The world is vast. Even the closest friends, living in the same city, can drift along separate paths, never crossing again.

Yet the world is small. Every day, we brush past countless strangers. Reunions often happen with a casual glance back—a moment’s attention brings you together; a moment’s distraction lets you slip apart.

Qi Yan ignored his senior’s sharp question. "Senior, shouldn’t you be in France? Are you back for the National Day holiday?"

Before him stood a poised beauty in a black skirt suit and low heels—Liu Qin, one of his late grandfather Qi Lei’s most cherished apprentices. Her dark hair was neatly pinned up. Black stockings hugged her long legs. Her full chest rose and fell with quickened breath, a striking sight.

Qi Lei had many disciples—students all over the world—but only Liu Qin had accompanied him abroad to help organize his exhibitions. Her place in his heart was clear.

Yet Qi Yan knew his grandfather’s French exhibition had failed. Shanshui ink paintings struggled for attention even in China; overseas, they were utterly ignored. Though Qi Lei was among the rare traditional masters who’d exhibited internationally, his return home brought only ridicule from peers and other art schools. They mocked his arrogance—an old man dreaming of becoming a new-era icon. Qi Yan never knew if those cruel words triggered his grandfather’s fatal heart attack. Words could be terrifyingly sharp.

"Don’t ask why I’m here," Liu Qin snapped. "Answer me first. Weren’t you studying at the Provincial Academy of Fine Arts? You should’ve joined the Provincial Calligraphers and Painters Association after graduation—or stayed on as faculty."

She’d mapped out the safest path for him: a tenured position. A quiet life, perhaps unremarkable, but secure. Warm meals. Dry clothes.

Qi Yan gave a bitter smile. "Things… changed. After Grandpa passed in July, my cousin’s family cut off my sister’s medical funds. I took odd jobs, but only earned enough for our daily needs. We couldn’t keep her hospitalized. So I brought her here, to this town."

"But that’s no reason to wash cars! What about your maternal grandparents? Weren’t they filthy rich? Supporting two of you would be nothing to them!"

"They don’t care if we live or die. We only lived in their house because Mom managed their company. The moment she was gone, they seized the home. Threw me out."

As he spoke, Qi Yan’s nose twitched. His voice caught in his throat. Even this grown man couldn’t fully swallow the feeling of being abandoned by the whole world.

"Are they even human? Did they feed their conscience to dogs?" Liu Qin hissed, teeth clenched.

"Eh, we’re outsiders to them. I expected as much. But here in this town… life’s stabilized. The neighbors remember my parents’ kindness. They treat us well. The future doesn’t feel so lost anymore."

"Why didn’t you contact me? I gave you my details before leaving!" Her voice tightened. "If I hadn’t spotted you today—would you really spend your whole life washing cars?"

"I don’t mind. Money doesn’t fall from the sky. It isn’t stolen or begged for. It’s earned with my own two hands."

"I can’t accept that. It’s a waste of your talent. You should be creating masterpieces in a studio—not selling your labor cheaply. If anyone knew Qi Lei’s grandson washed cars in some backwater town…" She shook her head. "They’d laugh their teeth out."

"I don’t care. No one sees me as his grandson anyway. To me, any honest work is good work. No job is beneath dignity. Even those selling their labor live their lives with pride. You can look down on the work, Senior—but never on the people doing it." Qi Yan’s head dipped slightly.

"I’m sorry. I spoke rashly. But… is this truly the life you want?"

Qi Yan cut in abruptly. "Senior, do you need a car wash?"

Liu Qin blinked in slight surprise. Of course she wouldn’t let him wash her car. "No. Why?"

"Well…" He gestured past her. "Could you move your car outside the alley? I have another customer."

Behind Liu Qin, another sedan had pulled up—muddy from yesterday’s autumn rain.

"Wait! Xiao Yan, I’m not finished—"

She reached for him, but her hand grasped empty air. He was already striding toward the new customer, purposeful.

Qi Yan knew Liu Qin’s words, though harsh, came from concern. She feared he’d drown his talent in this small-town life. Meeting her here—a woman destined for brilliance—felt like fate’s strange joke. But that was all it was.

Life went on. He couldn’t abandon this job over a few earnest words. Breaking his contract would betray Uncle Zheng and Uncle Lin, who’d given him shelter. And his sister—his dearest sister. For her sake, he’d endure any dirt, any exhaustion. Any hardship.