Chapter 28: A Stubborn Woman!

The Beetle sped along the highway. Earlier, on the mountain, Wang Zheng had drunk too much, too quickly. Now, his legs felt unsteady, and he’d needed Su Xue and Bai Bing to help him down to the car. He lay stretched out on the back seat, cheeks flushed, every breath thick with the scent of liquor.

“Did you… see everything just now?” Wang Zheng’s face was expressionless as he reached out and nudged Bai Bing, who sat in the passenger seat. His voice was calm and distant.

A mere two days without strong liquor, and his tolerance had slipped. Just two bottles of Erguotou, and he was so drunk he couldn’t walk. Was it because “raising a glass to drown sorrow only makes it deeper,” or was it “the wine doesn’t intoxicate, the drinker does himself in”? He didn’t know. But after that cathartic weeping at his family’s grave, Wang Zheng felt he understood many things more clearly. Though intoxicated, his eyes held a clarity, a sense of someone who had weathered much and seen through the world’s illusions.

“Yes,” Bai Bing answered, turning to look at Wang Zheng, who seemed caught between sobriety and drunkenness. She nodded.

“Are you still trying to convince me to return to the organization?” Wang Zheng asked again.

Bai Bing was caught off guard. She hadn’t expected him to raise this question now. At the graveside, when Wang Zheng had been overwhelmed with grief, drinking and weeping, she’d almost considered giving up her mission. She’d even felt a twinge of envy for the familial bonds between Wang Zheng and Su Xue. But now, if she returned empty-handed, wouldn’t that be humiliating? Her pride had kept her aloof in the organization; she had no friends there, and many whispered about her behind her back out of jealousy. Known for her icy manner, she’d never failed a mission in years. If she failed this time, how could she face their ridicule?

Suddenly, a frightening thought surfaced: was it simply that she didn’t want to go back to that cold, sterile environment? She shook her head hard, trying to banish the thought, and drew a deep breath, forcing herself to stand firm. She looked at Wang Zheng and replied, “Yes.”

“You really are a stubborn woman,” Wang Zheng said with a wry smile. His eyes were clear—there was no reproach or anger in them, only acceptance. His smile was bitter, but it held no resentment, no desire. He slowly closed his eyes; his eyelids felt impossibly heavy.

Soon, his gentle snoring filled the car.

“Do you really want to persuade him to go back?” Su Xue glanced at the sleeping Wang Zheng, then turned to Bai Bing. “Would you only be satisfied if he died in front of you?”

She struggled to keep her composure, but her trembling voice betrayed a hint of anger. Her hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that veins stood out on the backs, her breathing becoming more labored.

“No, it’s not like that. Please don’t misunderstand,” Bai Bing replied at once. “I don’t want him to die. I… this is just my mission.”

Her voice trailed off to a whisper, barely audible. It was hard to tell if her explanation was for Su Xue or herself. After the tension faded, her expression dimmed, and she fell silent. A bitter, sour feeling swept through her body, and she realized her eyes were growing red.

“I’ll say it again: no matter what happens, I won’t hand him over to you. You’d better prepare yourself,” Su Xue said coldly, her expression more resolute than ever, her tone brooking no argument.

Bai Bing’s heart wavered. She leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes, needing a quiet moment to reflect, to decide whether what she was doing was right or wrong.

…

Wang Zheng groggily opened his eyes, his head throbbing, his throat burning as though it were aflame.

Where was he? It was so cramped. He instinctively rolled over. With a thud, he tumbled off the seat—trapped in the small space of the Beetle’s back, his chest was pressed so tightly he could hardly breathe.

A low groan escaped him as the pain in his chest brought him back to his senses. He braced both hands on the seat and heaved himself free, then flung open the car door and drew in a deep, refreshing breath.

That felt good.

He glanced at the passenger seat. Bai Bing was leaning against the window, eyes closed, breathing slow and even.

“She’s only cute when she’s asleep,” Wang Zheng thought with a half-smile.

He stretched, working the ache from his muscles, and rubbed his dizzy head. Suddenly, inspiration struck—a wicked idea that made him beam.

“I used to think I was just smart, but now I realize—I’m a genius,” he mused.

He slipped outside, pressing his face to the window, only a pane of glass separating him from Bai Bing. If not for that, he would have kissed her. He widened his eyes, stuck out his tongue, and rapped lightly on the glass.

The vibration made Bai Bing frown, and the incessant tapping forced her to open her eyes.

A pair of wide eyes stared back, a flat nose and two huge nostrils, reminiscent of a pig demon in an old tale. Worst of all, a long tongue was nearly touching her lips.

With a shriek, Bai Bing jerked away from the window and swung her fist at the ghastly face.

Bang!

Her fist connected, but the face was unharmed; only her own hand throbbed with pain.

She sucked in a breath, pulling her hand back and rubbing it furiously.

Wang Zheng straightened up, a grin spreading across his face—his prank had worked.

“What’s wrong with you?” Bai Bing snapped, climbing out of the car. She shot Wang Zheng a glare, then, taking advantage of his inattention, kicked at him. He dodged nimbly, his body tilting just out of reach.

“If you forgave the old me, perhaps you’d forgive who I am now,” Wang Zheng said with a smile. There was nothing more pleasing than waking up to find Bai Bing scowling in irritation. He reached out, and Bai Bing instinctively tried to dodge, mimicking his earlier movements. But Wang Zheng anticipated this—his fingers deftly caught her cheek between his thumb and forefinger.

“So? Have you made up your mind?”

“Let go of me!” Bai Bing gripped his wrist tightly, pinching the flesh of his arm. But she seemed to forget the situation: the harder she pinched, the harder he pinched back. It hurt so much tears welled in her eyes. In the end, she had to yield, though she remained defiant.

“Let go, or I’ll kill you!”

“Not until you answer my question,” Wang Zheng replied, watching her steadily.

“What do you mean, ‘made up my mind’? I don’t get it!” Bai Bing snapped, all the while planning her revenge on this infuriating man once they were home.

“I asked if you still want to persuade me to go back to the organization.”

“Of course! Now let go, or I’ll really get angry!” Bai Bing shouted, gripping his wrist. “Just wait, Wang Zheng! If I don’t bring you back, I won’t rest until I do!”

How could this woman be so stubborn?