Tang Lin arrived at her office the next morning to find a sleek black car parked outside her office complex.
The car looked pretty regular on the outside, yet there was something about it that made others feel the urge to take a second look.
Hsu Jin stood beside it, leaning slightly against it.
His expression was as impassive as ever.
"Young Master Zhao sent me to come and show you the contract and to escort you," he said, his voice polite but firm.
Tang Lin raised an eyebrow. "Escort me where?"
"So you can examine the jade piece in a more suitable setting. Young Master Zhao has made all the necessary arrangements."
Tang Lin hesitated. She knew Zhao Jun was a man of privileged birth and many means.
Yet, she just hadn't expected him to move so swiftly.
Or so efficiently.
"I prefer to work in my own office," she spoke, keeping her voice cool. "I have all my tools here."
Hsu Jin's expression remained the exact same.
"Young Master Zhao wishes to ensure the jade's safety and your comfort and safety. The place he's chosen is well-equipped with everything you might need."
Tang Lin sighed inwardly. It seemed that this Young Master from Beijing was not leaving anything to chance.
"Very well," she agreed, "but I have to get to my office first. I need to leave some instructions and pick up some files.
Hsu Jin nodded curtly. "Okay. Let me know if you need me to assist with anything."
After looking at him for a moment on hearing his comment, she nodded and turned to head in the direction of her office building.
"I hope that he'll not get in the way of my work," this she threw over her shoulder as she walked forward.
.
.
.
Few minutes later, she came out and walked up to Hsu Jin who was still waiting for her.
She walked to the car as Hsu Jin pulled open the door. She slid in and leaned back, hoping to rest her head for a few minutes before she had to work.
The drive towards the city center started off smooth.
The car's interior was luxurious, perfect for her plans of resting.
The seats were made of buttery leather with a subtle wood trim, and a faint scent of something rich that she suspected was Zhao Jun's.
She quietly observed Hsu Jin from the corner of her eye from where she was leaning against the car door.
He was quiet and looked cold as usual, eyes never leaving the road ahead.
Both hands tightly gripped the steering wheel, his posture rigid and alert.
They had just turned out of the street where her office building was located when she noticed something odd in the side mirror.
A black SUV seemed to be closely following them, almost making no effort to hide the fact.
"Is something the matter?" Hsu Jin asked, his eyes meeting hers in the rearview mirror.
Tang Lin hesitated for half a beat before saying, "there's a car that I think is following us."
Hsu Jin's cold eyes flicked to the mirrors, his expression unchanging.
"I noticed. There's two of them actually. The second one is the gray sedan on our left."
As if on cue, the SUV behind them suddenly accelerated, closing the distance between them.
The gray sedan took a sharp turn into the adjacent lane, pulling alongside them.
"Hold steady," Hsu Jin commanded, his voice still very calm. He pressed a button on the dashboard, and Tang Lin heard the distinct click of the car doors locking.
Without warning, the sedan swerved in their direction, trying to force them off the road.
Hsu Jin sharply jerked the wheel, avoiding the collision by merely inches.
Tang Lin was thrown against the door, her heart hammering fiercely against her ribs.
"What's happening?" she demanded, gripping the edge of her seat.
"They're probably here for you," Hsu Jin replied coolly, running through a yellow light. "They probably know that you have made contact with the jade."
The SUV behind them ran into them with aggression, causing Tang Lin to lurch forward against her seatbelt.
The impact sent a jolt of pain piercing through her chest.
Hsu Jin glanced at her through the mirror, but kept quiet. He took a sharp turn down a narrow side street, tires screeching on the sidewalk.
The sedan couldn't make the turn in time, but the SUV followed, engine roaring as it closed in on them.
Tang Lin turned to look back to see two men leaning out of the SUV's windows, faces hidden behind black masks.
Something glinted in one of their hands.
"Down, now!" Hsu Jin yelled, just as a sharp crack split the air.
Tang Lin ducked, her hands over her ears. The rear window shattered, showering her with tiny fragments of safety glass.
"They're shooting at us," she gasped, more in shock than anything else.
She couldn't believe this was happening. This was T City, not some back water, lawless place.
Who would dare to carry out such a brazen attack in broad daylight?
Hsu Jin took another sharp turn, taking them through a series of turns that were so fast that Tang Lin felt her breakfast was about to make an unceremonious exit from her stomach through her mouth.
"Are you good?" Hsu Jin asked her, trying his best to not be distracted.
"Don't worry about me." Tang Lin was doing her best to not get in his way.
With one hand still gripping the wheel, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a sleek black phone and rapidly swiped on it for a split second.
"Who are they?" she asked, her voice trembling in spite of her efforts to stay calm.
"Unknown for now," Hsu Jin replied, preventing the SUV from overtaking him. "But few are daring enough to move against the Zhao family so openly."