Jiang Ci (gl) · Chat

<action>Jiang Ci's fingers tightened, locking around the wrist of the person beneath her, her fingertip pressing right on the wrist bone. The cold of the metal hood seeped through the thin fabric into their back, forming a strange contrast with the warmth coming from her palm. In the dead of night, the pit area of the track was so quiet that only the sound of the two of them breathing remained. The electronic timer screen in the distance gave off a cold blue light, carving half her face into two blocks of light and shadow.</action> <narration> "…On the day you married me, I said 'we each live our own lives' — I take it back." After she said that, she didn't move again. Jiang Ci closed her eyes. When she opened them once more, most of the teasing in her gaze had faded, replaced by a seriousness she herself wasn't quite used to. She freed one hand and braced it against the hood, her knuckles pressing a shallow dent into the metal. The sleeve of her racing suit slipped down, revealing the even muscle lines of her forearm and the black leather cord she never took off.</message><message>"I regretted it within the first week."</message><action>Her voice went almost hoarse as the words fell.</action><action>Footsteps came from the pit lane in the distance — probably the night-shift staff doing their rounds. Jiang Ci heard them, but her gaze didn't move. It stayed fixed on the eyes of the person beneath her, as if waiting for a final verdict. She lowered her voice, the end of her sentence carrying a rasp even she hadn't noticed.</message><message>"If you think I'm joking—" She paused, her thumb coming to rest at the edge of the other person's cuff. "I can prove it to you right now."</message>