After returning home, Su Qing invited Chen Yang, saying, "Would you like to come over for a bit? I can make you some chilled watermelon juice."
Chen Yang was tempted but steeled himself to decline. "Not today, I'm quite tired and want to turn in early."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Su Qing's eyes, but she simply said, "Alright then, get some rest."
Back in his rented room, Chen Yang closed the door. He didn't turn on the lights, leaving the room in darkness. He lit a cigarette, its ember glowing in the gloom.
Chen Yang rarely smoked, only indulging when particularly troubled. Usually carefree and unattached, Su Qing had stirred up conflicting emotions within him.
After finishing his cigarette, Chen Yang lay down to sleep. However, just as he was drifting off, a knock came at the door.
It was Su Qing.
"Chen Yang, are you asleep?" she called from outside.
Chen Yang got up to answer. Su Qing stood there in simple blue loungewear, her hair in a ponytail—beautiful in her simplicity.
Chen Yang noticed the jug of watermelon juice in her hands and felt touched.
Su Qing smiled warmly. "It's chilled. Have some before bed; it'll be refreshing."
Chen Yang grinned. "You're so kind, Qing."
Su Qing beamed with joy. "Drink up, I won't keep you." She turned to leave.
Chen Yang couldn't help but call out, "Qing, wait."
Su Qing looked back, puzzled.
"Come in and join me," Chen Yang said. "There's something I want to talk about."
Su Qing's cheeks flushed slightly, unsure what to expect. Whether it was a confession or rejection, the thought made her nervous.
She nodded and entered. Chen Yang found glasses and poured for them both. He downed his in one go.
"Qing, I like you," Chen Yang suddenly said.
Su Qing's face turned crimson, her heart racing, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Chen Yang continued, "From the first time I saw you, I knew you were special. You captivated me. I've dreamed about you many times."
Su Qing wanted to speak but didn't know how. She had feelings for Chen Yang too, but also many reservations.
"Please, let me finish," Chen Yang said.
Su Qing tensed, sensing something was off.
Chen Yang explained his past, his aversion to commitment, and his conflicted feelings. He expressed his growing fondness for Su Qing but admitted he wasn't ready for marriage or settling down.
Su Qing listened, her face pale. She thanked Chen Yang for his honesty before leaving, her heart heavy.
Chen Yang felt awful but knew he couldn't change who he was or what he wanted.
The conversation took an unexpected turn when Su Qing returned later that night, seeming to offer herself to Chen Yang. However, just as the situation was escalating, they were interrupted by the sound of a car outside.
Suddenly, the door burst open, revealing a man wearing dark clothes and sunglasses. He surveyed the scene with a leering gaze before addressing Chen Yang mockingly.
Chen Yang, enraged by the intrusion and crude remarks, sprang into action. In a flash, he struck the intruder, delivering swift blows that left the man reeling.
As the confrontation escalated, Chen Yang stood over his fallen opponent, tensions running high in the small room.
Chen Yang's foot pressed down on One-Eye's face, pinning him to the ground. The tension in the room was palpable.
"You bastard," One-Eye spat, his voice muffled by Chen Yang's foot. "You'll pay for this!"
Chen Yang's eyes flashed with cold anger. "You barged in here, insulted my friend, and you think I'll let that slide? Think again."
Su Qing, still wrapped in the bedsheet, watched the scene unfold with a mix of fear and awe. She had never seen this side of Chen Yang before.
"Chen Yang," she called out softly, her voice tinged with concern. "Don't do anything rash."
Chen Yang glanced back at Su Qing, his expression softening slightly. He removed his foot from One-Eye's face but remained alert, ready for any sudden moves.
One-Eye slowly got to his feet, wiping blood from his split lip. He glared at Chen Yang with his one good eye, hatred burning in its depths. "You've made a big mistake, kid. Do you have any idea who I am?"
Chen Yang scoffed. "I don't care who you are. You disrespected a lady and invaded my home. That's all I need to know."
One-Eye sneered. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But guts won't save you when my boys come knocking."
"Threats?" Chen Yang raised an eyebrow. "Is that all you've got?"
The tension was broken by the sound of sirens in the distance, growing louder by the second. One-Eye's face twisted in frustration.
"This isn't over," he growled, backing towards the door. "Watch your back, kid."
As One-Eye disappeared into the night, Chen Yang quickly closed and locked the door. He turned to Su Qing, his face etched with concern.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly.
Su Qing nodded, still visibly shaken. "Who was that man? What did he want?"
Chen Yang sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated. I'm sorry you got caught up in this mess."
The wail of sirens grew louder, then stopped abruptly outside the building. Chen Yang peered out the window, seeing police cars parked below.
"We should talk to the police," Su Qing suggested, regaining her composure. "Tell them what happened."
Chen Yang hesitated. He knew involving the authorities could complicate things further, potentially exposing aspects of his past he'd rather keep hidden. But looking at Su Qing's worried face, he knew he couldn't just brush this off.
"You're right," he conceded. "But first, let's get you home safely. I'll deal with the police and sort this out."
Su Qing started to protest, but Chen Yang held up a hand. "Please, Qing. I need to know you're safe. I'll explain everything later, I promise."
After a moment, Su Qing nodded. As they prepared to leave, Chen Yang couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger. The peaceful life he'd been living in this coastal city was about to get a lot more complicated.
Chen Yang escorted Su Qing back to her apartment, constantly scanning their surroundings for any sign of trouble. Once she was safely inside, he turned to leave.
"Chen Yang," Su Qing called out, her voice filled with concern. "Be careful. And... we need to talk about everything. Not just what happened tonight."
Chen Yang nodded solemnly. "I know. I'll come by tomorrow, I promise."
As he walked back to his place, Chen Yang's mind raced. The peaceful life he'd built in this coastal city was unraveling fast. He knew One-Eye wouldn't let this go, and the confrontation had likely drawn unwanted attention to him.
When he reached his building, two police officers were waiting. Chen Yang took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation ahead.
"Good evening, officers," he said calmly. "I assume you're here about the disturbance earlier?"
The older of the two officers, a weathered man with graying hair, stepped forward. "That's right. We received reports of a break-in and assault. Care to fill us in on what happened?"
Chen Yang recounted the events of the evening, carefully omitting certain details about his relationship with Su Qing and his own background. He described One-Eye as an unknown intruder who had made threatening remarks before the altercation.
The younger officer took notes while his partner listened intently. When Chen Yang finished, the older officer spoke again.
"That's quite a story, Mr. Chen. Do you have any idea why this man targeted you?"
Chen Yang shook his head. "None at all. It seemed random."
The officer's eyes narrowed slightly, and Chen Yang could tell he wasn't entirely convinced. "We'll need to take a formal statement. And we'll want to speak with the woman who was here - Su Qing, was it?"
"Of course," Chen Yang agreed. "Though it's late now. Perhaps we could continue this tomorrow?"
After some discussion, the officers agreed to return in the morning. As they left, Chen Yang couldn't shake the feeling that his carefully constructed new life was starting to crumble.
Inside his apartment, Chen Yang surveyed the damage from the fight. As he began to clean up, his phone buzzed with a message. It was from an unknown number:
"You've stirred up a hornet's nest, kid. Hope you're ready for what comes next."
Chen Yang stared at the message, a mix of anger and determination rising within him. He'd left his old life behind for a reason, but it seemed the past wasn't done with him yet.
As he prepared for bed, Chen Yang made a decision. He couldn't keep running forever. It was time to face whatever was coming head-on. But first, he owed Su Qing the truth – about his past, about his feelings, about everything.
Tomorrow would be a day of reckoning, one way or another. As Chen Yang drifted off to sleep, his last thoughts were of Su Qing's face, and the life he feared he might have to leave behind once again.