Back Then, I Adored You

Fortunately, few cars were traveling the streets of Beijing at midnight, so Qin Zhi’ai’s taxi driver did not lose track of Gu Yusheng.

She had no idea where they were heading as his taxi circled around 2nd Ring Road for more than half of the round before turning onto the main road.

Turning left, they traveled for almost a mile before Qin Zhi’ai recognized that they were in the Commercial District.

The shops had already closed, and under the flickering neon lights hardly a soul could be seen.

Driving on a little farther, Gu Yusheng’s taxi stopped on the side of the road, and he got out. The driver turned the hazards on, apparently because he would be waiting for Gu Yusheng to return.

Afraid that Gu Yusheng would spot her, Qin Zhi’ai had her driver pass the parked taxi and pull off the road some distance ahead.

Through the car windows, Qin Zhi’ai could see Gu Yusheng walking unsteadily on the pavement past the bushes toward the plaza of the Commercial District.

His steps faltered from having drunk too much beer. Although it was less than 100 feet, he couldn’t walk straight and took a while before reaching the wishing fountain at the center of the plaza.

The plaza was fully illuminated, and the bright lighting made it easy for Qin Zhi’ai to see Gu Yusheng feeling in his bag for some time before fishing out a coin.

Facing the fountain, he pressed his palms together and resolutely murmured something before tossing the coin into the water. He stood there for a long time watching the water ripple. When the water finally became still again, he turned around and made his way with difficulty back to his waiting taxi.

He struggled to yank the car door open and then awkwardly clambered in. The hazards went off as the driver started the taxi’s engine.

“Miss, do we still follow them?” asked her driver when the taxi in front of them drove away.

Qin Zhi’ai drew her gaze back from the fountain and, nodding lightly, said, “Yes.”

Qin Zhi’ai was unfamiliar with the Commercial District, so it took some 10 minutes before she realized that Gu Yusheng was returning to his villa.

They traveled for another 10 minutes while the familiar night horizon unfolded before Qin Zhi’ai. When she saw Gu Yusheng’s taxi veer into the entrance of his villa’s neighborhood, she said, “Sir, you can stop here.”

She paid for her ride, and seconds after her taxi drove off Qin Zhi’ai saw Gu Yusheng’s taxi drive out of the neighborhood’s entrance.

He must have gotten home safely.

With his housekeeper living there, he should be fine.

Qin Zhi’ai stood on the pavement in the brisk wind. Tugging at her collar, she mused for a moment. Ultimately, unable to resist her urge, she strode steadily toward the entrance.

Gu Yusheng’s villa was located some distance inside the neighborhood at its highest vista.

She walked for some 15 minutes before she was within the vicinity of his villa. She had lived here for a good six months and made many memories with him.

This unexpected return stirred up mixed emotions inside her.

Her footsteps slowed down and, just as she was nearing the entrance to the villa, she stopped abruptly.

She finally worked up the courage to walk to the entrance, only to see that the front door to the courtyard was wide open.