They sat in silence for a short while, her fingers intertwined with his, his shoulder warm beneath her cheek. Then she whispered, "I love you, Shen Xiao."
He tilted his head and kissed the top of hers. "I love you more than I know how to say."
After that short moment of romantic confession, the car swayed back to the highway.
The city lights shimmered in the distance. Hope was a tangible thing between them. So young, so sure, so blind to how quickly everything could shatter.
The laughter still lingered in the car like a trace of perfume, clinging to the air as Shen Xiao adjusted the rearview mirror, eyes soft and unguarded. Bai Zhi had just leaned over to peck his cheek when the sound shattered.
Pop.
A sharp crack echoed through the silence, and a spiderweb bloomed across the windshield, followed by another, inches from her temple.
Shen Xiao reacted in a blur.
