~
the 8th of February, 2026
A-Li had been so very upset after the early-morning conversation, which, surprisingly, went down without too much drama, and was mostly a matter-of-factly exchange of chances, theories, and info, that now she got into the other car, too worried and distracted to even care.
She was biting her lips and feverishly throwing around random thoughts and possibilities in her mind, of all the things that could go wrong, and so, she never noticed who it was that was driving. There was only one Law Jiang Yanli believed in, and that was Murphy's Law.
Yet, this was why now, as her phone started ringing, her blood froze in her veins, and she started shaking, dreading a (future) call that was (possibly) going to inform her of her brother's (horrible) demise. She didn't really look at the screen, as if she could postpone the (imaginary) bad news in this way, but mewled a very shaky:
- H-hello?
- How are you, babe? – A-Xuan mumbled, not too pleased with what he was hearing.
Jiang Yanli gaped now, and her head snapped to the side, and she now glared at the driver with such hatred and fury that the poor man blushed a little, trying hard to focus on the road, which was, thankfully, exceptionally empty at this early hour of this bleak Sunday.
- Where THE HELL are you?! - she screamed now, startling the tug.
Allegedly, it was a stupid question.
It was also a minor miracle that Jin Zixuan stayed calm, and just sneered:
- I'm in the car that's been driving in front of you for the last 10 minutes, baby.
A-Li blushed furiously, too angry for some reason. Of course she knew that!!!
- Why did you dump me, you asshole???
- Ummm... - the Jin Gang leader was really lost for an answer this time, but – saved by the bell! – he now rather grunted:
- Just a sec, baby, someone's calling. Hold up.
- Don't you DARE hang up on me, motherfucker!!! - A-Li screeched. – And don't you DARE talk on that shitty phone while driving!!! D'you hear me???
Too late.
She had already been put on hold, and her own phone informed her politely to calmly wait up for the other caller's conversation to end.
- Pull over! – she yelled at her own driver. – PULL OOOOVER!!!
The man hesitated; this was not in his orders. But the woman next to him was growling, literally, and he willy-nilly obeyed. He preferred to be punished for disregarding orders than for getting his boss's pregnant wife fuming.
A-Li immediately jumped out of the car, now watching, too sure, as A-Xuan's own car sped on, along the highway, as if nothing had happened. But, as only seconds later the sports car made a sharp swerve, and the man inside cursed a very loud "AH, FUCK!!!", there appeared a slight smirk on her lips – Jin Zixuan was coming back for her, driving at super high speed.
The young man got out of the car, furious too, still talking on the phone it seemed, but now glaring at her, as pale as death.
- Just a moment, Xiǎolóng! I have to deal with a little minx here, who's too spilt for her own good! - he huffed. – Plus, from what I gather, you ain't going anywhere, ha!
