The floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with sunlight. XIAO ZHAN reviews documents, his calm expression hiding exhaustion. His secretary enters.
Li Wei (Assistant MC)
President Xiao, the board finalized the sponsorship for the International Art Exhibition. They’re assigning you as the guest of honor.
Xiao Zhan pauses, faint smile
tugging at his lips.
Xiao Zhan (MC)
An art exhibition? …Interesting.
ART STUDIO – AFTERNOON
A messy yet vibrant studio. Canvases stacked against the walls, paint smeared across the floor. WANG YIBO sits on a stool, brush in hand, staring at a half-finished piece.
His phone buzzes. He answers reluctantly.
Mei Ling (Art Curator)
Yibo, the CEO of Xiao Enterprises is sponsoring our exhibition. You’ll have to meet him personally.
Yibo freezes. He remembers the man from the gallery—the one who wouldn’t look away
Wang Yibo (ML)
(coldly)
Find someone else. I don’t babysit businessmen.
Mei Ling (Art Curator)
This isn’t negotiable. Without sponsors, the event collapses. Endure it.
Yibo hangs up, jaw tightening.
ART EXHIBITION HALL – EVENING (PREPARATION NIGHT)
Workers arrange paintings. Xiao Zhan arrives earlier than scheduled, walking with his usual composed confidence.
At the far end, Yibo adjusts the lighting on his canvas. Their eyes meet again. Silence.
Xiao Zhan (MC)
(soft chuckle)
I told you I’d find you again.
Wang Yibo (ML)
Or maybe trouble finds me.
Xiao Zhan (MC)
Trouble? No. Fascination… perhaps.
He steps closer, lowering his voice.
Xiao Zhan (MC)
Tell me, Artist—why paint me when we’d never met?
Yibo looks away, avoiding the intensity of Zhan’s stare.
Wang Yibo (ML)
I didn’t. I painted loneliness. If you see yourself in it… that’s your problem.
For the first time, Xiao Zhan’s mask slips. His smile fades, revealing a flicker of vulnerability—just as Yibo predicted.
They stand in silence, tension thick.
Xiao Zhan (MC)
(quietly, almost to himself)
Then maybe… you’ve seen more of me than anyone else.
Yibo’s hand tightens on his paintbrush. He looks unsettled, almost exposed.
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To be continue...
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