The sky over the northern district of B City was somewhat hazy.
A helicopter descended slowly amidst the roaring noise.
Several men in A Nation military uniforms stepped off the helicopter.
Leading them was a tall, imposing man, exuding a cold and stern aura.
Rylee had just completed a three-month overseas mission. Despite the grueling task, he showed no signs of fatigue and immediately reported to his superior upon disembarking.
Mr. Smith had watched Rylee's rise to his current achievements and had high hopes of grooming him as a successor. However, as an elder, he couldn't help but worry about Rylee's marriage. In their line of work, being away for months was common, and although Rylee was still young, this kind of separation often led to conflicts between young couples.
"Rylee, you did an excellent job on this mission. We even received a thank-you letter from the UN. The work ahead will undoubtedly be busier, but it's important to rest too. So, I'm giving you all a short break," Mr. Smith said.
Rylee accepted his superior's orders and returned to his quarters. He didn't turn on the lights and sat on the sofa.
He hadn't slept for three days. The mission's intensity and difficulty had left him no time to rest, and whenever he closed his eyes, his mind was plagued by his desire for Rhianna.
He powered on his phone, which had been off for a long time.
The smart TV, equipped with "artificial stupidity," automatically turned on.
Rylee, initially uninterested, was surprised to see the person he couldn't stop thinking about on TV.
His lady was as vibrant and enchanting as ever. In the show, she laughed sweetly, her eyes sparkling like stars, but not at him.
He saw her bustling in the kitchen, preparing a table full of delicious dishes for that guy, what was his name... she called him Javion?
Rylee had to admit, he was going mad with jealousy.
He wanted to light a cigarette, but after searching the house for a long time, he couldn't find any trace of her cigarette box.
The show, "If You Love, Then Be Together," continued playing on TV.
Rylee couldn't bear to watch it anymore. He needed to get out and breathe.
It was late, and the air was chilly.
Rylee drove at high speed on the empty elevated road. He knew Rhianna had moved out of their home, and he could guess that her coldness was all his doing.
Rylee realized that he couldn't control any of this, just as he couldn't control his emotions now.
Rhianna had just finished a full day of filming. Today, she had visited Javion on set and even met the award-winning actor David. As a huge fan, being so close to her idol felt like the pinnacle of her fangirl life.
Despite being exhausted from a busy day, her excitement kept her spirits high.
Rhianna got off the car, bid Lauryn farewell, and happily went upstairs.
She had rented an apartment in an old building. Although her family was wealthy, in this life, she wanted to make her way independently. The apartment was old but well-equipped and conveniently close to the city center, just one subway stop from her company.
Unfortunately, the old building had no elevator, and the hallway lights flickered on and off.
Rhianna jogged up the stairs but was suddenly grabbed and held tightly around the waist at a corner.
Caught off guard, she had no time to react as she was pushed against the wall.
Before she could cry for help, the man lowered his head and sealed her lips with a kiss.
