Location: Wushan Tunnel, Hubei Province, China
Time: September 2025, 09:45 PM
POV: PAI PAI
The interior lights of the cabin flickered on, shining brightly until we could see each other’s faces clearly. The driver frowned, and the moment he turned to find another pair of eyes staring back at him, I reflexively pulled Natalie into a tight embrace.
“Sh*t... it’s that long-haired old man,” I whispered, burying my face against Natalie.
“1. Structure and components of animal cells... Cell membrane... characterized as a thin film...” Natalie immediately began chanting her "incantation."
“Hey! Those faces look familiar...” He narrowed his eyes, slowly leaning his face closer.
I kept my head down, eyes squeezed shut. Right now, I really wished I had a protective spell of my own.
“Take off the masks,” a gruff voice commanded, vibrating through my chest.
I sat motionless, playing deaf.
“I said take off the masks. Both of you!” he bellowed. Natalie had already reached point number three.
I reached out and pulled her mask off first, then let out a forced cough. “ I’m... I’m not feeling well. I’m not sure if I’ve caught White Silence or not?”
“Do you know them, Bro?” the driver cut in.
“They look familiar... that black and white outfit combo. We’re going to need a long talk about this.” He turned around fully, revealing his sharp, handsome features.
“What should we do? I bet those guys are hunting these two for sure.” The driver looked younger and kinder, dressed much more modernly than the long-haired "uncle."
“If you board the truck, you pay the fare.”
I swallowed hard, knowing full well he didn't mean money. Right now, this long-haired man looked as fierce as Cheung Po Tsai, the legendary pirate of Chinese history.
“Are you here for the bicycle race?” the driver asked in a gentle voice, catching my eye in the rearview mirror. I could tell he didn't have the eyes of an executioner.
“Yes. I’m just trying to earn some tuition money.”
The long-haired uncle stared at me without blinking before shifting his gaze to Natalie, who was curled up like a mackerel in a basket. Her messy hair hid her face as she continued her low-voiced chanting...
“Sick as a pair, huh? Heh.” He let out a smirk that felt like a blade sliding across my heart.
“Yes,” I played along.
Natalie clutched my hand and groaned. “I’m so sick... no strength left... So cold... Pai Pai! I can’t take it anymore.”
I thought to myself: I had to make it convincing. “My sister is very ill. Please, have mercy on us.”
The long-haired man glanced at us with disbelief. “Those are racing suits. Hey, you in the white! Hold out your hand!”
I didn't understand why he wanted me to hold out my hand, but I complied. At the same time, he reached over, grabbed my hand, and folded my pinky, ring finger, index finger, and thumb one by one... leaving only the middle finger standing.
“I remember you now, you brat from hell.” He pointed that remaining middle finger right at my face.
“” My heart skipped a beat, but I wouldn't surrender. “Have we met before? You must have the wrong person, Uncle.” I quickly looked away.
“Number 199. You haven't even peeled the sticker off yet.” He had me cornered.
“Well, you honked at me first! You scared me!” I said, my voice weakening.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
The young driver turned and smiled, revealing a bright and kind face. He turned to the long-haired man. “Bro, how did you know someone was hiding on the truck?” His question dragged my anxiety right along with it.
The convoy of trailer trucks raced through the white mist inside the Wushan tunnel, the engines roaring loudly. There were almost no other cars on the road. At first, I thought about asking to get off here, but then I realized it was too desolate. Didi or Xiao Luobuo wouldn't be able to pick us up in time. I’d better stay on and close the distance to Chongqing a bit more.
“I smelled a faint perfume ever since we left that restaurant. I thought it was your soap at first. But I got suspicious when that bald guy asked to search the truck. When I opened the door to get in, I looked under the seats and saw someone was actually hiding there.”
“Impressive.” The driver didn't seem to mind us at all. But the long-haired uncle? That was another story.
He turned back to look with unreadable eyes, his gaze shifting like a robot looking for flaws. “Better deal with these two first. Those guys will definitely be following us.”
His prediction matched exactly what I was thinking. They had beaten up the leader of the Wuhan Dragon Gang; there was no way they wouldn't come for revenge.
“She looks really terrified. Let me try talking to her first,” the driver said. He really was as kind as I thought.
“Don't be kind for no reason,” the long-haired man scolded him. But I could sense something... he wasn't as cruel as I thought. Even though he caught me giving him the middle finger, he didn't seem vengeful.
“Come on. If it doesn't work out, we’ll just kick them off.” He looked up at the interior mirror, meeting my eyes. “Tell us. What are you running from? And when did you sneak on?”
This was my chance. Pai Pai’s performance was about to begin...
“I sneaked on back at Three Valleys. I’m running from illegal moneylenders. I... I owe them money,” the short-haired girl answered with a dejected face, her voice trailing off.
“Mmm... hmm.” Natalie stopped her chanting but didn't look up, squeezing my hand gently as if she approved.
“Are you running from that bald guy’s group?”
“No, no. Not them. I’m running from a different group.”
“Mmm... hmm!” Natalie was really into the suspense.
“Hmph!” The long-haired uncle remained in a cross-legged position, leaning against the door. He turned to the driver and winked, his lips moving silently as if to say he didn't believe a word.
I quickly put on a sad face and started weaving my lies. “My family is poor. I had to borrow money for school. My Papa is sick and can’t work. I came to the race hoping to win the prize money for my tuition and Papa’s medical bills.” I made my voice tremble convincingly.
The long-haired man reached out and put his hand on Natalie’s forehead. She jolted and resumed her chanting. “2. Cytoplasm... characterized as a liquid containing various substances...”
“Onnie, it’s okay. It’s okay.” I leaned down to hug her until she went quiet, my mind racing to find words to trick my way out of this.
“Wait! You’re Korean?”
“Uh... yes.”
“You said you came for a bike race. You flew all the way from Korea to find tuition money?”
“I study in Wuhan.”
“Poor family... but studying all the way in China? Isn't that a bit far?” t. Cornered by the long-haired uncle again.*
“Both of us are good students and got government scholarships. But we needed funds before coming, so we took an illegal loan. Then Appa fell ill, and they followed us here.” I wondered if my act was working.
The long-haired man put his hand on her forehead again, then touched his own.
“Hmm!”
He frowned, looking at us, then reached out to do it again, but said nothing.
I continued my performance. “We’re going to Chongqing. Can I please get off there?”
I looked up to meet the driver’s eyes in the mirror. His kind, round eyes were thoughtful. He looked like a subordinate and probably didn't have the power to decide.
I decided to take a gamble with the long-haired uncle. “Uncle! Please help us. My sister is very sick. I have relatives in Chongqing. Once we get there, I’ll even pay for your fuel!”
Natalie lay still beside me, squeezing my hand in a rhythm that signaled:
“Keep her awake. Don't let her fall asleep,” the long-haired man ordered, his voice softening.
“Onnie! Onnie! Don't sleep!”
And then, it worked. As the driver turned the wheel into a curve, descending the steep slope after exiting the Wushan tunnel, the words I wanted to hear most came as the first positive signal...
“It would be tough to leave them here. There won't be any public transport passing by at this hour. And the older sister is sick too. What do you think, Bro?” The driver suddenly looked even more handsome in my eyes.
“” The long-haired uncle let out a breath, but a hint of hesitation remained in his eyes.
I didn't give him long to think. I quickly added more information. “I’ll sit quietly. I won't bother you. If you help me, the merit from this act will bring happiness to your family. You’ll surely go to heaven when you pass away.”
The driver smiled broadly, looking at the long-haired man. “What do you say?”
Before he could answer, the radio buzzed, signaling someone was about to speak.
“Hey! Tan! Tui! I know who those guys are looking for!” The voice over the radio interrupted.
“Jetdoe!... Who is it?” The long-haired man grabbed the radio to answer.
“Loweis brought her along. He’s such a troll. Hahaha!”
“What did he bring?” The long-haired man frowned, looking at the driver.
“He brought a woman from a brothel with him! Hahaha!” The laughter made my heart drop.
“How many?” the long-haired man asked back.
He squinted, looking me up and down from head to toe...
“Jetdoe... I’ve got two.”
I felt a chill run down my spine. I didn't give him a chance to think we were related. “See? They aren't after me. The real troublemaker has finally been found.”
“” Natalie squeezed my hand repeatedly.
The long-haired man rubbed his nose, staring at me intensely. “What a damn mess. Soon we’ll find out who’s really lying. If I catch you, I’ll sell you both to a brothel myself.”
“1. Structure and components of animal cells... Cell membrane... characterized as a thin film...”
*************************
Greetings, readers!
- Pai Pai’s Survival Instinct: We see the "Brat with the Middle Finger" in full action. Her ability to weave a complex web of lies—from illegal student loans to a sick father—shows just how far she’s willing to go to protect herself and Natalie. She’s the shield, even if that shield is made of pure bluffing.
- Natalie’s "Shield of Science": While Pai Pai uses lies, Natalie uses her "incantations." Her constant chanting of biological structures isn't just a quirk; it’s a high-level coping mechanism. By retreating into the logical world of animal cells, she manages to stay invisible even while being stared at by the "Uncle."
- The Chemistry of Deception: Watching these two interact—Natalie squeezing Pai Pai’s hand to signal approval of a lie—shows that a bond is forming between them, built on the necessity of survival.
- The Threat of the "Long-Haired Uncle": Jetdoe (Tui) represents the harsh reality they are facing. He’s sharp, observant, and definitely not as easy to fool as Pai Pai hoped. The radio call at the end, mentioning "women from a brothel," raises the stakes to a dangerous new level for both of them.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments! If you’re enjoying their journey, please follow and rate!