Long Shadows Beneath the Scorching Sun

[Rebellious, sharp-tongued but secretly sincere top X Beautiful, flirtatious white-lotus bottom]

A village that doesn't appear on any map. Villagers wearing “masks.” A vast web woven by everyone, ready to ensnare its prey.

An Yu travels to a remote mountain village to investigate the truth behind his mother's disappearance twenty years ago.

He meets a loyal guide, a warm and welcoming village chief and villagers, and a young man standing alone in a corner, impossible to ignore.

Someone knocks on his door at night and slips him a note. The words on it are unmistakable: the person who killed your mother is in this village.

As the hurried footsteps outside fade away, An Yu burns the note to ashes. The firelight reflects the surging waves in his eyes, and a satisfied smile escapes his lips.

Is he the prey, or the bait?

*

Xie Fan's plans are thrown into disarray, but he can't help being drawn to that person.

He puts on the mask he prepared especially for An Yu, intending to lure him into his web one step at a time.

But the other man roughly wipes away the tears that are almost falling from his eyes.

He sees right through him: “A fox pretending to be a rabbit, and you didn't even look back? Your tail's been showing for ages.”

Theme: The truth may be late, but it always comes.