Chapter 23: Shelter in the Storm

“Ash, go back to the car. It’s done.”

Chris said this, holding a wrench in one hand and the replaced tire in the other, heading for the trunk.

He glanced at the time. It was past three. They had spent quite a bit of time.

In theory, they could make it by five, but showing up soaking wet like this wasn’t exactly great.

Forget it. Some other day.

With that plan in mind, Chris walked back to the jack and took it off, intending to tell Ash once he got back in the car.

But as the jack came down, Chris noticed something off in the blur of rain.

The right side of the car seemed lower.

Looking closer, the spare tire he had just put on looked a little deflated.

Can it still drive?

Chris calculated silently.

“Woo Chris, you worked hard.”

When Chris got back in the car, Ash greeted him warmly and handed over a clean towel.

The girl’s hair was still dripping wet.

This was probably the last clean towel, saved for herself.

Of course, it was also possible that Ash had once again failed to dry her hair properly.

Chris hesitated for a moment, then took the towel, wiped his face quickly, and handed it back.

“Dry yourself too. Your hair is dripping again.”

“Oh, okay.”

Ash took the towel with a vague reply and gave her hair a hasty rub.

“Hurry up and go. I’m freezing.”

“Um… about that, Ash.”

Chris said as he started the engine.

“That spare tire is low on air.”

“What?”

“Might be because it’s been sitting too long. The pressure’s low… though, it’s not too bad. We could drive back slowly.”

As he spoke, he released the handbrake and shifted gears.

“No! No! Chris!”

Ash shouted, practically throwing her body toward him, her hands blocking his.

“That’s dangerous. Don’t count on luck! Don’t pray for luck. Bullets treat everyone the same.”

Looking into her firm eyes, Chris finally shifted back to Park.

“Alright, Ash. You’re right. I was being careless.”

“Mm.”

Ash nodded. Then she noticed how wet her clothes were, her skin showing through the thin fabric of her dress. And she was so close to Chris.

She quickly scooted back to her seat, a faint blush creeping up to her ears.

“Chris…”

Ash hurried to find a new topic.

“So how do we get there now? Wait for the rain to stop and walk, or catch a ride?”

“We can’t get to Aunt Mei’s like this… Let’s head home first.”

“Mm, true… We’re all soaked. How are we going back?”

“I’ll call for backup.”

“How? Don’t we not have…”

Ash stopped mid-sentence. She wanted to say a word but couldn’t remember it for a moment.

“There’s a radio. It’s in the trunk.”

With that, Chris ran out again.

After a few minutes, minutes that stretched long, with a few flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder, Chris came back.

If he had been any later, frightened Ash might have run out after him.

“How did it go? Did it work? Or did the rain mess with the signal?”

Ash asked, handing the towel over again.

“It worked. I contacted my colleague. She should be here soon.”

Even so, she wouldn’t arrive for tens of minutes.

Outside, the rain showed no sign of letting up. If anything, it fell harder, as if it wanted to drown the whole world.

Inside the car, the air was damp, cold, and stuffy. A thin fog covered the windows, and the scene beyond blurred more and more.

“Why hasn’t anyone invented a car heater yet,” Ash complained. She was cold.

She curled up in the passenger seat, arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her soaked clothes clung to her skin. She was too embarrassed to take them off, so she could only endure the sharp chill seeping through the fabric.

Ash never seemed to get her hair fully dry.

Those beautiful golden locks were still dripping, water sliding down the ends and soaking the seat.

Her lips were tinged with purple. Her body trembled involuntarily. She stared blankly ahead, as if trying hard to endure the cold.

Chris looked at her, brows furrowed. His chest tightened.

He took off his own jacket. It was soaked too, but he draped it over Ash’s shoulders anyway, hoping to shield her from a little of the chill.

“Hang on a bit more. She should be almost here.”

His voice was low and gentle, carrying a hint of guilt.

Ash gave a slight nod and pulled the jacket tighter around herself. But the wet coat brought little warmth, only making her feel heavier.

Watching her shiver, Chris felt a pang of bitterness.

He hesitated, then finally spoke.

“How about… you sit on my side? Lean against me. It might be warmer.”

“…No, I couldn’t…”

As she spoke, Ash sneezed. Fear of the cold finally won over her shyness, and she crawled into Chris’s arms.

“…Alright.”

Chris reached out and gently guided her by the shoulder, helping her move from the passenger seat.

Ash’s body was icy and stiff, as if frozen solid.

She kept her eyes shut, not daring to look at him. Carefully, she leaned against his chest, feeling the warmth of his body. It wasn’t much, but it was better than the cold air.

Chris held her gently, using his warmth to warm her, his right hand softly stroking her back.

As the warmth spread, Ash gradually relaxed. Her shyness and stiffness faded.

Her cheek rested against his chest, and she could hear his steady heartbeat. The sound carried a kind of calming strength, a bond of friendship, and it gave her a sense of safety.

Looking down at the girl pressed against his chest, as fragile as porcelain, Chris’s mind wandered.

The conversation at the café this morning had only revealed the tip of the iceberg. At least, Ash’s story was barely started.

The Super Soldier Project… what was Ash’s special ability?

Was she just an ordinary girl with a dazed mind?

And what did she mean by the “mimicry” and “activation” she sometimes muttered?

‘If talking about it would make you feel better, don’t keep it inside, Ash,’ he said silently, gazing at the golden hair against his chest.

Outside, the rain still roared. But inside the car, a warmer feeling gradually filled the space.

Chris and Ash. Their breaths intertwined. The air was damp, but no longer so cold.

Ash was quietly absorbing the warmth and comfort, seeming about to fall asleep.

“…Ash, she’s here.”

Through the rain, Chris caught sight of a car approaching from ahead.

It was a silver Chevrolet Caprice. His colleague and team leader’s car.

“Yo, Chris. You take this much leave just for your girlfriend? She’s pretty cute. Still in middle school or high school?”

The woman with short, wavy brown hair and a curvy figure under her uniform said, flashing a look at Chris.

“Yo, little girl, you jealous?” she teased, handing over two clean blankets.

“…No. We’re just good friends.”

Ash retorted, taking the blanket and wrapping it around herself.

Maybe because they had been so close moments ago, this time she kept a noticeable distance from Chris.

“Don’t joke around, Lisa… Ash, this is Lisa. My colleague. She’s very reliable.”

“Nice to meet you, Ash.”

“Mm, hello…”

Ash greeted her politely.

“Lisa, should I leave my car here?”

“Yeah, I already called a tow truck. It’ll go straight to the shop. So, are you keeping me for dinner at your place, Chris?”

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Who Exactly Climbed into My Bed in the Girls’ Dormitory?

Female ProtagonistRomancetransformation

Read Now →
Not interested