Chapter Four: Breakfast

After finishing dinner at Yusheng’s house, Gu Yan returned to his own home. He sat alone for a while in the vast, empty space. The happiness he’d felt just moments ago gradually faded, replaced by thoughts of what might soon befall them and their parents. Slowly, his eyes reddened.

Just a few weeks earlier, he had graduated from university. Yet on their way to celebrate his graduation, his parents had met with a fatal accident. The police ruled it an accident, and Gu Yan had accepted this at first. However, while sorting through his parents’ belongings after returning to the country, he stumbled upon his own secret.

It turned out that the persistent headaches he’d suffered all these years stemmed from an accident during his second year of high school, which had caused selective amnesia. He had forgotten everything that happened and everyone he knew from that time.

But one thing was certain: before he returned to his high school days, the person who had texted him and called him out was undoubtedly the one responsible for his parents’ deaths.

Back then, as he drove to the location the culprit had sent him, another car slammed into him from behind, sending him flying. In that instant, all his memories came rushing back. But when he opened his eyes, he found himself on a plane, headed for this very city.

Thinking of this, Gu Yan massaged his temples. The case had remained unsolved, the culprit never caught. But now that he’d returned to this place and regained his memories, he was determined to change the outcome.

Yet the first thing he needed to resolve—and the one that filled him with the most guilt—was that during his amnesia, he had forgotten his girlfriend. The thought of this filled him with pain.

So, how could he win Yusheng back? Back in high school, he’d liked Yusheng, and she’d liked him too, so he hadn’t needed to pursue her much. After his confession, they were together.

He’d originally considered keeping his distance from Yusheng upon his return, thinking this might keep her safe. But then he realized, since he’d already moved into the apartment just below hers, wasn’t it better to stay close and protect her?

Besides, now he was going to her house for dinners, something that hadn’t happened before. Perhaps this was the butterfly effect—the history had shifted because he’d moved downstairs.

This meant more chances to be near Yusheng. With both his subtle and not-so-subtle advances, she might become his girlfriend even faster than before.

Ah, how adorable she looked when she first woke up—her hair all fluffy, making it hard not to reach out and ruffle it or pull her into an embrace like last time.

That evening, Gu Yan once again went to Yusheng’s house for dinner. Her father wasn’t home yet, but he called via video and promised to return that night, though Gu Yan wouldn’t see him.

Because of what happened that morning, Yusheng, who was a bit shy, hadn’t dared to look at Gu Yan, rendering his carefully-prepared smiling gaze attack useless.

With monthly exams coming next week, and having been away from high school curriculum for so long, Gu Yan went home right after dinner to review, planning to resume his flirtation with Yusheng after the tests. After all, for a girl at this stage, academic excellence was the biggest draw. Soon, he’d surely win Yusheng’s heart!

The next day was a school day, so Yusheng went to bed early. As usual, she woke in the middle of the night to use the bathroom—a habit she’d formed, needing to go once even if she’d already gone before bed.

To avoid disturbing others, she always opened the door quietly. But this night, just as she opened her door, she heard a faint rustling in the living room.

Alert, Yusheng flicked on the light. It turned out to be her brother, Yuchen, sneaking around for reasons unknown.

“What are you doing out here in the middle of the night, with the lights off?”

The sudden light startled Yuchen, who clutched his chest, momentarily at a loss for words.

“I— I just went to the bathroom.”

“Then why didn’t you turn the lights on?”

“I just— just turned them off.”

As they spoke, the sound of a key turning in the lock came from the front door.

When the door opened, their father found both his children standing in the living room, and looked bewildered.

“What are you two doing up in the middle of the night?”

Yusheng didn’t answer him, but countered, “Dad, why are you so late? It’s already past one.”

“I was out helping with DUI checks tonight. I promised you both I’d come home—no matter how late, I had to keep my word.”

Seeing her father so exhausted, Yusheng felt a pang of sorrow, yet her resolve to become a police officer herself only grew stronger—she wanted to contribute to society’s peace and safety.

“Dad, you should get some rest. We just ran into each other on our way to the bathroom,” Yuchen said.

“All right, you two go get some sleep as well. I bet your mom’s waiting for me!” Their father winked and quietly slipped into the bedroom.

After using the bathroom, Yusheng recalled what Gu Yan had said about her brother—why did he want her to pay attention to Yuchen? Lately, indeed, Yuchen had been acting odd, speaking even less than usual. Though he was as sharp-tongued as ever, he seemed distracted.

She decided: after the exams, she’d visit Yuchen’s school to check in on him.

Wei Yabo rarely made breakfast for them; they usually ate at the small breakfast shop near the estate gate. Yuchen’s school was farther away, so he left early in the morning. As usual, Yusheng went alone to get buns for breakfast, only to find Gu Yan there as well.

“Gu Yan, what a coincidence! You’re having breakfast here too.” After a good night’s sleep, Yusheng had completely forgotten the previous day’s events.

Not a coincidence—I’m here waiting for you, Gu Yan thought.

“I come here every day.”

“Really? I come every day too. How come I never saw you before?”

“Maybe you come out too late. You’re about to be late for school—here!” As he spoke, Gu Yan handed her a bag of buns and a cup of soy milk.

“Oh, no, that’s not necessary—I can buy my own,” Yusheng said, caught off guard.

“There are so many people in line. If you wait, you really will be late. Take it—I bought extra.”

Without giving her a chance to refuse, Gu Yan turned and walked away.

Finally, after waiting for days, the opportunity had come! Gu Yan thought.

Holding the buns Gu Yan had given her, Yusheng felt a little flustered, but also warm.

He just bought too much—don’t overthink it! You’ve only known each other a few days! She tried to convince herself.

With that, Yusheng hurried after Gu Yan, walking with him toward the classroom.

That day, Yusheng entered the classroom with Gu Yan. As soon as she sat down, Lin Ning leaned over.

“At last, I see you two coming in together. I always wondered—since you live in the same building, why does one of you arrive so early and the other always just on time?”

“Gu Yan always came this early?” This was the first time Yusheng realized Gu Yan arrived so early. Since her house was close by, she always got up late and arrived just on time.

“He always got here before me. But lately, he’s been coming later and later—now he’s even stooping to your level.”

“What do you mean, ‘stooping to my level’? With that kind of talk, I’d say your language grade is in danger for next week’s exams,” Yusheng joked.

“Hey, don’t jinx me! My mom said if I move up fifty places this time, she’ll get me a new phone.”

“Then I wish you all the best! But if you bomb the test, don’t blame me!”