Back Then, I Adored You

Lu Bancheng paused and, when he spoke again, he didn’t sound as nasty as before. Instead, he turned serious. “I’ve loved her for a longer time, and more than you do.”

His volume was not high, but it was enough for Xu Wennuan, who was still standing outside the door, to hear every single word that he said. Her initial hesitation about whether or not to barge into the courtyard and stop their fight instantly vanished. Her mind was a blank as Lu Bancheng’s final sentence reverberated in her head.

He’s loved me for a longer time than Wu Hao, and more than he does… How can that be possible? I met Wu Hao more than 10 years ago, and I didn’t even know who Lu Bancheng was at that time…

If she had not personally heard these words, she would never have believed that he had said them. The commotion in the courtyard stopped after Lu Bancheng spoke. Xu Wennuan, who was hidden in the darkness, moved her head slightly after some time and peeked through the half-closed door and into the courtyard.

Lu Bancheng was leaning against the glass and smoking with his head lowered. Wu Hao was slumped on the ground with no concern about how he might look, as he was shocked by what Lu Bancheng had said. He was staring at Lu Bancheng with an incredulous face.

The silence in the air persisted for a long time before Wu Hao finally spoke again. When he did, his tone had lost its former fury and now was replaced with doubt.

“That’s impossible! How did you know Nuannuan before I did? I met her when she was 15… At that time, you were still in the United States. That’s completely impossible. What nonsense are you spouting!?”

Lu Bancheng halted his smoking temporarily. After some time, he lifted his head with determination and returned Wu Hao’s gaze. He said calmly, “You were together with Nuannuan for 10 years. You should know that she’s been devotedly playing a mobile game all that time, right?”

Xu Wennuan opened her eyes in shock.

How does Lu Bancheng know that I’ve been devotedly playing a video game?

Wu Hao didn’t answer Lu Bancheng’s question except to nod.

Lu Bancheng tore his gaze away from Wu Hao’s eyes and focused on a nearby streetlamp. After a few seconds, he continued, “Then she should have mentioned that she formed a battle team in the game, scouted the number-one high-ranking player, who joined her team, and won playing with him, right?”

Wu Hao seemed to have figured something out. He pursed his lips tightly and stared at Lu Bancheng without speaking.

How does Lu Bancheng know everything about me. Don’t tell me that he’s… he’s…

Xu Wennuan’s hands curled into fists. Her entire body felt like it had hardened into stone—She stood rigid, yet her heart was thrashing inside of her.

Lu Bancheng could tell from Wu Hao’s expression that he understood everything now. He did not continue asking him questions but instead continued the topic.

“I first met her through that game during the summer break of her third year of high school. At that time, you hadn’t met her yet. She mentioned to me in the game that you were chasing her. She didn’t give me many details, and I knew that, even though we were acquainted in the virtual world, I knew nothing about her reality. But, in the third year of her college, I returned to China on Christmas and made a trip to A High School. Even though I didn’t know who she was or what she looked like, I still went to the places that she used to go to. Now that I think about it, I realized that I was already in love with her then…”