As they caught their breath after their passionate encounter, Xin Yue rested her head against Chang Yi's chest, reveling in the comforting embrace of her lover's arms. Feeling a bit sleepy but filled with excitement, Xin Yue's mind raced with ideas for their next adventure.
"Yi er, how about tomorrow we go to the lantern festival in Tainan?" she suggested, her voice tinged with enthusiasm. "I have a cousin who lives there."
Chang Yi, still basking in the warmth of their intimate moment, hesitated for a moment before responding. "Isn't it too late to plan for tomorrow? The festival must be busy, and finding a hotel during the holiday might be difficult," she remarked lazily.
With a determined glint in her eyes, Xin Yue leaned in closer to Chang Yi. "Don't worry, my cousin Han Gege manages a resort there. He'll surely be able to help us out," she assured, her voice filled with confidence as she pleaded with Chang Yi.
Chang Yi couldn't resist Xin Yue's pleading gaze and the sparkle of excitement in her eyes. Leaning down, she placed a tender kiss on Xin Yue's forehead. "Alright, but I need to stop by home first to grab some clothes. I didn't expect our evening to take this turn," she chuckled softly.
Overjoyed by Chang Yi's agreement, Xin Yue beamed with happiness and planted a sweet kiss on her lips before grabbing her phone to inform her cousin of their plans for the festival.
~~
In a dimly lit lounge bar on the other side of the city, Wei Han sat perched on a bar stool, her fingers tracing the rim of her half-empty glass. Lost in thought, she gazed at the array of liquor bottles lining the shelves before her, the soft glow casting a warm hue over the scene.
Her mind swirled with conflicting emotions as she grappled with the weight of the information she held. She knew all too well that many eyes were now fixed on Chang Yi, and by extension, herself, as the last person known to have been with her. The weight of responsibility pressed heavily upon her shoulders as she contemplated her next move.
In the subdued ambiance of the lounge, Wei Han drained the last remnants of her drink, her breaths coming out in ragged bursts. As she set down her glass, she glanced at her phone, her fingers deftly navigating the screen in search of a particular number.
Summoning the bartender with a flick of her hand, Wei Han silently requested a refill, the amber liquid cascading into her glass with a soft glug. With her nerves on edge, she dialed the number and issued a terse directive to the person on the other end to meet her at the bar.
Minutes ticked by with agonizing slowness until finally, the door swung open, admitting a tall, handsome young man into the dimly lit space. He slid onto a stool beside Wei Han, his presence commanding attention as he ordered a glass of bourbon from the bartender.
"What's is it?" he inquired, his gaze fixed on Wei Han with a hint of curiosity.
Ignoring his question momentarily, Wei Han found herself oddly intrigued by his appearance. She typically paid little attention to men's physiques, but there was something about him that caught her eye. His broad shoulders and gentle eyes hinted at a complexity that belied his outward demeanor.
Shaking off her musings, Wei Han took a slow sip of her drink, pondering how to broach the subject.
"I've located her," Wei Han declared. His expression shifted, a hint of amusement flickering across his features at the news.
"Chang Yi?" he inquired. Wei Han simply nodded, retrieving a business card from her pocket and handing it to him. "Consider my debt settled," she remarked tersely.
Accepting the card, he examined the details, noting Chang Yi's name and current position. With a nod of acknowledgment, he expressed his gratitude to Wei Han before draining his glass.
Before he departed, Wei Han grasped his hand firmly, her gaze piercing into his. "Promise me you won't hurt her," she implored, her tone tinged with urgency. He hesitated for a moment before nodding in reluctant agreement, and with that, she reluctantly released her grip, allowing him to leave.
As he disappeared into the bustling crowd, Wei Han's mind drifted back to the events of two years ago. She remembered the crushing blow her family's business had suffered at the hands of Chang Yi's father, leaving her struggling to find stable employment. The desire to return to Toronto had gnawed at her, but her father's illness had tethered her to Taiwan, trapping her in a cycle of guilt and obligation.
In her darkest hour, he had appeared, clad in his immaculate dark suits that seemed to gleam with promise. He had offered her a lifeline—a chance at a better life, better opportunities. His only request was simple: to be the first to know if she ever discovered Chang Yi's whereabouts. At first, Wei Han had been skeptical, but he had delivered on his promises, securing her position at Jin Yuen Enterprise. Despite her reservations, she felt bound by the obligation to honor her end of the bargain, even as a chill ran down her spine every time she met his gaze. Beneath his youthful, handsome exterior lurked a coldness that sent shivers down her spine.
As Wei Han sat there in the dimly lit bar, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered within her. The weight of her promise weighed heavily on her conscience, knowing that she had unwittingly become entangled in a web of secrets and deceit.
Despite her reservations, she couldn't deny the allure of the life he had offered her—the stability, the opportunity for advancement. Yet, with each passing day, the burden of her secret grew heavier, gnawing at her conscience like a relentless predator.
As she swirled the remnants of her drink in her glass, Wei Han's mind drifted back to the moment when she had first encountered Chang Yi. There had been a spark between them—a connection that had ignited something deep within her soul. But now, that spark seemed like nothing more than a distant memory, overshadowed by the shadow of her past and the weight of her obligations.
With a heavy heart, Wei Han knew that she couldn't keep the truth hidden forever. Sooner or later, the web of lies would unravel, exposing her to the harsh light of truth. But for now, she remained trapped in a cycle of secrecy, bound by her promise and haunted by the ghosts of her past.