Red Thread
Shanghai, July 22, 2020
From inside the black BMW, along with a few other men with unfriendly faces, an old man with a scarred face observed all the activity in the abandoned warehouse. Men came in and out, carrying boxes and packages, while other armed, well-dressed men kept watch over the unloading of whatever was inside those packages.
A security guard in front of the warehouse door spoke into a communicator to another; two men carried a box each while another operated a forklift with a large, heavy crate. They worked slowly, but with great care to not drop any crate. Whatever was there must have been valuable, judging by the desperate expression the man in the BMW made when one of the loaders almost dropped a crate from his hands.
—Be careful, you bastard! - he yelled, though it was impossible to hear him from the distance.
—What the hell, Xiao! Didn't you say they were professionals? - he said to one of the men inside the car.
—Don't worry, Mr. Qiang, I promise your cargo will be unharmed, look - he points at the loader - nothing happened. Tomorrow the ship will leave from Yangshan Port with the "gold". - he tried to calm the man.
—You better be sure that your men won't damage my merchandise, or you'll be responsible for it. Let's go.
Far from there, in a luxurious building in Shanghai, especially the Shanghai Tower, father and daughter arrived after several hours of travel. Although the building was commercial, Gregory Darun had reserved his own apartment on the eleventh floor for the duration of his business trip in Shanghai.
—Did you like it, darling? - said the father, bringing in the suitcase.
—Wow! The view is amazing. - Layla moved closer to the window.
The soft light of dusk bathed the apartment, reflecting off the skyscrapers of Shanghai and filling the space with a golden glow. Gregory watched the city thoughtfully, while his daughter explored every corner of the luxurious apartment.
—Dad, you always choose the best places to stay, don't you? - she asked, admiring a piece of artwork on the wall.
—Well, when it comes to business, comfort is a necessity, not a luxury. - Gregory replied, not taking his eyes off the view.
—Comfort and luxury never hurt anyone. - his daughter joked.
—You're not wrong. But don't forget that I'm also here for work, so don't be upset if we can't follow our sightseeing schedule. - the father reminded her.
The girl smiled, walking up to him and hugging him sideways.
—I know, dad. I just hope you don't work too much. You know… I miss when we spent more time together.
Gregory stroked his daughter's hair, silently agreeing. Night fell, and the man prepared to leave. He had a meeting at an exclusive club in the city, a place where business was as luxurious as the environment. She insisted on joining him, curious to see her father's world, but he refused, saying it wasn't a place for her.
The club was a spectacle of opulence, with crystal chandeliers and soft music echoing through the decorated walls. In the darkest corner, the old man from the BMW, now identified as Mr. Qiang, sat, observing everything with hawk-like eyes. His presence was almost palpable, an aura of danger surrounding him like an invisible cloak.
Meanwhile, three hours away, in a modest house on the outskirts of Jinhua, Anson's family gathered for dinner. The conversation was light, but there was a tension in the air that became palpable when Anson entered. His gaze met his father's, who showed a mixture of disappointment and concern.
— Anson, what happened? - asked his mother, noticing the dejected look on his face.
— I got fired, mom. - Anson turned away, unable to bear the disappointment in her eyes.
— Fired? But why? - His father's voice was firm, demanding an explanation.
Anson sighed, sitting at the table without appetite.
They said they don't need delivery drivers anymore. They're going to automate the service...
— The news hit like a bomb, and silence fell over the table. Anson knew he'd have to find another job quickly, but for now, all he wanted was to forget the hard day he had.
Nearby...
The small travel agency of the brothers Tiger and Jeremy was neat and inviting, with posters of exotic landscapes covering the walls and colorful brochures scattered across the counter. Tiger was organizing some of these brochures when Jeremy entered, bringing with him a fresh breeze and a contagious smile.
— Hey, Tiger! - exclaimed Jeremy, showing the message on his phone. - Did you see this? Another person canceled the group tour. Looks like everyone wants to explore Jinhua on their own lately.
Tiger lifted his gaze from the papers, his serious expression contrasting with his brother's.
— Not surprising. - he replied, taking the phone and glancing at it briefly. - The city has an energy that attracts lone adventurers. Plus, with today's technology, everyone feels like explorers.
Jeremy tilted his head, thoughtful.
— But don't you think it's more fun when we share experiences?
— Maybe for you, Jeremy. - Tiger said, flashing a half-smile. - But some people prefer solitude, the freedom to go wherever they want without having to wait for others.
Jeremy laughed, shaking his head.
— You've always been the lone wolf, haven't you? - he teased, giving his brother a light shove. - But remember, even wolves need a pack sometimes.
Tiger simply nodded, returning to his work, while Jeremy walked away, still smiling, thinking about how to convince his brother to join him on some adventure.
As soon as they finished organizing everything, the travel agency closed its doors, and night began to fall over Jinhua. Anson sat in his room, on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. The firing still echoed in his mind, a dark melody of uncertainty.
— I need a new job, - he thought, the silence of the room amplifying the loneliness of his thoughts. But then, an idea began to form, a spark of hope. - The travel agency... - he murmured. - Maybe Jeremy can help me find a job there. Maybe I can be more than just a delivery driver."
Meanwhile, in Shanghai, Layla lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The room was a sanctuary of luxury, but to her, it felt like a gilded cage. Outside, the city buzzed with life and light, but inside, everything felt monotonous and dull.
She picked up her phone, scrolling through social media disinterestedly, until a photo caught her attention. It was an image of Jinhua at night, posted by a user named "@sunxangai".
— What a beautiful place, - she thought, feeling a twinge of envy at the simplicity and beauty captured in that photo.
She didn't know it, but at that exact moment, she and Anson shared more than just dissatisfaction with their current situations; they shared a desire for change, for something more meaningful than the walls that surrounded them. And as night fell over two different cities, two young people looked up at the starry sky, wondering what the future held for them.