“Master, I feel… I feel… a bit strange, meow~”
“There’s nothing strange about it. This is how it is when you’re modifying. You need to get used to it!”
“But, I just feel a little embarrassed…”
“Alright, less talk! Be serious! I’m starting!”
…
In the Modifier room, the night cast dappled light through the window.
Xing Meng had transformed into her race car form, her body propped up about 1.5 meters high by two jacks, with all four tires and the chassis suspended in the air.
Su Chen frowned, carrying a flashlight and a wrench, pacing around Xing Meng’s car body, his gaze as sharp as an eagle’s.
Once he entered work mode, he lost his usual flippant demeanor, replaced only by seriousness and focus.
“Last time, I noticed your tires weren’t great. As a race car meant for competition, you absolutely need semi-slick tires! With new tires, your cornering performance should definitely improve.”
Tires, seemingly an inconspicuous component on a race car, actually have a significant impact on its performance. Good tires not only enhance a race car’s cornering ability but can even improve the driver’s road feel.
However, Su Chen didn’t have much road feel.
After all, besides his identity as a Modifier, he was just an ordinary person with average driving skills. Yet, he knew what kind of tires were suitable for Xing Meng.
“You… you’re changing the tires, meow?”
Xing Meng’s voice sounded a little nervous.
“That’s right.”
As he spoke, Su Chen had already skillfully removed the tires and used a deflator to release the internal gas from Xing Meng’s factory-installed wheels.
The wheel hubs would still be useful.
Due to limited conditions, maintenance of the wheel hubs was directly skipped.
He noticed that even with the tires already on the tire changer, there was still a faint photon connection between the wheels and Xing Meng’s car body.
Mecha Girl’ car forms seemed to have normal tactile sensations all over.
Su Chen couldn’t help but wonder if Xing Meng might still feel something even if the wheels were removed and away from her body?
That would be a bit scary!
It turned out he wasn’t wrong.
When the tire changer’s shovel head separated the tire bead.
Xing Meng suddenly let out a soft yelp, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
“What’s wrong? Does it hurt?”
Su Chen paused his hand and turned to observe Xing Meng’s state.
From this angle, he could see the girl in the cockpit, head bowed, her pretty face slightly flushed, and her cat ears perked high.
“No… it doesn’t hurt, meow… It’s just cold, a completely new sensation.”
“Oh, as long as it doesn’t hurt.” Su Chen continued to remove the second tire, his movements much gentler as he casually asked, “By the way, what part of your Mecha Girl form do the wheels correspond to? Your butt?”
“How could it be my butt, meow?!”
Su Chen ignored Xing Meng’s bristling: “Then where? Your head? Ribs? Duodenum?”
“Don’t guess wildly, meow! It’s my feet! My little feet, meow!!!”
“Got it, so it’s like us taking off our shoes.” Su Chen pretended to suddenly understand, a slight curve to his lips.
He understood everything; he was just trying to lighten the mood because Xing Meng was nervous.
Now, it seemed the effect was quite good.
The X-1 semi-slick tire—in this world, it was an entry-level semi-slick tire.
Based on his experience, the strength of this tire was similar to the Michelin PS4S from his previous life, positioned as a high-performance street tire.
He acquired it from a nearby junkyard.
The old man there didn’t recognize its value, allowing him to find a treasure.
To buy new ones would cost around two thousand Revolving Yuan.
…
The process of changing tires was routine for Su Chen, almost a bit boring.
But from Xing Meng’s perspective, it was quite the opposite.
Her mind was blank; she just felt Su Chen repeatedly fiddling with her wheels.
Then, suddenly, the wheel hub felt hot, and something sticky and scorching hot enveloped the entire hub—it must have been the new tire bead Master mentioned.
This was her first time having her tires changed, and she couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but it was rather comfortable.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, and before she could fully savor this novel sensation, Su Chen’s voice suddenly rang in her ears.
“Alright, it’s done.”
“Meow? That fast?”
“An hour has passed.” Su Chen raised an eyebrow, tapping on the car window: “While as a professional Modifier, my modification speed is a bit faster than those ordinary rookies, why do I get the feeling you’re a little… unsatisfied?”
“Ah, no, not at all, meow.” Xing Meng chuckled shyly.
“Changing the wheels is just the first step; it’s not over yet.”
It was actually already finished, but the corresponding modification core hadn’t been generated.
Su Chen stroked his chin, pondering.
Perhaps the prerequisite conditions hadn’t been met?
He recalled his previous modifications to Xing Meng—adding a front lip and a rear wing, and also adjusting the chassis. A total of two modifications.
Could it be… that two modifications are required to activate a modification core?
Su Chen went back to the warehouse to look at the ‘junk’ he had salvaged from the junkyard.
Only some scraps of the PVC board used for Xing Meng’s chassis cover were left. There was still plenty of ABS plastic board, enough to make a front lip and a rear wing.
The downforce provided by the front lip and rear wing would also affect grip, an effect similar to changing tires.
But he originally didn’t want to do it this way.
After all, such a crude method of improving cornering performance would lead to excessive grip, thereby affecting the race car’s speed. However, he had no other choice now.
…
By the time the front lip and rear wing were done, it was already nine in the evening.
Su Chen installed the two parts onto Xing Meng.
Compared to her initial discomfort during the first installation, Xing Meng seemed much calmer this time.
The four wheels, front lip, and rear wing transformed into shimmering starlight, eventually coalescing next to the jack into a six-sided cube radiating a white-green glow—it was the newly created modification core.
Su Chen picked up the modification core, and as electronic patterns flowed, the module’s information appeared before his eyes.
【Unnamed <Cornering Performance Specialization> Modification Core】
【Positive Effects: Cornering +7, Stability +3】
【Negative Effects: Speed -4, Burst -2, Tire Wear Rate +40%】
【Special Effects: Bust +1 cup, Black Stockings High Heels Effect, Special Area Sensitivity +1】
【Grade: White ~ Green】
【This modification core was created by you. Please name the modification core.】
…
Xing Meng, who had returned to her Mecha Girl form, was on her tiptoes, curiously looking over.
Su Chen’s gaze shifted between Xing Meng’s meager bust and her bare little feet, lost in thought.
This modification core… seemed to allow for costume changes?
Or did all modification cores have this kind of costume change effect?
“A name, huh… Let’s call it the ‘Black Stockings Thunder No. 2 Modification Core’!”
He narrowed his eyes and hit his palm with his fist.
Such a perfectly high-end, magnificent, and fitting name!
He was practically the ancient Greek god of naming!
“But… what does ‘Special Area Sensitivity +1’ mean?”
Su Chen wore a serious expression, his stern gaze falling upon Xing Meng.
As the saying goes, practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.
As a Modifier and driver, he should have a sufficient understanding of his Mecha Girl’s condition.
So, a little research…
Should be fine, right?
…
…
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