In the world of F1, if you ask which track is the hardest, the most exciting, or the most demanding, everyone will have their own answer. But if you ask which track is the most famous, the most important, and the most dazzling, everyone will give the same answer:
Monaco.
It is impossibly narrow, essentially a two-lane road for the entire lap, filled with blind corners that make overtaking a fantasy. It is ancient, using 100% public streets with almost no run-off areas. A difference of millimeters can mean a wrecked car.
And yet, it shines brilliantly, hailed as the jewel in the F1 crown. Every year, billions of eyes focus here.
The difficulty and challenge of the track are one reason. The other is that it is a gathering of stars, a carnival for the aristocracy and high society.
Actors, singers, sports superstars. Tech moguls, real estate tycoons, venture capitalists, politicians. They all gather on the Côte d'Azur, surrounded by yachts, luxury cars, blue skies, and white clouds, piling up money and fame to build a grand stage that the whole world watches.
Then, the spotlights turn on, and all eyes focus on the drivers, witnessing the collision of speed and passion.
Conquering Monaco is like ascending a throne. It's not just proof of skill; it's a footnote to a legend. Just like Wimbledon in the tennis world, the winner of Monaco gets the chance to dine with the Prince, earning their own place in the world of nobility.
Someone once said, if you can only win one race in F1, it has to be Monaco.
That is the status of Monaco.
When Kai arrived, he was met with a wave of heat, a comfortable, lazy warmth that made him want to linger. The golden sunlight danced on the azure sea and sky, dazzling the eyes. The city streets were already lined with barriers, ready for Friday's free practice. The atmosphere in the alleys and boulevards was festive, comparable to the World Cup.
"Kai!"
At the train station entrance, a man took off his sunglasses and waved vigorously, a brilliant smile on his face.
Kai stopped in the surging crowd. He looked at the man in front of him: a blue shirt blooming with giant red hibiscus flowers, unbuttoned casually to reveal bronzed skin glowing in the sun, and teeth so white they were blinding.
Kai silently looked away, scanned his surroundings, and started walking, completely ignoring the peacocking figure.
Lorenzo Moretti panicked. "Kai! Kai Zhizhou! Hey!"
He rushed forward, blocking Kai's path. "Hehe, relax. This look is common in Monaco. It's standard equipment."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "So, your dad lives here?"
Lorenzo blinked. "No, my dad's in Milan..." He paused, then realized what Kai meant. He laughed, unoffended. "Well, in a way, you're right. All the 'sugar daddies' are here. It just depends on who can seize the opportunity."
Lorenzo stepped aside, revealing the car behind him.
Simple, elegant. The golden sunlight flowed over the car's smooth lines like water. The rich, deep blue paint shone with the magnificence and depth of the Mediterranean. Even in Monaco, where luxury cars were everywhere, this understated color stood out effortlessly. The open top drew gazes from passersby, and whistles could be heard from the crowded station exit.
Kai's eyes lit up. He stepped forward, his hand hovering over the bodywork, feeling the lines that were powerful yet lost no beauty.
"Ferrari 330 GTS. First shown in Paris in October 1966. There should only be 99 of these in the world. Where did you steal it from?"
Lorenzo walked over, smiling. "I'll take that question as a compliment. This is Monaco. I needed to bring out the heavy artillery, or no one would even notice you exist."
Kai shrugged. "You could drive a tractor here and still attract attention."
Lorenzo grinned. "Are you complimenting me?"
Kai held out his hand. "Give me the keys."
Lorenzo had already opened the door and gotten in. "Young master," he said helplessly, "leave the rough work of driving to the chauffeur. Besides, you'll be driving an F1 car here in the future. Leave these opportunities to us ordinary people who will never race."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Are you playing the sympathy card?"
Lorenzo grinned. "Is it working?"
Kai shook his head helplessly but didn't insist, even though his hands were itching to drive the 1966 Ferrari.
Amidst envious and admiring glances, Lorenzo drove off. "The main streets are all blocked off. The traffic was already bad, but now it's a disaster."
Kai: "And yet people still drive their luxury cars out to sit in traffic together."
Lorenzo: "So you have to drive a good car. Like a peacock displaying its feathers."
Kai laughed out loud. The sea breeze hitting his face was warm and slightly heavy. Even right next to the ocean, you could feel the congestion of this tiny country. The yachts packed into the harbor blocked the view of the sea level.
A yacht was slowly leaving the port. On the deck, young people in bikinis were chasing each other and playing. Pedestrians stopped to watch.
Lorenzo noticed. "That yacht, if I remember correctly, is seven million dollars."
Kai clicked his tongue. "More expensive than a house."
"Haha." Lorenzo found the comparison amusing. "No one here uses the value of a house as a benchmark."
Kai shrugged. "Oops. Exposed my poverty."
Lorenzo laughed even harder. "But to dock in this harbor? It's seven thousand euros a day."
Kai thought he misheard. "A day? Not a month? Of course, even a month would be ridiculous."
Lorenzo: "Yes, a day. So, the yacht itself isn't expensive. What's truly expensive is the management, maintenance, and docking fees."
"In Monaco, having a yacht isn't rare. You should ask where their yacht is docked. Is it here, or in Marseille?"
Just a few days ago, Kai had been smug about his first prize check. But now, it seemed he couldn't even dock in Monaco for three days.
Of course, first he needed to own a yacht.
As the shocking numbers were thrown out one after another, he became numb to them. Truly, the same earth, but different worlds.
Kai couldn't help but tease, "No wonder Monaco doesn't levy personal income tax. Every inch of surplus value in this space has been squeezed to the limit, hasn't it?"
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