"Where’s your driver?"

Under the dim dawn sky, I stood with my little black cat backpack, face darkened slightly as I glared at the man waving at me from his luxury sedan.

"He didn’t get up." Long Fei flashed an apologetic grin from inside the car and gestured toward the passenger seat. "Hurry up or you’ll be late."

I stared at him. "You’re sixteen."

"So?"

"Getting caught driving at sixteen means detention."

"*I’ll* be detained, not you. Get in."

He swung the door open. "No traffic cops patrol this early anyway."

Hesitating, I finally slid into the plush seat.

"I handed the Black Dragon Society over to Ouyang Earth," Long Fei said, turning the key and steering wheel. "Heh. All those days and nights with the brothers—drinking, fighting, going wild. Guess that chapter’s closed now…"

To avoid awkwardness, I stayed silent.

The car glided out of the neighborhood, crawling toward Third High.

"Yi Yao."

"Hmm?"

"Nothing. Just wanted to hear your voice."

"…"

"You know? Your voice isn’t all soft and delicate like most girls’, but it’s not rough like a tomboy’s either. It’s… comfortable. Like those street dancers—cute but cool." His tone held no clear sadness or calm. "First time I saw you, I thought, *This girl got dumped ’cause she’s too handsome. What’s she doing in a net cafe?* You almost outshone me."

"I didn’t have a boyfriend then."

I murmured the words.

*Still don’t.*

"Just an example. Don’t take it seriously."

Silence stretched between us.

This was our normal. We’d never fought, but we’d never truly talked either. Like strangers who shared a few inside jokes—only getting touchy-feely at Black Dragon Society gatherings.

Even without me, Yi Yao would’ve ended things soon.

Ten minutes later, the car stopped on a side street near school.

"Get out here. Saves you weird looks at the gate." Long Fei smiled faintly as I turned to him, puzzled. "Breakfast? Got cash?"

"Thanks, ate already."

I grabbed my backpack and stepped out—but paused, half in the car. Leaning back, I held out my left hand.

"What’s this?"

"You always complain I won’t hold your hand," I said lightly. "Call it a goodbye gift. Stay in touch after you leave. No vanishing acts. Brothers worry. If I don’t hunt you down, Floral Snake will."

"Yi Yao, you—"

Long Fei froze for half a minute, staring at my pale hand. Trembling, he peeled off his white glove and brushed his fingers against mine.

"I always thought you were the type who needed protecting…"

"Enough." I cut him off sharply. "Stop moping. You’re Long Teng’s son from Skyfire Corp. Take care. Quit smoking."

I yanked my backpack, fished my bike from the trunk, and swung my leg over the seat.

"Smog’s thick today. Don’t die over there."

A simple goodbye. Just another parting.

I’d seen too many splits in this world…

Love at first sight? Just lust. Perfect matches? Mutual need.

Words could twist ordinary things into something strange.

School buzzed with morning rush hour.

After parking my bike, I entered the classroom. Tan Lijiang chatted with classmates—until he saw me. His face paled instantly.

*Did I go too far yesterday?*

"Where’s your desk partner, Yi Yao?" Two boys ahead spun around, grinning. "Did he drop out to work after you charmed him?"

I’d forgotten about Azure Excellence. Frantically checking my phone, a text glared back:

*"Desk-mate, I’m off to France! Tell the homeroom teacher not to call my house. I’ll bring your gift when I land—promise! —Your bro, Azure Excellence."*

*He’s actually insane?*

His perpetually bright chat icon was now gray—a silent proof this wasn’t a prank.

I dialed his number.

*"The subscriber you dialed is powered off…"*

The morning bell echoed hollowly.

"Books out! Inspectors are coming—read louder! Ugh, Azure Excellence late again? Whatever. Yi Yao, get your book ready—"

…

All day, the empty seat beside me left my stomach churning.

Azure Excellence was Yi Yao’s closest friend in class. Sure, he might’ve had a crush—but he’d always been first to defend her. That alone meant I couldn’t ignore his disappearance.

*Three hundred bucks to Paris alone? He barely speaks English. How would he survive?*

Worse, our homeroom teacher had no classes today. She might not even notice he’d skipped.

If something happened to him, his parents and teacher wouldn’t find out for *days*.

"Off we go!"

"We’re grabbing dinner. Head home early, Yi Yao—tonight’s homework is brutal."

Bathed in sunset glow, the two boys strolled past me.

"Bye." I waved, stuffing thick exam papers into my bag.

"Your desk partner…" Tan Lijiang approached as I packed. "He’s not here today?"

"No."

"What happened?"

I frowned up at the bespectacled boy. *Aren’t you the one who hates us?*

"Don’t misunderstand," he adjusted his glasses, avoiding my eyes. "Yesterday… in the bathroom… he coughed up blood. Said it was nothing. Then he vanished today. I’m worried."

"*Blood?*"

Azure Excellence’s words from yesterday echoed: *"If we don’t go now, it’ll be too late."*

A cold dread slithered up my spine.

I crammed the last papers into my bag, kicked my chair aside, and bolted for the door.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

"Obviously home. I don’t attend night study."

I leapt down the stairs two at a time, skidding into the bike shed—

Only to find a second lock on my bike.

A delicate but sturdy lock, tied with a tiny bow.

*Jingle-jingle.*

Keys rattled behind me. Turning, I saw Xiaodie under the sunset, gripping the key, eyes icy.

"What are you doing?!" I lunged for the keys, but she dodged. "I’m in a hurry! We’ll talk later!"

"Oh?" Her laugh was sharp. "So *my* problems aren’t urgent to you?"

"You—" I almost laughed at her audacity. "Three minutes. Say what you need."

She glanced around. "Not here."

"*Miss*," I hissed, trapped in the post-school crowd, "just tell me where."

She led me silently out the gate, stopping beneath a small mango tree on the busy sidewalk.

"How much to leave Qinghao alone? Name your price."

I’d braced for a street fight—not this. "Leave *him* alone? *You* harassed my family first!"

"What?" Genuine confusion flickered across her face before hardening again. "Right. People like you only feel better by framing others."

Seeing her double down, I mirrored her cold smile. "Denying what you did? Brave coming alone."

"So you want a fight?"

"*You* do."

The tension pushed bystanders back like a tide.

"Fine. We’ve done this before. But today—I won’t hold back. You’ve pissed me off."

"Hmph. Think you’re special? I wasn’t even trying last time."

As we squared off, my phone rang.

"Hold on." I kept my eyes on Xiaodie, answering cautiously. Ouyang Earth’s frantic voice crackled through:

"Yi Yao! Those thugs at your house last night—they weren’t Jiangnan Gang! I traced them. Outsiders. No records at the station. They’re targeting *both* our gangs. I know them—they’ve operated in the Beijing Triangle for years. Armed. We just got intel: they’re hitting Xiaodie *today*. The girl you fought at the street stall. Where is she *now*?"

"I—"

A black van screeched to a halt beside us.

The sliding door opened.

Two gun barrels stared straight at Xiaodie and me.