The city outside was alive with noise and movement, a stark contrast to the quiet storm that raged within Liang Zhi. His mind was clouded with confusion, the weight of the photographs and the cryptic letter pressing heavily on him. The name "Han Xue" repeated in his mind like a mantra, but no matter how hard he tried to search for any memory of her, the past remained stubbornly elusive.
He hadn't slept much since the events of yesterday. The images, the letter, the overwhelming sense of being on the edge of something he wasn't ready to face—everything was pulling him in different directions. He had been given the first clue, but it felt like the truth was buried deep beneath layers of pain and time. And now, more than ever, he could feel the crushing weight of the past trying to force its way back into his life.
He had to understand. He had to know who Han Xue was, why her name had been on the back of the photograph, and what it had to do with the woman he had once loved.
Liang Zhi pushed himself out of bed, his mind racing. He couldn't stay in this apartment anymore. The four walls felt too tight, the air too heavy. He needed answers, and he knew that finding Han Xue, or at least understanding what she had left behind, was the only way to get them.
He grabbed his jacket, the letter still tucked in his pocket, and headed out the door.
Later That Day:
Liang Zhi stood outside a small café on a quiet street, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of the past. The place was nondescript—an unremarkable little corner shop in a part of the city he hadn't visited in years. Yet there was something about it that seemed to resonate with him. The café had been a place where he and the woman in his memories had shared so many quiet afternoons, their laughter and conversations weaving into the fabric of his past.
But now, the place felt hollow. The tables were empty, and the barista behind the counter barely glanced at him as he entered. The air inside was heavy with the smell of stale coffee and forgotten conversations.
Liang Zhi approached the counter, trying to ignore the unsettling feeling in his chest. He cleared his throat, leaning in slightly. "Do you know a woman named Han Xue?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The barista's eyes flickered for a moment, and he paused as if trying to recall something. Then, slowly, he nodded. "Han Xue... She used to come here a lot. A long time ago."
Liang Zhi's pulse quickened. "Do you know where she went?"
The barista hesitated, his eyes dropping to the counter. "I haven't seen her in years. But... there's an address. She left it behind one day, said she was going to be moving. It's the only thing I have left of her."
Liang Zhi's heart raced as the man rummaged through a drawer behind the counter, pulling out a small piece of paper. He slid it across the counter toward Liang Zhi.
On the paper was an address—nothing special at first glance, just another apartment complex in the city. But to Liang Zhi, it was everything. It was a clue. It was a piece of the puzzle.
"Thank you," Liang Zhi said, his voice hoarse. He didn't wait for a response, turning quickly and heading out the door.
At the Apartment:
The building was old, the kind of structure that looked like it had seen better days. Liang Zhi stood outside the entrance, his mind whirling with questions. Why had Han Xue been here? What had happened between them? And why had she disappeared so suddenly?
He had come this far. He couldn't stop now.
The elevator creaked as it took him to the fourth floor, where the door to the apartment was located. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he approached it, his hand shaking slightly as he knocked on the door. The sound of his knuckles tapping against the wood felt louder than it should have, as if the whole building could hear his anxious heartbeat.
Moments later, the door opened, revealing a middle-aged woman with dark, tired eyes. She looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
"Can I help you?" she asked, her voice wary but polite.
Liang Zhi swallowed hard, forcing himself to keep his composure. "I'm looking for Han Xue," he said. "She used to live here. Do you know where she went?"
The woman's expression shifted, her face growing tense. She glanced over her shoulder, as though looking for something or someone. When she spoke again, her voice was lower, almost a whisper. "Han Xue? She's... not here anymore."
Liang Zhi felt a pang of disappointment. "Do you know where she went? Anything at all?"
The woman hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing something in her mind. Finally, she stepped aside, motioning for him to enter. "Come inside. I'll tell you what I know."
The apartment was small but comfortable. It looked lived in, as though someone had once called it home, but now it felt abandoned. The air inside was stale, and the only sounds were the soft hum of a refrigerator in the corner.
The woman led him to a small table, where she sat down, her eyes still watching him with an intensity that made him uneasy.
"I don't know much," she began, her voice rough. "But I do know that Han Xue was never the same after she met you. She changed. She started acting... strange."
Liang Zhi's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean by 'strange'?"
The woman sighed, her face contorting with a mix of regret and sadness. "She kept talking about someone—someone who had hurt her. She didn't say who, but I think it was you. She'd look at your picture and then cry. She'd hide herself away for hours, not letting anyone near her. I don't know exactly what happened between you two, but I do know it broke her."
Liang Zhi felt a cold shiver run down his spine. The pieces were starting to fit together, but the image that was emerging was not one he wanted to see. Han Xue had been hurt—by him? He had to know more. He had to understand what had caused this rift between them.
The woman continued, her voice softer now. "I don't know where she went after that. She just... disappeared one day. But I think she left because she couldn't escape the pain. She tried to forget, but I think she knew it was too late."
Liang Zhi's mind raced. The woman was right—something had happened between them, something that had caused Han Xue to leave. But what?
He stood up, his hands clenched at his sides. "Where did she go? Can you tell me anything else?"
The woman shook her head. "I'm sorry. I wish I could help you, but that's all I know. You're the only one who can find her now."
Liang Zhi nodded, his heart heavy. There were still so many unanswered questions. But now, more than ever, he knew he had to keep searching. He couldn't stop until he knew the full truth.
"Thank you," he said quietly before walking out the door, his mind filled with doubts and confusion. But one thing was clear: the truth was out there. And he would find it.