Back Then, I Adored You

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Before Su Qing could speak, Qin Jiayan said, “I’m at the entrance of your neighborhood. Come out—There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

Recovering from the shock of his phone call, she remained silent for a moment before replying in a soft voice, “It’s already extremely late. Let’s leave it for another day—”

Qin Jiayan cut off her polite decline with a cold, rigid voice. “If I don’t see you here in five minutes, I’ll be heading over to you at the Lin home.”

Before she could respond, he said, “And 30 seconds have already gone by.”

After Qin Jiayan said that, he ended the call without giving Su Qing any chance to speak.

…

Genuinely afraid that Qin Jiayan would charge into the Lin’s home, Su Qing was anxiously running toward Qin Jiayan’s car within three minutes with her cell phone in her hand, and Qin Jiayan pushed open the car door and got out of the car when he saw her.

Before he could say anything, Su Qing had already seen him and continued running straight over to him.

As she had run the entire way, her breathing was unsteady and, while catching her breath, she was stunned to see him wearing his pajamas. She then began to ask, “You’re looking for me—”

Before she could finish, Qin Jiayan pulled open the door to the passenger’s seat and threw out two words. “Get in.”

Su Qing was further in shock by his series of commands, and her eyes widened dramatically. “If there’s anything that you want to talk to me about, do it here. I—”

Qin Jiayan grabbed her wrist and forcibly shoved her into the car. She frantically called out his name. “Jiayan…”

In the next second, he closed the door and locked it before he walked around the front of the car and got in. Without a word, he stepped on the accelerator and drove off with her.

As the car sped down the road, all was silent inside. His scent filled up the entire car, and she found it so strong that she had difficulty breathing.

They’d driven for some distance when Su Qing finally managed to calm herself down after much difficulty. “Jiayan, where are you taking me?”

As if Qin Jiayan hadn’t heard her, he continued holding onto the steering wheel and drove confidently down the road.

“Jiayan, what exactly do you want to do?”

“Jiayan, stop the car…”

“Jiayan…”

Just as Su Qing was about to speak again, Qin Jiayan turned abruptly onto a narrow street.

Su Qing’s body shook for a moment as she was flung to the side. When she steadied herself in her seat, he turned to glance out the window, making her instantly quiet down.

He had brought her to A High School, the place where they had become acquainted with each other.

Because so many cars were parked along both sides of the narrowing road, it became increasingly more difficult for Qin Jiayan to maneuver quickly and he gradually slowed down.

After a five-minute search for a place to park, he stopped the car by the side of the road and stared at an empty spot beyond the curb.

Su Qing followed his gaze and, with merely one look, she understood why he had brought her there.

He was looking at where the beef noodle stall had been back when they had still been in high school. It had been subsequently torn down due to city restrictions.

Why did he call me out of my house in the middle of the night to bring me to where we first met each other?