The time showed 9 a.m. when Wei Yu Chen woke up. His body still felt tired after a night struggling with Yuan Bo. When he opened his eyes, he looked around his room, and the reality hit him—Yuan Bo had really gone.
He got up slowly, grabbed his trousers, opened the curtains and the window. Sunlight swept across the corners of the room, illuminating the thin dust dancing in the air. In his hand, a cigarette and a lighter were lit, a thin smoke curling into the air, blending with the calm yet silent morning aroma.
From the balcony, Wei Yu Chen looked at the city spreading below. His eyes were empty, but his mind was storming with unanswered questions. Every corner of the same view, which once felt ordinary, now seemed strange and hollow.
As he inhaled the cigarette, he felt the emptiness swallowing him deeper than the night before. All the laughter, all the passion, all the memories he had shared with Yuan Bo—now only remained as blurry shadows.
A question passed through his mind, lonely and bitter: while inhaling the cigarette, he murmured softly, "Are we… really over, Yuan Bo?"
Suddenly, the phone on the table rang. Wei Yu Chen glanced over, his half-closed eyes looking at the screen, before lazily picking it up. The screen displayed his manager's face—stern, panicked, and uncompromising.
The voice echoed through the speaker, breaking the silence of the room. "Are you crazy, Yu Chen? What time is it? Eleven o'clock! You have to go to the airport. The ticket and passport are in my hands. Come immediately, I'm waiting for you. Today we head to Milan!"
Wei Yu Chen looked at the screen for a moment, his eyes flat. Without further expression, he replied curtly, almost cynically, "Fine, sir… noisy manager," before hanging up the phone with one rough motion and tossing it onto the bed.
Silence once again enveloped the room, but now there was a new rhythm of tension—Wei Yu Chen's hand gripping his cigarette, his mind wandering between Yuan Bo's departure and the journey he had to take, while the outside world continued demanding him to move forward.
Wei Yu Chen stepped into the bathroom, not forgetting to grab a towel from his walk-in closet. The shower was turned on, and the cold water flowed, immediately soaking every strand of hair and every solid muscle on his body.
Standing 1.85 meters tall, his skin white and flawless, his body perfectly maintained—a man truly worthy of the title top artist, not just because of his handsomeness, but also the aura radiating dominance and calm.
Water dripped onto his shoulders, back, and chest, washing away the fatigue from the previous night, while his mind continued to wander, thinking about Yuan Bo's departure. Behind that handsome face, there was a loneliness that no luxury or fame could conceal.
Wei Yu Chen hurriedly made his way to the airport. Upon reaching the ground floor, his gaze captured a familiar scene: the lobby was filled with journalists with cameras on, fans shouting enthusiastically, even slightly exaggerated outside the doors.
Even so, Wei Yu Chen remained calm. A black mask and hat covered part of his face, yet the aura of confidence and composure could not be hidden. With firm steps, his body upright and commanding, he walked to the car waiting in the parking area, ready to take him to the departure gate.
Every eye was on him, yet he seemed to walk on a stage only he controlled, relaxed yet full of dominance—a top artist used to facing the spotlight, even as the world around him felt chaotic and uncontrollable.
Upon arriving at the airport, Wei Yu Chen was immediately met with his manager's chatter. Jiang Fan, a 28-year-old young man, was not merely an ordinary manager—he was also a close friend of Yuan Bo, someone who understood Wei Yu Chen's life more than anyone.
"I already told you yesterday, your schedule for the next three months is very tight!" Jiang Fan ran down the corridor, his voice rising above the terminal crowd.
Wei Yu Chen raised an eyebrow, holding back a half-smile. "Yes, yes… very noisy," he murmured while adjusting his pace, following Jiang Fan who was slightly arguing, his gestures full of energy, in contrast to Wei Yu Chen's calm and relaxed demeanor.
The crowd at the airport seemed to vanish from their view, leaving only quick conversation and hurried steps, marking the start of their journey to Milan.
Between the fast steps to the departure gate, Jiang Fan still couldn't stop talking about their packed schedule in Milan. "Remember, this Milan schedule is important. Fashion show for a top brand—you have to attend as an ambassador. All eyes will be on you."
Wei Yu Chen nodded lightly, his face still calm even though his mind wandered. He fully understood the responsibility attached to his name, not merely as a top artist, but as an icon representing the image of an international brand.
"Make sure all preparations are complete. Clothes, accessories, fitting schedule—nothing should be missed," Jiang Fan added, his gestures quick, energetic, and slightly hurried, matching the rhythm of the crowded airport.
Wei Yu Chen only smiled faintly, inhaled deeply, then looked out the terminal window. Busyness and public attention had already become part of his life.
After three months of full activities in Milan, finally Wei Yu Chen returned to his country. News of his return could not be kept secret for long. From a brief post on his personal social media account, fanatic fans and journalists immediately sprang into action. The airport suddenly turned into a sea of people, full of shouts, cameras, and nameboards displaying his name.
Inside the plane, the economy cabin had already been noisy from the beginning. As soon as the business cabin door opened and Wei Yu Chen appeared, the noise turned into restrained cheers. With his relaxed style, he stepped slowly, wearing a simple black hat and mask. Yet, even with his face partially covered, the aura of the "alpha man" still radiated strongly.
Some passengers tried to hold their breath, whispering while nudging the person next to them. Some hurriedly took out their phones to capture the moment, although flight attendants tried to calm the situation.
Wei Yu Chen only slightly bowed his head, his steps calm, seemingly unbothered. Behind the hat and mask, his eyes stared blankly ahead—returning to his homeland was not just about coming back, but also facing the shadows of the past waiting for him.
As soon as the plane door opened, his country's air greeted him. Wei Yu Chen stepped out, still with Jiang Fan. He thought the reception would be crowded at the arrival area, but the scene that appeared before him was far beyond expectations.
Rows of fans had already crowded the airplane stairway corridor, shouting his name while raising their phone cameras. The shouts mixed with screams for exclusive pictures.
For a moment, Yu Chen's steps stopped. Shock. Usually, he was always escorted tightly by bodyguards, but this time on the airplane stairs, it was just him and Jiang Fan.
"(gē), what do we do…? They're too close," Jiang Fan murmured, eyes alert.
Wei Yu Chen took a long breath behind his mask. His gaze was sharp, trying to remain calm even though his heart was racing. He knew that if he misstepped even slightly, the situation could turn chaotic.
As he carefully stepped down the stairs, the fans' shouts grew louder. Some nearly collided with the boundary line guarded by airport staff. The personal bodyguards were indeed waiting below, but the crowded stairway forced Yu Chen to face the sea of people directly.