Story’s Origin Youyin
A long time ago, when Youyin was still a naive junior high school girl, her greatest pleasure was wandering through department stores on weekends.
Although her pocket only contained a bus ticket with no extra money to buy anything, she was still incredibly excited every weekend.
She would wander from one floor to another, not to pass time, but to appreciate the beautiful things on every floor. However, no matter what, she would always end up stopping at the bookstore.
There, Youyin read countless books and dreamed many dreams.
One day, on another weekend, I came to the same department store, but unexpectedly found it completely empty. Curiously peering through the not-fully-closed door, I felt only emptiness and desolation, with a sense of profound loss.
Then, my gaze was suddenly deeply drawn to a hunched figure under the arcade…
I could never forget the man’s expression when looking at the department store’s entrance – so deep and grief-stricken.
Later, my father told me that the department store had closed, perhaps due to a financial crisis, and the man I saw was probably the owner.
The man’s heartbroken expression remained deeply etched in my memory, even after many years. So, I tried to return to that moment, to create a story, hoping that the man’s regret could have a perfect ending, and perhaps resolve a matter from my youth.
I hope you will enjoy this story.
Youyin 《Masked CEO》
Chapter One
In the most prosperous and bustling area of Taipei’s west district, Tianyang Department Store stood majestically.
People came and went, creating a lively scene.
But, looking closely, among the many people entering and leaving the department store, none were actually customers – they were… cargo workers?
They moved back and forth, loading box after box onto their trucks, with extremely solemn expressions.
Today’s morning headline reported that this store, which had been operating for over twenty years, suddenly announced its closure due to a financial crisis.
At the storefront, besides the workers moving goods, a crowd of onlookers had gathered.
Some felt regretful, because it had been part of their growth; others found it unbelievable, as surviving for twenty years was not by chance, but through true capability.
