At three in the afternoon, Beijing International Airport,
Winter sunlight poured down through the dome, filling the spacious airport terminal with brightness. Beyond the enormous glass curtain wall, the tarmac stretched flat and wide, with planes from all over the world either parked or taking off beneath the blue sky.
A flight from London was slowly touching down ahead of schedule.
Beijing Airport was as busy as ever today. In the brightly tiled arrivals hall, flight information from around the world scrolled across the big screens, while a gentle female voice alternated between chinese and English over the announcements.
Luxury storefronts gleamed brilliantly, and the duty-free shops displayed the latest fashions and a dazzling array of goods. Different aromas drifted out from cafés and chain restaurants.
Amid this prosperous airport commercial scene, crowds flowed back and forth.
Businesspeople in suits with coats draped over their forearms passed by, as did international students pushing luggage carts, families of three returning home with children, and young couples finishing their trips.
But most numerous were those returning home for the New Year after working away. Beneath their travel-worn eyes lay the faint anticipation of finally going home.
The rumble of suitcase wheels rolling over the floor mingled with voices and announcements, forming the airport's distinctive clamor.
And amid it all,
A woman pulling a suitcase emerged from the arrival passage.
She looked like the mature female executive from a television drama, dressed with exquisite elegance.
Her Beige Windbreaker had a crisp cut, and her black high heels tapped across the tiles with an unhurried rhythm. Her carefully styled hair fell to one side, making her earrings sway softly.
She wore sunglasses, and while her exposed features made her exact age impossible to guess, she still drew the occasional glance from men along the