Chapter 426 - 422: First Go-kart Experience

The club offered clients a wide selection of cars in various colors. Aside from the paint job, all the cars had the same configuration.

Their performance was all entry-level, perfect for beginners like Cecilia Sterling.

So, Cecilia didn’t bother being picky and simply hopped into a yellow car.

Coach Warner got in with her and began explaining how to operate the go-kart and the functions of the buttons in front of her.

Finally, he asked Cecilia, "Miss, have you really never driven a go-kart before?"

"Does driving one in a video game count?"

Coach Warner chuckled at her response. "Of course not. But you only need a general idea of what I just explained. The most important things are the gas and the brake. If you know how to drive a car, a go-kart won’t be difficult for you."

Cecilia Sterling nodded, and without another word, she started the engine and hit the track.

The club’s beginner track was also quite long, but it was relatively smooth, with many straightaways and few turns.

At first, Cecilia felt the kart’s body was a bit light. Combined with the track being much narrower than a regular road, she didn’t have a good feel for steering. She would occasionally bump and scrape against the plastic barriers along the sides of the track.

Coach Warner wasn’t the least bit flustered. He just offered a reminder, "It’s okay. Bumping is completely normal in go-karting. Don’t be afraid. Just focus and slowly get a feel for it."

Of course, Cecilia wasn’t nervous. If she dared to try it, she wasn’t going to be afraid.

Before long, she found her rhythm, and the kart gradually stabilized under her control.

"Very good. You can try shifting gears and accelerating now!"

Hearing this, Cecilia tapped two buttons on the control panel in quick succession. The go-kart’s engine instantly roared, and its speed shot up.

Coach Warner glanced at Cecilia with a smile in his eyes. Even though she was wearing a helmet, he could still imagine how beautiful she looked while driving.

"Your sense of direction is excellent. Keep it up. For the turn ahead, you need to hug the inside of the curve early. Turn the wheel all the way."

Cecilia was fully focused, perfectly translating Coach Warner’s words into action. The kart executed a beautiful turn, leaving a yellow blur in its wake as it passed through the corner flawlessly and continued to race forward.

In the lounge by the track, Secretary Grant looked at Cecilia Sterling’s car on the beginner’s course, a look of pleasant surprise appearing on his face.

’Miss Sterling is really amazing,’ he thought. ’To get the hang of it so quickly on her first try. Not like my boss, who nearly totaled the beginner kart his first time and ended up with a red, bruised forehead inside his helmet.’

"Grant!"

A cold voice suddenly rang out, tinged with impatience. Startled, Secretary Grant quickly turned and responded, "Boss, are you finished with your practice?"

Julian Summers walked into the lounge. He was wearing a blue and black racing suit, and his short, choppy hair was damp, clearly from sweating a lot. Behind him, a male assistant coach carried his helmet and bag.

He strode over to the sofa and plopped down. Secretary Grant naturally handed him a glass bottle of mineral water.

Julian Summers twisted it open, tilted his head back, and downed it in a few quick gulps. The cold water slid down his throat, a chill spreading through his limbs and leaving him feeling refreshed.

Then, his eyes fell on a half-finished glass of orange juice on the coffee table.

"Has the Mr. Sterling I’m supposed to meet arrived?"

Secretary Grant nodded quickly. Before he could explain, Julian Summers blinked. ’Orange juice?’

"A woman?"

"Yes, Boss. It’s a very young woman. She’s beautiful."

Julian Summers couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. "Is Mr. Sanders trying to set me up with a business deal or a girlfriend?"

Secretary Grant lowered his head and said nothing. ’With Miss Sterling’s looks and outstanding qualities, she must have a boyfriend, right?’ he thought.

"Where is she?" Julian asked.

"Uh... she went go-karting!" Secretary Grant said, turning and pointing out the window.

Julian Summers was taken aback. "She knows how to drive a go-kart?"

With that, he got up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, which overlooked the beginner’s track. A yellow car was speeding along inside.

By now, Cecilia had accelerated again. Although she still had the occasional collision, she drove very smoothly for the most part. At the very least, for a first-timer, Cecilia’s sense of direction and control already surpassed that of most beginners.

Including the Julian Summers of the past!

"It’s Miss Sterling’s first time, and she’s driving so well," Secretary Grant couldn’t help but praise sincerely.

Julian Summers whipped his head around to look at him, his eyes flashing with hidden anger.

Because when he was first learning, his performance had been a complete disaster—more painful than watching a six-month-old learn to walk.

Secretary Grant quickly lowered his head, cursing himself for saying the wrong thing again.

Julian watched for a while longer, growing more and more irritated. Finally, he stripped off his jacket and tossed it to his secretary. "I’m going to take a shower. When she comes up, bring her directly to me."

"To see you in the bathroom?" Secretary Grant blurted out.

Julian spun around and glared at him with wide eyes. Only then did Secretary Grant realize he’d spoken without thinking again. He quickly apologized, "Sorry, Boss. I understand."

With a speechless huff, Julian Summers stomped off angrily.

The male assistant coach stifled a laugh, waved at Secretary Grant, and followed him out.

On the final straightaway of the track, Cecilia pushed her speed even higher, sprinting toward the finish line. Coach Warner judged the distance and gave the order: "Slow down! Hit the brakes!"

The tires let out a long, piercing SCREECH as they scraped against the pavement, finally coming to a steady stop at the finish line.

Seeing this, Coach Warner clapped his hands lightly. "Well done! Absolutely fantastic!"

Cecilia got out of the kart, and Coach Warner came forward to help her pull off her helmet. Cecilia tilted her head up slightly, and her long, straight black hair swung out, releasing a pleasant fragrance.

She gently smoothed her hair, and the slightly messy strands fell back into place.

"So, Coach Warner, how was that?" Cecilia asked, perfectly calm and composed. Professional go-karting was a rather thrilling activity, yet after several laps, her face wasn’t flushed and her heart wasn’t pounding.

It was clear she had exceptional composure.

Coach Warner gave her a thumbs-up. "How was that? It was more than just ’that’! I’ve taught plenty of beginners, and most of them have some reservations on the track. You’re the first one I’ve seen who dared to keep accelerating on their very first try."

Cecilia smiled at his words and glanced back at the beginner track behind her. "It was fun. The track is just a bit simple. It would be better if it were more exciting."

Hearing this, Coach Warner quickly explained, "Miss, you’re a beginner right now, so you can only use the beginner track. If you want to unlock more complex and thrilling tracks, you’ll need to get certified."

"Certified? What kind of certification?" Cecilia asked.

Coach Warner chuckled as if it were obvious. "A go-kart racer’s license, of course. There are levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Class-B, Class-A, and Class-S. Go-karting has world-class competitions, so the ranking system for drivers is very clearly defined."

With that, Coach Warner pointed to the track in front of them. "Since you’re a beginner now without a driver ranking, you can only use a track like this."