In 2022, during the company's annual holiday break, Qin Yao and I planned a trip to Myanmar together.
At the time, I could never have imagined that she was scheming to ensure my daughter and I would remain there forever—classified as "missing persons."
Looking back, I had grown accustomed to letting my closest friend take charge of everything. This trip was no exception; from start to finish, she orchestrated every detail.
Our destination was the small town of Mong La in Myanmar. She told me it was home to a temple renowned for its miraculous blessings, a place where I could pray for my daughter's bright future.
From booking flights and arranging visas to hiring a driver, she handled it all with meticulous care.
We flew to Xishuangbanna first, then switched to a private car that took us to the Daluo border crossing.
Crossing the border meant stepping into Myanmar.
Near the border, I spotted a few green peafowls strolling leisurely, their vibrant plumage captivating. Excited, I quickly snapped some photos and told my daughter that these peafowls symbolized auspiciousness and a promising future.
The private car could only take us as far as the border. Beyond that, a rugged off-road vehicle was already waiting for us.
The driver, a local Burmese man, conversed fluently with Qin Yao in Burmese. I stood aside, unable to understand a word, silently marveling at how much effort she must have put into preparing for this trip.
Once we climbed into the off-road vehicle, it sped along narrow paths, and in just half an hour, we reached Mong La.
But to my surprise, the vehicle didn't stop in the town center.
Exhausted from the long journey, my daughter and I, seated in the back, soon drifted into a deep sleep without realizing it.