s…and…m—carefully hoarding chapters, low ratings, those who know, know. So it doesn’t miss the spring. Slow at the start, then it picks up! For the niche crowd—come on in, you won’t be disappointed!!
A remote suburban airport in western Southeast Asia
The tropical afternoon sun, wrapped in humid, muggy air, rushed in head-on, carrying a distinct Southeast Asian flavor, instantly flooding the entire small, crude airport.
There was none of the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan air harbor here.
A low, white, single-story terminal building bore the marks of underdeveloped infrastructure.
Tropical vines sprawled unchecked across the walls.
Old-fashioned ceiling fans turned lazily overhead, their rusted bearings groaning under the strain, emitting creaking, grinding sounds with every rotation, sending waves of stifling, hot air.
Two sophomore girls, dressed in fresh, youthful outfits, had just stepped out of the international arrivals gate, their fair skin instantly enveloped by the damp heat.
Their purpose for this trip was to view the original works and one-of-a-kind authentic pieces of their late idol painter.
Both wore breezy summer outfits.
Nie Zhenzhen had on a cream-yellow floral short skirt paired with a cropped white short-sleeve top, her jet-black hair casually tied into a high ponytail.
Her bangs were gently stirred by the breeze, and that pure, delicate little face was breathtakingly beautiful.
Beside her, a girl in a light-blue denim overall dress with a slightly cool edge was her college roommate and best friend, Xiang Wan.
At 170cm tall, she made the petite Nie Zhenzhen beside her look especially small and dainty, with a hint of sweet, soft charm.
Each of them clutched their laminated passports and boarding passes tightly in one hand while dragging a suitcase with the other.
The wheels rolled over the rough concrete ground, making a faint, rattling sound.
“Zhenzhen, you came all this way—isn’t your Wei Shao going to be worried sick?”
Xiang Wan teased.
“He’s such a busy man. I called him two days before I left, but I couldn’t reach him—it kept going to voicemail…”
“I wonder… did he ever hear it?”
Nie Zhenzhen furrowed her brows slightly, her voice trailing off soft and sweet, tinged with a hint of aggrieved coquetry.
“Well, what can you do? He’s the crown prince of the Ji Corporation, after all! Too busy to—”
“Our Zhenzhen is still an innocent little bunny!”
Xiang Wan glanced sideways at Nie Zhenzhen, her eyes unable to hide a probing, scrutinizing look.
“What nonsense are you talking about! Brother Ji is a gentleman.”
“And besides… what’s wrong with being a bit more traditional and reserved…”
The girl quickly explained, two rosy blushes instantly spreading across her cheeks.
“Alright, alright, the little bunny is shy…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll bring his little sweetheart back safe and sound.”
“With me here, no one dares to bully you!”
Xiang Wan casually swung her arm over Nie Zhenzhen’s shoulder, gave her own chest a firm pat with the other hand, her movements brisk and decisive, her tone confident and hearty.
Nie Zhenzhen gave her a gentle smile. “I believe you, of course I do—you’re a tough girl.”
“Zhenzhen, if it weren’t for my idol painter holding his personal exhibition here, I wouldn’t come to a godforsaken place like this no matter what.”
Xiang Wan said as she slapped a giant mosquito that had landed on her leg. “Really sorry to drag you all the way out here with me.”
“Don’t overthink it. I came willingly—she’s my idol too!”
The girl soothed her in a soft voice.
Voices around them were sparse; a few locals chatted in low tones.
They were generally darker-skinned, dressed casually in shorts and t-shirts, their gazes occasionally drifting over the two unfamiliar young girls.
Because the area was remote and sparsely populated, they couldn’t find anyone to ask for directions, so they could only feel their way forward.
“Wanwan, they said someone would pick us up at this hour and we should wait at the airport exit.”
“But there’s still no news at all!”
Nie Zhenzhen’s tone carried a hint of anxiety and unease.
“Ugh, I don’t know either…”
“Let’s walk out a bit further and take a look.”
Xiang Wan also looked helpless, pointing toward a more open area not far away.
A few battered old sedans were parked in the distance.
The tropical broadleaf trees by the wall grew thick and lush, casting large patches of dappled shadow.
So the two walked out side by side.
When they reached the exit, they instinctively slowed their steps, carefully scanning the sparse crowd.
Their brows were slightly furrowed, their eyes holding the curiosity of first-time visitors to a foreign land, mixed with a hint of caution and unease at being in such a remote place.
They occasionally raised a hand to shield their eyes from the glaring sun, chatting softly.
Their gazes swept over every figure holding a pickup sign, anxiously searching for the designated local contact.
After a while, a faded, mottled old van pulled up in front of the girls.
The body was covered in rust and grime, with large patches of paint peeling off, gray dust mixed with grease, and corners dented and warped from knocks.
It looked old, dirty, and thoroughly worn-down.
Two middle-aged men of medium build with dark skin got out.
Their eyes were narrow and sinister, and when they looked at people, their stares were direct, sticky, and dripping with undisguised covetousness.
Their faces were oily and sharp, their smiles frivolous and sinister, radiating a greasy, sleazy, ill-intentioned street-thug air.
Nie Zhenzhen and Xiang Wan instinctively stepped back a few paces, trying to evade the man’s scorching, sticky gaze.
“You two are university students from China, here to visit the art exhibition, right?”
One of the men flashed a row of yellowed teeth and asked in a brisk tone, speaking broken Chinese with a thick regional accent.
“Yes, that’s right. Are you the local guides arranged online?”
Xiang Wan gave the man a once-over, a hint of suspicion written across her face.
“Yeah, this is our work ID.”
“It’s scorching out here—the car’s much cooler. Come on, hop in with us!”
As he spoke, the man raised a work badge hanging around his neck, eagerly showing it to the girls.
The two girls quietly exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with hesitation and unease.
Each could read the other’s apprehension. Staring at the men before them, whose intentions were unclear, they found themselves frozen in indecision, unwilling to make a hasty choice.
“Our boss and this painter go way back—they were practically brothers since they were kids in diapers.”
“This exhibition was organized by our boss at great expense, specially to honor his memory.”
“Every one-of-a-kind piece he left behind will be on full display.”
“I’m afraid this is the only chance you’ll ever get in your lifetime to feast your eyes on them.”
One of the men coaxed, a note of regret in his voice.
“But… this painter is… a woman…”
Nie Zhenzhen spoke slowly, her face full of disbelief.
An awkward silence instantly fell over the surroundings…
“Little miss, you just don’t get it, do you?!”
“His stage name is female, but in reality, he’s a hundred percent, bona fide man.”
“How could outsiders like you possibly know such inside scoop?”
“As for even more dirt on him—it’ll all be revealed at this exhibition…”
Seeing a flicker of interest in the girls’ eyes, the man hid a smug smile and continued his persuasion, playing right into their curiosity.
“Zhenzhen, who knew there’d be such a huge scoop!”
“Let’s go check it out—who knows, maybe a whole field of juicy gossip is waiting for us!”
Xiang Wan nudged the girl’s arm, her eyes gleaming with barely contained excitement and anticipation.
The girl couldn’t calm her mind enough to think straight. Deep down, she felt something was off.
But the oppressive heat around her left her head feeling dizzy and feverish.
In the end, she reluctantly gave in.
“Alright then, let’s go take a look.”
The two men exchanged a glance, a barely perceptible sly smirk crossing their faces.
Then, with feigned eagerness, they stepped forward to help the girls with their suitcases, ushering them toward the car.