Chapter 44
Optimus Prime's optics flickered slightly. He asked in a deep voice.
"Human, what is your plan?"
Yang Jian had both hands in his pockets, tone relaxed: "Very simple. Go straight to Hoover Dam, get the AllSpark, and take out Megatron."
Jazz looked puzzled: "Isn't that a bit too aggressive? Maybe we need a careful strategy."
Optimus Prime raised a hand to quiet everyone: "This information needs verification."
He turned to Yang Jian: "We'll scout ahead first. As a gesture of goodwill, Bumblebee can go with you."
"What?!"
Mikaela's eyes widened: "That robot is coming with us?"
Yang Jian patted her shoulder: "Free self-driving service. Not satisfied?"
With a series of mechanical transformation sounds, Bumblebee shifted back into car form.
Yang Jian circled the beat-up Chevy once and pointed at the brand-new Camaro: "Not considering a new paint job?"
Mikaela looked confused: "New what?"
Her words cut off abruptly.
Bumblebee's headlights suddenly flared blue. A scanning beam swept over the shiny new sports car.
In a dizzying whirlwind of mechanical reconfiguration, the rusty yellow paint peeled away like snakeskin. Brand-new bright yellow paint gleamed underneath.
"Holy shit!" Mikaela stumbled back two steps.
"My worldview just completely imploded today!"
Yang Jian opened the driver's door and slid in: "Get in. Let me show you alien tech."
Bumblebee's engine roared. Mikaela barely had time to buckle her seatbelt before the car launched forward with shocking acceleration.
"Aaaah!"
She clung desperately to the handle: "This is ten thousand times more intense than a roller coaster!"
Yang Jian lounged casually in the seat, watching Bumblebee autonomously weave through traffic: "Can you go any faster?"
The radio instantly switched to "Speed Demon."
The engine redlined in an instant. Mikaela's golden hair whipped wildly in the wind.
Her initial fear quickly turned to excitement: "This is insane! I'm actually riding in a car that drives itself!"
Half an Hour Later
Downtown – Most Expensive French Restaurant
Mikaela fidgeted uncomfortably with her napkin.
"First time in a place like this?" Yang Jian skillfully spread her napkin for her.
"My God." She lowered her voice.
"This meal costs three months of my rent."
The waiter brought the foie gras. Mikaela suddenly put down her fork: "Seriously, who the hell are you? Someone like you can't just be some rich guy who happens to know alien secrets."
Yang Jian took a sip of red wine: "If I said I'm from another universe, would you believe me?"
Mikaela's expression froze.
She stared at Yang Jian for a full ten seconds, then suddenly laughed: "You know what? Before today I would've thought you were crazy. But now…"
She pointed out the window at the parked Autobot.
"I've accepted a world where alien robots can transform."
She sneaked a glance at the elegantly dressed diners around them, then looked down at herself.
Even though she was wearing the black dress Yang Jian had quickly bought her, she still felt out of place.
"Relax." Yang Jian swirled his wine glass.
"You look like you're defusing a bomb."
Mikaela glared at him: "You know normal people never get into a place like this in their entire lives, right?"
"Now you have." Yang Jian smiled.
"How's the taste?"
"So good I want to cry." She admitted honestly and speared another piece of foie gras.
"So, people like you live like this all the time?"
"Pretty much." Yang Jian cut into his steak.
"But after a while it gets boring."
Mikaela set down her knife and fork, propped her chin on her hand and looked at him: "I still want to ask—who are you really? How do you know about alien robots? How did you…"
She gestured vaguely: "…suddenly teleport from the repair shop to the dealership?"
Yang Jian wiped the corner of his mouth: "Didn't I already tell you?"
Mikaela's expression froze for a second, then she snorted with laughter: "Okay, I'll accept that you're a superpowered person."
...
Late Night
Neon lights reflected on the car windows as they drove.
Mikaela leaned back in the new leather seat, fingers unconsciously tracing the seatbelt.
"So." She suddenly spoke.
"Are you really going to Hoover Dam tomorrow?"
"We are." Yang Jian corrected her. "If you're willing."
Mikaela turned to look out the window and was silent for a moment: "You know, the farthest I've ever been is Las Vegas. And now I'm suddenly part of some alien operation."
Yang Jian's fingers lightly tapped the steering wheel: "Scared?"
"No!"
She whipped her head around, black hair flying over the seatback: "I just…"
Before she finished, Bumblebee suddenly slammed on the brakes.
Mikaela lurched forward—Yang Jian caught her shoulders and steadied her instantly.
"Sorry."
The radio played a cheeky broadcast clip: "Road conditions not ideal."
Mikaela suddenly laughed. She sat up straight: "He did that on purpose, didn't he?"
Yang Jian chuckled softly, though his fingers didn't immediately let go.
The car suddenly became quiet, only the faint hum of the air conditioning remaining.
Mikaela could smell his faint scent—mixed with something indescribable.
"Yang."
She looked at Yang Jian: "If I said I don't want to go home… where would you take me?"
...
Elevator doors opened on the top floor. Mikaela took a deep breath and stepped into the suite.
Panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city lights like a river of fallen stars.
The marble bathroom was big enough to fit her entire apartment's bathroom. The bed was large enough for several people.
"This is ridiculous." She collapsed onto the edge of the bed; the velvet sheets made her fingertips tingle.
"You live in places like this all the time?"
"Sometimes." Yang Jian unbuttoned his cuffs.
"Bathroom's on the left. Toiletries are all new."
Mikaela walked into the bathroom. Warm water cascaded over her body; steam gradually filled the space.
She looked down at her hands, still somewhat dazed.
Everything that happened today felt like a crazy dream.
Alien robots. Superpowers. Classified secrets.
And she—a normal auto-shop girl—had somehow gotten dragged into it all.
She turned off the faucet, dried herself, hesitated for a second, then put on the hotel bathrobe.
When she pushed open the bathroom door, she saw Yang Jian standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the city nightscape.
His silhouette looked especially tall under the light. The black shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing muscular forearms.
"Yang."
Mikaela cleared her throat: "I'm done showering."
Yang Jian turned around. His gaze lingered on her for a second, then he pointed to the red wine on the table.
"Want a drink?"
Mikaela walked over, picked up the glass, and took a sip. The rich wine helped her relax a little.
She walked to the window and stood beside Yang Jian, looking down at the city lights below.
She asked softly: "I still can't believe I'm going to do something huge tomorrow."
"If you're willing." Yang Jian swirled his glass.
"Of course, you can always back out."
Mikaela shook her head. Her golden hair caught the light: "No. I want to go."
She turned to look at Yang Jian: "This might be the only real adventure of my life."
Yang Jian smiled: "Trust me—stick with me, and there'll be plenty more adventures."
Mikaela smiled too. The bathrobe collar slipped slightly open, revealing her collarbone.
She suddenly stepped closer, tilted her head up to look at Yang Jian: "You know, when you said in the restaurant that this was just another boring day in your life… it was insanely hot."
Yang Jian raised an eyebrow: "Yeah?"
"Of course."
Mikaela's fingers lightly traced his arm: "And right now… I really want to know what other superpowers you have."
Her breath carried the faint scent of red wine; her eyes held challenge and anticipation.
Yang Jian looked down at her, lips curving into a playful smile: "For example…"
He suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist. Mikaela felt her vision blur.
The next second—they were in the bedroom. Yang Jian gently placed her on the bed, one hand braced beside her ear.
"Teleportation?" Mikaela's breathing quickened.
"No—just really fast." Yang Jian's other hand brushed her cheek.
"Want to see something even better?"
Mikaela didn't answer. Instead she grabbed his collar and pulled him down into a kiss.
Outside the window, Bumblebee sat parked on the rooftop. The radio automatically played The Eagles' "Hotel California."
"Such a lovely place…"
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