Angle

[Chapter 10 ]

The bus rattled as it turned onto Baicheng Road, the shocks groaning like the vehicle hated every bump as much as I did.

I stepped up through the folding doors, dropped ¥2 into the fare box with a metallic clink, and nodded at the driver, who didn't even blink. He looked as exhausted as the rest of the city. Maybe more.

The heater blasted stale warmth against my legs as I shuffled down the narrow aisle and sank into a window seat.

I looked out into the city of Beijing. It was one of those mornings where everything outside the window looked oddly distant, like a painting I wasn't part of. Street vendors arranged baskets of lychees and longan under striped umbrellas. A man on a scooter balanced a stack of cardboard boxes higher than his head. An auntie scolded a dog in full-on dialect, the poor mutt slinking behind her like it understood every word.

Beijing, always half-asleep and fully alive.

I sat in the third row from the back, window seat, as usual. Not for the view - for the distance. No one bothers you back here. Not the old men arguing over lottery tickets. Not the high schoolers trading earbuds and gossip.

小灰 (Little Grey)'s fur still clung to my hoodie like faint smoke. I pulled it tighter.

Across the aisle, a guy nodded off with his mouth open, earbuds still blasting some indie band I couldn't name. Up front, the driver grunted along to a radio talk show. The host was ranting about rent increases like it was a personal betrayal.

My phone buzzed.

I ignored it.

It buzzed again - more insistent this time. I still didn't check. Probably Chen Yuxi.

He'd already sent three memes, two unhinged voice notes about Mercury being in retrograde, and a text that just said:

"Lan Zhan you're emotionally MISSING. Ghosting is not an air sign trait."

Classic Yuxi.

I wasn't ready to talk. Not yet.

Outside, the sun glinted off car hoods and glass towers. A woman with bright red heels crossed the intersection like she owned it. Somewhere behind us, someone was laughing too loud.

The light turned green. The bus lurched forward.

I leaned my head against the window. It was still warm from the sun.

Sometimes, the city felt like too much.

Other times, like the only thing holding me together.

✨ [ AUTHOR'S NOTE ]

What's something you've noticed while riding the bus or walking through your city - a small moment that stuck with you?

And if this chapter made you feel anything - hit that ⭐️ vote button! I read every comment and it really means the world.😁