In Province A, an hour from the Han Residence, a half-constructed resort stood in silence. Steel beams intersected in a precise architectural plan, while unfinished concrete floors lay wrapped in scaffolding and safety netting.
Piles of sand, cement, and gravel surrounded the site, cranes towering overhead. The air smelled of concrete and metal beneath a clear blue sky, chasing away the dark clouds from the night before.
A man in a safety helmet and blue polo shirt made his way up to the third floor, a checklist clenched in his hand. He moved slowly, his eyes sweeping across pillars and beams, checking every corner for signs of structural damage.
Below him, two other men remained on the second floor, conducting the same inspection, their shoes damp with mud from the rain-soaked ground.
Just then, a sharp yelp cut through the air, followed by a heavy thud. It happened so fast that neither man had time to react. Shouts erupted from below—footsteps, voices, sudden chaos. The two men froze, then turned to look at each other, the same horrified realization in their eyes.
They rushed to the edge of the building, and what they saw made their blood run cold. Their colleague from the third floor lay sprawled on the ground, blood streaming from a gash across his forehead. His once bright blue polo shirt was smeared red, a steel rod piercing his stomach.
A crowd had already formed around him, concern etched on every face. One man was calling for an ambulance, while another knelt beside him to check on his condition—the whole scene was pure chaos.
…
Meanwhile, sunlight poured into the Han Residence kitchen as Song Meiqi entered, carrying a basket in her hands.
"Auntie Mei, we're quite lucky," Meiqi said with a smile.
Auntie Mei, who had just arrived, looked at her with curiosity, eyeing the basket of vegetables Meiqi had brought.
"Because the vegetables survived last night's storm," Meiqi added, lifting a few leafy greens to show her, her round, midnight-dark eyes flickering with brightness.
Auntie Mei couldn't help but smile at Meiqi's expression and gave a small nod. "Indeed. The news said the storm caused serious damage in some places."
Meiqi nodded in agreement—she had already scrolled through the news that morning. Setting the basket on the counter, she brushed a stray leaf aside and moved to help Auntie Mei prepare breakfast.
Auntie Mei said nothing, knowing Meiqi could cook just as well as she could. Before long, the dishes were ready, and the dining room was soon filled with a warm, comforting aroma.
Han Yichen stepped into the room, blue blazer and trousers crisp against the soft light—his formal attire contrasting with his carefree attitude.
Meiqi tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "It's Sunday—where are you going, Uncle?"
Yichen took his seat and reached for the chopsticks beside his plate before meeting Meiqi's gaze.
"I'll have my exhibit this Saturday, so I need to go there and arrange the rest of the artworks."
"Oh," Meiqi said, not really interested in his work, and continued eating.
At her reaction, Yichen couldn't help but chuckle. "If you're bored, you could visit the Little Light Foundation. Those kids would be happy to meet you."
Meiqi's gaze flicked to him, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Okay. I'll go this afternoon."
…
Later that afternoon, somewhere in the suburbs of H City, Wang Zi Rui stepped out of his BMW, the white linen of his shirt catching the sunlight as he scanned the area.
Ahead of him stretched a well-groomed field of turf, the grass trimmed short and flawless, white railings framing the track as it curved into the distance.
As he walked along the path, he spotted several well-trained horses running the course. Their hooves struck the sand-based track beside the turf, kicking up fine clouds of dust that drifted lazily through the air.
Just then, his gaze caught a familiar figure, riding astride a brown horse in a practiced rhythm. The man looked back at him, recognition flashing in his eyes before a faint smile touched his lips.
He swung down from the horse and walked toward Zi Rui, stopping a short distance away, his expression brightening as their gazes met.
"It's been a long time, A'Zi," he said with delight.
"Mm… indeed, it's been a long time, Yu," Zi Rui replied.
…
Meanwhile, along the sunlit coast of Province A, Meiqi guided her uncle's platinum-grey Volkswagen Beetle down the winding road toward the Little Light Foundation, just a few kilometers away.
It had been years since she'd driven, and her hands gripped the wheel a little too tightly. Her body felt stiff in the driver's seat, eyes locked on the road ahead, every curve making her flinch at the thought of an accident.
Then the coastline opened before her. The sea she had admired yesterday stretched out again, glimmering under the sun. Unlike yesterday, the beach was almost deserted—only a handful of scattered figures dotted the sand, giving the place a quiet, tranquil stillness.
Suddenly, she passed a half-constructed building, its sheer size immediately catching her attention, especially in the quiet countryside. She slowed slightly, her gaze scanning the structure, and her eyes landed on a tarpaulin hung on one of the scaffolds.
The bold letters made her eyes flicker for a moment:
"Camellia Springs Resort Project"
– GL Holdings & Greenland Corporation
"GL Holdings?" she murmured, a flash of memory cutting through her mind, her hand tightening around the wheel.
"Isn't that Mr. Wang's company?"