Chapter 3 The Unrecognized Man
The clamor vanished. Everyone held their breath as they watched this unbelievable scene.
I lifted my head stiffly.
The man stood with his back to the light, turning everything around him into a blurred backdrop.
He was tall, his features handsome with an aggressive charm.
His brows were high, his nose straight, and his thin lips carried a cold edge.
Yet his expression now was gentle, even doting.
Even in a place teeming with handsome men like Hui Huang Ren Jian, his mere presence froze the air.
He was Lu Congzheng.
The Lu Congzheng from ten years ago.
I stared at him, the only thought flashing in my mind:
He had also been reborn.
"Mr."
I spoke, my voice dry. "Y-you've mistaken me for someone else."
Lu Congzheng paused. "You know I haven't. Baby, you want to pretend not to know me?"
As he spoke, he slowly raised his hand, seeming to reach for my cheek. His fingers trembled slightly just centimeters away.
"I thought... I'd never see you again."
He said in a husky voice, low as if talking to himself:
"After that day, every night I dreamed the same nightmare, dreaming of you..."
"Mr! You've mistaken me for someone else. I really don't know you."
This time I raised my volume and stepped back to avoid him, my words firm as nails.
Xiao Cui beside me widened her eyes, looking at me like a fool who didn't know any better.
Lu Congzheng froze too, his hand in midair jerking to a stop.
At that moment, Manager Wang finally reacted and squeezed over to smooth things over.
"Mr. Lu, Mr. Lu! She's new here. She offended you out of ignorance. I'll have her apologize to you!"
He said this while frantically signaling at me with his eyes.
"Hurry and apologize to Mr. Lu!"
The whispers around exploded at once, mixed with jealousy, envy, and confusion.
"God, how does she know the young master of the Lu family? Look at Mr. Lu, he's almost going crazy."
"Maybe it's some rich guy's substitute again? Wealthy men love this kind of thing."
"I feel like it's a bit weird... Could it be past lives or something? My skin's already crawling."
I caught Manager Wang's signal and obediently lowered my head to apologize. "Sorry."
Lu Congzheng's gaze looked even sadder.
"...No need to apologize."
He forced a smile. "You know? In those nightmares, everywhere was flames and explosions. I stood there unable to do anything, frozen, until you appeared and pushed me away from the fire with all your strength."
"Then the world became quiet. I turned back to you, and you smiled at me... Gu Yan, you smiled at me just once..."
"These things, you don't remember them either?"
Flames, explosions, being pushed aside.
These unfamiliar fragments combined to point to an ending I had no memory of.
So before my rebirth...
I had died?
For him?
My heart thudded dully in my chest.
One beat after another, starting to sting.
Yet my face still stayed lowered. "Sorry, Mr. I don't remember. I don't know what you're talking about."
I could feel the warmth fading from Lu Congzheng's smile as his probing gaze landed on me.
The look was deep and heavy.
Manager Wang beside me wore a face full of hatred for my incompetence.
He wanted to possess me and plaster me onto Lu Congzheng to act spoiled and coax.
To stage a passionate reunion drama.
"Aiya, Mr. Lu, Little Yan is just joking with you! This girl is shy, has a thin skin..."
Lu Congzheng didn't glance at Manager Wang.