Note:
Feel free to thank @/FranyPilar for the updates. I thank her for her never-ending support. It means the world to me.
The photos in this chapter, minus the header, are mine.
~
the 8th of February, 2026
- Drive.
This was all the instruction Brent got the very moment Lan Xichen's body touched on the back of The Ghost, relaxing heavily in the spacious seat.
Today, his boss surprised him yet again by getting up even earlier than him, and actually waiting for him, all dressed up smart and ready, sipping on his morning coffee in the empty living room, as if this was the most normal, everyday thing in this here household.
As if yesterday's monstrous nightmare lunch and dinner had not been enough! As true as it was, that the young blonde had been quite all strung-up, all recent events considered, but it bothered him – this inhuman ease with which Lan Xichen just... switched between mood/work/life modes.
He had gotten himself ready in record time, giving up on his usual journey to buy today's fresh papers; he didn't expect any info on Mister Jiang to be in there anyway, so today they were of no use to him anyway.
It was dark still, a very chilly February morning, and it was just after 5:30 a.m., as he was driving nervously, too tempted to bite his lip – a habit he wanted to believe he had successfully kicked.
Another temptation was driving him crazy: asking the obvious question "Where to???".
His boss looked maddeningly calm, and he, perversely, thought for a second that Mister Lan knew exactly where his lover currently was being held.
Getting onto the ring-road, which was going to get them back into town, he was suddenly given the sharp instruction:
- Stop! Stop here!
He obeyed, even though this here was not a place to ever pull over; he only had not objected to this because the road was quite empty due to the early hour and the fact that it was a Sunday. It was less than a second later that Lan Xichen got out of the car, and Brent followed suit, a little amazed at what they would be looking for – it was just an empty field with a single billboard, sticking out at the edge of the gutter.
- Sir... - he afforded to interject quietly. – We can't stop the car like this for too long. It's forbid---
- Shush.
Lan Xichen shut him up, and hurriedly took out his phone, taking a photo of the billboard, without commenting.
The young man raised an eyebrow, grateful for the eye-poking darkness, and the fact that no one saw his unprofessional transgression. All he saw was a stupid ad of the stupid Mercedes-Benz newest ego booster. You know, one of those ones that are supposed to be hyping for the mechatronic, super smart models. Recognized and appreciated only by smart people. Because only smart people were the proud owners of Mercedes-Benz. Something like that.
The blonde suppressed the immense instinct to snort in disdain and roll his eyes. He hated the commercial brands. All he saw was a stupid ad of the stupid Mercedes-Benz make, which was nothing special.
