A greeting that couldn’t have been simpler silenced Qin Yinan. After a long time, he said slowly, “Not bad I suppose.”

Cheng Qingchong smiled but didn’t speak. Silence once more returned to the car.

Qin Yinan was slightly surprised when he saw the gate of the residential area that car eventually parked at.

But she lives in such a luxurious bungalow in Shanghai, so why would she stay at such a broken-down apartment in Beijing? Could it be that she has broken with that man? Has she had to return to Beijing?

Qin Yinan’s heart soared with anticipation. He stared at Cheng Qingchong and offered, “Let me walk you home.”

Cheng Qingchong was surprised and quickly shook her head. “It’s fine…”

“It’s no big deal…” Qin Yinan glanced at her injured leg. “…This building doesn’t have an elevator, right? It’ll be definitely for you to climb all those stairs in the state you’re in. Let me help you. I’ll leave right after.”

Qin Yinan walked first into the compound without giving Cheng Qingchong the chance to deny him. The woman paused for a moment at the gate before chasing after him with her injured leg.

Qin Yinan knew Cheng Qingchong was trying to catch up to him, so he purposely slowed down. When she was close enough, he asked, “Which building?”

Cheng Qingchong pointed at a direction wordlessly. Qin Yinan turned to look at her injured leg. Then without warning, he stepped in front of her, and before she realized what was happening, he bent over to carry her in his arms.

His embrace was as warm as she remembered. Cheng Qingchong’s eyes prickled with tears, and she lowered her head even more. She didn’t dare let her mind wander because she was afraid, afraid that she might end up unable to leave his arms.

The purpose of her reason was to pick up her stuff, and she had to leave after that. So, no matter what happened, she had to remind herself of the position that she was in. She no longer had the power to make her own decisions. One year ago, when she made that decision, it had already been destined that they were not meant to be.

Qin Yinan eventually reached the room Cheng Qingchong had rented. He placed her down, and she pulled out her key to open the door. She reached out to turn on the light in the room before turning around to tell him, “Thank you.”

He didn’t say anything, but his gaze wandered beyond her door and into her room. Since he didn’t show any sign of leaving and she wasn’t rude enough to chase him away, after a moment’s hesitation, she took a step back and said politely, “Why don’t you come in?”

The place had been unoccupied for more than a year already, so other than plain water, she had nothing to serve her guest.

Qin Yinan accepted the bottle of mineral water that she offered with thanks. He twisted the cap open to drink from it.

Ever since he came into the room, he had been observing it. He realized that in the small room, other than her stuff, there were no signs of a second occupant.

Could it be that I’m right? Qin Yinan put down the bottle and asked in a forced-casual tone, “When did you return to Beijing?”

“This morning.”

“Oh…” Qin Yinan paused before asking, “…You just rented this place today?”

“No, the year before last. I came back this time to hand the room back to its owner.”

Meaning my speculation is mostly wrong…

A flash of disappointment crossed Qin Yinan’s eyes. After a while, he asked, “Then, when are you leaving?”

“Next week,” Cheng Qingchong answered truthfully.

Qin Yinan nodded wordlessly as he turned his gaze out the window.