"Obviously I saw them. That car behind us was sneaking around, trying to act casual. They had some skill, but they couldn't get past my eyes."
The wiry young driver wasn't particularly polite and sounded rather defiant.
"Could you describe the car and what its driver looks like?"
Xia Xu didn't mind and continued asking in an even tone.
"A white van, license plate XXXXXX. The driver's middle-aged and looks pretty honest and down-to-earth, but he's definitely following us.
"Telling you this won't do much good. You'd better call the police for this beauty right away, or have someone come pick her up. Otherwise, I can't guarantee her safety."
The wiry driver spoke without turning his head as he drove.
"How much do you make a month driving?"
Hearing the license plate number, Xia Xu had completely confirmed the identity of the person following them. He was even less worried now and asked with interest.
"Why are you asking? You're not with that guy behind us, are you? Trying to buy me off?"
The wiry young driver frowned and spoke disdainfully, raising his voice a little as though trying to warn Chen Leyao.
"I wouldn't call it buying you off. The person behind you does work for me, but this is a misunderstanding. Never mind, just give me a moment."
Xia Xu found this rather amusing, but the young man's upright manner also made him like him a little more. Without explaining further, he hung up and made another call.
Before long, the white van following the taxi suddenly accelerated and caught up with the van Chen Leyao was riding in. It kept pace alongside them, and its driver gestured for Chen Leyao in the back seat to open her window.
Chen Leyao hesitated, but remembering what Xia Xu had