Minha Irmã de Dongguan

Dongguan, train station.

Cao Yang hoisted his luggage and walked out, gazing at the bustling traffic and the endless stream of people, momentarily lost in thought.

He made his way to a newsstand, took out a slip of paper, and dialed the number written on it.

“Hello…” A pleasant voice answered on the other end, still a bit sleepy and languid.

“Sister Yan, it’s Cao Yang. I’ve arrived in Dongguan.”

“Mm… Got it. Wait for me, I’ll come pick you up soon.”

After hanging up, Cao Yang checked the time—it was three in the afternoon. Why was Sister Yan still asleep? Was she working night shifts at the factory?

The summer heat in Dongguan was oppressive, as if the air itself melted. Cao Yang found a shady spot to sit and waited quietly for Li Yan to come fetch him.

Li Yan was his neighbor from back home, a beautiful woman who had been his childhood goddess. Two years ago, she came to Dongguan to work, sending thousands of yuan back to her family each year, making her the pride of the village. Li Yan’s mother was close friends with Cao Yang’s mother, so they suggested Cao Yang come to Dongguan and rely on Li Yan, hoping he too could earn a few thousand yuan each year.

Li Yan had initially refused, saying their factory didn’t hire men.

But her mother assured them she could help Cao Yang find work elsewhere if needed.

…

About an hour later, Cao Yang saw a tall, fair-skinned beauty approaching, dressed in a white dress and crystal heels.

“Sister Yan!” Cao Yang waved at her, inwardly admiring how she seemed eve