A Fall

Jian and Lu Siyan arrived at yet another betting den—this one hidden deeper in the underbelly of the city, shrouded in secrecy, yet dripping with opulence. The air was thick with cigar smoke and the electric tension of high-stakes gambling. Holographic displays cast shifting patterns of neon light across the faces of the wealthy elite, their whispers a mix of cold calculations and feverish desperation.

The cricket match was in full swing, every run like a pulse in the heart of the room, every wicket a shockwave rippling through the crowd. Some clenched their fists, others gritted their teeth—fortunes teetered on the edge of each delivery.

Jian navigated the crowd like a predator through tall grass, his eyes scanning, his mind running probabilities at lightning speed. Lu Siyan, barely able to contain his excitement, followed closely, gripping the details of their carefully orchestrated match-fixing scheme as if it were a sacred text.

At one of the high-stakes betting tables, a group of well-dressed men leaned over live stats, murmuring in hushed tones.

"The odds are shifting," one murmured, a nervous edge in his voice. "AOU is gaining momentum."

"Nonsense," another scoffed, swirling a glass of expensive liquor. "POA always pulls through."

Jian stepped forward, exuding quiet authority. "Gentlemen," he said smoothly, "you're both wrong."

Eyebrows lifted. A few exchanged glances. "Oh?" one of them drawled, amused but wary. "And what makes you so sure?"

Jian's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. "Let's just say," he said, voice dripping with confidence, "I have… privileged information. AOU is not just going to win. They're going to obliterate the competition."

With a measured, almost theatrical movement, he placed a significant stack of cash on the table. The gleam of money turned skeptical expressions into intrigued ones.

Lu Siyan, emboldened by Jian's confidence, threw down his own bet, though his hands trembled slightly.

The room collectively turned toward the displays as the match reached its peak. And then—it happened. Against all odds, AOU surged forward with a performance so commanding it left even seasoned gamblers breathless. Gasps, then cheers, then stunned silence.

The final run was scored.

Jian and Lu Siyan locked eyes. They had done it.

A moment later, they stepped out into the night, pockets heavy with their winnings. The world outside felt eerily still compared to the feverish chaos they had just left behind. They found themselves at the gates of a college—silent, almost indifferent to their illicit triumph.

But someone was waiting.

Perched atop a large tree, Su Luqi watched them with feline ease, her posture languid, her sharp eyes sweeping the surroundings. In her taxi driver persona, she looked effortlessly in place—like a stray cat finding the perfect vantage point.

Lu Siyan spotted her and grinned. "Su Luqi!" he called, voice bright with excitement. "What are you doing up there?"

Without hesitation, he started scrambling up the tree, enthusiasm far outpacing his skill. He was nearly within reach when—

A blur of movement. A sharp kick.

Lu Siyan yelped as he tumbled backward, limbs flailing, gravity yanking him down.

And then—before impact—a flash of motion.

Su Luqi descended like a shadow, catching him midair in a flawless princess carry. Her grip was firm, her expression unreadable.

For a long second, Lu Siyan could only stare, his face heating under the weight of both embarrassment and awe.

Su Luqi held his gaze for a beat before effortlessly setting him back on his feet.

"Perhaps," she said evenly, "you should leave tree climbing to professionals."

A chuckle echoed in Lu Siyan's mind as the AI hummed with amusement. "Ah, the eternal battle between man and gravity. Score: Gravity—one, Lu Siyan—zero."

Still dazed, Lu Siyan ran a hand through his hair, searching for words. "I—uh—thanks. Didn't see that coming."

"Clearly," Su Luqi deadpanned.

Jian, watching from a few feet away, smirked. With an almost imperceptible nod to Lu Siyan—You're on your own—he turned and disappeared down the street.

Lu Siyan barely noticed, his attention still locked on Su Luqi. "So," he said, still catching his breath, "do you always hang out in trees?"

"Only when necessary," she replied, scanning the area like she hadn't just caught and dropped a full-grown man without breaking a sweat.

"Necessary for what?"

"Observation."

"Observation of…?"

Su Luqi's lips twitched ever so slightly. "Traffic patterns."

Lu Siyan squinted. "…Traffic patterns?"

"And bird watching," she added, expression utterly serious.

He blinked. "In the middle of the city?"

"There are many species of urban avians," she said smoothly. "Most people overlook them."

The AI chuckled again. "A treetop rendezvous and an impromptu lesson in avian appreciation. What a productive day."

Lu Siyan grinned, shaking his head. "You know, you're really something else, Su Luqi."

She glanced at him through the rearview mirror as she slid into the driver's seat of her taxi, the faintest ghost of a smile playing on her lips.

"I'm a taxi driver," she said neutrally. "I take people from point A to point B."

"Yeah, but not just any taxi driver," Lu Siyan mused. "You're… different."

"Different how?"

"I don't know," he admitted, studying her. "You're just you."

A pause.

"And that," he added with a lopsided grin, "is a good thing."

Su Luqi didn't respond right away. The city lights flickered in her eyes, reflecting something unreadable—something distant, as if she were weighing the meaning behind Lu Siyan's words. Then, with the smooth efficiency of someone accustomed to steering both vehicles and conversations, she started the taxi.

"Where to?" she asked, her voice cool, professional.

Lu Siyan hesitated, then laughed. "Honestly? I have no idea."

"Then let's take the scenic route."

The taxi rolled into motion, gliding through the neon-lit streets like a specter. The hum of the city filled the space between them—distant sirens, the muffled bass of a club, the rhythmic clicking of traffic lights switching from red to green.

Lu Siyan leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head. "So, Su Luqi… do you always rescue guys from trees, or was I just special?"

A flicker of amusement crossed her face. "You're special," she said. "Most people don't climb trees without knowing how to get down."

"Ouch." Lu Siyan clutched his chest dramatically. "Wounded."

"Yet alive."

"Thanks to you."

She didn't respond, her focus on the road, but the corners of her lips twitched ever so slightly.

Lu Siyan tilted his head. "You know, I've been trying to figure you out since we met. You're not just a taxi driver, are you?"

Su Luqi gave him a sidelong glance. "You ask a lot of questions."

"That's not a denial."

She didn't answer. Instead, she turned the wheel sharply, guiding the taxi onto a quieter road lined with old bookstores and dimly lit cafés. The shift in atmosphere was almost tangible—less chaos, more hidden stories.

"You talk like someone who knows too much," Lu Siyan mused, watching her carefully. "And you move like someone who's used to being watched."

Su Luqi tapped her fingers against the steering wheel. "And you talk like someone who wants answers he might regret finding."

A slow grin spread across Lu Siyan's face. "Now that sounds interesting."

For the first time that night, Su Luqi actually chuckled—a low, brief sound, but it sent a strange thrill down Lu Siyan's spine.

"You like danger, don't you?" she asked, eyes flicking toward him in the mirror.

"I like mysteries," he corrected.

She hummed, considering his words. Then, as if making a decision, she pressed a button on the dashboard.

The taxi's meter shut off.

The streetlights outside seemed dimmer now, or maybe it was just the sudden shift in atmosphere—the quiet, expectant tension curling between them.

"Alright, Lu Siyan," Su Luqi said, her voice softer, almost teasing. "Let's see how much of a mystery you can handle."

And with that, she turned the taxi down an unmarked road, taking him somewhere that was nowhere on the map.