerted by the shoe was neither too strong to make Hunter uncomfortable, nor too weak to make it difficult for Hunter to notice. Not to mention that the trouser leg was already halfway lifted, and with the direction of Winston’s toes, it felt like half of his foot was about to slip into Hunter’s pants.

Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh shit! Hunter felt an intense urge to shove the hamburger into Winston’s face!

“My dear, are you really not sleeping with me tonight?” Owen propped his chin on his hand, gazing at Ciel with exaggerated affection.

The look made Hunter’s skin crawl.

“No!”

“Then I’ll call Alina to come stay with me! I’ll order a huge bouquet of roses and some wine too!” Owen seemed enthusiastic.

“Alina? Wasn’t it Christina last month?”

While Ciel and Owen continued their banter, Hunter decided to move his leg away. He discreetly reached his hand under the table to pull his pant leg back down and force Winston’s shoe away. However, he could no longer concentrate on Owen and Ciel’s conversation or even enjoy his hamburger.

The guy across from him ate his burger with the same elegance as if he were cutting a steak. Hunter glanced up and saw Winston lick half a pickle into his lips with the tip of his tongue. Winston’s face showed no emotion, yet the sight made Hunter’s throat tighten. He quickly lowered his head.

Just then, Hunter felt another sensation against the inside of his other leg, starting at the calf and slowly moving upward. The top of the foot even pressed boldly against his calf!

Hunter’s heart raced. This guy was at it again!

Before he could react, Winston’s shoe moved away.

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The author has something to say:

Hunter: I will surpass you one day!

Winston: Okay.

Hunter: I will surpass you every single time!

Winston: Okay.

Hunter: Why do you keep saying “okay”?

Winston: ​​Because only when you’re ahead of me can I push from behind. All the way past the finish line, okay?

Hunter: No way!