Chapter Twenty-Six: Foul Play

Now that she was grown, whenever she caught sight of that agreement, she couldn’t help but run her fingers over the two bright red fingerprints. Sometimes she would think, if her father could wake up, she would have to see who was taller—they had never cared about that before, but now it seemed so important.

The doctor’s words were always the same, but Xiaoxiao listened with particular attentiveness. Even though her father’s condition showed no improvement, she felt that maintaining the status quo was a blessing. In a way, her father was her driving force. No matter how difficult work became, she pressed on, just as her father had always smiled at her through hardship and exhaustion when she was a child.

After every visit to her father, Xiaoxiao felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She would drive home at her leisure, enjoying the tail end of dusk. People rushing about always seemed to cherish these moments—the promise of dinner, the evening soap opera, and then the comfort of drifting quietly to sleep after turning off the TV. She had traveled the road from the hospital to home countless times, yet tonight felt as if she’d stumbled into a labyrinth. She couldn’t find her way out. In just a few days, several roads had mysteriously sprouted “No Left Turn” signs. Obediently turning right or going straight, she found herself circling farther and farther from home.

Night had fallen completely, and she was still lost. Helpless, she parked by the roadside, contemplating whether she should simply walk home. Just then, she heard someone call her name. Glancing around, she saw Xi Mintang step out of his own car across the street. Crossing the busy road, he was soon before her.

“Standing by the roadside, enjoying the scenery all by yourself?” Xi Mintang seemed in good spirits. Xiaoxiao found the situation oddly amusing—he always seemed to show up right on cue whenever she had car trouble. Sensing her predicament, he glanced at her car and asked, “It’s not broken down again, is it?”

“No, it’s just that all of a sudden there are ‘No Left Turn’ signs everywhere. I can’t find my way home.”

“You must never watch the news,” he said, standing with her by the curb. “There have been a lot of complaints about the new restrictions these past few days.” Somehow, knowing she wasn’t the only one stranded made her feel better. Noticing her car was parked just inside the line, Xi Mintang didn’t hesitate. He opened her door, turned off the engine, took out the key, locked it, and handed it to her. Bewildered, Xiaoxiao wondered if he was suggesting she walk home after all. But Xi Mintang said, “Here, take it. I’ll drive you home.”

“How?” she asked.

“By car, of course!” he replied, pulling her across the street without giving her a chance to protest. He ushered her into his car, asked for her address, and instructed, “Fasten your seatbelt, sit tight, and no matter what happens, don’t panic.”

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

“Take you home, of course.” He was all smiles, but Xiaoxiao had a premonition that something reckless was about to happen. She clutched at her seat, her nerves taut. He started the car, set the navigation, and made a U-turn at the next intersection. Xiaoxiao saw the glaring “No Left Turn” sign ahead, but Xi Mintang showed no intention of changing lanes. She suddenly understood his plan and cried, “Don’t do it!” But it was too late. Seizing a gap in traffic, he gripped the wheel and executed a flawless left turn. The intersection camera flashed, capturing evidence of their violation. In the midst of the orderly traffic, they became the outliers. Xiaoxiao clung to the door handle, fear and excitement mingling in her chest, her heart pounding with a wild, exhilarating sense of having burst free from society’s invisible cage.