The White Olive Tree

Chapter 7

The rain was indeed heavy.

The accumulated water on the open ground had surpassed the tops of Song Ran's shoes.

Li Zan held the large black umbrella, and despite the strong wind, his grip on the umbrella remained steady.

She and he maintained a polite distance. The umbrella was wide, but the rain still pounded on half of Song Ran's shoulder. She didn't mind.

He escorted her to the co-driver's seat of a military off-road vehicle, and she got in.

He circled around to the driver's seat, stowed the large black umbrella, and placed it on the rear seat.

Water stains dripped from the umbrella tip. It was then that Song Ran noticed the left side of his shoulder was also completely soaked. The navy-blue police uniform had truly turned black now.

Li Zan started the car and reminded her, "Fasten your seatbelt."

"Okay," Song Ran obediently complied.

The windshield was covered with rain, resembling an open faucet. The windshield wipers struggled. The side window was adorned with a thick curtain of rain, obscuring the view outside.

Song Ran felt like they were sitting in a glass box underwater, quiet and serene, with only the endless sound of rain and wind outside.

As they left the compound, he remembered to ask, "Where on Beimen Street?"

"Qingzhi Lane," Song Ran replied.

"Okay." He lightly tapped the steering wheel with his index finger, and there were no more words.

After all, it was midsummer, and after driving with closed windows for a while, there was a faint warmth returning to the car.

Song Ran touched the fine sweat on her lips.

Li Zan looked at her through the rearview mirror. "Do you want to turn on the air conditioning?"

"No need." She waved her hand. "I get dizzy in air-conditioned cars."

"Dizzy?" He chuckled. "Journalists have to be on the move frequently. What do you do then?"

"I find a way to sleep through it," she replied on a whim.

"Then close your eyes and rest. I'll wake you when we arrive."

Song Ran was silent.

She didn't want to sleep. However, she couldn't figure out what to say next. The inside of the car fell into silence once again.

She looked out the window, biting her lip, a faint sense of regret lingering.

Li Zan's prediction was accurate. If she drove her small car back, it would definitely float in the water halfway. The security zone was on the rainy mountain in the southeast of Liangcheng. 

Initially, the journey went smoothly, but as the terrain descended slightly, the streets were filled with water. The sewers were all full, and the water had nowhere to go, rushing through the city like a wild beast. In the morning, some people were pushing carts in the water, but now everything was left to flow freely, and even public transportation had come to a halt.

The city was empty, desolate, with no signs of human presence, only water.

The military vehicle traveled over the waterlogged streets, splashing water high like a ship breaking waves. Several times, it seemed like the entire car would be submerged.

Song Ran had initially thought of giving directions, but Li Zan seemed to have a clear understanding of the terrain.

He didn't use navigation, yet he navigated the streets and alleys with precision. After a while, she noticed that he seemed to have a mental map of Liangcheng, always avoiding low-lying areas and choosing higher routes.