Chapter 6: The Appearance of Gu Yunchen (1)

Meng Yier smiled, spreading her arms and running toward her parents. Suddenly, a screech of brakes rang out—a car struck her, sending her crashing heavily to the ground.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” the driver shouted angrily.

A sharp pain shot through her as she landed hard, her knees scraped and bleeding. Sitting dazed on the pavement, she realized what she had just seen had only been an illusion.

Seeing she was not seriously hurt, the driver cursed a few more times before driving off. A crowd gathered around her, pointing and whispering. After a long while, the onlookers dispersed. Only then did Meng Yier come back to her senses. She struggled to her feet and, ignoring the pain, continued wandering aimlessly down the street.

Dusk fell, and a chilly wind began to blow. She shivered, drew her neck into her shoulders, but kept walking. She didn’t want to return to the hotel—a place where she was the only guest in a terrifyingly silent room. In such an environment, she felt overwhelmed by her own loneliness.

She walked for a long, long time. The blood on her knee had already dried, and the physical pain gradually faded. The noise ahead disrupted her wandering thoughts. Looking up, she realized she had, without realizing it, arrived once more outside the same bar she’d visited the night before.

Perhaps only after getting drunk would she stop overthinking, she mused absently as she found herself at the entrance. The security guard from yesterday gave her a curious glance but did not stop her.

Meng Yier reached the doorway and heard the lively music from inside. She suddenly stopped in her tracks. Memories of the previous night flooded her mind, and her eyes dimmed with sadness.

After a moment’s hesitation, she turned and walked away without looking back.

A car was parked at the curb. Inside, a pair of deep, intense eyes followed her every move. Yan Yichen’s lips curled into a slight smile—he had been right to wait here for her.

That morning, he had watched her flee from his side in disarray, and a sense of emptiness had enveloped him. He regretted not asking for her address before letting her go, thinking it would be easy to find her. But despite all his efforts, he’d found no trace of her. He had no way of knowing that the name “Meng Yier” had vanished from Haishi a decade ago.

Unable to wait any longer, Yan Yichen had driven to the bar she’d visited the night before, hoping for another encounter—and his patience had been rewarded.

Meng Yier wandered away from the bar, lost and forlorn. Night had fallen, and the street was lively with crowds. She watched the throngs of people, all paired or in groups, while she walked alone through the bustling city.

Yan Yichen got out of his car and followed her at a distance. He noticed her injured knee and frowned. This little fool couldn’t even take care of herself.

At last, he called out to her, “Meng Yier—”

“Xiao Yi—”

A deep, magnetic voice called her name at the same time. Yan Yichen turned in the direction of the voice and saw a tall, handsome man standing in front of Meng Yier, looking at her tenderly.

She looked up, tears welling in her eyes. After a brief pause, she flung herself into the man’s arms, exclaiming, “Brother—”

Gu Yunchen held her tightly, saying nothing, gently patting her back.

Yan Yichen stood there, stunned, his sharp gaze fixed on the pair embracing before him. He wanted to pull her away immediately. This very morning she had lain meekly in his arms, and now, by nightfall, she was in another man’s embrace. What did she think he was?

He took a few steps forward before stopping. What right did he have to interfere? He wasn’t even sure she remembered him.

From her reaction that morning, it seemed she didn’t. She certainly wouldn’t remember the promises they once made.

Yan Yichen’s intense gaze dimmed; his fists clenched tightly. He felt he might lose control at any moment and beat up the man holding her.

Gu Yunchen had already noticed Yan Yichen following Meng Yier. His gentle expression hardened as he stared back at Yan Yichen, the air between them crackling with hostility.

Their eyes met, neither willing to yield.

After a few seconds, Gu Yunchen released Meng Yier and took her hand. “Xiao Yi, come with me—”

She nodded obediently, allowing him to lead her to the car. The engine roared to life, and they drove away.

Yan Yichen stood where he was, watching their figures recede into the distance. His eyes turned bloodshot as he shouted after her, “Meng Yier—”

But the city’s nighttime clamor swallowed his cry.