Su Yiling's alarm went off at 5:30 AM, cutting through the pre-dawn darkness with its persistent beeping. She silenced it immediately and lay still for a moment, listening to the quiet house around her.
The events of yesterday still weighed on her mind - the meeting with Song Wei, the research on Gu Yisheng, the growing complexity of the games she was playing. But her body craved movement, the kind of physical release that only a long run could provide.
She slipped out of bed and dressed quickly in running gear - black leggings, a fitted gray top, and her most comfortable running shoes. Her hair went up in a high ponytail, and she grabbed her phone and earbuds before heading downstairs.
The house was silent as she let herself out through the side door, avoiding the main entrance that might wake her parents. The pre-dawn air was crisp and clean, with just a hint of moisture that promised clear weather later.
Su Yiling started with a gentle warm-up jog through the residential streets of Phoenix Garden, her footsteps echoing softly against the pristine sidewalks. The security guards nodded respectfully as she passed, already accustomed to her new morning routine.
Once she reached the main road, she picked up the pace, settling into the steady rhythm that had always helped clear her mind. Her breathing fell into sync with her steps as she ran along the tree-lined avenue toward the city center.
The familiar burn in her muscles felt good. Cleansing. In her previous life, she had abandoned physical exercise along with so many other healthy habits, trading strength for the appearance of delicate femininity that Aunt Li had convinced her was more attractive.
This time, she would keep her strength.
Forty minutes later, she slowed to a cool-down walk as she approached a small café near the river district. Morning Bliss Coffee was one of those quietly elegant places that served excellent coffee without pretension - exactly what she needed after her run.
The barista, a young woman about her own age, smiled as Su Yiling entered.
"Good morning. You're out early."
"Couldn't sleep," Su Yiling replied, studying the menu board. "Could I get a double espresso and one of those almond croissants?"
"Of course. To go?"
"Please."
Su Yiling paid and waited by the window while her order was prepared, watching the city slowly wake up around her. Early commuters walked briskly along the sidewalks, shop owners unlocked their doors, and the first buses of the day rumbled past filled with sleepy passengers.
Her coffee was perfect - strong and bitter, exactly what she needed to fuel the rest of her morning. The croissant was flaky and sweet, a small indulgence that reminded her she was still allowed to enjoy simple pleasures.
She was walking back along Riverside Avenue, sipping her espresso and letting her mind wander, when she heard it.
The low growl of a powerful engine was accelerating behind her.
Su Yiling's head turned instinctively, and her blood went cold. A sleek Aston Martin was bearing down on her, moving too fast for the narrow street, its driver apparently not seeing her walking along the road's edge.
Time seemed to fracture.
For a split second, she wasn't eighteen again but twenty-one, driving through the rain on that terrible night, the truck's headlights filling her vision as her brakes failed and the world exploded into twisted metal and screaming tires.
"No," she whispered, the coffee cup slipping from her numb fingers.
But her body moved without conscious thought, out of the sheer will to live. She threw herself sideways, rolling behind a parked car just as the Aston Martin roared past the spot where she had been standing.
Brakes squealed. The engine cut off.
Su Yiling lay on the cold pavement, her heart hammering against her ribs and her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably, and she could taste copper in her mouth where she had bitten her tongue.
The panic attack hit like a wave, washing over her with memories she thought she had processed. The rain. The truck. The moment of impact when everything had ended.
"Miss! Miss, are you alright?"
A man's voice, young and clearly distressed. Footsteps running toward her.
Su Yiling forced herself to sit up, pressing her back against the parked car and focusing on her breathing. In for four counts, hold for four, out for four. The technique she had learned from Xiaoli, in her previous life.
"I'm fine," she managed, though her voice sounded thin and foreign to her own ears.
The driver crouched down in front of her - a young man in his twenties with concerned eyes and expensive clothes. His face was flushed with guilt and worry.
"I am so sorry," he said urgently. "I didn't see you there. The morning light was reflecting off the buildings, and I was adjusting the rearview mirror and-"
Su Yiling held up a shaking hand to stop him. "It's fine. You didn't hit me."
"But you're hurt. You're pale and you're shaking. Should I call an ambulance?"
"No ambulance." She closed her eyes briefly, then looked at him again. "I just need a moment."
The driver looked uncertain, clearly wanting to help but not knowing how. Behind him, Su Yiling could see the Aston Martin idling at an angle across the street, its passenger window open.
"Are you sure you don't need medical attention?" he pressed. "I can drive you to the hospital, or call someone to come get you."
"I said I'm fine." The words came out sharper than she intended, and she saw him flinch slightly.
Su Yiling took another deep breath and pushed herself to her feet, using the parked car for support. Her legs felt unsteady, but they held her weight.
"Look, I appreciate your concern, but accidents happen. No one was hurt. Let's just leave it at that."
The driver stepped back, giving her space but still looking worried. "At least let me pay for dry cleaning, or-"
"There's nothing to pay for." Su Yiling brushed dirt from her running clothes and retrieved her phone from where it had fallen. The screen was cracked but still functional. "Just be more careful next time."
She turned to walk away, needing distance from the scene and the memories it had triggered. But as she took her first unsteady steps, she couldn't help but look back at the car; she had felt the pressure of someone looking at her from there.
The passenger must have said something to the driver, because the driver nodded and called out to her once more.
"Are you sure there's nothing we can do?"
Su Yiling shook her head without turning around and continued walking. She could feel their eyes following her until she turned the corner and disappeared from sight.
Only then did she allow herself to stop and lean against a wall, her hands still trembling as the adrenaline slowly faded from her system.
In the Aston Martin, the passenger watched until the young woman vanished around the corner.
"Sir?" the driver asked uncertainly. "Should we follow her? Make sure she gets home safely?"
Gu Yisheng studied the empty sidewalk where she had disappeared, his expression thoughtful.
"No," he said finally. "But I want you to remember this intersection. And if you see her again, let me know."
"Sir?"
"She looked familiar," Gu Yisheng replied, though that wasn't entirely accurate. The young woman hadn't looked familiar so much as... significant. There had been something in her eyes during that brief moment of contact - not just shock from the near-accident, but a kind of deep wariness that seemed out of place in someone so young.
Most teenagers who had nearly been hit by a car would have been crying, or angry, or demanding compensation. This girl had simply wanted to escape. As if she had experience with situations that were much worse than a traffic incident.
"Did she seem injured to you?" he asked his driver.
"Not physically, sir. But she was shaking pretty badly and very pale." The driver's expression was troubled. "I think I might have genuinely scared her."
Gu Yisheng nodded slowly. The girl's reaction had been interesting in several ways - the speed of her reflexes, the way she had controlled her panic, and most notably, her refusal to take advantage of the situation for personal gain.
In his experience, most people who were nearly hit by an expensive car driven by someone in designer clothes would at least attempt to extract some form of compensation, even if they weren't actually hurt. This girl had wanted nothing except to be left alone.
"Unusual," he murmured.
"Sir?"
"Nothing. Let's go. We have an appointment."
As the Aston Martin pulled away from the curb, Gu Yisheng found himself still thinking about the young woman's eyes. There had been something ancient in them, despite her obvious youth. The kind of weariness that usually came from experiencing loss.
He wondered what had happened to put that expression on such a young face.