Master An

The evening air was chilly, making Ye Shuang rub his hands together instinctively.

Gazing at the brightly lit skyscrapers, he suddenly realized he’d forgotten something important—

He hadn’t driven here.

The Bentley that had brought Chen Qin earlier belonged to their company, and Ye Shuang couldn’t just drive it away when leaving. Returning it later would be a hassle.

“Hah… Are there even any cabs available at this hour?” Ye Shuang fished a candy from his pocket and popped it into his mouth. At this time, Yu You was probably already asleep.

He glanced at the nearby convenience store and muttered, “I really want a cigarette.”

But in the end, the chewing sensation and rationality won out.

After all, Yu You hated the smell of smoke.

The ride-hailing app on his phone remained unresponsive. Though the streets weren’t completely silent, there wasn’t a taxi in sight.

From Chen Qin’s company to his apartment, the fare would cost over 300 yuan.

“So far… It didn’t feel this long when I was driving,” Ye Shuang mused. “Maybe I should go back and borrow a car from Chen Qin…”

But considering she might already be fast asleep, he canceled the ride request and checked all available options—express, luxury, carpool—before downloading a few more ride-hailing apps to increase his chances.

Ding. Finally, a match.

[3 km away, estimated arrival in 6 minutes. Driver: An Shifu. Rating: 2.1 stars, surpassing 0% of drivers in the city.]

[Vehicle: Wuling Hongguang Battle Edition.]

Ye Shuang narrowed his eyes and gritted his molars, double-checking to make sure he hadn’t misread. He tapped the driver’s profile picture.

A familiar face appeared—An Shiyu, grinning with a peace sign.

Ye Shuang: “……”

A few minutes later, a pink-and-purple minivan pulled up in front of him.

Creak— The window rolled down with a grating sound, and the driver peered out, feigning surprise. “Oh? This passenger looks awfully familiar.”

Ye Shuang wordlessly opened the door and got in. “An shifu, indeed very familiar.”

Inside, the car was blasting a high-energy DJ remix of Phoenix Dancing in the Skies, interspersed with a hype man shouting, “Is the cement ready?!”

“Uncle, what are you doing here? Bar-hopping to pick up drunk girls?” An Shiyu seemed genuinely surprised to see him.

“With all these office buildings around, does this look like a bar district?” Ye Shuang’s lips twitched.

The girl was dressed casually—if “casual” meant looking like a delinquent straight out of Shibuya. Her outfit was covered in skull motifs and spiked accessories, giving off serious early-2000s emo vibes. Even her hair was a wig, with bangs so long they nearly covered her eyes.

Ye Shuang couldn’t even muster the energy to critique her fashion sense and opted for silence.

“It’s so late. Don’t you have class tomorrow?” he finally asked.

“No big deal,” An Shiyu replied nonchalantly. “I’ll just nap in the school infirmary.”

Ye Shuang: “……”

He closed his eyes, deciding to end the conversation.

Noticing his silence, An Shiyu didn’t push further. She stepped on the gas, and the car’s roaring engine noise jolted Ye Shuang’s eyes open.

“How does this thing even have engine sounds?!”

“Oh, just simulated exhaust notes. Y’know, like those electronic sound systems. Added a speaker, that’s all.”

“Why would you even—” Before he could finish, the minivan shot forward, hitting 100 km/h in three seconds.

“Wait, what kind of speaker is this?!”

An hour later—

Apartment building entrance.

“Uncle, don’t forget to leave a five-star review,” An Shiyu called out over the deafening engine roar as the pink-and-purple minivan vanished into the night.

Ye Shuang, pale-faced, leaned against a tree, fighting the urge to vomit. “That girl… Her existence is a torment to humanity.”

After silently giving her a one-star review and blacklisting her, he staggered toward the apartment.

The elevator ride up was a blur. Swiping his keycard, he pushed the door open quietly.

To his surprise, the apartment was still brightly lit. On the couch, a long-haired girl sat hugging a pillow.

“Ye Shuang…” Bai Yuyou, drowsy, immediately stood up when she saw him. Clutching the pillow, she shuffled over, her voice heavy with sleep. “You’re back…”

Ye Shuang glanced at the time—nearly 2 a.m.—before gently patting her head. “Yu You, why aren’t you asleep?”

“Waiting for you…”

“You have school tomorrow. Why wait up?” He noticed she was still in her uniform and hadn’t even showered.

Her eyes lowered, and she hugged the pillow tighter. “Missed you… couldn’t sleep…”

His heart softened. “Yu You, next time, just go to bed, okay?”

She nodded reflexively. “Mm.”

He wasn’t sure if she’d actually listen. Sighing, he ruffled her hair. “I’ll try to come home earlier from now on.”

Her eyes brightened slightly. “Okay…”

“Go shower. Skip washing your hair tonight—just sleep.”

“Ye Shuang, come too.”

“No.”

“Please…” She tugged his sleeve, her voice soft but pleading. “I’ll be good… I’ll wear a swimsuit…”

He relented. “Fine. Go change.”

After a quick rinse, they settled into the bathtub for a short soak.

Warm water sloshed gently, bobbing the rubber duckies on the surface. Bai Yuyou, with her hair pinned up and a bath cap on, sat on Ye Shuang’s lap, mesmerized by the floating toys. Her adorable focus made him think she could watch them all day.

Meanwhile, he massaged his sore shoulders, occasionally stealing glances at her damp, porcelain skin before closing his eyes again.

A few minutes later, Bai Yuyou slumped against the tub’s edge, dozing off.

“Couldn’t hold on any longer, huh?” Ye Shuang chuckled.