Jing An snorted at the suggestion, though his expression softened as he let out a long, slow sigh. "That's my daughter, my own precious girl. Of course she has to leave something for her old man."
The crimson BYD Song crept through the pitch-black night. The road was a mess of thick, clinging mud that churned under the weight of the car, the tires letting out a steady, rhythmic sloshing sound as they fought for traction. The water on the road was already twenty centimeters deep and sticky enough to make the act of driving a constant, taxing struggle.
The storm raged outside the glass, but the interior of the car was a pocket of warmth and peace. Jing An only ever turned on the heater when his wife and daughter were with him, the vents humming softly as they blew warm air into the cabin.
Jing Shu lay sprawled on the backseat, eyes closed as she focused on replenishing her energy. Beside her, Xiao Dou rested obediently in her custom travel nest. The hen had the heavy smoked ham still tied around her neck, but she didn't seem to mind as she carefully preened her feathers, making sure they remained sleek and shiny. Her tiny shoes were placed neatly underneath the edge of the nest, as if she were terrified of getting a single speck of dirt on the upholstery.
She really was a neat-freak of an old hen.
On the roof, the two huge suitcases were strapped down tight, dark silhouettes against the gray, sky.
The trip proceeded smoothly for the most part, though the state of the roads meant they arrived a little later than they had planned. By the time Jing Shu arrived, the operation team was already waiting by the Nanshan highway exit. Their target was impossible to miss. On the barren, muddy slope of Nanshan, the floodlights were so bright that they could be spotted from over a kilometer away, piercing through the gloom like artificial stars.
As Jing An brought the car to a stop, Yang Yang came jogging over through the mud to greet them. When he caught sight of Jing Shu, however, he froze for several seconds. He stared at her, his head tilting to the side. She was wrapped up so tightly in her winter gear that only her eyes were visible, blinking at him from between her scarf and cap. He wondered if it were truly that cold; to him, the temperature wasn't even that bad yet. The outfit seemed like a massive exaggeration.
"The captain and the others got here early," Yang Yang said, his breath ghosting in the air. "They were bored, so they went out for a walk. Hao Yunlai is still sleeping in the car."
Jing Shu blinked at him, her voice muffled. "Walk around? In this pitch-black mud pit? What is there to see, worms?"
Jing An moved with the energy of a father sending his daughter off to college for the first time. He shook hands firmly with Yang Yang, then began hauling her luggage out of the car. He moved with pride, though even with the strength he had gained from drinking the Spirit Spring water, the suitcases were incredibly heavy. They landed in the mud with a dull, wet thud.
Yang Yang reached out to try lifting one of the boxes, but he couldn't get it to budge. He quietly gave up on the attempt.
"Should I leave these on this minibus?" Jing An asked, his hand resting on the handle of the largest suitcase.
"Let's put them in the luggage compartment. That's her bed over there," Yang Yang replied. He let out a soft exhale of relief. At least Jing Shu hadn't brought a literal mountain of supplies this time, though the weight of these two cases suggested she hadn't exactly packed light either.
Jing Shu followed behind her father, her boots squelching in the mud. Xiao Dou trailed after her, marching like a little soldier with the ham swaying against her chest. The three of them boarded what looked like an ordinary, nondescript minibus from the outside.
She glanced at Yang Yang and felt a sudden shiver. It was well below freezing, yet he was dressed in high leather boots, a thin leather jacket, and a stylish cap that highlighted his long, lean frame. She couldn't understand how he wasn't freezing.
Inside, the minibus was a different world. It glowed with a warm, yellow light that made the space feel cozy and safe. The temperature was perfect, and the luxury of the interior was a stark contrast to the biting cold they had just left behind.
It was one of those rumored "low-profile luxury" custom minibuses. Certain powerful people preferred to travel in these vehicles; they appeared simple and unremarkable on the outside, but the interiors were lavishly appointed.
Unlike a standard minibus, there were no rows of passenger seats. The front half contained the driver's area and the door, but the co-driver's side had been heavily modified. There was an enlarged fuel tank and something that looked suspiciously like a set of bike pedals.
Jing Shu squinted at the mechanism. "Is that a bike pedal? What, are they planning to work out while driving?"
A tall man with broad shoulders sat behind the wheel. His muscles were so thick they seemed to be straining against the fabric of his jacket.
Yang Yang gestured toward him. "This is Hong Bin, one of our team members."
Hong Bin gave a small, awkward wave. Despite his massive build, he appeared surprisingly shy. When he spoke, his voice was high-pitched and carried a slightly childish quality that made the contrast with his physique even more striking.
Jing An reached into his bag and pulled out a boiled egg, offering it to the driver. "Please take care of my daughter. Here, have a warm egg first."
Hong Bin accepted the gift with a sheepish smile. "Don't worry, sir. We will make sure to look after all the ladies."
Jing Shu let out a small laugh. The interaction felt exactly like the moment a parent tries to bribe a dormmate on the first day of school.
The center of the bus was fitted with two sets of bunk beds built directly into the wall. A foldable table and a few chairs occupied the middle of the floor, and a large LCD TV was mounted above them. The space functioned like a mobile meeting room.
"Put your luggage in the connected storage compartment. You will take the lower bunk here. I'm next to you," Yang Yang said.
The others had already packed their luggage in tightly, which meant her cases had to be squeezed in near the door. It was the price she paid for arriving after the others.
Jing An wiped the sweat from his forehead after he finished stowing the heavy boxes. He took out her luxury tent and began setting up her private sleeping area on the bunk. Jing Shu stood quietly behind him, her hands folded as she watched. She maintained the image of an obedient girl who couldn't lift a finger to help.
Hao Yunlai was snoring on the bunk above her, completely dead to the world. Since he didn't seem to be trapped in a nightmare, she decided it was best not to wake him.
Once Jing An confirmed that her tent was warm and the setup was perfect, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Alright, sweetheart. I'm heading back now. Be careful out there."
"Got it, Dad. Don't worry, I will be fine."
He lingered by the door for a moment, chatting with Yang Yang as if he were reluctant to leave, before he finally climbed back into his car and drove off.
Yang Yang turned his attention back to her. "Anyway, let me show you around the bus since we will be living here for a few days."
Jing Shu was impressed. Being able to stay in a minibus like this was a significant luxury. She had mentally prepared herself for the possibility of having to walk through the snow if the roads became impassable.
"The back half is packed with supplies and weapons," Yang Yang explained, walking toward the rear. "We have compressed biscuits, energy bars, gasoline, and water. There's no resupply point along the way. Our main goal is to find the ship convoy and deliver these supplies. Once we meet up, we will figure out what went wrong."
Jing Shu nodded slowly. If they found the convoy and brought the food, that would be ideal. If they couldn't, at least they would deliver the supplies and then coordinate a rescue.
"Don't worry, there's a satellite link in the back, so we won't lose contact with the city. Once we locate the convoy, the hardest part is over," he said.
She nodded again. The news was reassuring.
"Oh, one more thing. Water is limited to one liter per person per day," Yang Yang added.
"No problem," she said. It was an easy requirement to meet, considering she still had plenty of water stored away in her Cube Space.
Once they finished discussing the mission details, they began to gossip. On the opposite side of the bunks stood a ridiculously fancy space capsule bed, separated from the rest of the cabin by a small divider for privacy.
"That one is for our captain," Yang Yang explained.
Jing Shu understood immediately. She had noticed the gaudy structure the moment she stepped onto the bus. Her own tent was practical and sturdy, but this was on another level. The entire capsule was inlaid with shimmering diamonds. She wondered how extravagant one person could possibly get.
"It was carried up here by a special crew. He apparently takes it everywhere with him," Yang Yang said with a smirk.
"So he really is a spoiled rich boy, huh? He knows how to enjoy life, though. I have to admit, it's way fancier than Wu You'ai's setup. It looks even roomier too."
She pulled out her phone and snapped a few pictures, the screen light reflecting in her eyes. "I'm definitely showing this to Wu You'ai."