Chapter 12: Yan Yichen's Memories (2)

As the first light of dawn crept in, Yan Yichen was suddenly startled awake by the sound of footsteps descending the stairs.

He realized the little girl was no longer beside him. Hastily, he stood up and followed the sound toward the entrance downstairs.

He saw a man of medium build, dressed in a jacket and wearing a hat, carrying Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi, still fast asleep, lay draped over the man's shoulder.

Yan Yichen shouted, "Xiao Yi—"

"Xiao Yi—"

He called several times, but the man seemed not to hear him, hurriedly carrying Xiao Yi away into the darkness.

Seeing the man ignore him, Yan Yichen quickly turned and rushed downstairs in pursuit. But when he reached the front gate, Xiao Yi was already nowhere to be seen.

Xiao Yi had told him that apart from her parents, no one knew she was hiding here; this was her grandmother's old house, and her grandmother had passed away.

That man must be Xiao Yi's father.

Lost and dazed, Yan Yichen wandered to his grandmother's house. He knocked again, and when the door opened, his grandmother stared at him in surprise and concern.

Yan Yichen did not know that his family had searched for him frantically all night. His mother, terrified he might have been taken by traffickers, fainted from worry. His father, overwhelmed by anxiety and disappointment, had beaten him.

Yet Yan Yichen had no regrets about anything that happened that night.

He knew that without his companionship, Meng Yier might not have made it through.

He was grateful he could be there for that helpless, pitiful little girl.

–

Meng Yier took advantage of Yan Yichen's distraction and stomped hard on his right foot.

"Ah—"

Caught off guard, Yan Yichen released his tight grip on her wrist in pain, her slender high heel having struck him mercilessly.

"You—"

Meng Yier quickly slipped away, sticking her tongue out at him triumphantly as she left.

Furious, Yan Yichen's deep eyes burned with anger. Watching her flee in panic, he swore to himself, "This time I won't let you escape so easily again."

Wary of running into those crazed fans, Yan Yichen swiftly put on his mask, pulled his cap low, and discarded his trench coat, transforming his appearance completely as he followed Meng Yier out.

Meng Yier ran all the way to the airport exit, flagged down a taxi, and hurriedly instructed the driver to start the engine.

As the car started, she glanced nervously behind her, relieved not to see that annoying man.

She let out a long breath. "Finally got rid of that lunatic—"

"Miss, where to?" The driver kept stealing glances at the anxious Meng Yier through the rearview mirror.

Still uneasy, Meng Yier waved her hand at the back and urged, "Go, go, just drive straight ahead—"

Once she was sure Yan Yichen hadn't followed, she took out her phone, switched it on, logged into WeChat, and glanced at the screen for two seconds.

"Take me to Huangpu Garden Residence—"

Huangpu Garden Residence was an upscale neighborhood; the apartment belonged to her uncle. Though Gu Yunchen and her aunt and uncle were reluctant for her to return home, she had worn them down until they finally relented.

Before boarding, Gu Yunchen had already sent her the address.

Yan Yichen, having changed his outfit, managed to follow her out, nearly running into the swarm of fans. Luckily, his disguise worked, and he escaped unnoticed.

Seeing Meng Yier take off in a taxi, Yan Yichen didn't bother waiting for his assistant at another exit. He flagged a taxi and followed.

"Follow the car ahead," Yan Yichen ordered coldly.

The driver nodded knowingly and started the engine, giving chase.

Feeling safe at last, Meng Yier relaxed and enjoyed the scenery, marveling at the changes in Haishi, oblivious to Yan Yichen pursuing her.

Her taxi wound through the city, and Yan Yichen grew more and more familiar with the route.

Finally, the car stopped at Huangpu Garden Residence. Meng Yier dragged her suitcase out and entered the building to the left of the entrance.

Yan Yichen knew this place well; each floor had only two apartments. He watched as Meng Yier entered the elevator, which ascended and stopped on the twenty-sixth floor.

His dark eyes fixed on the glowing number, lost in thought for a moment before curling his lips in a meaningful smile.

"Meng Yier, let's see where you can run this time."

He entered the elevator, which also stopped on the twenty-sixth floor. He stood for a long while, staring at a pair of slender high heels placed by the western apartment's entrance, before finally taking out his keys and unlocking the door to the eastern apartment.