When they got home, YU Luobai had to leave first to prepare for his work commitment the next day, so he left with PENG He.
HE Yi was the one who entered the house with her. After being away for a month, there was a moment of unfamiliarity when she stepped into the familiar place.
HE Yi changed into her indoor slippers and sat on the sofa, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn't.
JI Nian knew what she wanted to say and asked, "Do you have something to say?"
HE Yi paused for a moment before slowly speaking, "Was that you in the video?"
"Yes, it was me," JI Nian admitted, as HE Yi knew JI Xiaonian too well before.
She didn't want to admit it earlier because she didn't want too many people to know, as she had lost her memory and couldn't answer many questions about her past.
HE Yi was shocked, even though she had already guessed it. Hearing the confirmation from JI Nian's own mouth still hurt her heart.
"Those people should be punished!" HE Yi said through gritted teeth.
"There's no way to hold them accountable," JI Nian shook her head. "They were only 15 or 16 years old back then. After all these years, there's no way to pursue responsibility for that."
It was the truth. How could they go after those students now? Even if she tried her best, she would only get an apology, which would be too late and meaningless since the people involved were no longer around.
"What about your family?" HE Yi asked, her eyes reddening.
JI Nian's hand holding the water glass paused. She had no family, neither in the past nor present. JI Xiaonian's family had never contacted her, and she had no way to reach them.
"You," JI Nian forced a carefree smile, "you are my family now."
HE Yi smiled through her tears and gave her a hug, saying, "Even after all this, you still have the heart to joke with me."
"I'm not joking," JI Nian patted her back, smiling.
"As long as you're in a good mood," HE Yi said, no longer dwelling on it. "Get some rest, I'll come by tomorrow."
JI Nian nodded, "Okay, bye."
Watching the house become quiet again, she felt a sense of emptiness. She stood up and went to the balcony to enjoy the view.
It was already quite cold in JINGDU in November. JI Nian, wearing a sweater with fleece lining, couldn't help but shiver as the cold wind blew.
"It's so cold," JI Nian stood at the balcony railing, the cold wind making her more alert.
Looking down, she saw the twinkling lights of the city below, like scattered stars on the ground.
Suddenly, a familiar feeling washed over her as she gazed down, but the fleeting memory vanished before she could grasp it.
JI Nian shook her head, her mood becoming heavy. She went back inside, closing the balcony door, and decided to get changed and go to bed.
Upstairs, YU Luobai was still going over the schedule for the next day's work with PENG He.
"I can't help but feel something is off," PENG He said, thinking it over. "The girl who was beaten in the video, her expression looked strangely familiar, like I've seen her before."
YU Luobai's hand paused as he held the documents. He had a similar sense of familiarity.
PENG He suddenly jolted, quickly opening JI Nian's social media page and finding the only photo there. He compared it and exclaimed, "Look! It's the same, the expression is exactly the same!"
YU Luobai was shaken, finally understanding the source of his sense of familiarity - he had seen her before.
"The person in the video, it's Xiao Nian, isn't it?" PENG He said, unable to believe it.
YU Luobai's face paled, his eyes filled with empathy for her. She was such a sunny and cheerful person, yet she had such a heartbreaking past.
"Should I have someone look into her information?" PENG He asked.
"No need," YU Luobai shook his head, pursing his lips. "She doesn't want us to know."
PENG He suddenly realized that despite her carefree demeanor in the car, she must be carrying a heavy burden inside, having her traumatic past exposed for everyone to discuss, while she had to pretend not to know.
YU Luobai had no mood to review the schedule anymore, setting the documents aside. "You can go back first. I've got the information covered."
PENG He knew his friend was in a bad mood, so he nodded and left.
YU Luobai sat on the sofa, thinking about the video content. He didn't have the courage to watch it again.
Back at JI Nian's place, she had just finished showering and was about to lie down and read a novel to help her fall asleep when the doorbell rang.
She was surprised to see YU Luobai through the peephole and opened the door, "Professor Yu?"
YU Luobai pulled her into his embrace, his chin resting on her head, a complex expression in his eyes.
"Why are you here?" JI Nian asked, hugging him back.
YU Luobai's slightly hoarse voice said, "Nian Nian, I want to sleep with you."
JI Nian was taken aback, her face flushing red. She struggled out of his embrace and looked up at him, stammering, "Professor Yu, aren't we moving a bit too fast..."
Even though she was attracted to his physique, she wasn't quite mentally prepared for this.
YU Luobai, originally in a somber mood, was amused by her reaction. He tapped her head and said helplessly, "What are you thinking?"
JI Nian looked at him, puzzled.
"It's not the first time we've slept together," YU Luobai pinched her cheek.
JI Nian realized then that he just meant sleeping under the same blanket and talking, not anything more. Embarrassed, she said, "Then come in, Professor Yu."
YU Luobai was surprised, asking, "You're okay with me staying the night?"
JI Nian looked at him naturally, "It's not the first time we've slept together."
YU Luobai's lips curled into a smile as he ruffled her hair and went inside, closing the door behind him.
"Nian Nian," he said with a subtle undertone, "you're so obedient."
JI Nian noticed that he was wearing pajamas, which added a gentle touch to his usually aloof presence.
She curiously touched the fabric, "Professor Yu, your pajamas feel so soft."
"Do you like it?" YU Luobai pulled her into his embrace, smiling. "Then I'll get you a set."
JI Nian shook her head, "No need to waste money, I already have my own pajamas."
YU Luobai's smile deepened as he followed her to the bedroom, turning off the lights in the living room on the way.
JI Nian had gotten used to being around him, as they had been working together for over a month. She felt very comfortable and not at all uneasy.
The two of them lay on the bed, with JI Nian naturally leaning against YU Luobai's embrace. She took out her phone to read a novel.
YU Luobai hugged her from behind, watching along as she immersed herself in the story.
JI Nian felt very content. Being with YU Luobai made her feel a sense of security and that she would never be alone.
YU Luobai saw the random novels on her phone and couldn't help but shake his head in amusement, taking the phone and placing it on the bedside table.
