Fifteen

Aunt Pan seemed to anticipate Ye Yin’s question. She quickly pulled a sheet of paper from her purse, her smile wide and gleaming. “I copied it before leaving the house. I knew it would come in handy.” Ye Yin suddenly suspected this was another task Bai Qing had instructed her to do, but she kept her doubts hidden and smiled as she picked up her phone and dialed the number. Aunt Pan, tactful as ever, pretended to admire the room’s decor, slowly strolling out to the front hall and quietly closing the door behind her.

On the artificial beach of Saivi Island, Country X.

Ke’er Luo sat obediently beneath the sun umbrella, letting the makeup artist touch up her look. Her pure, lovely face paired with her petite figure made her appear almost angelic. No one would guess this school-uniformed girl of eighteen was actually twenty-eight, having spent nearly a decade struggling in the entertainment business.

Today’s shoot was a scene of the male and female leads embracing and kissing on the beach. After her makeup was finished, Ke’er Luo sipped her orange juice and unconsciously glanced at NEO, who was half-reclining under the opposite sun umbrella, reading.

Though he was a newcomer, his aura was no less commanding than that of seasoned actors. In the drama, he played a gentle and refined man, but off-camera, his entire presence radiated a chill that warned others to keep their distance—a stark contrast to his public persona. Still, as an artist, he was quite impressive: quick-witted, grasped the script easily, showed exceptional acting talent, rarely needed retakes, and in person, he was even more handsome…

Ke’er Luo shook her head hard. She wasn’t a real schoolgirl; what was the point in swooning over him?

It was break time, with fifteen minutes till the next scene. Perhaps she should go talk to him? As a senior, it was normal to discuss acting with a junior. She could even have her assistant discreetly snap a photo of them interacting off-screen—boosting buzz and dispelling rumors that they never spoke outside of filming.

Having made up her mind, Ke’er Luo rose gracefully and walked toward NEO. Before she could reach him, his phone rang at his side.

Ke’er Luo paused. When she’d asked for his private number earlier, hadn’t he said he rarely used his phone?

Bai Qing glanced at his phone—an unfamiliar number, showing as a line from W City in Country Z. He pressed the answer button.

“Um,” Ye Yin said, a bit awkwardly, “thank you for the gift.”

Bai Qing put down his book and sat up. “Miss Ye?”

“Yes. Aunt Pan said you’re filming now, right? This request might be a bit much, but… I hope you can come in person.”

Bai Qing checked his watch. “All right.”

“Ah? You’re really coming?”

“Hm?” Bai Qing’s voice was tinged with laziness. “So you were just being polite earlier?”

“No, no, it’s just surprising you agreed so easily; you must be busy over there.”

“There’s not much left to do, it’s fine.” Bai Qing slipped on his coat as he spoke. “I’ve never taken a single day off, so now that I’ve asked, they won’t refuse.”

“…Oh. Well, be careful on the road. I’ll wait for you at the farm.”

“All right.”

Ke’er Luo, who had overheard the entire call from nearby, cautiously asked NEO, who seemed ready to leave, “Are you…?”

“Sorry, something came up suddenly.” Bai Qing smiled. “Senior, please enjoy your break today. I’ll go ask the director and producer for leave.”

“Alright… okay.” Ke’er Luo blurted out, “Was that your girlfriend calling?”

Bai Qing glanced at her. Ke’er Luo’s heart tightened; just when she couldn’t stand it anymore, Bai Qing shifted into his on-screen persona, smiling warmly. “No, just an ordinary friend.”

Ye Yin watched the farm’s front gate. The security guard had gone inside for a drink; there was no one at the entrance.

“Yin Yin, don’t keep staring out there. The traffic’s probably bad; it doesn’t matter. We have another table tonight. Come inside quickly—the big cake Old Wang and I ordered for you just arrived! Hurry and blow out the candles while it’s fresh!” It wasn’t Ye Yin’s fault for being anxious—Jiang Wen’s phone had been off since morning. When she called Jiang Wen’s agency, they said she’d taken leave and hadn’t come in. Jiang Wen always kept to herself; no one knew where she lived. She was a punctual person—if she’d promised to arrive by noon but hadn’t shown up, something must have gone wrong.

The guests were waiting in the dining hall for the meal. Not wanting to keep everyone hungry, Ye Yin perked up, went in to blow out the candles, made a wish, and then announced the meal could begin.

The feast was lavish, and with so many people, the hall soon filled with the sounds of hearty eating—only the growls and roars of eager diners could be heard. The wine was excellent and plentiful; some rough fellows quickly started playing drinking games, their boisterous noise echoing beyond the dining hall.

Ye Yin quietly slipped away to the farm gate, gazing at the endless, straight road outside, her heart restless.

“Big sister, Miss Jiang will be fine.” Ye Hua had noticed Ye Yin’s unease and followed her out. She took Ye Yin’s hand. “If anything happens, it’s fate. You’ve already done your best.”

Ye Yin forced a smile. “You’re right.”

“I’ve prepared a gift too,” Ye Hua said. “I just put it in your room. Don’t you want to see it?”

“Really?”

“Of course.” Without waiting for an answer, Ye Hua dragged Ye Yin along. Ye Yin, dazed, followed her into the villa. With Ye Hua’s encouraging look, she gently pushed open her bedroom door.

Flowers.

Flowers everywhere. Though it was winter, the room was filled with all kinds of blooms, almost forming a sea of flowers that threatened to engulf her. Daisies, hyacinths, heathers, roses…

“You gave me a lot of money before, so I could buy whatever I liked. Among them were flower seeds,” Ye Hua said. “But these aren’t ones I grew—they’re bought.”

“What made you want to buy flower seeds?” Ye Yin asked, gently stroking the pure white roses in the vase.

“In the future, with soil pollution, people will barely have time to grow food; no one will plant flowers. So they’ll disappear from the world, right?” Ye Hua cradled a handful of daisies. “Life will be hard then. If there are a few flowers, maybe they’ll bring people some comfort.”

Ye Yin patted Ye Hua’s head. “That’s good; you’re broader-minded than I am.”

“I’m just putting up a brave front.” Ye Hua laughed. “Everyone relies on you, sis. I only want to help and not hold you back.”

“How could you?” Ye Yin tugged gently at Ye Hua’s soft cheek. “Come on, let’s go eat cake.”

Even as night fell, Jiang Wen had not arrived. Her phone remained switched off.

Ye Yin sent dozens of messages with no reply. The agency had no news either. Her hope slowly faded. During the evening banquet, after she’d toasted each table symbolically, Ye Yin excused herself, claiming dizziness, and stood alone at the farm gate. Old Guo wanted to approach her, but Ye Hua stopped him.

Footsteps echoed in the darkness. By the dim light, Ye Yin saw a tall figure slowly appear before her.

It was Bai Qing, dressed in a beige wool coat, a white scarf, and carrying a bag slung at his side. He looked as though he’d walked a long distance.

“…Did you walk here straight from the airport?”

“I took a taxi, but it broke down halfway. The driver called the company for a tow, but I was afraid of being late, so I got out and walked the rest of the way.”

Ye Yin laughed. “Do you have a knack for breaking down?”

“Maybe.” Bai Qing agreed, feeling rather unlucky. “Have you been waiting at the gate all this time?”

Ye Yin didn’t have the heart to admit she hadn’t been waiting for him. “Yes, see how sincere I am? Was it a long walk? Come inside quickly.”

Some men in the dining hall were getting rowdy; it wasn’t the right time to bring him in there. Ye Yin hesitated, then led him to the villa, poured him a cup of hot coffee and let him rest a moment.

“Are you hungry? Should I get you something to eat?”

“No need.”

Then, silence stretched between them.

Ye Yin fidgeted. She’d brought him all the way here, and now couldn’t find a topic—how embarrassing.

“Happy birthday.” Bai Qing finally broke the ice.

“Thank you.” Ye Yin breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad you could come.”

Bai Qing smiled gently. “I’m glad to have been invited. But you didn’t call me just for this coffee, did you?”

Caught by his clear gaze, Ye Yin unwittingly told the truth. “Of course not. There’s something more important. Do you know what tomorrow is?”

She instantly regretted her words. Oh, Ye Yin, you’re usually so good at spinning stories, yet you blurted it all out. Will he think you’re crazy?

Unexpectedly, Bai Qing didn’t laugh at her. Instead, he grew serious. “You mean the rumored end-of-the-world?”

With the conversation at this point, Ye Yin could only nod.

“Actually, I have a premonition, too.” Bai Qing frowned. “Most people think the so-called apocalypse is just a silly rumor, but I’ve felt uneasy. Lately, I’ve been having nightmares—everyone turning into terrible monsters, the world plunging into chaos… Is that childish?”

“No, absolutely not.” Ye Yin admired Bai Qing; the original heroine’s idol could sense danger even in dreams. “I have the same feeling. That’s why I refuse to sit and wait for disaster. By the way, Aunt Pan and the others are at the dormitory. Want to go chat with them?”

“Thank you for thinking of me.” Bai Qing smiled softly. “If tomorrow really is the end, being with all of you brings me peace.”

Ye Yin wanted to slap herself awake: Change the channel, idiot! This is a horror story, not a romance! You can’t just blush at every ambiguous word!

But for Ye Yin, adjusting her mindset was easy. She quickly regained her composure and said calmly to Bai Qing, “I don’t agree with that. Humans are social creatures; one person can’t survive alone, but don’t depend too much on others. In the end, you must be able to live on your own.”

Something flashed in Bai Qing’s eyes. “I understand.”

The two left the villa, slowly heading toward the staff dormitory. The night sky was filled with stars; in the distance, the wind stirred the trees. The last peaceful night before the apocalypse ended, fading quietly with the starlight.

Author’s note: This volume ends here—throwing flowers (^o^)/~

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