Just as Hua Xiaomo stepped forward to hug the smiling girl, Dong Xiaoyou quickly moved away from her, still smiling. "Hey, you're really something! You clearly jumped down on your own, yet you still wanted me to bring tools? Was your room on the tenth floor, or even higher? It was only the second floor, you know!"
"Hehe... my intentions weren't just for the 'wine'..." Hua Xiaomo said with a roguish grin, slinging an arm over Dong Xiaoyou's shoulder. "Come on, go clubbing with me. Today has been so frustrating!"
"What's wrong? Didn't you say you wanted to enjoy your birthday, just the two of you?"
"Yeah, just the two of us. Me and you..." Hua Xiaomo smiled bitterly.
Hearing this, Dong Xiaoyou's eyes widened. "Yang Junze? What happened with you two?"
"Ugh, don't even mention that rotten scumbag! I hate his guts," Hua Xiaomo said, quickly walking towards a section of the courtyard wall. Looking at the item in her hand, she gave Dong Xiaoyou a mischievous grin. "See? This will come in handy now, won't it?"
Dong Xiaoyou, dressed in white, laughed. "Exactly! That's how I got in, and it looks like I'll have to get out the same way."
"Tsk, tsk. My angel in white really has it rough..." Hua Xiaomo chuckled.
Soon, both girls had vaulted over the wall.
Hua Xiaomo had just steadied herself when she spotted a burgundy Mercedes sports car parked by the roadside.
"Wow, an S350 model!" Hua Xiaomo's eyes lit up at the sight of the car. She walked over to the rear window, but a closer look made her eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.
The man's head happened to be resting against the window closest to them, allowing her a clear view. He had shoulder-length hair, and the lines of his profile were sharp and exquisite...
The man inside the car seemed to hear something. He lifted his head, and his gaze met hers through the window.
Hua Xiaomo stared at him, her mind going blank. He had a face like a K-pop idol, but she couldn't quite remember where she had seen him before.
Dong Xiaoyou stepped forward and grabbed her. "Stop staring! Let's get out of here, quick!"
"Ugh! What are *they* doing here..." Hua Xiaomo grumbled, feeling a strong urge to protest.
"This is the roadside... anyone can be here... It's better if we mind our own business," Dong Xiaoyou said with a smile as she opened the door to a black sedan parked nearby. "Quick, get in!"
"Ugh, your Chery looks so shabby next to that thing!" Hua Xiaomo laughed.
"Don't mention it; this isn't even my car. I borrowed it from my boss," Dong Xiaoyou said. As she spoke, she released the handbrake, shifted into gear, and the car quickly sped off.
"You borrowed it from your boss? That's strange, Xiao You. You're not usually one to borrow things, especially not a car just to go out. Can you even afford to run a car on your salary?" Hua Xiaomo looked at her best friend, well aware of her personality.
Dong Xiaoyou laughed. "Actually, my boss saw I live pretty far out. He was worried I'd be late or miss important things if I kept taking the bus, so he lent it to me."
"Oh... to have such a kind-hearted boss..." Hua Xiaomo chuckled, then said mysteriously, "You'd better be careful; he might have his eye on you! Maybe he's planning to make a move!"
"Hehe..." Dong Xiaoyou was amused by her words and casually replied, "Even if he were interested in me, I wouldn't dare to aim so high!"
"Why not? If he's interested in you, you should make the first move!" Hua Xiaomo quickly interjected.
Dong Xiaoyou gave her an odd look and snorted, "Xiao Mo, why are you being so obnoxious today!"
"Oh, so you dare call me obnoxious? In that case, I'll make a move on *you* first!" Hua Xiaomo said mischievously, her lips curving into a playful smirk as she wiggled her fingers like claws.
Dong Xiaoyou rolled her eyes at her and gripped the steering wheel tighter. "Oh, for heaven's sake... We're driving; this isn't the time to fool around with life and death... Sis, I'll play with you later. For now, you need to sit still... Don't move!"
"Me, sit still? Impossible..." Hua Xiaomo joked.
Suddenly, a car from the opposite direction veered across the center white line, heading straight for them...
Panicking, Dong Xiaoyou yanked the steering wheel, but it was too late to avoid a collision.
"Ah..." The only sound that reached her ears was Dong Xiaoyou's scream.
"This is insane!" Hua Xiaomo grabbed the steering wheel, yanked it hard to the right, and with a CRUNCH, they hit a tree, narrowly averting disaster.
"...That was too close!" Dong Xiaoyou stammered, still shaken.
"It's okay now. Don't be so dramatic. I'll get out and check the car," Hua Xiaomo said, getting out of the car and walking around it.
When their car stopped, the vehicles behind them also halted. Not only that, but the car that had nearly hit them also pulled over.