The sun climbed higher, nearly reaching its peak, casting short, sharp shadows across the village paths. Soft midday light pressed against the packed earth, and the earlier gentle breeze had thinned into something warmer and stiller.
PD Xu Cui walked with his hands clenched at his sides, turning the same corner the omegas had used earlier. His usual light expression was gone; something colder and more focused had taken its place. The playful production director who had been laughing under an umbrella only a short while before had disappeared completely.
He scanned the area until he spotted a narrow, secluded alcove between two buildings. The space was tight, shaded, and sheltered from casual view by the angle of the walls.
