Hua awoke to the soft hum of early morning, the warmth of Ming's shoulder still supporting her head. For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to savor the comfort before reality came crashing back. They were fugitives now, marked by the corporation as public enemies, and their brief victory was only the beginning of a much larger fight.
Hua sat up slowly, her body aching from the tension and adrenaline of the last few days. Ming stirred beside her, his eyes fluttering open. For a moment, they just looked at each other, the weight of everything unspoken between them. The kisses they shared had brought them closer, but they had also made things more complicated.
"How long did I sleep?" Hua asked, her voice a bit hoarse from exhaustion.
"Not long," Ming replied, stretching his arms. "A few hours, maybe. I didn't want to wake you. You needed the rest."
Hua nodded, grateful for his thoughtfulness. She glanced over at Evelyn, who was still at her post by the window, alert and scanning the surroundings. It was reassuring to know they had at least one safe place, even if it wouldn't last forever.
"We need to figure out what's next," Ming said, breaking the silence. "The corporation will recover, and when they do, they'll come after us even harder."
Hua sighed, rubbing her temples. "I know. We need to stay ahead of them, but it's not going to be easy. The shutdown might have slowed them down, but it's just a matter of time before they get back on their feet."
Ming reached out and took her hand, his grip firm but gentle. "We'll find a way. We always do."
She looked at him, her heart swelling with the weight of their bond. Despite the chaos, despite the danger, Ming had become her anchor. But the question still lingered—what would happen between them once this was all over? If it was ever over.
Before she could respond, Evelyn stood up from her post, her expression serious. "We need to talk strategy," she said, walking over to them. "We've bought ourselves some time, but it won't last. The corporation has too many resources at their disposal. We need to find a way to cripple them permanently."
Hua frowned. "But how? We've taken out their mainframe for now, but they'll recover."
Evelyn's eyes glinted with a dangerous edge. "There's another option. Something bigger. But it's risky."
Ming leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "What are you suggesting?"
Evelyn hesitated for a moment before speaking. "We go after their leader. The CEO."
Hua's heart skipped a beat. The CEO of the corporation was a mysterious figure, one who rarely appeared in public and was rumored to be as ruthless as they were powerful. Going after them would be incredibly dangerous, but it could be the only way to bring the corporation down for good.
"That's suicide," Ming said, his voice tense. "We don't even know where the CEO is, let alone how to get close."
Evelyn crossed her arms, her expression unwavering. "I've been gathering intel. There's a way to get close, but it's not going to be easy. The CEO is hosting a private event in three days, a high-profile gathering that will have the upper echelon of the corporation in attendance. If we can infiltrate that event, we might have a chance to take them out."
Hua's mind raced as she processed the information. The idea of going after the CEO was terrifying, but Evelyn was right—if they didn't act soon, the corporation would come after them with everything they had. And this might be their only chance to strike at the heart of the beast.
"We'd have to go in undercover," Hua said, thinking out loud. "Blend in with the guests and find a way to get close to the CEO."
Evelyn nodded. "Exactly. I can get us fake credentials, but once we're inside, we'll be on our own. We'll need to be careful—any slip-up, and we're dead."
Ming looked at Hua, his expression conflicted. "This is a huge risk, Hua. Are you sure about this?"
Hua took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on her. Every instinct in her body told her this was dangerous, that they were walking into a trap. But the alternative—waiting for the corporation to hunt them down—was just as deadly.
"I'm sure," Hua said finally, meeting Ming's gaze. "We don't have a choice."
Ming's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. He trusted her, and that meant everything.
Evelyn clapped her hands together, her face hardening with determination. "Good. We leave tomorrow night. I'll make the arrangements, but you two need to be ready. Once we're in, there's no turning back."
Hua nodded, feeling the tension settle into her bones. The next 48 hours would be crucial, and the mission ahead was fraught with danger. But for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope. They had a plan, and as long as they stuck together, they stood a chance.
As Evelyn left the room to finalize the details, Hua turned back to Ming. He was watching her, his eyes filled with concern and something deeper—something that made her heart skip a beat.
"You're really something, you know that?" he said softly, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Hua raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Is that a compliment?"
Ming chuckled, shaking his head. "It's the truth. You're braver than anyone I've ever met."
She felt her cheeks warm at his words, but she shrugged it off, trying to stay focused on the mission. "We're in this together, Ming. We'll figure it out."
He nodded, his expression softening. "We always do."
For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of everything that had happened between them hanging in the air. Ming reached out and gently touched her cheek, his thumb brushing her skin in a way that sent a shiver down her spine.
"I'm with you," he whispered. "No matter what."
Hua's breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest. She leaned in closer, their faces inches apart, and for a brief moment, the world outside faded away.
But before anything else could happen, Evelyn's voice broke through the tension. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be hell."
Hua and Ming pulled apart, the moment slipping away. Hua nodded, but her heart was still racing. Tomorrow would be the most dangerous day of their lives, but for now, she would hold on to the promise of what they could be—if they survived.