Rekindling Lost Love (GL) - Chapter 2

The setting sun sank below the horizon as twilight closed in from all directions.

As night fell, the surrounding area gradually quieted, becoming lifeless and still.

The machinery in the neighboring factory stopped running. Taking advantage of the darkness, Ji Cen’an left her room to attend to some business. She was going to meet an old acquaintance and speak in person with the man who had provided her with information.

The roads through Tongzi Alley were dim at night. Tightly packed buildings of varying heights stood clustered together, their overlapping silhouettes separating the main road from the alley by more than a hundred meters. To get out, one had to pass through several winding, intersecting lanes.

Ji Cen’an walked alone, emerging from the shadowed alleys onto the main street, where both cars and pedestrians were scarce. She continued to the end of the street and waited beside the bus stop for the final bus of the night.

At this hour, there were not many passengers still coming to catch the bus. Only one exhausted-looking young person and two middle-aged men in work uniforms stood by the sign. At a glance, it was obvious that they were workers who had just gotten off their shifts and were preparing to go home.

Ji Cen’an stopped at the edge of the bus stop and silently joined them.

She had tied her hair back into a low ponytail. She wore a white off-the-shoulder T-shirt with loose trousers and flat shoes, along with a plain black wide-brimmed cap and a mask of the same color.

The outfit was deliberately understated. It allowed her to blend into the crowd without drawing attention.

As she approached, one of the middle-aged men reflexively glanced in her direction. He did not pay her much attention, however, and soon looked away.

The young person beside him was dressed similarly—tall and slender, in a plain and simple outfit that attracted no notice.

The bus arrived and pulled over to the side of the road.

More than half the seats on the last bus were empty. Those only now heading home were mostly weary office workers. One after another, they either leaned against their seats with their eyes closed or lowered their heads to look at their phones. No one had any interest in an irrelevant stranger.

Ji Cen’an took a window seat near the back and sat alone.

The bus’s final stop was two stations beyond the university district. By the time it reached that area, fewer than two passengers remained.

The mechanical announcement sounded. Ji Cen’an got off at that stop, then followed a secluded, narrow road. Familiar with the route, she slipped into a residential complex and found an inconspicuous shadowed spot to wait.

She used to come here often. Security at the complex was poor, but the place was hidden and unremarkable enough to avoid countless watchful eyes.

—Back when she was still a university student, she had frequently come here to meet Nan Jia in one of the buildings. The two of them had spent countless nights together there.

It had been five years since then. Thinking back, had it only been four or five months after she first met Nan Jia?

Ji Cen’an could no longer remember. She only knew that this place carried far too many memories of their past absurdities. It concealed a host of forbidden, shameful secrets that could never see the light of day, as well as entanglements that should never have happened.

Now that she had returned to this old place, Ji Cen’an could not help recalling last night’s dream and certain long-standing debts between them.

She raised her head and cast a detached glance toward the eighteenth floor of the building diagonally across from her.

The complex seemed to have very few residents left. The apartment on the eighteenth floor was dark, without a single light on. She had no idea whether anyone still lived there.

Probably not. It was unlikely another fool could be found who would rent such an expensive and tastelessly designed apartment. No one with a normally functioning brain would do such a thing.

Only Ji Cen’an in her senior year, with more money than she knew what to do with, would have agreed to come to this aging residential complex and lowered herself to live here for the sake of indulging in pleasure.

Nan Jia had chosen the apartment, and the lease had also been signed in Nan Jia’s name. They had lived in the complex for nearly half a year, until Ji Cen’an successfully graduated.

Their first time together had happened inside that spacious apartment. Nan Jia had refused to go to Ji Cen’an’s home, so they had compromised and found another place instead, eventually settling on this one after searching for a long time.

Up on the eighteenth floor, Nan Jia had willingly given herself to her.

Ji Cen’an had been no good back then. Calling her scum would not have been an exaggeration. She had been rotten through and through, utterly lacking in morals, and had committed more than her share of despicable acts.

At the time, Nan Jia had actually had a childhood sweetheart, a professor at the University of Science and Technology who came from a scholarly family. The two had shared similar interests and grown up together, and they were compatible in almost every way—one an intellectual, the other an artist. They had seemed destined to become a couple. Unfortunately, their relationship had died before it ever truly began. Their ambiguous connection came to an abrupt end before either of them had even confessed her or his feelings.

Ji Cen’an had only been twenty by traditional age reckoning during her senior year, while Nan Jia had already been a full twenty-five. Nan Jia was then an emerging fashion designer who had only recently begun to make a name for herself. They met at a charity banquet and became acquainted there.

Ji Cen’an had taken a liking to Nan Jia at first sight. Nan Jia had been dressed in a floor-length gown, and Ji Cen’an had been captivated by that graceful, subtly mature vision in Klein blue. She spent an enormous sum bidding on Nan Jia’s design sketches, generously showing her support and using it as an opportunity to approach her.

At first, Nan Jia had not been guarded around her. She had merely assumed Ji Cen’an was some wealthy family’s spoiled young heiress showing off. Even when faced with Ji Cen’an’s lavish spending, Nan Jia had only gone through the motions of dealing with her. She put no effort into it and was thoroughly perfunctory.

Ji Cen’an had known this perfectly well, but she never exposed her. She simply went along with it, treating Nan Jia to dinner several times and keeping up appearances until she no longer had the patience to maintain the act. Only then did she reveal her true colors.

Like a hunter capturing her prey, Ji Cen’an had conquered Nan Jia one step at a time. Only after completely breaking her down did Ji Cen’an possess her entirely…

Ji Cen’an liked artistic women. She treated all of Nan Jia’s demands as a form of flirtation and regarded the entire experience as something to enliven her otherwise dull and tedious life.

Nan Jia’s unexpected appearance had simply been a source of novelty. Ji Cen’an had not cared whether Nan Jia’s feelings were sincere. To her, it was merely an interesting experience.

Young, reckless, ignorant, and willful, she had been unable to distinguish between feelings and right and wrong. She did everything according to her whims. Whenever she wanted something, she plotted to take it. The more something did not belong to her, the more determined she became to have it. She insisted on throwing herself into the flames against the wind, caring nothing for the consequences.

Ultimately, it had been her rotten nature at work.

That had been then, and this was now. Some things simply could not be understood at the time.

Without a word, Ji Cen’an lowered her gaze and reined in those useless thoughts.

No one knew about what had happened between them. Neither of them had ever revealed the slightest hint of it to the outside world, so no one had been aware. This place should be relatively secure—a comparatively safe meeting point.

Compared to several years ago, the residential complex had not changed at all. Even the signs had never been replaced.

Ji Cen’an knew this place extremely well. She did not trust any other location and had only agreed to meet her old acquaintance here.

While she was lost in thought, the man arrived and revealed himself after only a short while.

Noticing the movement in that direction, Ji Cen’an cautiously shifted farther back, concealing herself deeper in the shadows.

The other person was a man in his sixties, of average build, with a kind and honest-looking face.

His name was Yang Kaiming, a local of Z City who had worked as the steward of one of the properties registered under Ji Cen’an’s name. Three years ago, he had helped Ji Cen’an deal with the aftermath of the Ji family’s collapse. He was also the one working for her this time. He had located an important intermediary who had helped pave the way for the Ji family’s escape, and had also uncovered traces of Ji Cen’an’s parents and elder brother.

Yang Kaiming owed Ji Cen’an a profound debt of gratitude. Eight years ago, she had paid for his wife’s cancer treatment and used her connections to secure medical help. She had also given substantial support to his entire family.

Yang Kaiming was a dutiful and decent man who remembered past kindnesses. He was deeply grateful to Ji Cen’an, which was why he dared to withstand the pressure and repay her now, willingly doing so many things on her behalf.

Yang Kaiming sat on a wooden bench inside the pavilion, glancing around from time to time and meticulously examining his surroundings.

He was watching for a familiar figure while also worrying that he might have been followed or that some other unexpected situation might arise.

Ji Cen’an observed him from a distance without approaching immediately. Extremely vigilant, she watched first, wary that he might have accomplices nearby.

She trusted no outsider, regardless of who they were.

Even her closest blood relatives had betrayed her. Her entire family had conspired to set her up, using her as a smokescreen before heartlessly abandoning her. How, then, could she trust a former employee with whom she shared no binding relationship?

No matter how anxious Yang Kaiming became as he waited restlessly, Ji Cen’an remained composed, hidden in the corner as she silently watched from afar.

Only after confirming that he truly had no accomplices did Ji Cen’an reveal herself and calmly approach.

“Uncle Yang,” she greeted him first, speaking in a low voice.

Yang Kaiming became somewhat emotional. He nearly rose the moment he saw her, but remembering that the setting was inappropriate, he restrained himself. The old man acknowledged her and quietly addressed her.

“Young President Ji.”

Ji Cen’an also sat on the wooden bench, though she left some distance between them.

“It’s already so late. Sorry to trouble you to come all the way here in person.”

The old man appeared slightly at a loss, but he did not waste time rambling. He immediately handed her a thick envelope, then quietly explained and cautioned her while sharing the new information he had uncovered.

Both of them were straightforward and efficient. They knew exactly what needed to be done.

They had met for serious business. There was no reason to drag things out and waste time.

When he finished speaking, Ji Cen’an rose, her long legs unfolding as she prepared to leave. Before going, she added out of concern, “Be careful on your way home. Watch yourself.”

“Yes, I know,” Yang Kaiming replied.

Unable to break the habits of the past, he remained as respectful toward her as ever.

Ji Cen’an noticed this and pursed her thin lips, but ultimately said nothing.

Perhaps worried that her years of drifting from place to place had not been easy, the old man hesitated to speak. Ji Cen’an had already taken two steps away when he finally called out to stop her and asked with concern, “Have you been well these past few years?”

She turned back and gave a lukewarm hum of acknowledgment.

“I’m leaving. Go home early.”

With that, she turned away with seeming indifference.

Yang Kaiming remained standing where he was. He sighed regretfully and watched her disappear into the distance.

Ji Cen’an had no time to concern herself with him. She did not possess the luxury of indulging in sentimental melancholy. After leaving the residential complex, she deliberately circled through the surrounding area, maintaining a high degree of vigilance.

There was a food street one or two kilometers ahead. She intentionally headed there, pretending to browse the shops and buy something to eat. After wandering in a wide circle, she doubled back.

By then, Yang Kaiming had already left and was nowhere to be seen.

Ji Cen’an tugged the brim of her cap lower until it nearly covered her eyes, then prepared to find a ride back to Tongzi Alley. She did not dare hail one directly outside the brightly lit entrance of the residential complex. Instead, she walked a considerable distance, only intending to call a taxi once she reached a crowded street corner filled with people and traffic.

Several people were waiting for rides at the intersection, and young figures constantly passed back and forth.

There were twelve universities nearby, so the area was filled with students. At this hour, the nightlife was only just beginning, and every corner was lively and noisy.

A young woman who had just hurried out of a chain convenience store nearly collided with Ji Cen’an while holding a greasy cup of instant noodles.

Fortunately, Ji Cen’an reacted quickly and turned aside in time.

The spilled broth splashed onto the ground. Startled, the young woman hurriedly asked, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Are you all right?”

Ji Cen’an stepped away to put some distance between them and replied coldly, “I’m fine.”

Embarrassed, the young woman apologized several more times and even tried to offer her a small packet of tissues.

“No need.”

Ji Cen’an refused, her attitude distant and indifferent.

The young woman did not insist and walked away shortly afterward.

Unconcerned with such trivial matters, Ji Cen’an continued waiting. The moment a taxi stopped, she reached out to open the door and get inside.

It was then that someone behind her suddenly called out, “Professor Xu!”

Then came another shout.

“Teacher Nan Jia.”

It was the young woman from before.

Ji Cen’an’s body went still for an instant.

Without realizing it, she turned her head.