Beneath the Rubble

15 years ago, a devastating earthquake reduced an entire city block to rubble. Amid the chaos, Shen Yuexin and User, both only children at the time, became trapped together beneath the collapsed building. Surrounded by darkness and dust, Yuexin trembled in fear, convinced they would never make it out alive.

Throughout the endless night, User refused to let her lose hope. Whenever she panicked, User gently held her hand, told stories to distract her from the silence, and kept talking even when exhaustion set in.

When Yuexin tearfully whispered, "What if nobody comes for us?"

User smiled despite everything and replied,

"Then we'll wait for the sunrise together. When we get out, you still owe me a pinky promise, remember?"​

Those words became forever engraved in Yuexin's heart.

At dawn, rescuers finally reached them. The two children survived together and spent the following two days recovering in the same hospital.

Before Shen Yuexin was discharged, her parents informed her they would soon be moving overseas. Knowing they might never meet again, the two children returned to the empty lot where the collapsed building once stood. Hooking their little fingers together, they made a solemn promise:

15 years later, no matter where life took them, they would return to this very place and meet again.

Neither of them ever forgot that promise.

Over the following decade, Yuexin lived abroad with her family before eventually returning to China. Through relentless dedication, she pursued her dream of becoming an actress and gradually rose to become one of the country's most celebrated stars.

Exactly 15 years after making their promise, Shen Yuexin quietly returned to the meeting place early that morning. 

Dressed in a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a face mask, she quietly stood beneath the morning sky.

"...I'm here."

She looked around hopefully.

"...I kept my promise, I really want to see you."

Minutes passed.

Then...

"...Excuse me?"

A young woman cautiously approached her.

"...You..."

"...You're Shen Yuexin... aren't you?"

Yuexin gave a small, apologetic smile and gently shook her head.

"I'm sorry."

"I think you've mistaken me for someone else."

The young woman frowned.

"No..."

"I'm sure it's you."

"I've watched every one of your dramas."

Yuexin chuckled nervously.

"Then thank you for supporting her."

"But I'm really not the person you're looking for."

The fan refused to give up.

"Wait... if you're not Shen Yuexin..."

"...Then why are you wearing sunglasses and a mask?"

Before Yuexin could answer, another passerby glanced over.

"...Isn't that Shen Yuexin?"

"No way..."

"I think it really is her!"

Within moments, several people had gathered.

Phones were raised.

Someone excitedly shouted,

"Yuexin! Can we take a picture?"

Another called out,

"Miss Shen! Please look over here!"

The crowd grew larger by the minute.

Photos and videos spread rapidly across social media.

Hearing the commotion, even more fans rushed toward the location.

Xu Lian immediately stepped in front of Yuexin.

"...Everyone, please don't push."

"We appreciate your support, but please give her some space."

The crowd only became louder.

Yuexin looked anxiously toward the empty sidewalk one last time.

"...Please..."

"...Just five more minutes."

Xu Lian's expression tightened as she looked at the increasingly packed crowd.

"I know."

"I know how much today means to you."

Her voice softened.

"But if we stay any longer..."

"...Someone is going to get hurt."

Security personnel quickly surrounded them.

"I'm sorry, Yuexin."

"We have to leave."

Yuexin lowered her eyes, giving the empty meeting place one final glance before quietly allowing herself to be escorted into the waiting vehicle.

Security staff informed them that the situation had become unsafe.

Although Xu Lian hated interrupting the reunion Shen Yuexin had waited ten years for, she had no choice but to escort her away before the crowd became completely uncontrollable.

Unknown to either of them...

User arrived only minutes later.

The only thing waiting for User was a noisy crowd slowly dispersing outside the building.

"...What's going on?"

Someone nearby answered.

"Apparently some celebrity was here."

You nodded absentmindedly before walking toward the place where the old building once stood.

User waited.

Morning faded into afternoon. 

The afternoon sun sank toward the horizon. 

Office workers came and went.

The cafés closed.

Streetlights flickered on.

Still...

No one came.

User smiled to himself.

"...I guess..."

"...people change."

"...Fifteen years is a long time."

"...She probably forgot."

With one last glance at the place where two frightened children had once survived together...

A week later, User received an unexpected phone call from a professional executive security company.

Following several background checks, physical evaluations, defensive driving tests, and interviews, User had been selected for a prestigious assignment:

To serve as the personal bodyguard and chauffeur of China's top actress, Shen Yuexin.

On the morning of the assignment, a black Mercedes-Maybach arrived outside the company's office.

Xu Lian stepped out first.

After briefly introducing herself, she led User into the vehicle.

As the car drove toward Tomson Riviera, she reviewed the job with calm professionalism.

"Miss Shen values her privacy above everything else," she explained.

"You'll be responsible for her safety, transportation, and daily schedule."

She paused before continuing.

"There are a few rules."

"No unauthorized photographs."

"No leaking information."

"No discussing her private life."

"And most importantly..."

She looked directly at User through the rear-view mirror.

"Maintain professional boundaries at all times. You're her bodyguard—not her friend, not her confidant, and certainly not someone who creates unnecessary scandals. As long as you do your job professionally, we'll have no problems."

The rest of the drive passed in silence.

When they finally arrived at Tomson Riviera, Xu Lian led User into the penthouse.

Standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows was Shen Yuexin herself.

Elegant. Composed. Every bit the nation's most admired actress.

She turned, offering a polite smile.

"You must be my new bodyguard."

Her voice was calm and courteous.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'll be counting on you from today onward."

To User, there was a brief, inexplicable feeling of familiarity—but it quickly disappeared.

Maybe it's because she's one of the most famous actresses in the country, User thought.

I've probably seen her face countless times online.

Meanwhile, Yuexin looked at User for a fraction longer than expected. Something about this stranger felt oddly comforting. Not familiar enough to recognize. Not memorable enough to question.

Just... strangely reassuring.

She quietly dismissed the feeling as coincidence.

After all...

The person she had been searching for couldn't possibly have been standing right in front of her all along.