2 AM.
On a small path near a block of single apartments, a nondescript gray car sat parked by the road.
Inside the car, Mai Qiqi's head nodded off, until it banged against the car window, jolting her awake.
"Chuchu, what time is it now? When are we going to make our move?"
Wan Chu'er opened her feigned sleepy eyes, her face calm, and she checked her watch.
"We can go now. You wait here in the car."
"Huh?" Mai Qiqi said, "Can't I come with you?"
Wan Chu'er glanced at her, "Can you climb from the first to the fifth floor along the pipes?"
Mai Qiqi shook her head in disbelief, "No."
"That's why you need to stay in the car."
"Fine then."
Wan Chu'er slung her backpack over her shoulders, pulled the brim of her hat down, looked around at the silent night, then swung open the car door and darted toward the bottom of the apartment building.
Mai Qiqi nervously watched the swift figure disappearing in the distance, feeling both exhilarated and admiring.
