The stranger allowed Jia pull him with her and they ran down the street, taking a detour left into a small opening which Mei-Xin had shown Jia countless times on their evening strolls. There was a brown door hidden around there that led to an old, abandoned store room.
Jia pushed it open and pulled him inside, shutting it carefully. Dust and the smell of old wood assaulted her nose, and she sneezed. The man sneezed with her too, and when the sneezing subsided, she said. "We'll wait out here for a while until we're sure..."
"I don't care," the man held up a hand, shutting her up. "Who are you? And why did you save me?"
Jia crossed her arms over her chest. "No thank you? You're very rude."
"I don't need to be nice to you. You said your name is Ling-Jia. Who are you and what do you want from me? My money?"
"Of what use will your money be to me?"
"I don't know. You tell me."
"I don't need your money. Need I remind you, I just saved your life. They could have killed you out there, and your money would not have saved you."
This made him go quiet for a moment. "But I don't understand. One moment Li Chen is laughing with me. The next moment, I hear shouting on the streets and Li Chen has disappeared."
"It sounds like she doesn't care much about you."
"Watch your tongue. She's my fiancee."
"Then where is she? Why isn't she here with you? Why are you here with me? What's not clicking?"
"You planned this, you stupid girl. You planned to kidnap me."
With a hiss, Ling-Jia turned her back on him and went to lean against the farthest wall. "You men have brought me nothing but grief. Have you always been so ungrateful?"
"Why would I be grateful to someone I don't even know?"
"You don't need to know me. I already told you my name, and I saved your life. If I wanted to harm you, I would have let those rioters discover and shoot you. I don't know you at all. Why would you assume I want your money? Just who the hell do you think you are?"
He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it, shoulders relaxing. Jia couldn't believe his audacity. She felt so hurt that she'd put her life on the line for this brute, and all for what? Not even a thank you.
"If you want to leave and get harmed, then please do." She opened the door. "The door was never locked."
He stood still. Unmoving.
Jia tilted her head to the side, and closed it back. "I thought so too."
"I... I'm so sorry. I didn't... I shouldn't have reacted that way to you. It's just that...do you not know who I am at all?"
"You're not important, Sir. Not everyone will know you."
His forehead creased. "It's hard to believe you, but you sound so sincere."
"I am sincere."
"I've heard that many times before."
"Only this time, it's your choice to believe or not."
"Okay, fine. Let's say you don't know me from anywhere. Why would you go out of your way to save me?"
"Because I have some humanity left in me?"
"Pfft."
"That's it, I'm done here. Stay or leave if you want. I don't care."
Dropping to her butt on the cold, tiled floor, Ling-Jia wrapped her arms around her knees to keep warm, a million thoughts buzzing in her head. The man sighed as he dropped down too, muttering to himself. "They won't leave me out here for long. Father and Wang will soon come to find me. I just know it."
Ling-Jia ignored him, her mind going back to Mei-Xin. She wondered if Mei was okay, praying in her heart for her to be safe. Her thoughts were interrupted by the man's singing, which sounded atrocious. "Cut that out. Someone might hear you."
"The streets are empty, and everyone would be asleep by now. There's no one who'd care."
"Don't be so sure. You're going to get us killed."
"Live a little. You fear too much."
"And you're just too reckless! Stop singing."
He ignored her, humming even louder. Ling-Jia exhaled, anger coursing through her veins, but there was nothing she could do. It seemed like he was going out of his way to make her angry, and she wouldn't give him that much satisfaction. "Fine. Do whatever you want."
He sang for a while. Ling-Jia rubbed her arms, the cold making her joints weak. She swatted at her arms and legs a couple of times to keep mosquitoes away, but they were so much, they buzzed and buzzed in her ears, ruining her sleep. They terrorized him too, and she was glad. "Let me guess, you've never slept outside your lush mansion before?" Ling-Jia asked with a chuckle.
"Well yes," he replied grudgingly.
"Such a weak man."
"So sorry I don't wish to suffer to be thought strong."
"This isn't suffering. It's not even close to the best kind of suffering out there."
"I don't care. I'm not used to this."
"But others are. I am."
"Good for you "
"Are you always so annoying?"
"Are you always this talkertive? Jesus, it must be one in the morning by now. Go to bed, and stop your whining. Li Chen isn't even this annoying."
"The same Li Chen who ran away and left you for dead?" Jia laughed. "You wish she cared."
"You're a stranger, so I'll let those words slide. You don't know her."
"I don't need to know her to know that — "
"Enough. Please. Let's just... end this."
"Fine."
They didn't speak to each other again for an hour more. Ling-Jia had given up sleep and was now content hearing him sing. He tapped his thighs as he sang softly. She could make out his huge frame in the darkness. He'd taken off his glasses, and his mint-green eyes glowed in the dark. Ling-Jia was fascinated by him. Fascinated by this strange man who still hasn't told her his name.
"Tao-Lin."
Ling-Jia had been dozing, finally, when that single word made her sit up suddenly. He adjusted himself on the floor. "The name's Tao-Lin."
"Tao-Lin, who?"
"Li Tao-Lin."
"Why did you suddenly decide to tell me your name?"
"Because I know yours."
"Just that?"
"Yes, Jia. Just...that."
"Okay."
She didn't believe him, but decided to let sleeping dogs lie. She fell asleep soon after, and woke up to find him towering over her. She gasped, almost pushing him back. "What are you doing? Why are you looking at me like that?"
He stared at her for a long moment. "You snore. Like a cute baby tiger."
"You're one annoying man."
He laughed, the sound deep and rich, and calming to Jia's ears. She didn't understand how he made her so infuriated one second, and calmed her the next. "That's one way to put it. Get up. It's almost five o clock in the morning, I believe."
Jia stood up and walked over to the door, taking a peek out. Sure enough, the sky was a deep blue. "But you can't see."
"Yes. For me, it has to do with the air. I know the air that comes with daylight. I can smell it."
Jia was intrigued. "Weirdo."
"I want to thank you so much for yesterday," he began solemnly. "You saved my life. How can I ever repay you, Ling-Jia?"
"You can start by being nice. Not everyone wants to hurt you, or want your money."
Tao-Lin looked like he wanted to say something, but held himself back. "Right. I'll keep that in mind."
"Good. We can't go out now. We still have to wait until people start showing up on the streets. Do you know your way home?"
"Er..." Tao-Lin scratched the back of his neck. "I think I'll be able to find my way home?"
"Are you sure? I can help you, if you won't be a jerk about it."
"I'm sure. You saved my life. That's enough."
A sharp gust of air poured in through the window, and Jia quivered, pressing her back against the concrete wall that was freezing cold. Tao-Lin's face contorted briefly into a confused expression. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said in a tired voice. "I'm just cold. So, so cold."
His lips straightened. He understood the situation now. "Can I help?"
Jia tried to laugh, but it came out like cold air against rusted metal. "How exactly?"
"Come here."
Before Jia could move an inch forward, Tao-Lin reached out for her, crushing her small frame against his softly. Her entire body went rigid as his warmth rubbed off on her. He tightened his hold on her, and she sighed, content.
Home. He smelt and felt like...home.