Chapter 56: Bon Voyage

Xu Lin did not know the area. He weaved through the crisscrossing alleys for a while until the path finally opened onto a main road. He looked back. Ji Jinxuan was not following. For now, he had shaken him off.

But before he could relax for more than a few seconds, a new worry set in.

He had escaped, but now he had nowhere to go. Without an ID card, he could not move freely in the capital. The airport and the dock were out of the question—if he went there, he would be stopped just like last time, and all his efforts would be wasted.

He had been relieved when Shuangshuang contacted him. If they could meet, she would surely find a way to help him. But now… she was probably powerless too.

Xu Lin stopped by a bridge when he felt something strange in his pocket. The phone was vibrating, ringing insistently.

He paused, picked it up, and answered.

As soon as the call connected, Shuangshuang’s voice burst through, “Xu Lin! Are you okay?”

Hearing her voice for real, he could not help but smile. “I’m fine. What about you?”

“I’m okay, but I have to be quick.” She spoke rapidly, without pausing for breath. “I wanted to hand the stuff to you myself, but my brother caught me. I’m only able to call you now because he’s out. I only have this one chance, so listen carefully.

“You have to get to Xiangbao Dock in the capital by four tomorrow afternoon. Look for a small shop that sells orange soda. I’ve already arranged everything. Just show the pocket watch to the shopkeeper, and he’ll give you the package. I’ve prepared a boat ticket, clothes, money, and a fake ID card for you. Once you have them, don’t waste a second—get on the boat immediately. Even after you’re on the boat, you’re not completely safe. You still need to be careful. The boat will dock at Huakou Port in District Nine. I can only get you that far. After that, you’ll have to figure out the rest on your own.”

Xu Lin felt a whirlwind of emotions. “Is it really okay for you to help me this much?”

Shuangshuang laughed. “Don’t worry. My brother might have a bad temper, but he still protects me. That bastard Ji Jinxuan wouldn’t dare do anything to me.”

They both fell silent.

After a long moment, Shuangshuang said, “I probably won’t be able to call you after this. Keep the tracker on. I’ll be able to see where you are. As long as you’re moving, I’ll know you’re safe. Once you’re sure you’re safe, throw away the phone and the watch.”

“Maybe someday…” She paused for two seconds, then murmured, “Maybe someday we’ll meet again.”

Xu Lin’s voice faltered. “Shuangshuang, I…”

She seemed to know what he was going to say and cut him off. “I know. You don’t owe me anything. I’m helping you because I want to. I’m doing it willingly.

“Even though you won’t be around anymore, and there might not be anyone to ride motorcycles with me, that’s okay. It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad I got to know you.”

She said, “You wanted to go home, right? Go home.”

“Bon voyage, Xu Lin.”

After giving her instructions, Zong Ningshuang quickly hung up.

She crouched in the corner of the study, clutching the phone, crying silently. She did not dare make a sound. After a while, she wiped her tears, afraid her brother would return and find her there, and snuck the phone back to its original place.

Outside the study door, Zong Xi leaned quietly against the wall, listening to his sister’s barely audible sobs. He took a deep drag from the cigarette between his lips. The smoke curled around him, blurring his expression.

Xu Lin put the phone away and was about to head to Xiangbao Dock as Shuangshuang had said. He was still on the bridge when he put his helmet back on and suddenly noticed several black cars approaching fast in the distance. They seemed to be heading straight for him.

His instincts screamed danger. He twisted the throttle and accelerated away.

The wind roared in his ears. The scenery blurred past. A dark shadow flickered in his peripheral vision—the fastest of the black cars had overtaken him, swerving in front of him, tires screeching against the pavement as the car skidded sideways to block his path.

Xu Lin did not even blink. He squeezed the brakes, slowing down as if preparing to stop. The black car that had cut him off seemed to think they had succeeded. An Alpha stepped out, waiting to take him away.

But Xu Lin changed his mind in an instant. He twisted the throttle, the engine roaring, and spun around, heading straight for the other black cars behind him.

The pursuing cars, seeing him coming head-on with no sign of braking, swerved to avoid a collision. They screeched to a halt, blocking the road in a chaotic jumble of horns and screeching tires.

Xu Lin used the chaos to weave through the gaps between the cars and escape.

But he had not gone far before the cars recovered and clung to him again like shadows.

His teeth itched with frustration. He drove off the bridge and, without a second thought, plunged into the woods beside the road.

The woods were crisscrossed with gravel paths meant for pedestrians. Xu Lin did not know the terrain. On a sharp turn, he took it too fast. The gravel skittered beneath his tires, he lost his balance, and with a yell, he and the bike tumbled down a slope.

The black cars screeched to a halt at the edge. A group of Alphas rushed out, flashlights in hand, and scrambled down after him.

The grass and branches at the bottom of the slope were crushed and broken, the earth churned up. They pushed aside tangled deadwood and finally found his bike.

It was wrecked, wedged between two trees, gasoline dripping onto the ground.

Xu Lin was nowhere to be seen.

“Search everywhere!”

With the bike in such bad shape, they were afraid he might be injured too. If he had hit his head or hurt his limbs and passed out from the pain, he would have to go to the hospital. Just thinking about being responsible for Xu Lin getting hurt because they had chased him—

A chill ran down their spines.

The Alphas searched frantically through the woods.

At the bottom of the slope was an artificial lake. In spring, the scenery was beautiful, and many people came here to boat, picnic, and camp.

In their panic, the Alphas only searched the woods and did not look toward the lake. None of them noticed—

The surface of the lake rippled with a spreading ring of water, and a few bubbles rose from below.

Ten minutes later, a soft splash sounded from the opposite shore.

In the darkness, dripping wet, Xu Lin climbed out of the water, gasping for breath.

He wiped the water from his face and looked back. He could still see the flickering flashlight beams in the woods across the way.

He snorted, shook off the water, and ran.

His whole body ached. There was no way he had come out of that fall unscathed. He found a spot, stripped off his clothes, and saw bruises and scrapes all over his body, some still bleeding. He hissed through his teeth and cursed Ji Jinxuan under his breath. He wrung out his clothes, let them air-dry for a bit, and put them back on.

The bike was gone. The gun he had taken from the bodyguard was lost in the water.

But at least the watch and the phone were still safe.

There was always a way.

He checked the map. From where he was, walking to Xiangbao Dock would take a few hours. That was fine. As long as he was not caught or interrupted, he could walk through the night and get there.

Without hesitation, he rolled up his sleeves and set off, following the map step by step. He deliberately stuck to the smaller paths, which would take longer but were safer and more concealed.

By nine in the morning, he finally caught sight of the dock.

His legs were sore. He rested for a while in the shade by the roadside, then walked around until he found the small shop Shuangshuang had mentioned. The shop that sold orange soda. It was a very unassuming little place.

But then again, Shuangshuang had always been different from the people of the capital. She liked street food, so orange soda was probably to her taste too.

Xu Lin waited until there were no customers in the shop before going in. Following Shuangshuang’s instructions, he showed the pocket watch to the shopkeeper. The owner glanced at it, did not take it, did not speak. He only nodded and handed Xu Lin a large black sealed bag from under the counter.

He asked no questions. Xu Lin said nothing.

He took the bag and left. They were like two mutes who understood each other perfectly.

Xu Lin took the bag to a corner, hid behind a billboard, and opened it.

Inside was a paper boat ticket and an ID card. He looked at the card’s information and paused. He peered into the bag and saw the clothes Shuangshuang had prepared for him.

He held back his words.

Fine. He would wear it. As long as it let him leave.

The boat was scheduled for 5:30 in the afternoon.

Xu Lin spent the entire day hiding in inconspicuous corners, alert for any suspicious people, dreading that Ji Jinxuan might track him down.

But fortunately, luck was on his side today.

At five o’clock, he changed into the clothes, followed the ticket information, and located the enormous cruise ship. At the gate, the staff checked his ticket, scanned the ID card against the reader. Xu Lin kept his hat brim pulled low and held his breath.

The green light lit up.

He passed through successfully.

Merging with the crowd, he boarded the cruise ship he had only ever seen on television.

As he climbed the steps, a staff member smiled and politely offered his arm. “Careful on the steps, miss.”

“…” Xu Lin placed his hand on the staff member’s arm and, playing along, used the support to lift his skirt and step aboard.

The ship was enormous.

It had eighteen decks. Xu Lin was like a tiny ant hidden within it.

The room Shuangshuang had arranged for him was on the thirteenth deck. A balcony room with a good view and good privacy.

As soon as he was on the ship, Xu Lin went into the room and locked the door.

He bit his fingers nervously, waiting.

At 5:30, the ship set sail on time.

Only when the boat began to move did Xu Lin allow himself to smile.

He walked out onto the balcony and watched the capital shrink into a distant black dot, then disappear entirely. Until he was completely surrounded by the vast, deep blue ocean, he was lost in thought.

He closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and inhaled the salty sea breeze.

Was this a dream?

He had left the capital. He had finally escaped that place.

Xu Lin smiled, gripped the balcony railing, took a deep breath, and shouted at the sea. The excited cry was swallowed by the crashing waves.

After shouting, he collapsed onto the bed in a starfish position.

He had forgotten he was wearing a dress. The movement was too big, and the waist constricted him.

He thought he had torn the clothes, so he hurried to the bathroom to check the mirror.

In the mirror, he wore a long black dress with dark patterns, the hem brushing the floor. On his head was a feathered hat with a lace veil.

He had never expected Shuangshuang to prepare this kind of outfit.

The ID card was forged. He was no longer Xu Lin, but a woman named “Alice.”

Xu Lin tugged at the wig on his head. Only Shuangshuang would come up with such an outrageous idea.

Although walking in a dress was awkward, it was the best option for now. He could use this disguise to avoid suspicion during the ten or so days on the ship.

Thinking of Shuangshuang, he took out the pocket watch she had given him. She had not called him again. Her brother was probably keeping close watch on her.

[Bon voyage, Xu Lin.]

Xu Lin smiled and murmured, “I will.”