Ms. Adan taught Chinese to three classes. Though she’d graded half the papers, she’d left for a meeting, leaving only Ye Wen and Qiu Yi in the office.
Wenlan Academy had modern facilities—air conditioning installed in every classroom and office—but it wasn’t quite warm enough to turn them on yet.
The two barely spoke. Qiu Yi still burned with shame over his recent beating. Crowds were manageable, but alone with Ye Wen? Awkwardness clung to him like static, even after a week.
Ye Wen graded papers in quiet focus. Qiu Yi kept stealing glances at her serene profile, memorizing every detail.
She finished her stack first, then smoothly took half of Qiu Yi’s papers without a word.
His heart leapt. *Is this a sign? Maybe she likes me too?*
One of life’s three great illusions: *She likes me.*
Qiu Yi shook his head. *Don’t chase her until I’ve made something of myself. Rich parents won’t want their daughter tied to a poor boy.*
But if Ye Wen had moved on, so could he. He focused on grading, scrambling for conversation starters.
“Not done yet?” Ye Wen eyed his remaining papers. “Give me half.”
“Huh? Oh!” Qiu Yi jolted back to reality. She’d already finished her share. “N-no, I’ve got it—”
“Finish early, go home early.” She took half his papers anyway. This time, Qiu Yi graded fiercely. They finished together.
Ye Wen tucked her red pen away, zipped her bag. “I’m heading out.”
Qiu Yi scrambled after her, tongue-tied until they neared the gate.
“Y-Ye Wen… where do you live?”
She turned, surprised he’d followed. “By the sea.” She stepped outside—and Wang Hui ushered her into a waiting SUV.
At the window, Ye Wen waved.
Qiu Yi waved back, dazed. *Today was perfect. She must like me. Nothing could be better.*
The SUV merged onto the highway, rock music blasting to fill the silence.
“Miss, we’re being followed,” Wang Hui said suddenly.
“What?”
“We’re at 150 mph. That sedan’s still tailing us.”
Ye Wen glanced back. A car clung to them on the 120-mph-limit road—no reason to match Wang Hui’s speed, no attempt to pass. Just tracking.
The sedan accelerated, pulling alongside.
“Probably just annoyed at your speed,” Ye Wen said. Some drivers were like that.
The sedan edged closer—then slammed into them. The SUV scraped the guardrail, slowed. The sedan hit again. Wang Hui retaliated, leveraging the SUV’s weight to ram back.
Three more sedans surged from behind, boxing them in. Wang Hui braked hard. This was a city SUV—not a rugged off-roader. Its slight height advantage meant nothing now.
“Keep your head down. Below window level.” Wang Hui dialed 911, reporting tersely before peering out.
Eight men emerged from the cars, blades glinting. They shattered the driver’s window.
“Smart move: run,” a man with a scarred left cheek growled. “We only want the Ye family’s little princess.”
“Okay, okay…” Wang Hui raised his hands in surrender—then punched the scarred man’s jaw. He vaulted out, Ye Wen close behind.
“Police won’t make it in time. Run!” Wang Hui hissed.
Ye Wen stood steady beside him, but her trembling fingers betrayed her. Not fear—excitement. She scanned their surroundings, unbroken.
*Back in high school,* Qiu Yi’s memories surfaced, *I fought five knife-wielding thugs. Took a stab, disarmed one, stabbed him three times. Charged the rest covered in blood. They scattered. Lesson learned: in a fight, be ruthless—to yourself and others.*
The memory still burned sharp.
Wang Hui gripped a rubber baton, eyes darting. He yanked Ye Wen toward an alley—but the knife men didn’t move. Didn’t even try to block them.
***BANG!***
A deafening gunshot. Wang Hui’s hand went limp. He collapsed, a dark hole blooming on his chest.
Ye Wen froze. No one had ever died before her eyes. The thrill evaporated. Terror flooded in, blanking her mind.
Her body locked. She saw nothing but white noise. *Run!* her instincts screamed—but her legs refused.
A cloth clamped over her mouth and nose. She didn’t struggle. Darkness swallowed her.
