"Is it too late for you to flee the country, change your name, and leave Ming to deal with his own debt?" Minnie asked in a deadpan tone.
They were parked outside the hotel. Rain speckled the windshield. Somewhere in the distance, the city hummed its low, indifferent song.
Yuqi sighed. "Minnie, you know I can't."
"I know." Minnie's voice softened, just slightly. "But a girl can hope and dream."
Ezra had contacted her exactly one month after she'd stood trembling in his office, grabbing his shirt like a lifeline.
Make sure to wear something nice.
That was the message. No greeting. No explanation. Just those five words, followed by an address, a date, and a time.
She had certainly delivered on that front.
Yuqi adjusted the skirt of her ethereal white mini dress, its shimmering bodice adorned with intricate lattice-like texture that caught the light like scattered stars. A delicate floral accent bloomed at the centre of her chest, striking a balance between elegance and boldness. Over her shoulders, she draped a matching oversized sheer shawl, its feather-trimmed edges whispering with her every movement. It was elegant.
Striking.
And just a little dangerous.
Perfect for the terms they were about to set.
Minnie nudged her with an elbow. "You could at least consider faking your death. Like, a really convincing one. Fireworks. Dramatic music. Maybe a slow-motion explosion in the background."
A tiny smile tugged at Yuqi's lips—just for a second—before she exhaled slowly. "He'd never believe I died."
She wasn't sure which ‘he’ she meant. Ming, who would probably just shrug and move on. Or Ezra, who would probably hunt her down before her obituary finished printing.
The city lights blurred as rain began to streak the glass between them.
"Okay, new plan," Minnie announced, sitting up straighter. "Why not give Ming the 'Nate Jacobs Special'?"
Yuqi furrowed her eyebrows. "The 'Nate Jacobs Special'?"
"Yes. All we need is a coffin, some zip ties and a rattlesnake." Minnie paused, tapping her chin. "Wait. Do you know where I can even legally buy a rattlesnake?"
Without waiting for an answer, Minnie grabbed Yuqi's phone and opened Google.
Yuqi blinked. "Legal?" Her voice pitched higher. "Minnie, nothing about that is legal! Like, at all!"
Minnie waved a dismissive hand. "Details! Do you think the zoo is willing to accept cash for renting out a rattlesnake? Or do we ask to borrow one from Ezra's creepy reptile collection if he has any—"
"We are not doing any of that," Yuqi snatched her phone back.
"You're no fun," Minnie whined, kicking at the car mat like a petulant child whose favourite toy had just been confiscated.
Yuqi tossed the device into her purse and shot Minnie the look—the one that said I love you, but please stop being a criminal mastermind for five minutes.
"I'm just saying," Minnie muttered, raising her hands. "A rattlesnake would solve a lot of problems. I mean, it worked out fine for Nate."
“He ended up dead, Minnie.”
“Exactly.”
Yuqi laughed. Quietly. Briefly. But it was real.
Minnie beamed, victorious. "There she is."
Yuqi rolled her eyes, shoving Minnie’s shoulder.
For that one fleeting moment, everything else faded—the debt, the deal with Ezra… None of it existed. Just this quiet car and two girls being stupid together.
Yuqi’s smile faded as quickly as it had come, her fingers tightening around the hem of her dress. The weight of everything came crashing back down.
She didn’t answer right away. Minnie watched her carefully, all traces of joking gone now.
Finally, Yuqi swallowed hard and nodded once—small but firm. “Yes.”
She had to do this for Ming… even if every part of her screamed that it was a terrible idea.
Minnie sighed through her nose but reached over to squeeze Yuqi's hand anyway. “Be careful in there, alright?”
Yuqi squeezed back—harder, longer—like she was memorising the warmth of Minnie’s hand before stepping into whatever hell awaited.
"Always," she said.
She grabbed her purse and stepped out into the humid night, straightening her shoulders like armour going up before walking toward the hotel doors—each step heavier than the last.
The luxury hotel was far nicer than any place Yuqi had ever set foot in.
Marble floors gleamed beneath crystal chandeliers, reflecting soft golden light across the vast lobby. A grand piano murmured somewhere in the distance, its melody weaving through the air like silk. Elegantly dressed guests moved about with the easy confidence of people who belonged here—people who didn't have to check price tags or calculate tips.
Yuqi didn't belong here.
Her palms were damp as she clutched the strap of her purse, following the hostess past the lounge and toward a corridor of private dining rooms. Every step felt heavier than the last, her heels clicking against the marble like a countdown.
The hostess stopped in front of a pair of dark wooden doors.
"Mr Xu is waiting for you," she said.
"Thank you," Yuqi replied softly with a nod.
She waited until the hostess disappeared, then took a breath. A deep one. The kind that was supposed to steady a person.
It didn't work.