The Expo Hall
The early summer sun spilled through the tall glass windows of Liangcheng International Expo Hall. Banners stretched high across the entrance: "Future of Technology, Future of the World." Crowds bustled in every direction—investors in sleek suits, journalists with cameras, university students craning for inspiration.
At the center of it all, Luminar System's booth gleamed—clean white panels, interactive screens, and a polished AI demo that drew curious eyes.
And not far away, another attraction buzzed with its own magnetism.
Xu Wei Ran.
The Zhao Corporation's guest star ambassador, headlining their collaboration booth, stood beneath a cascade of flashing cameras. Sleek suit, steady smile, he exuded practiced poise, the aura of a man accustomed to living beneath the spotlight. Fans clustered just outside the velvet rope, phones lifted high, calling his name.
But for all his polish, his gaze drifted elsewhere. Past the cameras. Past the executives. Toward the Luminar booth.
Toward her.
Lin Qing Yun—badge clipped neatly to her blouse, hair tied back in a simple ponytail, moving between managers and interns with a folder in hand. Her voice, calm and fluid, switched from Mandarin to English with ease as she guided a group of foreign journalists.
Even surrounded by brilliance, she was the brightest point.
Late morning, Gu Ze Yan stepped into the expo hall after three weeks overseas. Tailored navy suit, crisp shirt, composure so sharp the crowd instinctively made way.
But his eyes were not on the investors or the stage.
They went straight to her.
She turned when he spoke. "Lin Qing Yun."
For a fraction of a second, her composure faltered. Then her smile lifted, soft as ever. "Mr. Gu, you're finally back. Everything's under control. Don't worry."
He frowned at the pale tint beneath her makeup, the slight wobble in her steps. "Have you eaten?"
Her laugh was light, dismissive. "A sandwich. Go get ready for your keynote. That's today's highlight."
She was already moving again before he could push further, her figure swallowed by the tide of staff and guests.
Ze Yan's chest tightened with unspoken words.
By noon, the expo shifted toward its climax. Investors gathered in the auditorium, cameras lined the aisles, and the screen lit up: Luminar System – Keynote Presentation.
Gu Ze Yan took the stage. His voice was steady, his ideas sharp. Applause thundered when he finished.
Backstage, however, Sunny was unraveling.
She had been awake since dawn, juggling translations, schedules, reporters, equipment. The sandwich had been left half-eaten, her water bottle drained. The room swayed when she stood to hand a stack of documents to a staffer.
The lights tilted. The voices blurred.
And then she fell.
"Qing Yun!"
The shout split the air.
Before Ze Yan even cleared the stage steps, another figure had already moved.
Xu Wei Ran.
The cameras that had been flashing for products and partnerships now turned, catching the moment the nation's beloved actor, Zhao Corporation's ambassador, strode forward and caught the fainting woman in his arms.
Wei Ran held her easily, his expression calm but fierce beneath the stage lights. "Move. Now."
The crowd parted instantly. Gasps rippled through the hall. Reporters who had come for tech headlines found their lenses locked onto a different story—the superstar actor carrying an unconscious woman out of the expo hall.
Gu Ze Yan followed fast, jaw tight, each step sharp as steel.
Wei Ran carried Qing Yun to his waiting black car, shielding her with his jacket against the flashes. He laid her gently in the back seat, then slid into the driver's seat.
"Hospital." His tone left no room for question.
Ze Yan reached them just as the car door shut. He swore under his breath, strode to his own vehicle, and followed close behind.
At the Hospital
The sharp scent of antiseptic hung in the air. Nurses rushed Qing Yun into a room, checking vitals, attaching monitors.
Wei Ran stood at the door, coat still in his arm, his chest rising with deliberate steadiness. The actor's poise hadn't cracked in front of cameras, but now, in the white glare of hospital lights, his warmth broke through.
Moments later, Ze Yan arrived. Their gazes locked—two storms colliding.
Wei Ran's voice was low, even, but edged with ice. "So this is how Luminar treats people? Work them until they collapse?"
Ze Yan's fists clenched. "She's not—" He cut himself off. No excuses could erase the truth. He should have known. He hadn't.
Wei Ran took a step closer. "You didn't notice? Then you don't deserve her loyalty."
The words struck deep. Ze Yan said nothing. Silence was heavier than any defense.
A nurse emerged. "She's stable. Just exhaustion. She needs rest and fluids."
Wei Ran entered first, pulling a chair to her bedside. He sat close, hand wrapping around hers with gentle firmness.
She stirred faintly, lips parting. A whisper slipped out, soft as a sigh:
"…Ze Yan…"
The air froze.
Wei Ran's hand tensed, then slowly released hers. His gaze lingered on her pale face before shifting to the man at the door.
Pain flickered in his eyes—the kind even fame couldn't hide. He rose quietly.
"Take care of her," he said, voice low. And then he left.
Ze Yan stepped into the room, lowering himself into the chair Wei Ran had vacated. He took her hand, still warm, and pressed it to his cheek.
"I'm here," he whispered. "I should have seen. I should have stopped you before you pushed yourself this far. I'm sorry… and thank you—for everything you've done. For Luminar. For me."
His thumb stroked gently across her knuckles, a softness that no boardroom had ever seen.
She didn't wake, but her breathing steadied. Still, he remained by her side, anchored by her presence.
Outside
Under a dim streetlamp, Xu Wei Ran stood with a cigarette between his fingers. He didn't smoke, only watched the ember burn down slowly, turning to ash.
Even in her dreams, she only calls his name.
His lips curved in a bitter smile. He crushed the cigarette against the railing, ember snuffed out, leaving only smoke and silence