“It’s over,” Xingyu said. “Come on.” He took Weiran’s hand, his grip warm, and guided him back toward the front door. Now that the fury was finally starting to drain out of him, Weiran noticed more details: expensive décor, cheap walls and floors—a temporary house for an expensive man. Xingyu and Weiran stepped over the puddle of wine.

“The car—”

“Don’t worry about it. You can ride with me, and I’ll send someone else to pick up the other car. There are extra keys.”

Weiran nodded numbly and let himself be pulled along.

Xingyu’s hands didn’t waver once on the steering wheel and his shoulders were relaxed. Weiran’s own bloody hands were shaking in his lap and didn’t stop no matter how hard he pressed them into his legs.

“If the police question you,” Xingyu began, and Weiran jolted at the sound of his voice. Xingyu’s eyebrows rose.

“Yes? If the police question me, then—?”

“You were on the other side of town. As soon as I realized you were gone, I made some phone calls while I drove. I had an employee go into an older restaurant in a different part of town without cameras and purchase some food using my card. They’re leaving on a flight tonight and won’t be able to testify.”

“Are you sure—”

“You were with me. I had a lookalike sit with them for a meal. We’ll have the receipts as our alibi. If that doesn’t work, then we were at a hotel together. I made that purchase with a different card. It’s the same hotel that Xiao-Xiao did his…work. The employees won’t cave to the police no matter how hard they press.”

“I don’t know if I can—”

“If you act embarrassed, pretend it’s because you don’t want to admit that we’ve been sleeping together. You followed me all the way here from abroad. It wouldn’t be so far out of left field to think that you’re my secret lover or something.”

Weiran was beyond being mortified at the thought of sleeping with Xingyu. “What if they question Xiaokai?”

“Xiaokai? He’s been at home with two people acting as his alibi this entire time. And then he’s been injured too, so it’ll be hard to argue that he got out without either of them noticing, killed a man, and then returned, all without either of them noticing. In any case, even if he was accused…” He turned on the signal, rolled to a stop, and then pulled the wheel to the right. “Even if he was accused, or even if they found evidence against you, I have the money and the resources to get the best lawyers in the city. If they try anything, I’ll take care of it.”