198: Chapter 198 Xia Ran's Tribe

Morning

Baili Qing spent a full two hours mentally preparing herself in her room.

She kept practicing the conversation in front of the bathroom mirror:

“G-Good morning...”

Is the voice too soft?

“...Good morning.”

Is the tone a bit too flat?

“Morning.”

After practicing twenty times, she finally summoned the courage to go out, intending to "bump into" Qi Yun.

But she waited in the lobby for twenty minutes and didn't see him.

She paced in front of the exclusive elevator for another fifteen minutes, and still didn't see him.

Could it be that he hasn't woken up yet?

After hesitating repeatedly, Baili Qing finally shuffled to the front desk.

This was her least favorite part—having to talk to people.

Baili Qing slowly edged over, head lowered, and said in a voice as quiet as a mosquito's buzz:

“...Excuse me... who is the guest in the other Tianlong suite?”

The girl at the front desk was stunned for a moment. She took a closer look at her, recognized her as that "special client," and immediately put on a respectful smile:

“I'm sorry, that's guest privacy, and I cannot disclose it.”

Baili Qing's fingers picked at the cuff of her worn shirt: “...I, I have something to discuss with him.”

The front desk girl shook her head: “I am very sorry, but the guest already checked out and left this morning. As for the guest's whereabouts, we cannot reveal any more.”

Checked out?!

Left?!

Baili Qing suddenly looked up, her eyes widening from behind her hair: “When?!”

“About two hours ago.”

The girl was startled by her sudden movement, but her professional training allowed her to maintain her smile.

A wave of disappointment washed over Baili Qing. Why did he leave so suddenly?

...

A motorcycle, like a black beast, carved a straight line down the deserted highway.

“There's a straight road ahead!” Xia Ran cheered excitedly, her body's curves fully revealed—a slender yet powerful waist, a full hip line, and long, firm legs.

Qi Yun sat on the back seat, his arms wrapped around her waist.

As the speed soared, Xia Ran's body pressed tightly against him with every acceleration and turn, her heat and elasticity felt through the thin fabric of their clothes.

Qi Yun's fingertips began to grow restless.

“Hey!” Xia Ran shouted without looking back, her voice lost in the wind. “Keep your hands to yourself!”

Qi Yun chuckled low, the vibration of his chest traveling through her back.

Instead of backing off, he pushed his luck, pressing his entire palm against her flat belly.

“Xia Ran, you weren't saying that last night.”

Xia Ran's ears turned red instantly.

“Last night was last night! Now is now! I'm driving!” she gritted her teeth, her voice carrying a tremor of embarrassment and anger.

“And so?” Qi Yun's palm remained firmly against her lower abdomen, even mischievously applying a bit of pressure to press her more tightly against himself.

“Not on the bike? Then... shall we pull over?”

“In your dreams!” Xia Ran's words were fierce, but her body softened slightly under his palm.

She could feel the warmth of his palm through the fabric, comforting her most sensitive waist and abdomen, while the sensation of his fingertips grazing the edges made her legs feel weak.

“Who was the one wrapping their legs around my waist last night and wouldn't let me go? Hmm?”

“Shut up!” Xia Ran felt like she was about to go up in flames.

Images of last night flooded her mind uncontrollably.

Sensing her change, Qi Yun gave a low laugh and pressed his palm directly against the skin of her waist.

“Hiss—” Xia Ran gasped.

“Qi Yun...” Her voice softened, carrying a hint of pleading.

Hearing Xia Ran's plea, Qi Yun smiled with satisfaction and stopped his movements.

Xia Ran breathed a sigh of relief, then twisted the handle, her pink hair flying in the wind once again.

Facing the wind and the city waiting for her, she shouted loudly:

“Xiguang! Your Great Auntie is back—!!!”

Her voice echoed across the wilderness, startling a flock of birds.

Ahead, the outline of the city grew clearer.

The motorcycle entered the city.

It was evident that the city was well-developed.

But a subtle tension permeated the air.

People walked quickly, rarely spoke, and mostly kept their eyes downcast.

And some people with the Xiguang emblem on their sleeves had an obvious arrogance in their eyes.

“Should we find a place to stay first?” Qi Yun asked.

“I want to go back to the Tribe first and take a look,” Xia Ran said with a hint of anticipation.

She knew the way.

Although the streets had widened and the city had grown, the layout of the main roads hadn't changed.

She pulled out a black mask to put on and pulled her hat brim down lower.

“Want to give them a surprise?” Qi Yun asked.

“Yeah,” Xia Ran's voice came through the mask, muffled but unable to hide her anticipation and nervousness.

“I want to see how everyone has been doing in the three years I've been gone.”

The motorcycle followed the route in her memory towards the city center.

The further in they went, the wider the streets and the more magnificent the buildings became.

The frequency of the Silver Wing emblem also increased.

Soon, Xia Ran spotted a familiar figure.

The motorcycle stopped at a crossroad to wait for a red light.

Xia Ran's gaze unconsciously swept across the street corner and then suddenly froze.

That person...!

Tall and thin, slightly hunched, always liked to let his hair cover his eyes—it's Xiao Liu!

The Xiao Liu who always practiced until he cried! He's still alive! And he seems to be doing well?

Xia Ran's heart pounded wildly, and the corners of her mouth under the mask involuntarily curled up.

That's great! He's still alive!

In that rearguard battle back then, she had stayed behind with the determination to die.

Xiao Liu was the last person to evacuate. With red eyes, he told her: “Sister Ran, I-I'll wait for you in the back! You must, you must come back alive!”

She had broken her promise.

But it was enough that he was alive.

Xia Ran almost wanted to rush over immediately and shout, “Xiao Liu! I'm back!”

But just then, she saw Xiao Liu turn his head and say something to a girl beside him.

Hearing Xiao Liu's words, the girl immediately crouched down and hurriedly tried to untie the laces on Xiao Liu's shoes.

Her fingers were shaking, and her movements were clumsy.

Xiao Liu waited for two seconds, clicked his tongue impatiently, and suddenly raised his foot—

“Bang!”

That kick landed squarely on the girl's shoulder.

The girl cried out, kicked back two rolls, and hit a roadside trash can with a dull thud.

The smile on Xia Ran's face froze.

But Xiao Liu didn't even look at the girl. He just frowned irritably, bent down to tie his own shoelaces, and muttered curses:

“Damn it, useless trash. Even tying a shoelace is so slow. I have to do everything myself...”

The girl had already struggled to her feet.

She seemed used to it; there was no anger or grievance on her face, only numb fear.

Before she could even brush the dust off herself, she crawled back to Xiao Liu's feet on all fours. As he bent down to tie his shoelaces, she crawled in front of him, using her body as a platform so he could stand more steadily.

Xiao Liu's left foot stepped directly on her lower back.

He unhurriedly tied his shoelaces, even making a point of tying a complex knot, before moving his foot away and patting his pant leg.

“At least you're sensible.”

Leaving those words behind, he turned and was about to leave.

There were many pedestrians waiting for the red light at the intersection, and many saw what happened.

But their reactions were surprisingly consistent: they quickly looked away and hurried on.

No one spoke up, no one stopped him, and no one even dared to take a second look.

It was as if this scene were perfectly normal.