The days after the encounter in the park blurred into one another, each day a faint echo of the one before it. Liang Zhi couldn't stop thinking about the woman. There was something undeniably familiar about her, something in her eyes that made his heart ache in a way he hadn't expected. It was as if she had carried the weight of his grief along with him, as though she understood, even without a single word spoken.
Every time he closed his eyes, her face would flash before him. But no matter how much he tried to remember her, to piece together the strange sense of recognition that had lingered in the air, her features remained elusive. Was it the way she had spoken to him? Or perhaps it was the way she had smiled, so quietly, yet so profoundly, as though she knew him intimately, even though they had never met.
Liang Zhi had spent countless nights lying awake, the hours stretching on endlessly, as he searched for answers. His mind kept coming back to one question: Who was she?
It was maddening. He knew, deep down, that the woman wasn't just a stranger. She couldn't be. The connection he felt toward her was too powerful, too real. But how could that be? Xia Lian was gone. She had been taken from him too soon, and no one could replace her. No one would ever be able to fill the emptiness she had left behind.
Yet, as the days went by, the thought of the woman in the park haunted him. Was it possible that she had some kind of connection to Xia Lian? Or was he simply imagining things? After all, his grief had distorted his sense of reality in ways he couldn't even begin to understand. He had spent so much time holding on to the past, to the love that was lost, that he feared he was losing touch with the present.
But the feeling, the pull toward the woman—it was real. Liang Zhi could feel it in the pit of his stomach, an undeniable truth that refused to be ignored.
One Week Later:
It was a cold morning when Liang Zhi decided he couldn't ignore it any longer. He needed answers. The uncertainty, the restless feeling in his chest, had grown unbearable. He couldn't continue living his life like this, consumed by a memory of a woman he had never truly known.
He stood in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection as if trying to find a trace of the man he had once been. He was no longer the man who had laughed and dreamed with Xia Lian, the man whose heart had been whole. That person was gone, and in his place was someone whose eyes seemed older, weary, as if time had worn away all the hope he once had.
But he wasn't ready to give up yet. Not completely.
The woman from the park… she had left something behind. Something that lingered in the air, like a scent that refused to dissipate. Liang Zhi had to know more. He had to find her again.
He pulled on his coat, stepping out of the apartment with a sense of determination he hadn't felt in a long time. The streets were busy, people rushing to work, their faces blurred by the fog that had rolled in from the ocean. But for Liang Zhi, everything seemed muted. The noise of the world was far away, like he was living in a bubble, cut off from reality.
He made his way back to the park, the place where everything had changed. His heart beat faster as he approached the familiar bench where he had seen the woman. What was he even looking for? He didn't know. He didn't know what to expect. But he knew he had to see her again.
As he arrived, the park was nearly empty, the trees swaying gently in the wind. A few early morning joggers passed by, but no one else seemed to be around. Liang Zhi scanned the area, his eyes darting from one corner to the next, searching for any sign of her.
And then, as if by fate, he saw her.
She was sitting on the same bench, her dark hair cascading around her shoulders, her head tilted slightly as she gazed at the path before her. She was alone. But there was no mistaking it—it was her.
His heart raced, and before he could stop himself, he found his legs moving toward her, his breath shallow. He couldn't explain why, but he knew this moment was different. This was the moment that would either provide him with the answers he was desperate for or drive him further into confusion.
As he drew closer, the woman turned slightly, her eyes locking with his. The world seemed to slow down around them, and for a moment, it was as if time itself had suspended its relentless march forward.
She didn't speak at first, but her gaze softened, and her lips parted slightly, as though she were about to say something—but the words never came.
Liang Zhi was standing just a few feet away from her now, his heart in his throat. He didn't know what to say, how to approach her. All the questions that had built up inside him—the questions that had consumed his every waking moment—felt irrelevant now. He wasn't sure if he wanted answers anymore. He only knew that he couldn't walk away without understanding why she had appeared in his life.
"Excuse me," he said, his voice surprisingly steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside him. "I... I've seen you here before."
The woman's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't seem surprised. She simply nodded, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
"Yes," she said softly. "I come here often."
Liang Zhi hesitated, unsure of how to continue. He had expected this conversation to be different, to be full of questions, but the words seemed to have escaped him. All he could do was stand there, feeling an overwhelming pull toward her—a pull that felt both comforting and unsettling.
"I—" Liang Zhi stopped himself. His voice cracked, and for a moment, he wasn't sure what he was going to say. "I don't know why, but there's something about you... that feels so familiar."
The woman's expression shifted then, her smile faltering just slightly. She looked away, as though gathering her thoughts.
"I'm not sure I understand," she said slowly, her gaze distant. "But I think I know what you mean."
Liang Zhi's heart raced. Her words felt like a thread tying him to something greater, something beyond his understanding. There was a connection here—he could feel it—but what was it? Why was it so strong, so undeniable?
"Who are you?" he asked quietly, his voice trembling despite himself. "Why do I feel like I know you?"
The woman was silent for a long moment, her gaze lost in the distance. She seemed to be wrestling with something—an internal battle that kept her from speaking.
Finally, she met his eyes, her expression unreadable.
"You're not ready to know," she said softly. "But one day, you will be. And when that time comes, you'll understand everything."
Liang Zhi's breath caught in his chest. What did she mean? What was she talking about?
But before he could ask another question, the woman stood up, brushing off the back of her pants. She looked at him one last time, her gaze lingering, almost as if she were saying goodbye.
"I have to go now," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Take care of yourself, Liang Zhi. And remember... you are not alone."
Before he could respond, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the mist of the early morning. Liang Zhi stood frozen, staring after her, his mind reeling from everything that had just happened.
The words she had spoken echoed in his mind. You are not alone.
What did it mean? How did she know his name?