The quiet in the car is total.
The moment the door clicked locked behind me, all the noise of the street, the lingering reporters, and the entire city seemed to vanish completely. Qiao Jin drives with his usual smooth, steady focus, his hands easy on the steering wheel, while Liang Feng sits in the front passenger seat, his eyes watching the road ahead.
I lean my head back against the soft seat and close my eyes, letting out a long, shaky breath.
Only now, sitting alone in the deep silence of the backseat, does the reality of the situation fully sink in.
Bael isn't here to pick me up.
Every single morning without exception, his fingers locked through mine on the seat before I'd even settled properly, the car not unlocking until I gave him his kiss on the cheek. I complained at first, I told him he was being ridiculous, told him I was going to be late, told him Liang Feng and Qiao Jin were right there watching.
He never cared.
