Shadows on the Roads

As the car rolled through the winding roads back to Xiaolong, the evening sky painted with stars, Li Mei's thoughts lingered. The dinner had been pleasant, filled with quiet conversation and shared moments of understanding, but there was one question that had been sitting at the back of her mind. She had to ask, even if it meant opening up a new door of vulnerability between them.

Breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them, Li Mei spoke softly, her fingers gently curling around the fabric of her dress. "Chen Wei," she began, her voice calm, yet filled with an underlying concern, "you mentioned your father's health earlier. How is he really doing? I know you've been balancing so much, with your work and everything... but I wanted to ask."

Chen Wei sat beside her in the backseat, his expression unreadable as he gazed out the window. His jaw tensed slightly before he answered. "He's... holding on," he replied, his tone quiet. "He's been pushing through, but I can see it. He's tired. And he's always been so stubborn, trying to downplay it, but..." He trailed off, a deep sigh escaping him. "I've been trying to get him to rest more, but it's like pulling teeth."

Yu Jian, behind the wheel, kept his eyes on the road, but his fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel. He was always observant, always listening. But tonight, he seemed particularly alert, his gaze flickering to the rearview mirror every so often.

Li Mei listened intently, her mind trying to grasp the weight of Chen Wei's words. She had seen the type of man he was—always strong, always capable, always the one people relied on—but hearing him speak of his father so honestly, without the usual facade of control, made her realize just how much he was shouldering.

"I can imagine how hard it must be," she said gently, her voice filled with empathy. "You've always carried so much for your family. But you don't have to do it all alone, Chen Wei. There are people who care, who are here for you."

Chen Wei turned his head slightly to meet her gaze, his eyes warm but tinged with weariness. "I know. But it's hard, Li Mei. My father's always been the one who took care of everything. I grew up watching him bear the weight of the world, and now... I can't help but feel like I should be doing the same." His voice faltered slightly, as if the weight of his own words had caught him off guard.

Li Mei's heart ached for him. She understood that kind of burden—having been independent for so long, doing everything on her own without asking for help. "You don't have to be everything for everyone," she said, her voice steady but soft. "You matter, too. You've always mattered. If you need to lean on others, it's okay. You don't have to carry it all by yourself."

Yu Jian's gaze flickered to the rearview mirror again. This time, his brows furrowed. He subtly adjusted the mirror, catching sight of a pair of headlights trailing behind them. The car had been there for a while now, maintaining an eerily steady distance. He said nothing, but his grip on the wheel tightened slightly.

For a long moment, Chen Wei didn't reply. The only sound was the hum of the car as it continued down the road. Li Mei could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken emotions swirling between them. She knew this wasn't a simple fix—it wasn't a matter of just telling him to take a break. But she hoped, in some small way, that her words had reached him.

"I'll try," Chen Wei finally said, his voice quiet, almost as if to himself. "I'll try to take care of myself more. But it's hard to shake the feeling that I have to be the one to hold everything together."

Li Mei nodded, her expression softening. "I understand. But just remember—you're not alone, even when it feels like it."

Yu Jian took a slow breath, keeping his voice steady. "We might have company."

Chen Wei immediately straightened, his previous exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "How long?"

"Fifteen minutes now. They're not overtaking, just keeping pace." Yu Jian's tone was calm, but there was an edge to it. He wasn't one to panic easily.

Li Mei glanced between them, sensing the shift in atmosphere. "Do you think—?"

"It could be nothing," Yu Jian cut in, though the way his eyes darkened suggested he didn't believe that. "Or it could be something."

The glow of the Xiaolong village lights was finally visible in the distance, but suddenly, the car behind them sped up, closing the gap between them.

Chen Wei clenched his jaw. "Stay calm. Let's not lead them straight to the village."

Yu Jian nodded, making a sharp turn onto a side road, the tires skidding slightly against the gravel. The pursuing car hesitated for a brief second before following.

Li Mei's heart pounded. She had no idea who was in that car or why they were following them, but one thing was certain—this was no coincidence.

And somewhere, in the shadows of the night, a plan was already in motion.