Chapter Text
The first time Jiang Xuening met Xie Wei, it was on a road by the woods.
Jiang Xuening had decided, as part of her "social media detox," to spend a month in the country. No social media. Limited internet. Reconnect with nature. Or whatever BS some YouTube influencer had told her.
Unfortunately, that also led to some precarious driving conditions. Like driving on a windy road in the middle of nowhere at 9PM at night. Despite it being spring, this region’s microclimate means that it was snowing. Quite a bit it seemed.
Which is how she spotted a sleek silver car with its emergency blinkers on.
Jiang Xuening had recognized, in the back of her mind as she pulled over, that this could very well be a ploy by a serial killer to kidnap her to god knows where. But don't most murders and kidnappings take place by people you know?
Getting out of the car, Jiang Xuening came upon a tall man whose face can only be described as “ walked out of a romance novel” and “ didn't I see this guy on the cover of last month's GQ magazine?”
"Hey! Do you need help?"
... and received a grunt in response.
He's awfully picky for someone who is stuck in the middle of the woods .
"FYI -- there is no cell reception here -- so if you don't accept my help, you'll freeze to death. Or get eaten by mountain lions. Your fancy car won’t save you. But that's up to you."
Jiang Xuening was about to walk away when a surprisingly deep voice grumbled behind her.
"There's no mountain lions in this region."
Jiang Xuening rolled her eyes.
"So do you want help or not?"
"I’m fine."
"A man of few words, I see. I'm Jiang Xuening, by the way."
"Xie Wei."
“Okay Xie Wei. You’re going to freeze to death if you stay in your car overnight. So why don’t I drive you to where ever you need to go and drop you off?”
Jiang Xuening only slightly crossed her fingers behind her and hoped that she was not going to be the subject of some 5-episode true crime documentary.
“No need.”
“You know, sentences come in more than 2 words. But my conscious would never forgive me so I left you for dead. Also, your lips are slightly blue. And I’m cold. So are we going or not?”
“Fine. Let’s go.”
“That’s three words, so we are making improvement. Here, you can use my jacket as a blanket. Unlike you, I haven’t been out in the freezing cold.”
The familiar sound of Jiang Xuening’s car blinkers filled in the background. When Xie Wei gave her his destination, she was surprised that it was an affluent part of the town, considering his car was nothing special.
“Alright Xie Wei, here we are. Bye!”
She doubt she’ll ever see him again.