The trace of blood was so faint, it was impossible to distinguish.
Sleepiness crashed over her like a tide. Yu Yan didn’t think much about it and soon sank into a deep sleep.
When she was woken by the alarm, it was already the next morning.
She opened her eyes, and the first thing she did was look to the side.
He Shuliu was gone, and the blanket was neatly tucked around her. From the Living Room came the enticing aroma of food, as if someone was cooking.
Yu Yan got out of bed and pulled open the curtains to look outside.
The rain had stopped.
She got dressed and walked out of the Bedroom, discovering that a steaming breakfast was already set on the table.
Two golden fried eggs, two glasses of milky white soy milk, and a plate of soft, honey-sweet steamed sweet potatoes.
Simple and healthy, just enough for two people.
Yu Yan caught the sweet scent of the sweet potatoes, and her stomach started growling.
He Shuliu came out of the kitchen holding a bowl of freshly washed cherry tomatoes. Seeing her standing by the table, he looked a little surprised: “You’re up already?”
“Mm.” Yu Yan replied listlessly, “The alarm went off……….”
She used to be a chronic snooze-hitter, and even alarms couldn’t wake her. To let her sleep a little longer, He Shuliu would always get up before the alarm, turn it off, prepare breakfast and the things she needed for the day, then wake her up.
Now that they’d broken up, no one provided that wake-up service anymore, so Yu Yan had to get up on time by herself.
In just a few days, her habit of oversleeping was gone.
Which just goes to show, there’s no bad habit that can’t be changed—only people who lack determination.
Hopefully, He Shuliu wouldn’t help her pick up her bad habits again.
After washing up, Yu Yan sat down at the dining table, watching as He Shuliu served her a fried egg.
He looked in great spirits, not the least bit tired or listless, and certainly not like someone who’d “almost died.”
Instead, it was Yu Yan who felt a little dazed.
Everything felt so natural, as if nothing had happened at all.
Although that was a good thing, she couldn’t help but remember the way he’d looked last night, eyes brimming with tears after she scolded him.
Had he already forgotten? Or did he really just not care?
And then there was how disheveled he’d looked last night……………….
Yu Yan’s mind was a chaotic mess. At that moment, a slender, well-defined hand reached over and gently touched her cheek.
It was cold—so cold it gave her a start.
“What’s wrong?” He Shuliu stroked her face with his fingertips. “Still not awake?”
“No……” Yu Yan picked up her cup. “I just don’t want to go to work.”
He Shuliu: “Then do you want to take the day off?”
“No need.” Yu Yan said, “I never want to go to work, but I can’t take the day off every day, right?”
He Shuliu raised an eyebrow, about to say something, but Yu Yan had already turned her gaze toward the Balcony.
Her clothes from yesterday were hanging on the Balcony, neatly arranged—obviously just washed by He Shuliu.
But only her clothes were there, none of He Shuliu’s.
She couldn’t help but ask, “Where are the clothes you changed out of last night?”
Had he not washed them yet?
That couldn’t be; this guy was usually such a clean freak. Last night’s clothes were so filthy they were like rags—he couldn’t possibly stand it.
“Hmm?” He Shuliu followed her gaze. “Oh, I threw them away.”
Yu Yan: “…Threw them away?”
He Shuliu nodded. “They were so dirty, washing them would be a hassle. Easier to just throw them out and buy new ones.”
It’s not like he had to wash them by hand, what hassle?
Yu Yan was speechless, but in the end said nothing and just lowered her head to drink her soy milk.
If he wanted to buy new ones, so be it—it wasn’t her money anyway.
Yu Yan stayed quiet, and so did He Shuliu, simply propping his chin in his hand and quietly staring at her.
Yu Yan really wanted to ignore him, but his presence was simply too strong.
She finally set down her cup and met his gaze. “What’s your plan for today?”
He Shuliu blinked. “Plan for what?”
“Didn’t you say your body hurts, and you’re still a little cold?” Yu Yan sized him up calmly. “Aren’t you going to the hospital for a check-up?”
The rain had cleared, and the Living Room was filled with sunlight. He Shuliu sat by the window, his skin so pale it seemed to glow, as if he might melt at any moment.
Actually, Yu Yan had noticed it last night.
Compared to before, He Shuliu’s complexion seemed even paler now, and it wasn’t just pale—it was bloodless, with a kind of sickly chill.
Last night, she’d thought it was because he’d been caught in the rain and his body temperature had dropped, making him so pale.
But so much time had passed and he still looked bloodless—there had to be another reason.
And he’d said his body hurt… It was better to get a check-up at the hospital.
After all, this whole thing had started because of her. She didn’t want to see him get sick.
He Shuliu looked at her expectantly. “Are you coming with me?”
Yu Yan said, puzzled, “I’m not sick. Why would I go to the hospital?”
He Shuliu: “Then forget it.”
Yu Yan:
“
Was he suffering from amnesia? Why did he have no sense of a breakup at all?
Did he have a problem with his brain?
As if he’d read her doubts, He Shuliu smiled. “Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“So fast?” Yu Yan eyed him suspiciously.
“Or maybe it still does?” He Shuliu rubbed his chin. “Now that you ask, I’m not sure anymore. Why don’t we just go to the hospital anyway?”
There he goes again.
Yu Yan couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Go if you want, I’m not going.”
He Shuliu raised his brows slightly, his smile undiminished.
Yu Yan finished the last sip of her soy milk and got up to grab her Canvas Bag from the sofa.
Seeing this, He Shuliu also stood and walked over. “Let me take you.”
“No need, I’m taking the Shuttle Bus today.” Yu Yan checked the time and quickly changed her shoes at the entryway.
He Shuliu tilted his head at her. “Then I’ll walk you to the Shuttle Bus.”
“It’s just a few steps, no need. You should stay home and rest.”
Afraid he’d follow her, Yu Yan quickly put on her shoes without looking up, grabbed her phone, and headed out the door.
“I’m leaving.”
With a “click,” the security door closed, and Yu Yan’s hurried footsteps quickly faded away.
He Shuliu stood by the entryway, staring at the tightly shut door, the smile on his face gradually fading.
He walked to the Balcony, looking down to precisely spot Yu Yan on the stone path below.
She was walking fast, glancing at her phone as she went, and soon left the residential complex.
Only after Yu Yan’s figure had completely disappeared did He Shuliu withdraw his gaze and turn into the Bathroom.
He walked to the dirty clothes basket, lifted the towel on top, and found the clothes he’d changed out of last night, thrown in haphazardly, filthy and so stained you couldn’t even tell their original color.
Yu Yan had a habit of doing laundry at night and almost never checked the dirty clothes basket in the morning, so he’d hidden his clothes there.
After a night, the blood smell on the clothes seemed even stronger.
He Shuliu took out the clothes, stuffed them into a thick black Plastic Bag, then headed out with the bag.
Leaving the residential complex, he passed by a Convenience Store and bought a Lighter. It was the morning rush hour and the streets were crowded, so he skirted around the crowds and entered a secluded Back Alley.
The alley was filthy and messy, with no Surveillance Footage. Even in broad daylight, no one ever came here.
In the past, he would never have set foot in such a filthy place.
He Shuliu walked to the deepest corner of the Back Alley, a blind spot where, even if someone passed by now, it would be hard to see what he was doing.
He opened the black Plastic Bag, revealing the dirty clothes inside.
Under the direct sunlight, the stains on the clothes were especially obvious—large, mottled patches of dark brown, so deep in color that it was easy to think of dried blood.
He Shuliu took out the Lighter and set the pile of clothes on fire.
Flames rose quickly, burning hotter and hotter, consuming even the Plastic Bag.
Only after the pile of clothes was reduced to ashes did He Shuliu straighten up and toss the Lighter into the trash can nearby.
Then he walked out of the Back Alley and melted into the surging crowd.
Half an hour later, Yu Yan arrived at the Company on time.
Today’s tasks had already been assigned, and she didn’t have time to think about He Shuliu’s situation. After a short break, she threw herself into work.
At noon, she ran into Lin Rang in the Employee Cafeteria. He spotted her too, waved at her from afar, then walked away with his companion.
Yu Yan wasn’t sure if he’d complained to anyone else in the department about what had happened before.
But she hadn’t heard any gossip about herself lately, and her colleagues’ attitudes were as usual, so she just pretended nothing had happened.
After a busy day, Yu Yan finally got off work.
Her phone screen lit up. Yu Yan glanced at it—it was a message from He Shuliu.
[Will you be back for dinner?]
So he was still there.
Yu Yan thought for a moment, then replied with a short message.
[Yes, I’ll pick up some fruit on the way.]
[Okay.]
Exiting the chat, Yu Yan opened her ride-hailing app and set her destination as the Police Station where she’d previously reported the case.
Since He Shuliu was back, she needed to inform the Police, so they wouldn’t keep investigating and waste manpower.
Night had fallen. Though it was after work hours, the Police Station was still brightly lit.
As soon as Yu Yan stepped in, the two Police officers who’d been in charge of her case noticed her.
“We haven’t called you yet—what brings you here?” the older officer asked in surprise.
The other officer pulled over a chair, gesturing for her to sit.
Yu Yan sat at the table, fingers interlaced.
“It’s like this—my boyfr… ex-boyfriend has come back.”
“He’s back?” The two Police officers exchanged glances. “When?”
“Just last night.” Yu Yan thought for a moment. “Around two in the morning.”
“Two in the morning?” The officers looked even more surprised. “Was he alone? Or did someone come with him?”
Yu Yan: “He was alone.”
The two officers listened, then looked at each other again, their expressions a bit odd.
“How’s his condition? Any injuries?”
Yu Yan figured that “my body hurts a bit” didn’t really count as an injury, so she replied, “No.”
After she said that, the officers’ expressions grew even stranger.
“Could it be we made a mistake?” the younger officer whispered.
“It’s possible…………………”
Yu Yan saw them whispering and couldn’t help but ask, “Made a mistake about what?”
“It’s nothing, we were talking about another case.” The older officer didn’t continue, instead looking up at her. “As long as he’s safe, should we close the case?”
Yu Yan nodded. “Sorry for the trouble.”
@……
“Alright, let’s just confirm the information.” The officer pulled out a pen, jotting things down as he spoke. “Name: He Shuliu, 24 years old, found safe…”
Yu Yan worked with them to review the details again. When they finished, the officer gave her a heartfelt lecture.
“Young people, you really need to think things through before you speak or act. If you have no grudges, why can’t you just talk things out, right?”
Yu Yan nodded repeatedly.
“Good thing he came back. If he hadn’t, you’d regret it for the rest of your life, wouldn’t you?”
Yu Yan looked properly remorseful.
“Go home and talk things over this time. No more fighting, alright?”
Yu Yan nodded like a pecking chicken.
“Alright, off you go, off you go.”
The lecture finally over, Yu Yan felt like she’d received a royal pardon. She thanked them and hurried out of the Police Station.
After she left, the younger officer opened a file on his computer, zooming in on a Surveillance Footage screenshot, looking confused.
“Did we really make a mistake? That can’t be… The figure and clothes in the footage are at least ninety percent similar to the photos she provided, if not a perfect match.”
“It’s possible to mistake someone even from the front, let alone from behind,” the older officer said, leaning closer to the screen. “Besides, if the person hit in the Surveillance Footage really was her ex-boyfriend, he’d be either dead or paralyzed by now—how could he come back on his own?”
“That’s true……………” The younger officer pointed at the blurry figure on the screen. “Then who was the person who got hit?”
“Who knows? Right now, the most important thing is to find the hit-and-run driver. We can’t let him get away.”
The older officer sighed, patting his colleague on the shoulder. “Sigh, let’s get back to work.”