Chapter 297: If I don’t fear death, what else is there to fear?

Wang Yun just chuckled at Marley’s question.

“Driving’s no big deal. As long as you have feet, right?”

Marley’s face instantly darkened, while the streaming audience burst into laughter. Really? Just having feet? They thought it was savage. A professional racing coach couldn’t beat him, and this guy summed it all up as, “Just have feet.”

Seeing Marley’s look, Wang Yun coughed awkwardly.

“Well, besides having feet, you also need guts.”

“Guts?” Marley looked confused. Racing required guts—that was a given. They all had that.

“Not the kind you’re thinking,” Wang Yun said, a bit more seriously. “I mean, the kind of courage where you don’t even fear death.”

Marley looked more confused, so Wang Yun continued, “Look, I came from nothing. No money means living half-dead. Every extra day I survive on this show, I’m closer to a level of wealth most people can only dream of. I’ve lived poor long enough. I want to make money, I want to be rich. But you’re different.”

A cold determination flashed in his eyes as he continued, “I’d rather die than die poor. Say I’m shallow, say I’m desperate, but none of you up there in your cozy lives can understand the struggle down here.”

Wang Yun’s words held a realness that couldn’t be missed. Marley and the others frowned as they studied him, looking almost sympathetic.

“So, when someone doesn’t even fear death, what else is there to fear?” Wang Yun said, grinning. “The only reason he lost to me is because he was too afraid to push himself like that. He didn’t have the courage to risk it all. That’s why he lost.”

He gave a slight shrug.

Not fearing death.

Marley fell silent, and so did everyone else. In their world, they didn’t lack money or status. None of them could relate to Wang Yun’s mentality, to living with that sheer desperation. They’d never thought that the reason this fugitive had managed to outsmart them was because of this fierce resolve driving him forward.

Werner looked at Wang Yun with newfound respect. He could relate, at least a little. Coming from a small country and reaching where he was today had taken everything he had. He understood that gritty determination from his younger days, the same determination that brought him here to represent his country.

“So…we lost,” Marley said finally, voice low. 

He and Joseph had been born with money, with access to luxury hobbies like racing.

Wang Yun shook his head. “Nah, you didn’t lose. You were just born already at the finish line.”

Was that envy or sarcasm?

Marley’s face went red. For the first time, he felt a strange urge—a curiosity about what it would have been like to live as an ordinary person. Not just another rich kid. He wanted to be someone like Wang Yun—skilled, daring, smart.

“Guess we don’t need to worry about all that now,” Marley said. “You’ve beaten all of us. Until we catch you, we’re the real losers.”

Hardy, sprawled on the ground, spat bitterly, “Yeah, we’re failures every day we don’t catch you.”

Hearing this, Wang Yun just laughed. “True, you guys are the ‘losers’ for now. But good and bad always come to an end. It’s only a matter of time before I’m caught. Maybe one day, when I’m done running and have earned enough, I’ll even turn myself in.”

He sounded so calm, like this whole situation didn’t bother him in the slightest. Hardy just glared. 

Turn himself in? The nerve! But he couldn’t do much about it now, bound like a prisoner.

In Wang Yun’s livestream chat—and in those watching the captains—some were laughing. Some were silent. But everyone was affected by what he’d just said.

“Damn, my wife’s tearing up. We’re poor too. We work late nights on the street to earn a few cents!”

“My husband drinks every night. Does he really like it? No, he’s just upset!”

“I deal with crap every day just to make ends meet. What’s pride worth if it doesn’t feed your family?”

“Never thought Wang Yun came from the same place we did. I get where he’s coming from!”

“Say no more. Whatever happens after this, I’m backing him 100%!”

“Same here. Wang Yun is like a big brother to me!”

At that moment, everyone watching found themselves rooting for Wang Yun. His words had hit home, voicing the struggles of the everyday people who felt trapped at the bottom. Even viewers in Werner, Hardy, Alfa, and Marley’s streams—who’d been dead set on seeing Wang Yun captured—were now warming up to him. Many left those streams to flock to Wang Yun’s, fully aware they couldn’t go back. It didn’t matter. They wanted to support this hero from the streets.

***

In Fang’s livestream, a celebrity guest handed him a tissue. Director Fang’s eyes were red and wet with tears. It’s said men don’t cry easily, especially men like him.

“Mr. Fang, didn’t expect you to get so emotional!” 

He sighed, “I’d thought young Wang Yun came from money, that maybe that’s why he was so sharp and skilled. But he’s struggled just like I did. I went through my own hardships, holding on with grit to get where I am today.”

“Oh, Wang Yun, you’ve been through a lot,” he said, as the tears kept coming, leaving the viewers stunned. 

The crew looked at each other, not sure what to do. Was this empathy taken to the next level?

Wang Yun’s impact was just that powerful.