Back Then, I Adored You

Seven elevators were available for people to take to the second-floor lounge.

Qin Zhi’ai took number one, and Liang Doukou took number five.

The north entrance of the banquet hall was not far from the elevators but, just 20 feet away, one of the guests stopped Gu Yusheng to say hello. As he courteously stopped, he glanced at the red numbers above the elevators.

Having seen them both get in separate elevators, Gu Yusheng watched as Qin Zhi’ai and Liang Doukou stopped on the second floor.

He quietly looked back at his guest, exchanged a few words with him, and then dashed to the elevators and pressed the up button.

When the door opened, Gu Yusheng stepped in and pushed the button for the second floor.

As Gu Yusheng exited the elevator, he saw someone walking down the corridor and disappear when they turned right.

Without hesitation, Gu Yusheng followed the figure and then stopped at the corner. When he poked his head out, he saw Qin Zhi’ai unlock the lounge and disappear inside.

After hearing the door click shut, Gu Yusheng turned his head several directions looking for Liang Doukou. Not seeing her, he frowned and went back to the elevators.

Neither the number one nor number five elevator had moved from the second floor.

Liang Doukou is still on this floor.

And Qin Zhi’ai got on before her, and Liang Doukou got on just a moment before I did, so…

There is no way I could’ve missed her, but… Where is Liang Doukou?

Earlier that day, Qin Zhi’ai had eaten lunch with Xu Wennuan at a Japanese restaurant; they’d enjoyed a lot of raw and cold foods. Tonight, having added alcohol to the mix, she was feeling queasy.

Gu Yusheng had noticed her placing her hand on her abdomen from time to time and assumed she was experiencing menstrual cramps. Knowing how badly she suffered through her periods, he had Xiaowang give her his lounge card.

Because she’d felt embarrassed when Gu Yusheng had asked her if cramps were the cause of her discomfort, she just nodded yes.

When Xiaowang had given her the card, she hadn’t hurried to the lounge; instead, she drank hot soup with Xu Wennuan. Once she felt slightly better, she headed to the lounge.

……

Once inside, she placed her hands on her belly and went directly to the bathroom.

Sitting on the toilet while waiting for relief, she rummaged through her purse for her phone but first found a letter she’d forgotten about because she’d been so busy with work.

It was a letter from Mr. S that she’d received last week when visiting A School.

Qin Zhi’ai opened the envelope, took out the letter, and read it.

……

Last year, she had immediately gone to Hangzhou after finishing her job as Liang Doukou’s body double. She hadn’t contacted Mr. S for some two or three months.

This year, she’d been sent to A School as a voluntary proctor in March. It was at that time she had received this letter from Mr. S.

He’d written it last year, when she was still Liang Doukou’s body double.