An Unexpected Meeting

(Ling Yan’s Perspective)

“Is this the place?”

I looked around, then at the somewhat aged storefront before me. Before coming, I had wondered what kind of shop Zhou Chen and Xiao Lu had gone to. I never expected it to be tucked away in an alley like this.

“Yeah, I was quite surprised when Chenzi brought me here back then. Who would’ve thought he’d find a place like this?” Xiao Lu also looked around, her expression nostalgic.

“This place is really secluded. If you weren’t actively looking, no one except the residents nearby would ever find it.” I raised my head to look at the residential buildings, only a few stories high, and suddenly wondered if Zhou Chen lived in one of these rooms.

“Probably. So what are you trying to say, Little Yan?” Xiao Lu looked at me quizzically, as if she didn’t understand what I meant.

Although asking about someone’s residence can be considered rude, if it’s your lover, it should be fine, right? Besides, I’d never been to Zhou Chen’s home, and I felt an inexplicable itch to see it.

“Xiao Lu, have you ever been to Chenzi’s place?” I asked, still gazing at the surrounding buildings.

(I really wanted to know where Zhou Chen lived. I wanted to see what his home was like.)

“No, I haven’t.”

Xiao Lu had a smile on her face just a moment ago, but upon hearing my question, it instantly vanished.

I felt a slight disappointment, but also a sense of relief. Though I couldn’t learn Zhou Chen’s address from Xiao Lu, at least she didn’t know it either.

“Well, let’s go inside.” I took Xiao Lu’s hand and headed toward the shop.

As I reached the door and was about to push it open, I faintly heard Zhou Chen’s voice from inside. My hand paused. Xiao Lu also looked puzzled, probably realizing it sounded like him.

But shouldn’t Zhou Chen be with Xiao Xi now? There was no way he would bring her to a place like this, right?

I pushed open the door. A “Welcome!” chimed, and what came into view was Zhou Chen’s dazed expression and Xiao Xi’s cute, smiling face.

My mind went blank. Why were Zhou Chen and Xiao Xi here?

Xiao Lu had said on the way that this shop held great significance for Zhou Chen. He had brought her here to comfort her back then. But Xiao Xi was just a Junior he’d known for two days. Why did he bring her?

I had been dating Zhou Chen for a year, yet he had never once brought me here. Was I the only one he’d never brought to this place?

The unease in my heart surged again, stronger than ever before.

“Ling Yan, Xiao Lu, what are you doing here?” Zhou Chen stood up flustered, a troubled look on his face.

“I…”

“What, we can’t come?” Just as I was about to ask what was going on, Xiao Lu spoke first, her tone harsh, her eyes glaring at Zhou Chen with fury.

My lips moved, but I said nothing. I just stared at Zhou Chen. That was my stance as well. Like Xiao Lu, I was angry.

“No, it’s just…”

Zhou Chen looked at me, then at Xiao Lu, his words faltering. His eyes kept darting toward Xiao Xi.

Was it related to Xiao Xi? Could it be—

I didn’t dare think about it. I knew it wasn’t like that, but why was I suspecting it? I was scared after all—scared that Zhou Chen would leave me.