Late at night, even the slightest sound carried clearly.
The front door opened.
The women were back.
"That freshly cooked congee was so good. If it weren't so late, I could have another bowl." That was Li Lanxiang's voice.
"You already had three bowls, and that wasn't enough?" Zeng Haiyan sounded astonished.
"Are you pregnant?" Wei Zijin asked, half joking.
"I wish! But nothing's happened yet."
"Hurry up and get to bed, or your eyes will be puffy tomorrow and your skin will look dull. There's a big event tomorrow evening!"
Despite those words, their excitement clearly hadn't worn off.
Zeng Haiyan called toward the tea room.
"Qingyu said to come outside. She's waiting for you in the car!"
"She's taking you out for early morning wine."
Fan Qishan said nothing.
He simply stood and headed for the door.
His movements were brisk and decisive.
"Is this early morning wine or a midnight snack?"
Wang Xiaoliang asked Liu Xinyu as they headed downstairs.
"It's a little early. But... close enough."
A white Land Cruiser was parked outside the villa.
Its headlights were on, and the engine was still running with a low rumble.
Liu Xinyu hurried forward and opened the front passenger door.
Fan Qishan, Wang Xiaoliang, and Zhou Qiang climbed into the back.
The vehicle backed slowly out of the courtyard, somewhat cautiously, then joined the deserted road.
The car was quiet except for the sound of the engine.
Rows of streetlights swept past, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow inside.
Liu Xinyu looked at Yang Qingyu beside him as she concentrated on driving.
The shifting light and darkness brought out the contours of her profile.
"Are you... getting used to driving this car?" he asked, breaking the silence.
Yang Qingyu kept her eyes ahead.
"It's too big."