The cold wind blew in from the window, carrying a hint of autumn, piercing through Chen Shanyi's clothes as though freezing her heart inch by inch. She sat at the familiar café table, the coffee in front of her long since gone cold, yet she didn't take a single sip. Her gaze was drawn to the scene outside the window, her eyes scanning the crowd, as if searching for something, yet finding nothing at all.
Siska's voice still echoed in her ears: "The connection between us is far more complicated than you think. You're destined to never escape." Those words were like a deep brand, leaving an indelible mark on her soul. She could no longer ignore them, as they wound around her thoughts like invisible vines, binding her tightly.
"You're not the person I remember," she muttered to herself, her eyes distant.
Suddenly, she stood up, shaking off the complex emotions swirling inside her, and walked toward the door. Each step felt like a confrontation with her deepest fears, as though every breath was burdened with immense pressure.
Night fell, and the streetlights began to glow, casting a dim light over the scene that seemed shrouded in confusion. Chen Shanyi walked through the crowd, feeling an inexplicable sense of oppression. Her pace wasn't hurried, but there was a resolute force in her movements. She knew that tonight, she might have to face a truth she had never even imagined.
She arrived at an unfamiliar place—a deserted warehouse, surrounded by iron fences, isolated from the world outside. Chen Shanyi hesitated at the entrance for a moment, before finally pushing the door open. Inside, the lighting was dim, the air thick with moisture, and there was hardly any life to the place.
"Shanyi, come here," a deep voice called from the darkness.
Her heart skipped a beat, and almost instinctively, she walked towards the source of the voice, until a familiar figure came into view.
Siska stood there, his expression as cold as ever. His eyes were deep, as though they could see through all her thoughts.
"Why did you bring me here?" Chen Shanyi's voice trembled, but she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
Siska didn't respond immediately. Instead, he gestured to the side. "Come, sit. There are things I must tell you."
After a moment of hesitation, she walked over and sat beside him. The silence in the warehouse felt strange, almost as if time had frozen within its walls.
"Were those things you said earlier true?" Chen Shanyi finally spoke, her voice low but firm. "Do I really have a connection with you? If so, why don't I remember anything?"
Siska looked at her, and a flicker of complicated emotions flashed in his eyes. "You were the most important person in my life," he said, his voice soft and full of longing. "And the reason you've forgotten is because you didn't want to face the past. You thought you could escape, but you'll never be able to."
Chen Shanyi's heart raced, and the scene before her suddenly became blurry. She could hardly accept the meaning of his words: "Are you saying... that I once loved you?"
Siska nodded, his gaze turning tender, though tinged with a hint of helplessness. "It wasn't just love. We shared many memories, many moments that can never be erased. Those memories that once belonged to us, you chose to erase them yourself."
It felt as though something inside Chen Shanyi had been torn apart. Pain, confusion, and conflict churned inside her, almost overwhelming her. Suddenly, she remembered those fragmented memories from her childhood—those strange, unclear images that didn't seem to belong to her at all—and now she realized they were deeply connected to Siska's story.
"How could I forget you?" Her voice shook. "Why? If we really had such a deep connection, why can't I remember anything?"
Siska's gaze grew even deeper, and he sighed softly, as if contemplating how to reveal these painful truths. "Do you remember the first time you saw me?"
Chen Shanyi froze for a moment, and suddenly an unfamiliar yet warm face flashed in her mind—it was a dream from her childhood, blurry, yet somehow comforting.
"That wasn't a dream," Siska's voice was firm, carrying an undeniable steadiness. "That's a real memory. You and I once had an unfinished story. It was never over; it was just forgotten."
Chen Shanyi felt as though a giant stone had pressed down on her chest. The air grew heavier, and she began to feel dizzy, her mind going blank.
"Is this true?" She whispered, almost afraid to believe her ears.
"Yes," Siska's gaze remained unwavering. "The past you've forgotten is your real past. You once existed for me, you once lived for me."
The wind howled outside, but inside, Chen Shanyi was lost in thought, her heart filled with conflict and unease. She knew she might no longer be able to live in ignorance. The truth of the past, like a seed buried deep in the soil, would eventually sprout and grow, unstoppable.
But the truth, rather than offering relief, brought even deeper confusion and pain. She wasn't sure if she was ready to face it all, nor could she predict whether she would ever be able to reclaim those forgotten memories.
Her hand trembled slightly, her heart racing faster. She took a deep breath and looked at Siska, her gaze firm. "If all of this is true, then I need to know more. I can't continue living in the fog. I have to find the truth."
Siska smiled faintly, and a complicated light flickered in his eyes. He nodded slowly. "This is the path you must walk. The truth won't be simple, but one day, you will understand."