Chapter One: Xin Gan

The plane landed safely at Beiyu Airport at nine in the evening.

As soon as Xin Gan got off the plane, she contacted the other party. The person on the line spoke with a local accent and told her, “Brother Jiu had something come up suddenly, so he asked me to pick you up, Miss Xin. Please walk out of the airport and wait for me by the roadside.”

Xin Gan checked the time on her phone; it seemed about right.

When she met the person, it was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in the local attire.

“Miss Xin, it’s me, the one who called you earlier. My name is Xiao Shi,” he said.

Xin Gan introduced herself politely. “I’m Xin Gan.”

A black SUV was parked by the roadside, and a strong smell of gasoline mixed with an unidentifiable odor filled the air. The moment Xin Gan got in, she felt nauseated.

It was a stifling, suffocating nausea.

She didn’t normally get carsick, but the winding, bumpy mountain roads tossed the car about, and her stomach churned as if caught in a storm.

The interior of the car was dim. Xiao Shi kept his eyes on the road and didn’t notice her discomfort. “Miss Xin, it’s a bit of a drive. I’ll let you know when we arrive. You must be exhausted after a whole day on the plane—try to get some rest.”

Xin Gan answered with a muffled hum, her nose heavy, afraid that if she opened her mouth, she’d throw up the acid rising in her stomach.

She leaned back against the seat, eyes closed, tightly hugging her backpack, not daring to move.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before they finally arrived.

The inn was brightly lit but nearly deserted.

Xiao Shi helped her with her suitcase as they walked. “Miss Xin, Brother Jiu said you should stay here tonight. He’ll come by tomorrow.”

Xin Gan nodded, her face pale and beads of sweat on her forehead.

Xiao Shi seemed to know the innkeeper well. He handed her over to the proprietress and was about to leave.

The innkeeper greeted Xin Gan warmly and led her to her room—she didn’t need to show any ID or pay. Everything had already been arranged.

Her room was near the corridor, with a good view. If she opened the window, she could see the distant lake, but she had no mood to appreciate the scenery. As soon as the innkeeper left, she rushed to the bathroom and finally vomited up the acid she’d been holding in all evening.

After cleaning herself up, she called her cousin Shen Ruxin to let her know she’d arrived safely.

On the call, Shen Ruxin asked, “Did Cheng Jiu come to pick you up?”

“No, his friend came.”

“Why not him? Where is he? How could he just leave you, a girl, alone in a strange place?”

“It’s not like that. He’ll be here tomorrow.”

“Unbelievable!” Shen Ruxin was clearly upset. “You traveled all the way to Beiyu to see him, and he couldn’t even pick you up? Is he really that busy? If I’d known, I never would have let you go find him alone.”

Xin Gan honestly didn’t mind. “It’s all right, cousin. Don’t be angry. I’m already here.”

“You sound weak. Are you not feeling well?”

“I just got a little carsick.”

“Well, the environment over there isn’t great, and the roads are rough. All right, we’ll talk tomorrow if anything comes up. You should get some rest. I won’t keep you.”

The room was fairly clean. Xin Gan removed her makeup, showered, and went straight to bed.

Not everyone can adapt to a new environment immediately. Xin Gan woke up after just a few hours of sleep, feeling a little better. She got up to wash and dress.

After all, he was coming today. It was their first meeting; she wanted to look her best.

The morning sun was dazzlingly bright. Xin Gan put on a pair of sunglasses—her small, palm-sized face was mostly hidden, leaving only her delicate lower face exposed: a fine nose, rosy lips. She wore a red, tasseled, ethnic-style long dress, and when the wind blew, the hem danced in the air.

When she went downstairs, Xiao Shi was already waiting. He waved and called out, “Miss Xin, come have breakfast!”

There was no one else there. The person she was supposed to meet was still absent.

“Miss Xin, Brother Jiu is still tied up. He’ll come as soon as he’s done. He asked me to tell you to wait for him a few more days.”

Xin Gan replied, “All right.”