Cooking in your mind again?

Ming Shuzhen rode her scooter home, sniffling against the cold, legs pressed together to fend off the biting wind, finally reaching her cramped apartment.

Her parents hadn’t visited in days, and she hadn’t bothered tidying up.

A patch of soup stained the floor, clothes were strewn on the sofa, and yesterday’s milk tea and takeout wrappers cluttered the coffee table.

Kicking aside a stray bottle, she flopped onto the sofa, leaning back.

The heater blasted dry, toasty air.

Struggling up, she poured herself a glass of hot water.

Gulping it down, her throat eased, and she felt more comfortable.

Nestling by the sofa, planning to wash up soon, her phone rang with Qian Duoduo’s voice call.

“Full Pockets, you resting?” Qian Duoduo’s voice was urgent, words tumbling fast.

“Nope, what’s up?” Ming Shuzhen held the phone, head still tilted back.

“Meilin just messaged—she’s done with the investigation. I’m going to pick her up. Can you come with? I’ve never been to the prosecutor’s office, and I’m kinda scared.”

“Huh?” Ming Shuzhen paused. Though she and her colleagues were friendly, they weren’t *that* close.

Still, she agreed. “Where are you? I’ll meet you.”

“Probably near you. I’ll send my location,” Qian Duoduo said, slowing down.

“Take a cab. I’ll cover it—scooter’s too cold. I was gonna ask Dou Youmi, but his girlfriend’s visiting, and I didn’t want to bother them. If you’re busy, I’ll go alone.”

Hearing the explanation, Ming Shuzhen understood Qian Duoduo was out of options. It was early, so she didn’t mind going.

She booked a cab on her phone, bundled up in her coat and scarf again.

Her complex had tight security, requiring outside vehicles to register, so she headed to the roadside to wait.

The app showed the driver was still a ways off.

It was just past eight. Streetlights and billboards mingled with car headlights, slightly dazzling.

But the bustling noise and lights comforted her, especially standing alone.

Raised with her parents’ support, Ming Shuzhen rarely felt insecure.

Though living alone, riding her scooter daily, and seeing “woman living alone attacked” clickbait, she wasn’t scared.

Not bold—just trusting in herself.

Waiting, she noticed the driver hadn’t moved. Annoyed, she considered canceling and rebooking.

Before she could, the driver called. “Hey, I can’t get through—there’s a bridge I gotta detour around. Wanna cancel and rebook?”

“Sure,” she said, already planning to.

Winter nights turned breath to mist. Freezing, she just wanted to get into a warm car.

Then Ming Shuyan’s car appeared.

A silver-gloss sedan pulled up beside her, deflecting the street’s chaotic lights.

The car’s pale hue shimmered like a waterfall under rain.

Ming Shuzhen didn’t know the brand but could tell it was pricey from its sleek design.

Glancing at its color, she went back to booking a cab.

No drivers had accepted yet. She swiped her phone.

The silver car stayed put, no honking, no movement.

“Such a pretty car. Is the driver waiting for someone? Why park so close?” she mused.

As if echoing her thoughts, the driver’s door opened, and black ankle boots hit the ground.

The door closed with a clean thud, like a book on a desk, not the usual metallic clank.

Ming Shuyan stepped out in a long coat, hair pinned up but with loose strands framing her face and curling by her ears, clearly frazzled from a long day.

She walked toward Ming Shuzhen, passing her shimmering car, blending into the night.

Moments ago, Ming Shuzhen wondered who owned the stunning car. Now, seeing the familiar face, she was stunned.

Her head was wrapped in a scarf, only her blinking eyes visible, flicking between Ming Shuyan and the car.

“Where to?” Ming Shuyan asked.

“Hm?” Talking to me? She recognizes me as her employee?

Three encounters—elevator, fifth-floor lounge, lobby—and she remembered her face among all the staff?

She’d read online that successful people quickly memorize faces and preferences to subtly build rapport and seal deals.

“You know, when you’re lost in your wild thoughts, your eyes give you away,” Ming Shuyan said, cutting through her musings.

“…” Really? That obvious? I’m expressionless, aren’t I? How’d she know? Ming Shuzhen’s eyes narrowed in doubt.

Ming Shuyan smiled, easily reading her. She repeated, “Where to?” with clear patience.

“With Qian Duoduo to the prosecutor’s office,” Ming Shuzhen answered honestly.

“Why there?” Ming Shuyan frowned, thinking she was in trouble.

She wasn’t at the company when Meilin was taken and didn’t know it was personal, unrelated to work.

“Our team leader Meilin was called to the prosecutor’s office. The investigation’s done, so Qian Duoduo and I are picking her up. I’m waiting for a cab,” Ming Shuzhen explained clearly, glancing at her.

Ming Shuyan’s gaze never wavered, locking onto her without shifting.

“Got a cab?”

“Nope.”

“Get in, I’ll drive you,” Ming Shuyan said briskly.

“…Oh.”

“Pfft,” Ming Shuyan’s lips curved. “Thought you’d say no.”

“Huh? You really meant it? I thought it was just polite talk,” Ming Shuzhen said, eyes wide, unsure if she could take the ride.

Ming Shuyan’s smile lingered, her eyes brightening like the car’s glossy finish.

“Not polite talk. Get in. Front seat.”

“Oh.”

Ming Shuzhen opened the door, buckling up.

“I’ll set navigation,” she said, opening Qian Duoduo’s shared location and cranking the phone volume.

The car moved forward, the night deep and quiet inside.

Ming Shuzhen tilted her head against the headrest, finding a comfy spot, watching the headlights light the road.

“Boss, I’m Full Pockets from Team Two. You remember me?” she asked, then cringed at the dumb question. Why would she offer a ride if she didn’t?

“I do,” Ming Shuyan said softly, eyes on the road.

“Oh,” Ming Shuzhen said bluntly, unfazed by her boss status. “Didn’t expect you to remember a small fry like me.”

The car was warm, thawing her hands and feet.

Ming Shuyan’s hands gripped the wheel, turning gently per the navigation.

“I don’t have time to memorize every employee’s name,” she said, her voice soft yet tired, but never weak.

Ming Shuzhen blinked. “Then how’d you remember me?”

“Heh,” Ming Shuyan chuckled, not answering.

Her makeup was faded, hair slightly messy, eyes weary from a long day.

But Ming Shuzhen thought she seemed in a good mood.

“Boss, you seem happy,” she said, leaning closer cheekily.

“Mm,” Ming Shuyan replied crisply, her tone rising as if to match her mood.

Ming Shuzhen grinned. At the last Team Two dinner, everyone said the boss was unapproachable, always frowning at her phone.

But she seemed pretty easygoing.

Made sense. Running a company this big, tangled with developers, government, and contractors, and ranking top-tier—she must’ve poured in tons of effort.

The pressure must be immense. Frowning was the least of it.

‘She’s got it tough,’ Ming Shuzhen thought. ‘And so kind to employees, giving me a ride.’

“Cooking up more thoughts?” Ming Shuyan glanced at her.

“!” Ming Shuzhen recalled her saying her eyes betrayed her thoughts.

She tilted her head, checking the side mirror.

Her face reflected—white eyes, pupils, lashes. Nothing stood out.

“No one’s ever said that,” she said, skeptical. “Are my eyes dull or darting around?”

“Nah, just normal,” Ming Shuyan said, seeing her concern, and fibbed, “I know a bit of psychology—micro-expression analysis.”

“Oh~” Ming Shuzhen drew out the sound, relieved.

She’d worried her daydreaming made her look goofy. That’d be mortifying.

“I do have a lot of inner monologue,” she giggled.

The navigation led to Qian Duoduo’s complex. Ming Shuyan spotted her outside first.

Red Brick’s resources leaned toward Team One, so she rarely visited Team Two and only vaguely recognized Qian Duoduo.

“Shuzhen, that your colleague?” she asked.

“Yeah, yeah!” Ming Shuzhen saw her too, waving to get her attention.

“The windows are one-way. She can’t see us,” Ming Shuyan reminded.

Ming Shuzhen’s first instinct was to lower the window, but this car was different—no obvious button.

“Uh, how do I lower it?”

Expecting Ming Shuyan to do it, she was surprised when she explained instead. “Press the outermost lit button.”

Ming Shuzhen thought it was decorative but pressed it, popping out a small metal knob.

“Pull it down.”

She tugged gently, and the window lowered.

“So fancy,” she marveled.