The conversation with Evelyn Chu dragged on as Hua and Ming sat across from the professor, who appeared far too calm for the urgency of the situation. Ming's mind, however, wasn't on the mission at all. His thoughts were still tangled with Hua, her wrist in his hand, the unspoken words that had hovered between them just moments before.
Evelyn was explaining something about a critical breakthrough in AI engineering, but Ming barely registered it. His eyes flickered to Hua, who was listening attentively, her brows slightly furrowed in concentration. How did she always manage to stay so composed?
But just as he was about to pull himself back into the conversation, Evelyn's voice sharpened, pulling his attention.
"Are you listening, Ming?" Evelyn asked, her eyes narrowing on him.
Ming stiffened. He had been caught. "Yes, of course," he lied, but Evelyn's smirk told him she wasn't buying it.
Hua shot him a quick look, one that told him to focus. And he tried, but it was hard. His feelings for her were becoming a distraction—one he couldn't afford.
"We need to move quickly," Evelyn continued, as if she hadn't just called him out. "The lab data from my research is being monitored. It's only a matter of time before those who are hunting you trace your steps here."
Ming nodded, though his mind was still foggy. Hua, as usual, took charge. "We'll need access to your files and any backup plans you have in place for an escape route."
Evelyn paused, her eyes shifting between them before she let out a deep sigh. "There's no official backup plan. I was waiting for you two. I had hoped to stay one step ahead of the situation, but it seems my calculations were off."
Hua's face hardened. "Then we'll make our own. Do you have transportation ready?"
"There's an underground tunnel system," Evelyn said, rising from her chair. "But it's a maze down there. Without a guide, you'll get lost. I'll take you."
As they prepared to leave, Hua and Ming fell into step together again, the quiet tension between them still unspoken. As they made their way down the dimly lit corridors of the university, the silence between them grew heavier. Ming felt the weight of his earlier near-confession pressing on him. He had to say something, anything, before the moment slipped away entirely.
But when he finally opened his mouth to speak, the ground beneath them rumbled violently. The lights flickered as a loud, metallic groan echoed through the hall.
"What was that?" Hua asked, her eyes widening as she glanced at Ming.
Evelyn, who was a few steps ahead of them, turned, her face pale. "They're here."
The words sent a jolt of fear through Ming, snapping him out of his daze. He reached for Hua's arm instinctively, pulling her back toward the nearest exit. "We need to go now!"
Without wasting a second, Hua followed, her body moving into action as seamlessly as ever. Together, they sprinted down the hallway, Evelyn leading the way toward the underground tunnels. The floor beneath them continued to shake, and the distant sound of heavy machinery closing in grew louder.
Ming glanced at Hua as they ran, her determined expression unchanged despite the danger. He felt a rush of admiration for her—how, in moments like these, she was always so steady, so fearless. But there was more than just admiration now. It was something much deeper, and no matter how much he tried to push it down, it surged up again, undeniable.
They reached the entrance to the tunnel system just as the ceiling above them trembled, sending chunks of debris crashing down. Ming shielded Hua with his arm as they ducked into the tunnel. Once inside, Evelyn sealed the door behind them.
Panting, Hua looked up at Ming. "That was close."
He nodded, but his eyes lingered on her longer than they should have. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but there was no time. They had to keep moving.
Evelyn's voice broke the silence. "This way. We don't have much time."
The tunnels were dark and narrow, the air thick with dust. They followed Evelyn through the maze, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the confined space. Ming stayed close to Hua, his eyes constantly scanning for any sign of danger.
But as they moved deeper into the tunnels, the tension between him and Hua became unbearable. He had to say something, had to let her know how he felt before it was too late.
"Hua," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
She looked at him, her eyes questioning. "What is it?"
He hesitated, unsure of how to begin. "Back there, before we went into Evelyn's office…I…"
Hua's expression softened, and for a moment, Ming thought she might understand. But before he could finish, the sound of footsteps echoed behind them.
"They've found us!" Evelyn shouted.
Ming's heart sank as he realized they were out of time. The moment was gone.
Without another word, they sprinted forward, deeper into the darkness.