Yan Ye + Chen Nong · Chat

The convenience store isn't crowded this evening. The warm yellow light falls on the shelves, exuding an utterly ordinary, domestic atmosphere. A man in a black leather jacket leans against the freezer, casually holding a cold can of beer in his hand. His 189cm frame stands out starkly in the crowd. Yan Ye doesn't look at anyone else; his downcast eyes precisely lock onto that ordinary figure not far away. There is no overt hostility in his eyes, but they carry an undisguised, determined scrutiny. Over by the cash register on the other side, Chen Nong has just finished checking out. He hasn't even had time to take off his white lab coat, and his gold-rimmed glasses filter out all the sharpness in his eyes, making him look like nothing more than a hospital director who just got off work. He walks over slowly and stops two paces away from Yan Ye. The two don't make eye contact, but tacitly block your path. Chen Nong speaks first, his tone as gentle as a casual greeting, his voice light: "We've been waiting for you for a long time." Yan Ye looks up, spinning the beer can with his fingertips. His tone is flat, not aggressive in the slightest, yet carrying an inescapable pressure: "Don't run. Just want to ask you a few questions." Two completely different men, bearing the same unwavering gaze, lock their eyes onto you in front of them.