HLJ Chapter 2

Today was Saturday, and the bar was bustling with activity. Lin Chun greeted a few regular customers before heading to the counter to check yesterday’s sales. As she looked up, she caught a glimpse of a woman with waist-length black hair sitting not far away. The woman swirled the drink in her glass, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at Lin Chun.

Both the woman and He Lanjin had captivating phoenix eyes, but the emotions in their eyes were entirely different.

He Lanjin’s eyes were calm and deep, while the woman before her was flirtatious and carefree.

The woman raised her glass to Lin Chun, her red lips curling into a charming smile.

Lin Chun suddenly remembered that it was on last year’s New Year’s Eve that she had met He Lanjin in the same spot.

In her memory, He Lanjin had been an inconspicuous and almost invisible presence during high school. If it hadn’t been for a conflict between He Lanjin and her good friend Song Ya, Lin Chun probably wouldn’t have known He Lanjin existed until graduation.

That night, He Lanjin wasn’t wearing glasses. She appeared before Lin Chun with delicate makeup, saying, “Lin Chun, long time no see.”

Out of politeness, Lin Chun offered He Lanjin a drink. They chatted about their recent lives, and He Lanjin told her that she had become a somewhat famous writer, even showing Lin Chun her published book.

Lin Chun immediately felt a surge of admiration. Although she wasn’t much of a reader, she deeply respected those who could write books. Combined with He Lanjin’s tall figure and alluring phoenix eyes, Lin Chun, slightly tipsy, leaned closer to He Lanjin and said in a flirtatious tone, “He Lanjin, how about we give it a try?”

He Lanjin wasn’t Lin Chun’s first love, but she brought Lin Chun a level of pleasure she had never experienced before.

That night, Lin Chun lay drenched in sweat and exhausted on the bed, while He Lanjin seemed tireless, constantly demanding more. Lin Chun thought she was insane.

He Lanjin wasn’t just compatible with Lin Chun in bed, their lives also aligned well. Due to her work, Lin Chun’s schedule was almost completely reversed, and He Lanjin adjusted her writing schedule to match Lin Chun’s bar hours.

Yet, despite their compatibility, they eventually broke up.

And it ended so ambiguously.

Lin Chun didn’t feel she owed He Lanjin anything. She had been serious about their relationship, so why did He Lanjin get to end it so abruptly?

Lin Chun mixed a drink and walked over to the woman with a smile, placing the glass in front of her. “This one’s on me. Is this your first time here?”

“Yes, first time,” the woman replied, taking a sip of the drink. She licked her lips, savoring the taste, and then reached out to hook her finger around Lin Chun’s hand. “The drink is sweet, just like you.”

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Late at night, the moonlight was as cool as water, its faint glow filtering through the gaps in the curtains. Intermittent moans and breaths intertwined, creating a warm, intimate atmosphere.

Lin Chun, who hadn’t indulged herself in a long time, finally found release. She quickly fell asleep but was awakened by the chirping of birds in the morning.

Damn.

She had forgotten that He Lanjin was still at her place.

After buying a pancake from a breakfast stall near the hotel, Lin Chun drove home. As she opened the door, she saw He Lanjin sitting on the sofa, looking haggard.

Seeing Lin Chun, He Lanjin immediately stood up, her voice hoarse. “You’re back.”

“Have you been sitting here all this time?” Lin Chun walked over in her slippers. When He Lanjin nodded, Lin Chun snapped, “Why are you so stubborn? Why wait for me?”

“Because I said I would wait for you,” He Lanjin’s eyes were red, filled with exhaustion. “And you said ‘okay.'”

Lin Chun let out a long sigh. She handed the pancake to He Lanjin and walked to the fridge to grab a bottle of cold water, taking a few gulps.

The icy water flowed down her throat, and Lin Chun felt a discomfort in her stomach.

He Lanjin sat back on the sofa, looking down at the steaming pancake in her hands. She wrinkled her nose and asked, “Lin Chun, can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Why did we break up?”

Lin Chun looked at He Lanjin’s bewildered face and let out a cold laugh. A mix of emotions surged within her. “You were the one who broke up with me. How the hell should I know?”

He Lanjin pressed her lips into a thin line, holding the pancake in her hands. Her brows were furrowed with sorrow. “Even though I don’t remember anything, you’ve been so kind to me. How could I have broken up with you?”

Kind to her?

Lin Chun felt her stomach twist painfully.

She had gone out and slept with someone else, leaving He Lanjin waiting all night. Was that being kind?

Lin Chun’s chest heaved violently. The overwhelming guilt was almost consuming her, but was she really in the wrong? She didn’t think so. She was single now, and whether she hooked up with someone or dated was her freedom. It was He Lanjin who had lost her memory and had no family to turn to, so she had to stay with Lin Chun.

It was He Lanjin who had disrupted her life!

So why did Lin Chun feel so guilty?

Lin Chun tried to calm herself down. She finished the bottle of water in one go and forcefully threw the empty bottle into the trash.

The plastic bottle bounced weakly against the metal bin, making a dull thud.

“I’ll take you back to X City after I wake up. You should go home.”

Lin Chun slept until evening. Her dreams had been restless, and she had to take some melatonin to finally fall asleep.

On the way back to X City, neither Lin Chun nor He Lanjin spoke a word.

Lin Chun had originally planned to visit the local police station in X City to inquire about He Lanjin’s family, but they had set out too late. Combined with the evening rush hour traffic, they didn’t arrive in X City until nearly 9 PM.

Reluctantly, Lin Chun had to take He Lanjin back to her own home.

Not having been informed in advance, Lin Chun’s mother was both surprised and delighted to see her daughter at the door. Seeing that Lin Chun had brought a friend, she warmly invited them inside.

Lin Chun glanced around the living room. “Where’s Dad?”

“Your dad and Uncle Wang went to Q City. They’ve taken an interest in a piece of land and have been busy lately. Chun Chun, have you eaten? Let me cook something for you.”

Lin Chun leaned lazily against her mother. “Sure, I haven’t eaten all day.”

“You child! You have to eat, no matter how busy you are!” Her mother scolded lightly. “Alright, don’t stay in the kitchen. Take your friend to the living room and sit for a while.”

He Lanjin smiled politely. “Thank you, Auntie.”

Lin Chun’s mother took a few more glances at He Lanjin and smiled. “Make yourself at home. Don’t be shy.”

The two went to the living room, and Lin Chun poured two cups of hot water, placing them on the coffee table. “Sit down. Have some water.”

He Lanjin sat beside Lin Chun, clutching her cup. She murmured, “I’m sorry.”

Lin Chun paused and turned to look at He Lanjin. He Lanjin continued, “I’ve caused you so much trouble these past few days. Once I find my family, I won’t bother you anymore.”

Lin Chun took a sip of water. He Lanjin’s apology was likely because Lin Chun had lost her temper earlier, making He Lanjin feel uncomfortable.

He Lanjin couldn’t be blamed for her amnesia. Lin Chun was mostly angry at herself.

She was the one who had made He Lanjin wait all night.

Lin Chun cleared her throat. “We’ve known each other for a while. Don’t worry, I’ll help you find your family.”

“Thank you, Lin Chun.”

By the time they finished dinner, it was almost 10 PM. Lin Chun’s mother prepared a guest room for He Lanjin. Since Lin Chun’s father wasn’t home, Lin Chun cozied up to her mother and slept with her.

“Chun Chun, who’s the friend you brought back today? I don’t think I’ve heard you mention her before.”

“She’s a high school classmate. She came back to handle some business, and I missed home, so I came back with her.” Lin Chun made up an excuse on the spot. Her mother muttered, “A high school classmate? What about her family?”

“They moved away after high school. Oh, Mom, why are you so curious about other people’s business?”

Her mother turned over, frowning as she looked at Lin Chun. “I feel like I’ve seen this girl before, but I can’t remember where.”

Lin Chun was starting to feel sleepy. She closed her eyes. “She’s my high school classmate. It’s normal for you to have seen her, maybe at a parent-teacher meeting.”

“Where did I see her…”

Just as Lin Chun was drifting off to sleep, her mother’s sudden exclamation jolted her awake.

“I remember! It was when you were in middle school.”