"You promised no trouble, but you've made quite a scene," Bai Xin said, cold sweat pouring down her face. "Wait, wasn't that café blown up by you guys? What's with these two cars?"
"Must be hidden security forces," Lin Mi replied, opening a box under her seat and pulling out the M16A1. "Since that place is a vampire stronghold, they'd definitely have guards. It's broad daylight now, so only a few are chasing us. Otherwise, it might have been a swarm of vampires."
"By the way, what exactly did you do?" Bai Xin sat stiffly in her seat. She couldn't shoot, so she was useless.
Shuo Ye steered the Lamborghini onto the highway, overtaking car after car. "I didn't want to blow it up," she answered. "I'd planned to detonate those explosives during our nighttime operation."
"Uh, so why did you trigger them now?"
"Let me finish. Lin Mi and I found something interesting inside... We discovered a large elevator and ventilation system in the staff lounge. They must have built a massive underground base. Guards spotted us, so I dragged Lin Mi out. I heard machinery rumbling below—probably reinforcements. I detonated the bombs on our way out to trap them inside."
Bai Xin’s lips twitched slightly. "Uh, that probably wasn’t their backup."
"Huh?" Lin Mi shot out a black car’s tire. It swerved, crashed through the guardrail, and flipped over. Flames erupted the moment it hit the ground. "What do you know?"
"Uh, I saw Li Xiao Xiao being led into what looked like an underground passage by a pale-skinned man. They must have taken an elevator—I definitely heard machinery sounds. Probably the same one you mentioned."
Shuo Ye and Lin Mi exchanged a glance. "Li Xiao Xiao?" Shuo Ye asked. "Who’s that?"
"Our classmate." Lin Mi ducked low as gunfire erupted from the pursuing car. Shuo Ye swerved the Ferrari wildly. Other vehicles on the highway slowed cautiously, afraid to slam brakes and cause a pileup. This Hollywood-style chase was pushing them to the edge.
"Huh? So your classmate works for the vampires?" Shuo Ye asked curiously. "Some kind of vampire queen or something?"
Bai Xin shook her head. "No. She looked eerie—eyes blank, like a marionette. I think she was being controlled when they led her down."
Shuo Ye spun the steering wheel, dodging bullets. Pings and clatters echoed off the Ferrari’s chassis. Luckily, the pursuers used small-caliber weapons—China’s strict gun laws meant few had heavy firepower like Shuo Ye’s stash of sniper rifles and handguns. The Ferrari’s sturdy build also helped.
Though busy and seemingly tense, Shuo Ye looked thrilled—like a kid who’d just found a cool new toy. She managed to reply, "Ah, based on that, I’d guess the vampires stored your friend as blood reserves or sacrificial stock. She’s probably safe for now."
Bai Xin nodded. "Yeah, that’s what I thought. So Saturday’s mission just got another goal: rescue Li Xiao Xiao too."
"I expected you’d naively say ‘save everyone’," Lin Mi said, gripping a grenade as if debating whether to throw it. The Ferrari’s windows were shattered. Howling wind roared like thunder, forcing them to shout.
"I’m no saint. Saving my friend is enough. I won’t attack others, but tomorrow night—we’ll barely survive this madness ourselves." Bai Xin glanced at the grenade. "Holy crap, don’t do anything stupid! That grenade could hit innocent people. Damn, you guys detonated C4 at the café earlier! How many casualties was that?"
"None. I checked beforehand. All buildings near that café changed ownership a year ago—they’re likely vampire properties. As for customers, who eats breakfast at such a remote spot at dawn? Besides us?" Shuo Ye scoffed. The black car tailing them was some unknown model, somehow sticking close even at 200+ km/h.
"Well, maybe some weirdos do," Bai Xin muttered.
Shuo Ye grinned. "A few, at most. Don’t worry—the bombs were placed deep inside. That place has blast-proof structures. Outsiders might get tossed by the shockwave or singed. Injured, maybe, but not dead. Hang on!"
Shuo Ye slammed the accelerator. Bai Xin felt herself pressed hard into her seat.
The black car matched their speed. Suddenly, the Ferrari veered right and slowed. The black car shot alongside it. Before its driver reacted, the Ferrari accelerated and rammed it into the guardrail.
Bai Xin paled, shrinking into her seat. The speedometer read 232 km/h. Wind roared like a beast’s fury. She clamped her hands over her ears, feeling the car lurch violently. A crash shook the entire vehicle.
"Hahahaha! Little punk, try chasing me now!" Shuo Ye laughed wildly, like a madwoman.
The black car scraped against the wall, both vehicles slowing. Sparks rained like a storm as its frame crumpled.
Ahead loomed a bridge over the river. Shuo Ye yanked the wheel left, then at the bridge entrance, slammed the black car into the railing. The mangled vehicle spun midair before plunging into the water, sending up a huge splash.
"Phew! Done!" Shuo Ye exhaled, easing the Ferrari’s speed. "Haha, how about drinks to celebrate?"
"No thanks. We’re underage," Lin Mi replied flatly.
"Uh, our problems aren’t over yet," Bai Xin said, sitting up and staring at the red-and-blue police helicopter lights flashing overhead.
"Attention below! Stop your vehicle and raise your hands! We will use lethal force if you don’t comply! Repeat: stop and raise your hands!"
"Ah, bar plans will have to wait," Shuo Ye shrugged, slowing to a halt.
The three girls stepped out, hands raised. The helicopter hovered as four SWAT officers in tactical gear surrounded them, rifles aimed.
"We’ve secured the suspects. Awaiting further orders!" the team leader barked into his comms.
"Hmm. Escort them back. Gently—treat them like honored guests. No disrespect from your men!"
"Uh... yes, sir."
"Good."
The leader swallowed his confusion. Why treat three highway maniacs like young ladies? He eyed the smoking, battered Ferrari—worth a fortune—and guessed one had terrifying connections. If it were his car, he’d cherish it like a son.
Which one was the "young lady"? He scanned them. The middle girl looked terrified—a normal teen dragged into this, skip. The left one was expressionless but tense, skip. Only the right one fit: grinning carelessly, utterly unfazed by the guns. That must be her.
Why involve SWAT if she was connected? Probably, higher-ups only just learned she was involved. Or her family wanted police to arrange a meeting. He shook his head—wild guesses were pointless. Just follow orders.
"Blue Eagle, descend!" he ordered. The helicopter lowered. He opened its side door, bowing slightly. "Ladies, please come with us. You three—lower your weapons!"
His last words were for the SWAT team. They exchanged glances, saluted, and set down their rifles.
Bai Xin and Lin Mi stared at each other. Shuo Ye just smiled, as if expecting this. "Guess my old man wants a chat. Let’s go—don’t keep him waiting."
