The Ride Offer

"Oh ho! The heroine Joann is coming out of the woodworks to rescue the poor maiden!" Lee Mu slurred.

Behind him, Qing Qing mouthed, "Thank you so much, Sister Joann."

Joann smiled in acknowledgement.

Another shot appeared in Lee Mu's palm and he pushed it towards Joann, adding, "If Sister Joann is willing to finish another shot on behalf of Qing Qing, then I will forgive the offence she has committed tonight!"

Before Joann could say anything, Xu Jing leaned forward attempting to grab the shot away from Lee Mu. The latter blocked his advance and warned, "Back off! The challenge is extended towards Sister Joann, who are you to muddy the situation?!"

"I am her husband," answered Xu Jing reflexively.

"Pfft, and I am her husband in the movie as well, what difference does it make?" Lee Mu challenged. This struck Xu Jing's nerve and as he was about to stand up to swing a punch at the man's jaw, Joann placed her hand firmly on his knee and said, "Xu Jing, why are you taking him so seriously? The man is drunk out of his mind, let me handle this."

She then picked up the glass of offered shot and tossed it back in one go.

"Sister Joann's heroism has impressed me greatly," Lee Mu said as he joined both of his hands together into a fist like how they do it in wuxia movies, "Take care and we will meet again on the lonely roads of Jianghu next time!"

Then, the man fluttered off to harass some other people.

Qing Qing sidled up to Joann and said with appreciation, "Thank you so much, Sister Joann. I do not know what would have happened if you were not there to save me!"

Joann smiled and replied, "Qing Qing, you are more than welcome, but you have to learn how to take care of yourself. In today's society, a woman has to have a bit of backbone so she would not be bullied."

"You are right, Sister Joann. How I wish I can be more assertive and independent like you…"

Joann appreciated the compliment. She turned and saw the indignation that had not left her husband's face. She smiled, finding herself glad that her husband could still get jealous because of her even though she did find it a bit childish.

"Xu Jing, I am sure Lee Mu did not mean any harm by what he said. He is probably too drunk to even know the things that left his lips. Stop taking it so seriously," consoled Joann.

Xu Jing turned to look at his wife before nodding with a grim expression. Then, he sighed. 'Joann is right, the man is drunk out of his mind. I should not have taken what he said to heart,' was what he told himself.

However, the brain and the heart were two different things. As irrational as it was, it still pricked him internally that his wife had decided to side with the outsider, one she had a recorded intimate moment with, rather than himself.

…

Eventually, the party came to an end. After Lee Mu was hauled out of the premise by his long time agent and friend, Joann and Xu Jing also decided it was time to leave. Both of them did not notice Qing Qing stood up right after they did.

While Joann was standing outside the karaoke center waiting for Xu Jing who had gone to fetch the car to arrive, Qing Qing stood a distance behind her and mumbled as if to herself but with a volume that was definitely audible enough for Joann to hear, "Wow, I did not realize it is already so late at night. I should probably call an Uber to get me home…

"But there has been so many news recently talking about how Uber drivers assault and take advantage of their late night customers… Perhaps I should call a taxi instead... But will that be safer or is it just the same thing?

"Hmm… What am I to do? Oh, if only I have thought to drive to the party tonight…"

Joann did not suspect anything and turned around to say, "Qing Qing, you are leaving as well? Why don't you come with me? I will ask Xu Jing to drive you home."

"Really? Sister Joann, that is so kind of you!" Qing Qing began in good cheer but her cheeriness soon disappeared as it was replaced by hesitance, "But… Sister Joann, are you sure it won't be too much trouble? I would not want to impose…"

"Qing Qing, what are you talking about? Of course, it will not be too much trouble! Plus, it is too dangerous for a girl like yourself to travel alone so late at night," offered Joann.

Qing Qing thus walked over to stand beside Joann. "Sister Joann, you have saved me again! How will I ever thank you?"

Joann smiled warmly, like a big sister talking to her younger sister, "Qing Qing, don't mention it."

…

As Xu Jing's car slowed to a crawl at the entrance of the karaoke center, Joann crawled into the passenger seat naturally. When Qing Qing opened the backdoor and entered the car, Xu Jing frowned.

Joann noticed the shift in her husband's facial expression and she assumed it was caused by surprise and confusion, therefore, she volunteered the explanation, "Qing Qing needs a ride so I offered to send her home. We can't possibly allow a young girl like her to fetch a taxi so late at night all alone, right? Just imagine the dangerous situation she could get herself into."

Xu Jing nodded with a complicated emotion.

"Thank you, Brother Xu Jing! You are the best!" chirped Qing Qing from the backseat.

"You're welcome," replied Xu Jing in a voice that was weirdly mechanical. Joann chalked it up to the fact that he was probably tired from a long night out.

Just as Xu Jing started the engine, Qing Qing said, "Brother Xu Jing, we'll reach your place before mine so why don't you drop Sister Joann home first before driving me back?"