Due to Chu nation’s prosperity, each province’s capital was basically an international metropolis, while Shanghai and Beijing were even more so as the world’s economic centers.

At this moment, in Urumqi Museum in Xinjiang, a recently unearthed jade flute was on display. Legend held this was a treasured item once carried personally by Empress Darong. It was now a national treasure-level artifact that had been stolen a year ago by an international gang of tomb raiders, later recovered through joint cooperation between the Western Qin Royal Family and Chu nation’s police force, bringing this national treasure back to the motherland’s embrace.

Speaking of the Qin Royal Family, contemporary people might know them well. Their country wasn’t large – more precisely, it was only a very small regime occupying a tiny piece of land at England’s border. But this small regime possessed nearly one-tenth of the world’s wealth. Legend said this country’s people were Qin people who had fled to avoid warfare during the First Emperor’s time, hence calling themselves the Qin Royal Family. Others claimed this regime arose during the Southern Chu and Great Qin conflicts, founded by Qin nobles who refused submission to Great Chu’s takeover of Great Qin. Still others said this regime was newly established by an extremely wealthy merchant who had bought the land. The latter theory was never accepted by the world, since if a merchant had wealth to this degree, he would need to profit steadily from wildly soaring stocks for a thousand years to reach such standards. This was obviously impossible.

But regardless of public speculation, the Qin Royal Family remained the world’s wealthiest nation and was very pro-Chu. During the financial crisis two years ago, it was precisely because of this nation’s secret investment that Chu nation stood independent from the entire Asian storm, unaffected in the slightest. Therefore, the Chu government’s attitude toward the Qin Royal Family was rarely and extremely moderate.

However, despite such close diplomatic relations between the two countries, no one had ever seen the Qin Royal Family’s behind-the-scenes power holder. Legend said this behind-the-scenes figure was still quite young, because some reckless paparazzi had lurked at the England border for two years and vaguely photographed this person’s back. Thus, this world’s most wealthy golden bachelor became the object of countless young women’s romantic fantasies.

This morning, there weren’t many visitors viewing Empress Darong’s jade flute yet. The entire exhibition hall seemed somewhat deserted, with staff bustling about.

Around nine in the morning, crowds began increasing. A young man in casual clothes entered the exhibition hall with the crowd, inconspicuously wandering around. Many people stood before the jade flute’s display case. He didn’t push inside, just stood outside at a distance, unclear whether he could see clearly.

This person had very gentle features and handsome appearance, but his clothing was ordinary and casual. Such attire was quite inconspicuous in an exhibition hall frequented entirely by wealthy people. Therefore, no staff approached to promote merchandise, nor did female attendants try to strike up conversations.

An eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl walked through the hall wearing staff uniform, carrying an easel under her arm, wandering around the exhibition hall. Suddenly, she noticed the motionless young man. The girl’s eyes lit up. She suddenly ran forward, and before speaking, her face flushed slightly red. Gathering great courage, she approached and said softly: “Sir, may I… may I draw your portrait?”

The man was startled, looking down to see the girl wasn’t very tall but not short either – about 1.65 meters, typical Eastern girl build. Large eyes, pointed chin, red lips – very youthful and beautiful.

The man raised an eyebrow, saying aloud: “Draw a portrait?”

“Yes,” the girl’s cheeks were red as she smiled: “I saw you standing still, so could you please let me draw you? I draw very quickly.”

The man’s expression was gentle, but somehow his eyes were like deep seas, possessing indescribable luster and waves. Like an elder who had experienced life’s vicissitudes – so wise, penetrating, as if one glance could see into a person’s heart. Under such a gaze, the girl became even more timid, thinking she shouldn’t have randomly approached people. Just as she wanted to flee, she saw the man nod: “You may draw.”

The girl immediately smiled happily, set up her easel, took out her brush, and began drawing.

The man turned his head, continuing to peer through the heavy crowds toward that jade flute no longer emerald green.

“Sir, standing so far away, can you see clearly?” After holding back for a long time, the girl still couldn’t help asking softly.

The man didn’t turn back, only saying slowly: “I’m not looking. I just came to feel it.”

“Feel it?” The girl muttered: “What a strange person.”

Soon the drawing was finished. For some reason, looking at the man’s expression, the girl’s eyes felt sore with an urge to cry. She also found this puzzling. Carefully folding the paper, she ran to the man’s side, handed him the drawing, saying: “Sir, I’ve finished. I’ll give you this drawing. I hope you enjoy your visit.”

The man smiled faintly. Before he could speak, suddenly another girl ran over from the distance, grabbing the young artist’s hand: “My little ancestor, I went through so much trouble to get you in here, and you’re just wandering around drawing people? Get back to work quickly – if the manager sees you, you’ll definitely get fired.”

With that, she pulled the girl away hastily. The girl looked back awkwardly, waving at the man from afar and calling loudly: “Goodbye, sir!” As soon as she spoke, the other girl covered her mouth.

The man smiled slightly, looking at the drawing in his hand, shaking his head with a light laugh. He opened it casually, but the moment his eyes saw the paper, he suddenly froze as if struck by thunderbolt, his face immediately losing that faint color.

The man in the drawing wore white casual clothes, appearing very relaxed, but the contours of his features, the delicate brushwork, and neat strokes all indicated this drawing’s familiarity.

He had a painting scroll over a person’s height that he had studied for years until he could almost trace every minute line with eyes closed. Yet this drawing by a complete stranger was identical to his.

The man looked at the signature below – a delicate small character “Zhou.” He could wait no longer and strode toward the staff rest area.

Just reaching the door, the girl suddenly ran out, quite recklessly bumping into his shoulder. The girl cried out, rubbing her nose and looking up. Seeing it was him, she blinked and asked: “Oh, it’s you. Do you need something?”

Before the man could answer, a girl’s voice came from inside: “Yima’er, where are you going? The manager will come check soon!”

“I know, I know!”

The girl said impatiently, then turned back asking: “Sir, do you need something?”

The man stared at the girl blankly, seeming unable to believe it. After a long time, he suddenly smiled, his face instantly radiating brilliant light. The girl was startled – she hadn’t expected this man to look so good when smiling.

“My surname is Qin. I’m called Qin Zhiyan.” The man extended his hand, smiling: “If possible, I’d like to invite you to dinner.”

One small change triggers hundreds of different fates. Prosperous Great Chu gave her a happy, fulfilling childhood – no more East Turkestan separatists, no more wandering everywhere, no more Military Intelligence Division special operations groups.

Time drifting, years peaceful – a thousand-year wait finally reached its end.

Loving you in this life, the die is cast.