Early in the morning, Xu Qingyan’s phone kept ringing. It was a little chilly for an autumn morning, and after spending the night on the floor, her back was sore. She groggily reached for her phone.

“Hello.”

“Dr. Xu.”

Xu Qingyan suddenly snapped awake, her eyes wide.

Cheng Ran chuckled from the other end. “Is it too early? Did I wake you?”

“No.”

She shrugged off the thin blanket and propped herself up with one hand on the floor. Glancing at the time, it was just six in the morning. Normally, she’d be up by now, but a restless night had kept her awake until around three in the morning.

“Is there something you need?” she asked, her voice still groggy.

“I’m just downstairs at your place,” 

Xu Qingyan felt a momentary confusion, wondering if her brain was still in sleep mode. She couldn’t quite grasp his intentions.

“It’s nothing,” he continued. “I was just wondering if you’re still up for your morning run today.”

There was a pause on the other end. 

She looked at the mess in her room and absentmindedly picked up a pillow from the floor, squeezing it tightly. She replied in a subdued tone, “I’m feeling a bit tired today.”

She didn’t ask how he knew her address or discovered her morning jogging routine. If Liang Jiankong knew, then it was likely that Cheng Ran knew as well. Liang Jiankong could even know that she hid her keys behind the gas meter, which was even more astonishing.

However, she hadn’t expected him to appear right after she returned home, as if he had timed it perfectly.

“Is that so? How about having breakfast together?” he spoke quickly, his words accompanied by a smile, but there was no room for doubt.

Ever since she had learned his true identity, Xu Qingyan had mentally distanced herself from him. Now, both Cheng Ran and Liang Jiankong existed in an entirely different realm of her world, with an insurmountable chasm in between.

“Let’s talk. I’m sure you have questions,” he said.

Xu Qingyan walked to the window, pulling back the curtain to reveal the lone figure down below.

Coincidentally, Cheng Ran looked up and in her direction. He was casually dressed in a black T-shirt and sports pants, with a Bluetooth earpiece in one ear as he continued to speak to her. “Come down.”

Under the sunlight, his face once again mirrored the one etched in her memory. Xu Qingyan felt like she had been pricked and took a step back.

“Wait a moment,” she uttered.

After tidying up, changing into sportswear, and carefully returning the cuckoo clock to its place atop the bookshelf, Xu Qingyan grabbed only her phone and keys before heading out.

When Cheng Ran saw her coming out from behind the iron gate, he greeted her with a smile. “You know this area well. Where should we eat?”

“There’s a place nearby that serves pan-fried buns.”

Cheng Ran raised an eyebrow, seeming somewhat dissatisfied, but didn’t comment. He simply nodded and said, “Alright.”

The two walked side by side, keeping a comfortable distance between them.

Xu Qingyan’s home was situated in the old city, where many elderly folks were already up and about. Some were out for their morning exercises, while others were on their way to buy groceries. As a result, the streets were far from deserted and had a lively atmosphere.

She led him into a local pan-fried bun shop in silence. It wasn’t fancy, but it was bustling with customers, most of whom were regulars from the neighborhood. They didn’t need to place orders; the owner knew exactly what they wanted.

After waiting in line for a while, it was finally their turn.

“What’s good here?” Cheng Ran asked while eyeing the simple, hand-written menu near the entrance. “Any recommendations?”

Xu Qingyan didn’t respond directly. Instead, she placed an order with the owner. “Eight pan-fried buns, two meat buns, and two cups of soy milk. Is that okay?”

Cheng Ran looked at her with amusement. Her attitude was noticeably cooler compared to their last meeting. Although her expression remained consistently composed, her tone was much more distant.

“That’s fine,” he replied.

Xu Qingyan was about to pay when she suddenly realized she’d forgotten her wallet, and Cheng Ran, who was with her, appeared equally embarrassed.

“No worries, we can use Alipay. Here’s the QR code,” The owner said, pointing to a nearby sign.

Cheng Ran picked up the sign curiously. “The owner is quite up-to-date,” he commented.

He paid using his phone, and Xu Qingyan carried the dishes to a relatively clean outdoor table.

As they sat facing each other, Cheng Ran couldn’t help but look around. A sense of nostalgia washed over him. “It’s been a while since I had breakfast by the roadside. This brings back memories.”

Xu Qingyan said nothing. She handed him a pair of chopsticks and then lowered her head to focus on a pan-fried dumpling. She dipped it in some vinegar, then gently bit through the crispy skin, blew on it, and sipped the broth inside before slowly chewing it.

Cheng Ran removed his earphones and started eating. He was surprised to see Xu Qingyan silently devouring a dumpling without acknowledging his presence, as if he were invisible.

He vividly remembered their first encounter. She had stared at him, completely dumbfounded for a good thirty seconds, a mix of surprise and fear in her eyes.

But as time passed, that lively expression faded. Even her smiles became less sweet, yet her eyes couldn’t help but follow him.

He pretended not to notice, but he knew it all too well.

She was attracted to him, or at least, this attraction had worked three days ago.

Unfortunately… While he had anticipated that Liang Jiankong wouldn’t let him off easily, when this happened it still left him with a slight sense of loss.

It could also be that Ryuzaki’s plan had failed. However, Cheng Ran wasn’t sure how much information she had.

Initially, he could have played his part even better. This girl rarely smiled. She listened intently to others, and spoke little, giving off a sense of mystery and distance. While her features weren’t striking, she resembled a refined jade submerged in water, worthy of appreciation, unlike the flashy and shallow women he often encountered.

“Heard you had a little scare three days ago?” he asked.

“A scare?” That was certainly an understatement.

Xu Qingyan didn’t reply, her mind trying to figure out his motives for seeking her out.

From her perspective, Liang Jiankong and Cheng Ran weren’t on the same side. It appeared that Liang Jiankong intentionally revealed Cheng Ran’s true identity to her, perhaps to implicate her.

Liang Jiankong wasn’t a good person, and neither was Cheng Ran.

However, she wasn’t sure what role she played in this situation between these two men. She had no allegiance to either of them and wanted no part in their affairs.

As time passed, some things started making sense. For instance, why would the Japanese come after her? No one was pulling the strings behind the scenes, so how did the Japanese know about her, the insignificant girl?

Thus, Cheng Ran wasn’t exactly a good guy either.

Once she figured these things out, Xu Qingyan felt calmer. After all, she had already handled Liang Jiankong, and now, it seemed like Cheng Ran didn’t intend to harm her. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be sitting together, sharing a plate of vinegar.

With these in mind, Xu Qingyan furrowed her brows slightly and refilled Cheng Ran’s vinegar.

Cheng Ran observed her quietly. She had clear boundaries. He had considered various ways to get information from Xu Qingyan before coming here, but he found it uninteresting. A girl as plain as her probably preferred straightforward communication.

Playing to people’s preferences was his specialty; he was a master of the game of hearts.

“He told you,” he stated confidently.

Xu Qingyan’s hand paused for a moment.

“People usually call him Lord Liang, but I like to call him Old Man Liang. Don’t you think? He always talks so slowly, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink. He gives off this ‘everything’s fine’ vibe, like the retired folks who pretend to be broad-minded. But he’s not like that.”

Setting down her chopsticks, this time, it was her turn to watch him eat.

They were surrounded by chattering elderly patrons engrossed in lively conversations about various topics. Their table stood out as an island of isolation. Goosebumps crept up her arms, and she couldn’t tell if it was from the morning chill or his words.

Cheng Ran, seemingly disinterested in the food, set aside his chopsticks after only two dumplings. They sat there in silence, facing each other.

“He must have badmouthed me, right?” he inquired. “I admit I should’ve been clearer from the start. It’s my fault. But I also had my reasons,” he added, looking somewhat helpless.

“So, you’re here just to discuss this? Did Liang Jian Kong badmouth me?”

“Though I’m about eighty percent sure…”

“No.”

“What?”

“He didn’t say anything.”

Cheng Ran narrowed his eyes and curled his lips slightly. “Is that so? Then how did you find out?”

“Find out what?” Xu Qingyan replied calmly.

Cheng Ran suddenly chuckled. “I didn’t expect you to crack a joke. Well, let’s not beat around the bush. I asked you out today to explain why I noticed you.”

She had her own thoughts on this matter. She was already sure he wasn’t pursuing her, and the patient seeking medical help was just a flimsy excuse. However, she had been too caught off guard by his striking appearance to admit it.

In the end, there was only one plausible reason: Liang Jiankong. 

Cheng Ran must have known she had saved Liang Jiankong’s life. Therefore, like everyone else, he was curious about this woman, whom life was spared by Liang Jiankong.

However, Cheng Ran’s next words hit her like a shockwave, just like the first time he appeared before her. It created a significant crack in her otherwise calm façade.

“Who is Shen Yuechu to you?” he asked.

Suddenly, the surroundings fell into an eerie silence.

In that moment, Xu Qingyan felt an eerie sensation. It had been a long time since anyone had mentioned that name to her, and hearing it from someone completely unrelated to her world felt surreal.

After her initial moment of blankness, her mind gradually regained focus, and she began to think quickly.

She wasn’t particularly worried about Cheng Ran using Shen Yuechu as a threat because, after all, Shen Yuechu had already… She still couldn’t bring herself to say that word.

“Friends?” 

As Xu Qingyan observed him, he was also watching her closely.

“Siblings? Or… lovers?”

Xu Qingyan’s face turned pale. She stiffened as if she were on guard against something.

No, they were not lovers.

However, it appeared that Cheng Ran had misunderstood.

He chuckled knowingly. “I guess so.”

Xu Qingyan lowered her gaze, trying to control her emotions. She questioned, “Why are you bringing him up?”

“I already told you,” Cheng Ran replied calmly, his eyes locked onto hers until she looked at him again, “you probably have a lot of questions for me, such as…why we look so much alike.”

Xu Qingyan’s breath caught in her throat.

“I’ve actually known about your existence for a long time. This guy,” he paused briefly, “I asked him if he had a girlfriend, and he adamantly denied it. But one day, I found some photos on his phone, and that’s when he…”

He didn’t elaborate further as he recognized the evident pain in the woman’s eyes across from him.

Turns out, she too could experience emotional turmoil.

“So, that day at the hospital, I recognized you at first sight. To be precise, I intentionally went to find you” Cheng Ran said as he stood up. He fetched a cup of hot water from inside the restaurant and placed it in front of Xu Qingyan. “Take your time.”

Xu Qingyan held the cup but didn’t drink, soaking in a bit of warmth.

After a while, she asked, her expression easing, “Do you know each other?”

Seeing her complexion improve slightly, Cheng Ran continued, “Yes, we know each other very well because he’s my body double.”