Chapter 1: Reunion (Part 1)
She saw him again seven years later, in a crowded supermarket filled with people shopping on the weekend.
Zhao Moshen was pushing a shopping cart alone, struggling to move through the throng. Having just returned from abroad, she wasn't yet accustomed to such crowding. However, this lively and familiar scene made her smile involuntarily, almost filling her heart with gratitude as she listened to the noisy chatter of her native tongue. She wondered if others returning home for the first time felt the same way—her excitement and joy were almost overwhelming.
Seven years! How long it had been!
But how could she have run into him so soon after returning? No, to be precise, it should be them.
Moshen silently watched the couple standing by the vegetable rack, once again marveling at the twists of fate. Seven years ago, it was also because of them that she ultimately decided to leave the country.
Now they were shopping together. So, had they ended up together after all? It was good she left quickly; otherwise, she might have been hurt even more.
He Yichen, He Yimei—how foolish she had been to think that similar names meant they must be brother and sister.
"We are not siblings. Our families used to be close neighbors, both surnamed He, so our parents chose similar names. Later, when Yichen's parents met with an accident, our family adopted him."
"Do you think you can match the twenty-year platonic relationship between me and Yichen?"
"That day, I wanted to tell you—I love Yichen. I don't want to secretly love him. I want to compete with you openly and fairly."
On the eve of her nineteenth birthday, her usually quiet and introverted friend, He Yimei, suddenly declared this boldly. If Yimei could say this, someone who never argued with others, she must truly love him deeply.
But what could Moshen possibly compete with Yimei for? On the very day Yimei declared war, Moshen knew she had already lost. That's why she fled to America for seven years.
He Yichen suddenly remembered the cold expression and ruthless words he had used that day, causing Moshen’s heart to ache faintly, almost imperceptibly, but undeniably present.
They were approaching her direction. Moshen's fingers gripping the shopping cart turned white, and she almost immediately wanted to turn around. But the supermarket was too crowded, and she couldn’t maneuver the cart easily. In the next moment, she calmed herself. Why avoid them? She should calmly greet them: "Hi, long time no see," then walk away gracefully, leaving them with a beautiful back view.
Besides, they might not even recognize her anymore. She had changed so much—the long flowing hair she used to have was now cropped short and neat, her once pale skin darkened by California's sun. Dressed in a loose T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, she looked completely different from her former self.
They slowly approached step by step, then... passed by.
It wasn't without pain.
Faint voices reached her ears.
"Should we buy some milk?" Yimei's soft voice asked.
"..."
The reply was unclear. Yet, Yichen's deep, cello-like voice still echoed in her ears after all these years, despite being far away in a foreign land.
Relieved, yet sighing with relief, Moshen lifted her head which had been hanging low and took a step forward.
Crash! Her shopping cart collided with a mountain of discounted soap stacked on the ground. The culprit, Zhao Moshen, stood dumbfounded as hundreds of bars of soap collapsed dramatically.
Uh... could she pretend it wasn't her fault?
"Oh my God! This is the third time today!" A groan came from somewhere, likely a supermarket stocker.
So, it wasn't entirely her fault, right? Who stacks goods in the middle of the aisle like that? Moshen stuck out her tongue quietly, trying to look apologetic.
The commotion drew the attention of those nearby, including He Yimei. She merely glanced casually at the particularly noisy spot and froze—it was her, it was actually her! Yimei almost couldn't believe her eyes. She... had come back?
Yimei? He Yichen, puzzled by her reaction, asked aloud, following her gaze.
His tall, upright figure stiffened instantly.
"Zhao Moshen!"
That seemingly innocent woman looking down guiltily was none other than Zhao Moshen! Though appearing contrite, her eyes sparkled mischievously. Even from afar, though her features weren't perfectly clear, Yichen just knew. He had always known—she was like that, stirring up trouble and irresponsibly walking away, impulsive, selfish, and hateful.
A full seven years... did she even know to return?
He Yichen lowered his gaze. "Yimei, let's go."
Yimei looked at Yichen's calm face in surprise. "Don't you want to say hello? Maybe..."
"She's no longer part of my life." His tone was flat, as if it didn't matter at all.
Yimei carefully examined his expression but found no trace of emotion. Finally, she sighed softly. "Let's go."
As they turned to leave, Yimei stole one last glance at Zhao Moshen and noticed her turning her head just in time to meet her gaze. Their eyes locked in the air, and Moshen seemed to pause before a faint smile appeared on her face, nodding slightly in greeting.
"Yichen..." Yimei hurriedly called out.
"Hmm?"
"She..." Yimei hesitated, then stopped, realizing Moshen was already gone in the flow of people.
"What's wrong?"
"No, nothing." Yimei raised her head. Just, she had clearly seen them, so why did she walk away so easily? And Yichen, he had clearly seen her...
Never did she imagine she would return here one day.
During the editor's interview, he asked her: "Miss Zhao, why did you choose to work in City A?"
Moshen suddenly didn't know how to answer. Why? Because she had spent over a year studying here? Because she had met him here? Because she had endured so much here?
She didn't realize it at first. The first place she thought of before returning to China was here. Not until she saw him that day did she understand—it was because she wanted to see him. Even though he no longer belonged to her, she just wanted to take a look at him.
Just a glance.
Maybe it was because she couldn't go home. Moshen said. The editor looked at her curiously for a long time, then hired her, making her a photojournalist for a women's magazine.