Chapter 2: The Woman Who Walked Out of His Life

An Nhiên’s first day at work went more smoothly than she’d expected.

She quickly fit in with the design team.

Everyone knew she had worked for a big architecture firm abroad, so they were quite curious.

But An Nhiên didn’t say much about her past.

She just focused on her work.

So did Khải.

At the company, they were boss and employee.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

But the people around them soon noticed something.

Khải paid special attention to An Nhiên’s designs.

He often went over every detail very carefully.

Once, at nearly ten at night, only a few people were left in the office.

An Nhiên was still at her computer.

Khải walked past.

“Not going home?”

“There’s still one part I haven’t finished.”

“Do it tomorrow.”

“I want to finish it today.”

He looked at her.

“You still have that habit of making things hard on yourself.”

An Nhiên looked up.

“You still remember?”

Khải was silent.

She looked back down at the screen.

“Sorry.”

“No need.”

He walked away.

But just a few minutes later, a cup of coffee was set down beside her computer.

No sugar.

Exactly the kind she used to drink six years ago.

An Nhiên looked at the coffee.

She said nothing.

She only smiled faintly.

A week later, the project had a site visit.

An Nhiên, Khải, and the design team went to the riverside neighborhood.

It suddenly started to rain.

Everyone ran for a nearby awning.

An Nhiên stayed where she was, looking at the water in front of her.

Khải came over with an umbrella.

“What are you standing there for?”

“I’m looking.”

“At what?”

“At the things that have changed.”

He stood beside her.

“Has a lot changed?”

“A lot.”

“And me?”

An Nhiên was silent.

Khải looked at her.

“Have I changed?”

She turned to him.

“Yes.”

“Into what kind of person?”

An Nhiên thought for a few seconds.

“Quieter.”

“What else?”

“Harder to read.”

Khải gave a very faint smile.

“And you?”

“I’ve changed too.”

“I haven’t seen it yet.”

“Because you haven’t really looked at me yet.”

Those words left them both silent.

Rain fell beyond the awning.

There were only a few steps between them.

Khải suddenly asked:

“Back then, why did you leave?”

An Nhiên tightened her grip on her bag.

“I can’t tell you yet.”

“Still that answer?”

“Yes.”

“Then when can you?”

She looked at him.

“When you find out the truth.”

Khải frowned.

“What truth?”

An Nhiên didn’t answer.

She stepped out into the rain.

Khải followed her at once.

For the first time in six years, he felt he was standing in front of the girl he had once loved again, but there was still a door between them that neither had opened.