Greece, Athens International Airport.
After nearly ten hours on the plane, Lin Lan arrived in Greece, where the local time was six hours behind China's time zone. Though it was already late at night, the airport remained bustling with people.
"Let's part ways here. I'm here for sightseeing, and you need to transfer to go back to your hometown. Take care."
At the entrance, Lin Lan bid farewell to the young international student who had been on the same flight. He smiled and waved back.
"Boss, I hope you have a great trip and forget all your troubles! And don’t forget the travel tips I gave you on the plane—they’ll make sure your solo trip goes smoothly without any unpleasant surprises!"
"Thanks for the well-wishes!"
After they went their separate ways, Lin Lan hailed a taxi and headed to the hotel she had booked in advance for what was supposed to be a couple’s getaway. It was located near Phaleron Bay of the Aegean Sea, offering views of waves crashing against the cliffs right from the windows or balcony, along with a complimentary breakfast buffet.
Well, all the perks originally planned for two were now hers alone.
Dragging her suitcase into the hotel, Lin Lan spotted two stray cats lounging nearby. She paused briefly but continued straight to the front desk.
After checking in and receiving her key, she was escorted to her room by a staff member. Only when she was finally alone in the double room did she let her composed expression drop, collapsing onto the bed with an exhausted sigh.
How could it really be so easy? How could she just laugh it off like nothing happened?
Being cheated on and dumped by her partner—even if she had retaliated and salvaged her dignity—didn’t lessen the pain. Not unless she had never cared in the first place.
From the moment she first sensed something was wrong until now, Lin Lan had been hurting.
Now that it was all over, she didn’t feel any sense of relief.
Under the soft glow of the lights, the woman lay curled up on the white double bed, her hands clutching the sheets, her face buried in the pillow as her shoulders trembled silently.
…………
Dawn spilled over the windowsill, and Lin Lan woke to the sound of waves.
She had stayed up late the night before, exhausted from the journey and emotionally drained, so when she finally opened her eyes, it was already past eleven—long after the hotel’s breakfast hours.
Cursing the cheating couple under her breath again, Lin Lan had no choice but to head out on an empty stomach to find food.
Fortunately, the area was dotted with convenience stores and restaurants catering to tourists. She didn’t have to wander far before satisfying her hunger.
With her stomach full and some snacks in hand, Lin Lan began strolling through the unfamiliar streets.
The clean, tidy roads were lined with shops selling everything from daily necessities to local specialties. Beyond them stretched the vast sea and a pristine white town in the distance.
Lin Lan had quit her job for this trip, so her visit to Greece didn’t coincide with peak travel seasons for Chinese tourists. As a result, she didn’t see the usual crowds of fellow countrymen that often flooded foreign attractions in online photos.
Just as she was considering whether to follow the travel guide’s suggestion and take a bus to the white town, a burst of cheerful chatter in Mandarin caught her attention.
"Hurry up, hubby! That town up ahead is the perfect spot to see the Aegean Sea! I want to go there!" A young woman in a bohemian maxi dress tugged at her partner’s hand, pulling him excitedly toward the bus stop. Her enthusiasm nearly sent the man stumbling behind her.
"I know, I know! Slow down—the town isn’t going anywhere. We planned our honeymoon during the off-season, so there won’t be crowds fighting for the best views."
Her husband tried to reason with her, but the girl wasn’t listening, still chattering away.
"And we have to take photos there! You better make sure I look amazing in them, got it?"
"Alright, alright, my dear wife! Just watch your step—don’t trip!"
The honeymooning couple breezed past Lin Lan like a gust of wind, taking what little good mood she had managed to scrape together with them.
Mentally cursing Shao Xiuye and that cheating pair again, Lin Lan stiffened and turned back toward the hotel.
Screw the travel guide. Screw visiting scenic towns to see the sea. What was the point? Going there just to watch couples flaunt their love? Lin Lan decisively crossed the first item off her itinerary.
As she neared the hotel entrance, she heard a meow. Glancing over, she spotted two fluffy little creatures basking on a decorative windowsill near the door. The security guard paid them no mind, letting them lounge freely. When they noticed Lin Lan’s gaze, instead of being wary, one of the calico cats hopped down and trotted toward her.
"Meow—" The calico circled her legs, even rolling onto its back to show off its belly.
Lin Lan knew she didn’t have any special cat-attracting aura—but the food in her hands certainly did.
A minute later, the two cats were happily munching on the squid rings she had placed on the ground. Lin Lan watched them with a mix of amusement and resignation. "Whether they’re from here or back home, you little things always have the sharpest noses. Go on, enjoy. I’m heading back now."
As she stepped through the doors, she heard another round of meows behind her—probably their way of saying goodbye.
For a fleeting moment, she wished she could understand what they were saying. But the thought vanished as quickly as it came.
Her seaside plans might have failed, but there was still half a day left. Pulling out her travel notes, Lin Lan crossed off "Visit Oia Town to see the sea" and set her sights on the next must-see attraction: the Acropolis of Athens.
"Everyone, gather around! These are the famous Caryatids of the Erechtheion—the six maiden columns arranged symmetrically, with four at the front and one on each side…"
A Chinese tour guide, leading a group of fellow countrymen, expertly explained the highlights of the site through a megaphone. Lin Lan, tagging along at the back, listened with keen interest, blending seamlessly into the crowd as she followed the group’s movements.
Though it wasn’t peak tourist season, there were still Chinese travelers in Athens—like the honeymooning couple earlier, or this organized tour group taking advantage of off-season discounts. In a foreign land, everyone naturally felt a kinship toward fellow countrymen. No one minded Lin Lan’s freeloading, letting her trail behind the group without a second glance.
"The Erechtheion consists of three sanctuaries, dedicated to Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, Poseidon the sea god, and Hephaestus the god of blacksmiths. Speaking of the Erechtheion, there’s a legend behind it—it’s said to be the place where Athena, the goddess of war, and Poseidon competed to become the patron deity of Athens. Back then, Zeus decreed that the two gods must offer humanity the most useful gift to determine the winner. Poseidon presented a warhorse, while Athena gave an olive tree. In the end, the people chose peace over war, embracing the olive tree. This is also how Athens, the capital of Greece, got its name."
The tour guide led the group around the temple ruins, talking nonstop. At one point, a cat brushed past the guide’s feet, stealing the attention of most visitors.
"Hey, guide," a tourist chimed in, pointing at the retreating cat, "I’ve been meaning to ask—why are there so many cats around here?"
"That’s completely normal," the guide replied without missing a beat. "Cats are highly revered in Greece. Since ancient times, they’ve been seen as divine symbols. Back then, mice were a huge problem everywhere, causing damage and spreading disease, and people had no way to deal with them. That’s when the importance of cats became obvious. The Egyptians worshipped them as gods, and the Greeks did the same. You’ve heard of Artemis, the Greek moon goddess, right? She doesn’t just represent the moon—she’s also the goddess of nature and hunting, and sometimes she appears in the form of a cat. That’s why she’s called the ‘Mother of Cats,’ and people refer to cats as ‘divine felines.’ Cats live very comfortably here. Locals are incredibly tolerant and caring toward them, so it’s no surprise to see them in temples."
The group nodded in understanding, including Lin Lan. So that explained why there were so many stray cats along the way, and why they were so unafraid of humans.
"Let me continue the tour. Right now, we’re standing in the sanctuary dedicated to Zeus. Everyone knows a little about the king of the gods, right? In Greek mythology, he’s infamous for his many romantic escapades. Aside from his seventh and only official wife, Hera, the queen of the gods, he also had affairs with countless goddesses, nymphs, and mortal women, fathering numerous divine or demigod offspring. Artemis, whom I mentioned earlier, was born from his union with his sixth wife, Leto, the goddess of motherhood..."
Lin Lan wasn’t very familiar with Greek mythology, but hearing about Zeus’s long list of romantic exploits left her stunned. Seven wives weren’t enough—his mistresses and illegitimate children could fill an entire battalion. It completely shattered her worldview. By the time the guide moved on to Poseidon’s equally bizarre love life, she had no words left.
It seemed that across time and cultures, men’s tendencies toward infidelity and promiscuity were a universal constant. No matter how wonderful or exceptional their partners were, it never stopped them from pursuing other women. The only difference between a good man and a bad one was whether they chose to restrain themselves.
The guide didn’t dwell too much on the gods’ romantic histories, focusing instead on their extraordinary powers—what they mastered, what they symbolized, and so on.
"Since we’ve come all the way to Greece to see these ancient temples that have stood for thousands of years, why not try making a wish here? Who knows, maybe a god will listen and grant it."
At the end, the guide cracked a joke, drawing laughter from the group. But no one refused the idea. For most people, entering a temple, paying respects, and casually making a wish wasn’t a big deal—what if it came true? One by one, they playfully bowed toward the ruins, Lin Lan among them.
—May all the scumbags in the world disappear!
Making such a wish in a temple dedicated to the god of philanderers—she was probably the least sincere among this group of already half-hearted Chinese tourists.
