After ending the call with Jian Wei, I felt a bit dazed. Robben, who was next to me, noticed my unusual state and nudged me, asking, "Whose call was that? You seem lost after hanging up."

 

I snapped back to reality and said, "A friend. Give me your motorcycle keys, I need to go out for a bit."

 

Robben, being a straightforward guy, didn't ask any further. He took out the motorcycle keys from his denim jacket pocket and tossed them to me, also handing me a helmet from his side.

 

I took the keys and the helmet, quickly said goodbye to Le Yao, Robben, and CC who was singing on stage, and then ran out of the bar.

 

On the way, I drove Robben's modified racing motorcycle at full speed. In just a quarter of an hour, I arrived at the city moat, but Jian Wei didn't seem to have arrived yet.

 

The temperature was very low tonight, making the moon in the sky seem cold. Perhaps I shouldn't have suggested meeting here. After all, Jian Wei is a rich young lady who is afraid of the cold and doesn't enjoy the freedom of the wilderness like I, a rugged man, do.

 

I sat down on the steps by the river first, habitually lit a cigarette, and looked at the river surface illuminated by the moonlight, waiting for Jian Wei's arrival.

 

A moment later, I heard the honking of a car. I stood up and sure enough, it was Jian Wei's red Cadillac CTS. I waved at her, she noticed me, and then got out of the car and walked towards me.

 

I also walked towards her. We both stopped about a meter away from each other and looked at each other.

 

Seeing that she was lightly dressed, I suggested, "It's quite cold outside tonight. Why don't we sit in your car?"

 

"No need, I came to you for one thing, it won't take long."

 

"Oh."

 

Jian Wei then said, "Let's sit on the steps by the river and talk."

 

"Okay."

 

After I finished speaking, Jian Wei walked to the steps by the river before me and sat down. I also sat down at a distance not too far or too close from her.

 

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

 

Without any unnecessary words, Jian Wei directly took out a bank card from her bag and said, "There's 500,000 on this card. It's my savings over the years. I've been financially independent for a long time and haven't asked my parents for money, so this is all I can give. I hope it can help you!"

 

I was astonished looking at Jian Wei. I never expected that she asked me out for this. But when Xiang Chen asked her if she had any money to lend me during dinner, she clearly said she didn't…

 

Did Xiang Chen ask her on purpose? Did she say she didn't have money so as not to make Xiang Chen overthink, and now she's giving it to me alone?

 

Seeing that I didn't react for a long time, Jian Wei pushed the bank card towards me again and said, "What, do you think it's too little?"

 

"That's not what I mean…"

 

Before I could finish my sentence, Jian Wei interrupted, "If that's not what you mean, then take it." After saying that, she placed the bank card on my lap.

 

I quickly put the bank card back into Jian Wei's hand and said, "Jian Wei, I really can't take your money. It's not appropriate, really not appropriate!"

 

"What's appropriate or not? Just take it if I give it to you." Jian Wei said, pulling my hand and putting the bank card back into my hand.

 

So, our hands were held together. It felt like I was struck by lightning. The softness and delicacy of her hand felt familiar yet strange…

 

Familiar because I've held these hands countless times, strange because I haven't held her hand for three years!

 

As our hands were tightly held, I stared blankly at Jian Wei, my emotions torn between past deep love and present strangeness.

 

There seemed to be a glimmer of tears in Jian Wei's eyes, but I couldn't see clearly because we were backlit by the moonlight.

 

It must be my illusion, definitely my illusion. I let go of Jian Wei's hand in a panic and said, "I'm sorry… I lost my composure."

 

Jian Wei replied in a calm tone, "It's okay… Keep this card, the password is 101206."

 

I wanted to refuse, but Jian Wei had already stood up and said to me, "Zhao Yang, you're still the same as before, always stubborn, always presuming others' thoughts. But there's no need for that. This money is a loan to you, you don't need to feel burdened, because you're going to pay me back."

 

"Doing this will upset Xiang Chen." I reminded Jian Wei.

 

"I know he'll be upset, that's why I sought you out alone."

 

"But why would you do this?"

 

Jian Wei, who was always decisive, fell silent for a long time when faced with this question. Finally, she said, "I don't know… Maybe it's because… we once loved each other deeply!"

 

Suddenly, a gust of wind seemed to blow from the lake. Jian Wei turned her body with the wind and walked lightly towards the river bank. I just sat there, holding the bank card she left me, staring blankly until she got into her car, until the car carrying her figure completely disappeared from my sight.

 

***

 

Another gust of wind made the moonlight on the river surface flicker restlessly. I didn't leave, lying on the grass, letting the wind cut through me.I tried desperately to empty my mind, not wanting to recall the past between Jian Wei and me. But memories surged with each gust of wind, and a warm sensation suddenly came from the corner of my eyes. It was because of Jian Wei's words, "Perhaps it's because we once loved deeply."

 

Those words filled me with pain and helplessness. Indeed, we once loved deeply. But as time went by, looking back at this love, it had become so pale, so powerless. That's why Jian Wei used the word 'once' to describe our love.

 

I held the bank card she left tightly, experiencing once again the pain of wanting to hold on but unable to.

 

***

 

I rode Robben's motorcycle recklessly, venting my emotions, and returned to the bar in less time than it took to get there. After returning the keys and helmet to Robben, I didn't say anything. I ordered the strongest drink at the bar and drank it silently, one gulp after another.

 

Le Yao snatched the glass from my hand, grabbed me, and asked with a choked voice, "Zhao Yang, what's wrong with you?… Is it because my situation is putting too much pressure on you?"

 

I broke free from Le Yao, took back the glass from her, and forced a smile, "It has nothing to do with you. I just want to drink. I haven't been sleeping well lately, drinking will help me not to have insomnia."

 

"Then drink less… Don't get drunk!"

 

"Don't worry, I won't get drunk."

 

As we were talking, CC came over from the stage and said to me, "Mi Cai just called me, she said she wants to come to Le Yao's bar."

 

"What, haven't you brought her here before?" I finally put down the glass and asked.

 

CC smiled and said, "I have invited her, but she has always been busy. She might have time tonight."

 

I responded with a nod and didn't say anything else.

 

Suddenly, CC seemed to remember something and said, "Zhao Yang, Mi Cai is the CEO of Zhuo Mei Shopping Center, and she also has a master's degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She must have a lot of insights into business marketing. Later, we can tell her about the bar's operation and ask for her advice. Maybe she can help!"