President's Office.
The three of them silently ate the food in their bowls.
Adrian Carter looked at the deep heaviness in Leonard Sterling's eyes across from him and slowly opened his mouth to break the atmosphere. "Last night you investigated the Polly family. What did you find?"
Leonard Sterling glanced at Riley Palmer beside Adrian Carter, then slowly turned his head and raised his brows slightly.
"Go ahead, it's fine."
Only then did Leonard Sterling put down his already-empty bowl.
"Nydia Polly was thrown outside the old Polly residence last night."
"It was done by Liam Polly."
"Mm, I figured." Adrian responded immediately.
Leonard looked at him slowly. "Liam Polly wants to invest in the film Blazing Sun Glory."
Adrian lifted his eyes toward Leonard. "The Polly family wants to enter the entertainment industry?"
Leonard didn't answer, only gave a faint shrug.
"Buzz buzz—buzz buzz."
Leonard looked at the phone beside the table. His tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
He looked at Adrian and Riley in front of him before tapping the answer button.
"Leonard Sterling!!" Caleb Montgomery, dressed in military uniform, had eyes full of joy as he looked at Leonard.
"Bang bang bang—"
"Look over there!"
Leonard's lips slowly curved. "Caleb, having fun?"
"Fun!" Caleb grinned foolishly at him.
"You're at Adrian's place?" Caleb's face filled the entire screen as he carefully checked the silhouettes behind Leonard.
Leonard slumped back on the sofa. "Yeah."
Leonard's eyes stayed fixed on Caleb's figure, watching him hop around while explaining the plot progression to him.
H City had already entered early autumn, the weather gradually cooling. Caleb wore a down jacket, which looked a bit dirty because he had just rolled through mud.
"Where's Adrian?"
"There." Leonard turned the phone, showing Caleb the sight of Adrian leaning on Riley Palmer's shoulder.
"Adrian! Riley!" Caleb happily waved toward them.
Leonard didn't keep the camera on them for long and quickly turned it back to himself.
"Leonard, when are you coming to see me?" Caleb had returned to the RV, sprawling on the small sofa.
The smile in Leonard's eyes slowly faded. "What's wrong? Tired?"
"A little." Only the RV's ceiling remained on the screen, Caleb's voice sounding weak. "When you come, bring me a new down jacket."
Leonard's mouth paused for a moment, his eyes drifting. "Where's the one you had before?"
"It got worn by someone else." Caleb pointed the camera at his own face.
The famously oriental-beauty features of H City filled Leonard's phone screen.
Even with his face smeared in mud and brown grease, the clean, delicate aura still seeped through.
Leonard's expression stiffened."Alright."
"Oh, they're calling me."
"I'll talk to you later, the next scene is about to start."
"Beep beep beep—"
Caleb hurriedly hung up, completely unaware of the unnatural stiffness on Leonard's face.
Adrian quietly wrapped an arm around Riley Palmer, watching Leonard's slightly stiff hand.
"When are you going to see him?" Adrian asked.
"The day after tomorrow." Leonard withdrew his hand and rotated the watch on his wrist.
Adrian glanced at Riley. "Are you free the day after tomorrow?"
Riley looked at the arm around her waist."Yes."
Adrian smiled."Take us with you."
"Mm." Leonard stood up slowly. "I'm leaving."
The red suit silhouette slowly disappeared into the 28th-floor corridor.
"He brought this on himself." Adrian shook his head, watching Leonard's back.
Riley pinched his waist. "The day after tomorrow, why are we going to the set?"
Adrian flinched, lips pouting slightly as he looked at Riley.
"To see your brother."
"And… help that idiot."
The day after tomorrow.
"Riley, where did you go?" May Miller sounded anxious.
Riley glanced at the man in the driver's seat beside her and smiled. "I… went traveling. I'll be back in a few days."
"Oh, be careful."
"Have fun!" May and Chloe Frost's voices came through together.
"Mm, wait for me to come back." Riley smiled as she listened to May pestering Chloe about wanting to go out as well.
She looked at the black Mercedes weaving through traffic ahead and reminded Adrian of a few things.
Lowering her phone, Riley looked at the lush green trees outside the window. Drowsiness rose slowly, and she closed her eyes.
H City – Brown District.
The scorching sun shone over the film crew's campground.Different from the city area, the Brown District seemed permanently drenched in sunlight—an ideal location for filming heatwave scenes.
"Riley, we're here." Adrian gently shook the sleeping girl.
"Mm…" Riley wobbled her body slightly, opening one eye to Adrian's warm smile.
"Here?" she asked in a soft, sleepy voice.
Hearing it, Adrian's smile grew by tens of thousands of degrees. He gently pinched her cheeks.
"Mm, we're here."
"Want to get out?" he asked softly, as if afraid to startle something fragile.
Riley glanced outside and slowly nodded."Mm."
"Adrian!"
Caleb waved from afar, his smile as bright as always.
Adrian held Riley's hand and led her through the crowd.
"Miss Riley, Mr. Carter, Mr. Sterling." Riley bowed slightly.
"Riley came too," Caleb said as he looked around, searching for a familiar silhouette.
Riley's gaze rested on the down jacket Caleb was wearing.
It was a little oversized, probably not his, but its style was exactly the kind Caleb liked.
Adrian gently patted the back of her hand, raised his brows slightly as he met her eyes.
Caleb searched for a long time but still couldn't find the person he wanted.
"Mm… seems like Yudy hasn't arrived yet. Riley, you wait here." Caleb sounded disappointed.
"Caleb." A gentle voice approached.
Lucia Lucifer sashayed toward him.
She stood beside Caleb, looking up cautiously at Leonard's sharp features and strong build.
"Caleb, these are…?" Lucia asked nervously.
Caleb happily introduced them."This is Sterling Counter, Leonard Sterling and Aurelius Group, Adrian Carter."
"And this is the rising star businesswoman, Riley Palmer."
Lucia nodded politely as he introduced them.
"And this is my co-star for this project, Comrade Lucia Lucifer."
Caleb introduced her seriously.
Adrian stood silently beside Riley, not giving Lucia a single glance.
His gaze toward Leonard, however, was full of meaning.
"Caleb, show us around," Adrian said with a smile.
"Oh, right! This is your first time bringing Riley to the set. Of course you should show her around."
Caleb slapped his hands in realization.
"Leonard, let's go. I'll take you around." Caleb waved them toward the entrance of the camp.
Lucia's mouth hung open as she watched them walk away, her lips slowly pursing.
"I'll take you to see Director Leo."
"Director Leo!" Caleb walked straight toward him.
Director Leo looked up at Caleb, then at Leonard behind him and Adrian in the distance.
He immediately stood up."Oh my, Mr. Sterling, Mr. Carter. What an honor."
"Director Leo," Leonard and Adrian nodded slightly.
Caleb looked around."Director, where's Yudy?"
"Oh, Yudy? He's training his endurance over at the mud pit." Director Leo pointed toward the scorching training area.
Adrian saw Riley tiptoeing to look and gently tugged her hand.
He smiled at Director Leo."You all talk. We'll go take a look."
Without waiting for permission, Adrian started walking with Riley.
"Hey, Adrian! Wait for me!" Caleb ran after them.
Leonard nodded to Director Leo before following. "We'll head over first."
'Heh hah—heh hah—'
In the burning mud pit lay a fair-skinned man with protruding veins.
Riley looked anxiously at her brother, her hand tightening around Adrian's.
"Yudy!" Caleb waved with excitement.
"Riley." Yudy raised his head toward the familiar face.
Smiling, he stood up and walked forward.
He lifted his arm, but froze mid-air when he saw the mud covering him. Slowly, he withdrew his hand.
"Brother." Riley stepped closer.
The mud on Yudy's body fluttered slightly as a breeze passed. Riley picked up a towel and wiped the sweat from his face.
"Riley, I'm dirty." Yudy held the towel, smiling with curved eyes.
He looked toward Adrian. "Take her back first. The sun is too strong. She'll complain to me again if she tans."
"True. Riley's skin is so delicate. Getting sunburned would be bad," Caleb said while tugging Adrian and Leonard toward the shade.
"Riley?" Adrian turned to the girl still staring at her brother.
"Go on. I'll come find you later." Yudy bent down slightly to meet her eyes.
Riley nodded softly, taking a few reluctant steps backward.
Adrian withdrew his arm from Caleb's grasp and walked to her. "Let's go."
Leonard shot Adrian a glance, his head lowered as if in thought.
"Oh, right! I can't accompany you tonight," Caleb said from the front.
Adrian glanced at Leonard's tightening fist in his pocket. "Why?" he asked with a light smile.
Caleb turned around. "The director said the investors want to meet us." He turned back. "No idea which actor caught their eyes."
He muttered as he walked.
Adrian and Leonard exchanged a look, both faces dark.
The entertainment industry was a muddy, filthy place. On the surface, everyone looked decent, but behind the scenes… without some backing, actors were just toys for those with power.
They walked in silence as Caleb happily hopped ahead.
"Leonard, let's go watch the sunset." Caleb pointed toward the descending sun.
"Mm." Leonard quickly walked to his side, doting as ever.
"Adrian, coming?" Caleb called back.
Adrian glanced at Riley, who was still thinking about what Caleb said earlier, and lightly squeezed her hand."Riley, want to go?"
She snapped back, looked at Adrian's smiling eyes and nodded before she even realized.
"Let's go."
Caleb grabbed Leonard's hand and ran.
Four silhouettes hurried toward the sun.The sun seemed to hear their calls.
It paused, hovering before them, painting their long shadows.
Two clusters of shadows.
Quiet. Beautiful.Facing the orange sun and pink sky.
"Adrian, Riley, look here!" Caleb called.
Leonard held the phone high, smiling gently at the camera.
"One, two, three cheese!"
Click—
A soft breeze brushed their hair, warm against their hearts.
Adrian rubbed his forehead against Riley's and kissed her hair.
Leonard kept sneaking glances at Caleb, watching him fiddle happily with his phone.
"Leonard, check your phone." Caleb said without looking up.
Leonard withdrew his gaze and opened the notification from a moment ago.
[Family & Sunset]
Leonard froze.
Staring at Caleb's post, staring at the first word, he stood still for a long, long time.
The sunset fell, pink-orange light swallowed by darkness.
"I need to go back." Caleb patted the dust off.
Leonard stood up, eyes deepening.
Adrian pulled Riley up."Let's go."
"We're leaving?" Riley looked at the dark, lifeless set behind them.
Adrian smiled while opening the passenger door. "My dear bunny, where else do you think we can stay? In the cramped car?"
"I don't want that, I wouldn't even be able to hold you."
Adrian sounded slightly displeased.
"Get in. We're staying at a small town nearby."
Only then did Riley climb in.
Adrian stepped on the gas, following Leonard's car.
They drove into the small suburban city.
Unlike the bustling H City, the small town held the warmth of everyday life.
Adrian glanced at Caleb getting out of the car and then at Riley, who had fallen asleep again.
"Buzz—"
[Want to grab something to eat?]
Leonard checked the message, glanced at the car behind, and typed:
[Okay.]
He turned the wheel and entered a restaurant parking lot.
"Clunk—"
Leonard got out, grabbed the coat left in the back seat.
"Hungry?" Adrian leaned toward Riley, speaking softly.
Riley rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep, and nodded faintly.