Chapter 2

The next day, Zhao Kai, having sobered up, came to me with an apologetic face, expressing his regret and self-blame.

"Nie Qing, I'm sorry, I really drank too much last night and shouldn't have said those things! You know I'm usually very gentlemanly! But you also have to understand me, we've been together for so long, just as nominal boyfriend and girlfriend, your attitude gives me no sense of security!"

Zhao Kai was desperately trying to find excuses for his lapse last night.

Although his words were clearly shifting the blame onto me, I chose to temporarily forgive him.

I didn't have a falling out with Zhao Kai.

There are two reasons for this.

First, we are abroad together, even if we break up, we'll wait until we return home to discuss it.

Being in a foreign country, unfamiliar with the local life, is not suitable for handling relationship issues.

Also, I actually feel a bit guilty towards Zhao Kai.

As he said, I have always been distant with him, unwilling to be intimate before marriage, not just because I'm traditional.

But also because I've always hidden someone in my heart!

In the following days, under Mutcha's guidance, we toured Bangkok, the Grand Palace, Chao Phraya River, Jade Buddha Temple, Reclining Buddha Temple, Siam Square...

We had a lot of fun, but the atmosphere between Zhao Kai and me remained a bit awkward.

Mutcha was good at reading the room, often whispering to Zhao Kai while on the road, and Zhao Kai's face gradually showed signs of happiness, presumably having heard something amusing.

According to the itinerary, our next stop is Chiang Mai.

But the night before, Zhao Kai came to me: "Nie Qing, I have a relative doing business in Pattaya. Since I'm here in Thailand, I need to visit him. Will you come with me, or continue with the group?"

Given the current awkward atmosphere between us, I naturally chose to continue with the group to Chiang Mai, and agreed to meet Zhao Kai three days later in Phuket Island.

That was the last stop of our trip to Thailand.

The next day, not only Zhao Kai left the tour group, but also our guide Mutcha, saying he had private matters to attend to, he handed us over to another female guide.

Initially, I didn't think much was amiss and went with the others to Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai is a tourist hotspot in Thailand, with millions of visitors each year, and hotels, bars, and restaurants are all packed.

I was browsing at a craft store when suddenly my phone rang.

It was a call from home, from Chairman Li at Zhao Kai's bank.

"Where is Zhao Kai? Why won't he answer the phone? There's an issue with a loan procedure that only he knows about! I told him, he can travel abroad, but he must keep his phone accessible 24/7! This is too unprofessional, getting carried away once he leaves the country! Zhao Kai usually seems reliable, how can he fail us at a crucial moment?"

Chairman Li sounded very upset.

Even though I was having a disagreement with Zhao Kai, I didn't want his career to suffer, so I hurried to explain for Zhao Kai, saying his phone was broken and I would contact him immediately to get back to Chairman Li.

After handling that, I started calling Zhao Kai's number, though it's an international phone, it still wouldn't connect.

Where did he go?

Could something have happened to him?

Feeling anxious, I reached out to Mutcha to inquire about Zhao Kai's whereabouts.

But Mutcha was evasive and perfunctory on the phone, obviously hiding something.

Could it be that Mutcha had something to do with Zhao Kai's misfortune?

Unable to stay calm, I remembered Zhao Kai saying he was going to see a relative in Chiang Mai, so I hailed a taxi directly to Pattaya!

Coincidentally, the taxi driver was of Chinese descent and from the same hometown as me.

Seeing my anxiety, he asked, "Miss, what's the matter?"

I was unfamiliar with local life, so I told the driver about Zhao Kai's disappearance.

"Before taking the taxi, I even went to the local police station, but the officers said Zhao Kai is an adult, and it's been less than 48 hours, they wouldn't investigate, and they looked at me in a very strange way, telling me that my man would come back on his own and that I shouldn't worry, what kind of attitude is that!"

I complained about the inefficiency of the Thai police in the taxi.

Upon hearing this, the taxi driver had an ambiguous expression: "Miss, how's your relationship with your boyfriend? Have you quarreled recently?"

I was taken aback: "Yes, we quarreled, how did you know that, sir?"

The taxi driver had a knowing look.

"Miss, don't worry! Your boyfriend won't be in any trouble! Although the security in Thailand isn't as good as back home, it's still better than Northern Myanmar and Indonesia. As a tourist, as long as he doesn't wander off, he should be fine. I think the police are right, it might not be long before your boyfriend comes back on his own."

Thailand isn't large, within a few hours we arrived in Pattaya from Chiang Mai.

Pattaya is Thailand's most developed city after Bangkok.

The city is beautiful, with abundant flowers and plants everywhere.

I wasn't in the mood to appreciate the scenery, but I noticed something strange in Pattaya!

On the streets of Pattaya, there were many tourists from Europe and America.

Each accompanied by a young local Thai woman!

Are they guides?

But these male tourists were openly taking advantage of the girls in public!

And those scantily clad Thai girls seemed to accept it without complaint, not to mention the passersby, even the patrol officers turned a blind eye.

What does this mean?

I suddenly remembered, I actually saw this in Bangkok and Chiang Mai too, but it's especially prevalent in Pattaya.

"Miss, don't you know about Thailand's 'rented girlfriends'?" the driver asked.