Chapter 70: Department of Automated Vehicle Technology Engineering

Although Wilmin was still plotting behind the scenes, this did nothing to hinder Mo Shu as he fought for his championship on the opening round of the ERC. In this inaugural race, the Deity Racing Team had already gained a considerable lead. After the first five stages on day one, Mo Shu was ahead of Driver A from the Carbon Black Gold Team by a full eleven minutes—a gap unprecedented in ERC history.

Later that day, as the race concluded, major official sports media outlets, online sports platforms, and independent journalists all made the Deity Racing Team’s dazzling debut their headline story. These past days, both the team and Mo Shu had become the hottest topic, basking in boundless glory.

“Hey, can we eat first?” Wang Yining said.

“Alright, alright, you guys start. I’ll just check the news,” Mo Shu replied absentmindedly, glued to his phone.

Seeing their radiant images gracing the sports columns on every site and app, Mo Shu was overjoyed, so much so that he forgot about eating, completely immersed in browsing these reports.

Ever since the race ended and he received his first news notification, the headlines about the Deity Racing Team and himself had come flooding in, leaving Mo Shu hopelessly lost in self-admiration.

“Mo Shu, time to eat. You can look later,” Wang Yining switched tactics, coaxing him as if he were a child.

But Mo Shu just kept scrolling happily.

“Mo Shu, everyone’s waiting for you. If you keep this up, I’m going to get angry,” Wang Yining tried to threaten him.

...

Mo Shu seemed oblivious.

What? He’s ignoring me? Wang Yining’s face darkened instantly.

“The food’s getting cold! Did you hear me?” Wang Yining banged the table, raising her voice.

Oh no! She’s mad now!

Not only Mo Shu but the rest of the team at the table shivered. Miss Wang was amiable most of the time, but when she lost her temper, nobody could handle it.

Mo Shu looked aggrieved—he was right in the middle of replying to fans online.

Leave without saying a word? He was afraid of losing followers!

“Put your phone away. Whatever it is, deal with it after we eat,” Wang Yining ordered icily.

Mo Shu knew that when Miss Wang was upset, her words were not to be taken lightly. Reluctantly, he slipped his phone into his pocket and tried to make amends by piling food into her bowl with a smile.

“You know, my parents grew apart because they were always off doing their own thing,” Wang Yining said, her parents’ separation a lingering pain in her heart, making her especially insistent about matters of affection.

“Hehe, I get it. Getting angry at meals isn’t good. Please calm down, okay?” Mo Shu, ruthless to opponents and merciless to enemies, was endlessly indulgent when it came to Wang Yining. Though she seemed distant at first glance, once she accepted someone, she became clingy in an instant—Mo Shu knew this all too well.

At last, the mood at the table began to brighten and harmony returned. But just then, someone’s phone rang, abruptly shattering the moment.

“Ding~”

“Dun dun~”

“Beep... Beep...”

“Bzz bzz bzz~ Bzz bzz bzz~”

Each phone had its own ringtone. Everyone put down their chopsticks and reached for their pockets.

“Ugh, can’t we just have one peaceful meal?” Wang Yining sighed. She could stop Mo Shu, but she couldn’t stop everyone.

In fact, Mo Shu’s phone was buzzing madly in his pocket. This time, he didn’t even need to check it—everyone seemed to be receiving the same message, judging by their expressions.

Wang Yu stared at his screen, reading carefully, his face grave.

Ruslein, Wang Qing, and Geng Hua were the same—their expressions growing heavier, as if something serious had just happened.

Seeing their faces, Wang Yining had a bad feeling. Had the team or Mo Shu gotten into trouble again?

She hurried to check her own phone—a friend from home had forwarded her the news.

The moment she read it, she couldn’t help but gasp in shock.

Mo Shu leaned over to look as well, his expression changing drastically.

The contents made his teeth itch with anger.

There were three reports in total, which read:

“Deity Racing Team’s top driver Mo Shu suspected of severe cheating in ERC race, facing possible disqualification.”

“CEO of Black Gold Petroleum drops bombshell, claims Deity Racing Team’s Mo Shu stole top-secret design blueprints from their company.”

“Global Automobile Sports Association issues official statement: strict investigation into Deity Racing Team’s car modifications—severe violations could result in expulsion from racing!”

What on earth was this? Baseless rumors, surely?

But the truth was more complicated.

Mo Shu realized these articles came from the very sites he’d just been browsing—what on earth was going on?

“I, as representative of Carbon Black Gold Team, officially accuse the Deity Racing Team today. Driver Mo Shu (Deity’s top driver) illegally obtained the latest smart driving technology blueprints from the Automotive Technology Engineering Department of Black Gold Petroleum a few months ago and recruited outside help to manufacture them,” Wang Yu read out loud, word by word.

“Recently, Mo Shu further modified this technology right before the ERC global rally, and used the stolen smart driving tech during the race to create the illusion of superior skills and speed, directly enabling Deity Racing Team’s victory in the stage. Such actions are a blatant violation of sports ethics.

Therefore, we, the Carbon Black Gold Team, strongly condemn Deity Racing Team’s shameless theft of proprietary research, and are deeply disappointed by Mo Shu’s attempt to deceive the ERC committee and win through unfair means. We hope this statement draws widespread public attention, and urge the Deity Racing Team to admit their wrongdoing and restore a clean environment for all motorsport participants and fans.”

“This is absolute nonsense!” Wang Yu couldn’t help but curse. He’d been there with Mo Shu at Black Gold Petroleum’s headquarters—he knew exactly what Mo Shu had done and where he’d gone.

“Wait, there’s also a video,” Wang Qing said, nudging her brother.

A video? The whole table crowded together to watch.

The footage was a bit blurry, clearly taken from a security camera. In the upper left, a timestamp scrolled by; the upper right labeled the room as the Automotive Technology Engineering Department’s laboratory.

At first, the lab was empty. But a few seconds later, a figure darted into view, dressed in dark clothes, hurrying to the lab’s only computer. He operated it skillfully, plugged in what looked like a USB drive, and stood with his back to the camera for a full minute. When the computer screen flickered, he swiftly yanked out the USB and turned to leave.

At the moment he turned, for the first and only time in the video, his face was visible. Every team member gathered around Wang Qing’s phone gasped, faces ashen—including Mo Shu himself.

That person in the video, that face on the screen—

It was someone every member of Deity Racing Team knew all too well.

Wang Yu was the most stunned of all. He had always believed Mo Shu would never act behind his back.

“Mo Shu? Is... is this real?” Wang Yu’s lips trembled as he spoke.