Chapter 15: An Unexpected New Neighbor (3)

A figure flickered briefly on the computer screen, catching Yan Yichen off guard. His deep eyes glimmered for a moment as he straightened up, peering intently. But as he saw the person on the screen more clearly, the light in his gaze dimmed, a trace of disappointment flashing through his eyes. He let out a long sigh, leaned back against the sofa, and closed his eyes.

With a click, the door opened, footsteps echoed, and a tall, slender man wearing glasses entered, dragging two large suitcases behind him.

“Yichen, why did you come back by yourself? Were you surrounded by fans?”

The man sat down beside him. Seeing Yan Yichen’s eyes closed and not responding, he nudged him with his elbow. “Hey, tired? If you’re tired, go upstairs and sleep.”

“Mo Bei, I’m not going to the party tonight. Cover for me,” Yan Yichen said, eyes still closed.

“But Director Ye will be there. Everyone knows tonight’s party is to cast actors for his new production. If you don’t go…”

Mo Bei trailed off as he saw Yan Yichen’s closed eyes and weary look, unmoved by persuasion. He had been with Yan Yichen for five years and knew his temperament well—he had always disliked these occasions and avoided them whenever possible.

“I’ll go get ready, then. Rest well. If anything comes up, call me,” Mo Bei said, assuming the long flight had worn Yan Yichen out and not wanting to disturb him. He stood up to leave.

“Mo Bei, she appeared—” Yan Yichen suddenly sat up, his deep eyes fixed on the computer screen, his face expressionless.

“She?” Mo Bei stopped and turned back, looking at Yan Yichen in confusion.

“Yes, her. She’s back, and she’s living right across from me,” Yan Yichen’s eyes flickered.

Seeing his grave expression, Mo Bei sat down on the sofa again. “You mean the girl you’ve been searching for all this time?”

From Yan Yichen’s look, Mo Bei had already guessed who “she” was.

Though Mo Bei was Yan Yichen’s agent, over the years he had cared for him in both career and life, always putting his interests first. Without Mo Bei’s help, Yan Yichen could never have achieved so much so quickly. Besides, their personalities matched, and after spending so much time together, Yan Yichen regarded Mo Bei as his closest friend. Even the secret he had kept hidden in his heart for years, he had shared unreservedly with him.

In the two years after Meng Yier left, Yan Yichen even asked Mo Bei to help him search for her, but still she could not be found. Mo Bei knew that although Yan Yichen rarely mentioned her in recent years, he had never truly forgotten her.

What Mo Bei could not have imagined was that Meng Yier would suddenly reappear—and move in right across from Yan Yichen.

“She’s living across from you?”

Over the years, countless women of all types had tried to win Yan Yichen’s favor, but he always kept his distance, unwilling even to spare them a word. Mo Bei knew he had been waiting for a girl named Meng Yier.

So many years had passed with no word from her that Mo Bei thought Yan Yichen had perhaps already given up hope.

Now he realized all of Yan Yichen’s strange behavior today was because of that girl.

Yan Yichen nodded, still staring at the computer screen. “I saw her at the airport today. She may not have been in the country for all these years.”

Mo Bei understood. “No wonder you couldn’t find her after all this time—she must have gone abroad.”

The two fell silent, until Mo Bei spoke again, worry showing on his face. “What are you planning to do now?”

He was happy that Yan Yichen and Meng Yier had crossed paths again, but seeing the look on Yan Yichen’s face, worry crept into his heart. Knowing Yan Yichen’s temperament, he feared he might risk everything—even his future career—for that girl.

“I don’t know. She didn’t recognize me,” Yan Yichen said flatly, a hint of irritation in his voice.

After a moment, Yan Yichen’s gaze on the computer screen turned icy as he spoke coldly, “But I will never allow her to vanish from my world without a trace again.”

Mo Bei looked at his resolute expression and was momentarily lost in thought. He let out a long sigh. “Now I’m even more curious what kind of peerless beauty Meng Yier must be, to have haunted you for so many years.”