Back Then, I Adored You

Gu Yusheng casually glanced at Qin Zhi’ai and noticed her cradling her water glass with her head down thinking about something. After a while, he shook his head at Lu Bancheng, who silently stood up, quickly walked around the coffee table, and walked out of the living room.

“Wu Hao, how could you treat me this way? Do you know I went to the steamed bun restaurant by A High School? They taste the same as they have tasted forever. Your name you carved on that ancient tree at school was still there. I could see every spot where you and I had made a memory. Do you know I had one thought when I walked around the school? The guy I loved so much is dead now.” Xu Wennuan’s throat was coarse after having cried so much.

Wu Hao was shedding tears, too, as Xu Wennuan talked about their old memories. He tried to say something but couldn’t through his sobbing. Both Qin Zhi’ai and Gu Yusheng felt increasingly more awkward.

When Qin Zhi’ai couldn’t take it anymore, she put down her glass, and Gu Yusheng looked at her knowing exactly how she felt. He asked, “Should we get out of this apartment and take a walk?”

“Okay.” Qin Zhi’ai pointed at her own bedroom and said, “Let me get a coat first.”

Gu Yusheng nodded at her without saying anything. When she came back out with her coat, Gu Yusheng was not in the living room, but the argument and crying had become more intense in Xu Wennuan’s bedroom.

Qin Zhi’ai quickly walked to the apartment door and changed her shoes. When she opened the door, she saw Gu Yusheng smoking by the elevator.

Gu Yusheng and Qin Zhi’ai walked out of the building, but there was no sign of Lu Bancheng.

It was already spring, but the evenings were still chilly. Gu Yusheng took his car key out of his pocket, unlocked the car, and pointed. “Let’s sit in the car for a while.”

“Okay.” Qin Zhi’ai smiled at him and walked to the car. She had planned to sit in the back, but Gu Yusheng had already reached his hand out and opened the passenger door for her. Not wanting to turn him down, Qin Zhi’ai tucked herself in and got in the passenger seat.

Gu Yusheng walked around the front of the car and got in the driver seat. After closing his door, they remained quiet in the confined space.

The longer they sat in silence the more awkward Qin Zhi’ai felt. Gu Yusheng turned on the radio and, thanks to Xiaowang having driven the car yesterday, the channel was set on soothing music that eased the atmosphere.

Qin Zhi’ai thought he would sit like this with her until Wu Hao and Xu Wennuan finished their talk; however, after a while, Gu Yusheng suddenly said, “That day, were you really on a blind date in Shanghai?”

Qin Zhi’ai was shocked by Gu Yusheng’s question. After a few seconds, she realized which day he was referring to—the day she went to see Mr. S and ran into Gu Yusheng and Lu Bancheng.

Lu Bancheng had joked with her about her being on a blind date that day, and Gu Yusheng must have overheard it.

Qin Zhi’ai immediately shook her head and said, “No.”