The weather in England today was exceptionally good, the sky a washed-clean blue. Lin Jing sat at an open-air coffee shop, watching children play with pigeons in the square not far away, taking occasional sips of her coffee.
The coffee smelled fragrant, but it wasn't particularly good; too much creamer had been added, leaving a slightly inferior taste.
Her phone lay on the table beside her. Lin Jing wasn't like today's young people who couldn't be separated from their phones for even a moment.
After a long while, she glanced at her phone screen.
She had been waiting for nearly half an hour, but she wasn't anxious. Instead, she leisurely raised her hand and ordered another cup of the not-so-good coffee.
She didn't seem like someone who had a meeting, but rather like someone who had simply found a sunny afternoon to bask in the warmth and enjoy life.
As she finished her second cup of coffee, the person she was supposed to meet finally arrived.
He arrived in a hurry, likely having run. A thin layer of sweat beaded on his forehead. He sat down, panting, "I'm sorry, Lin Jing, I was delayed by something."
"It's okay," Lin Jing said with a smile, then pushed the menu towards He Lin. "My treat."
He Lin didn't stand on ceremony. "Americano."
After ordering his coffee, He Lin glanced at Lin Jing, who sat opposite him. He felt she was a little different from usual, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly how. A strange unease settled in his heart. "Lin Jing, why did you suddenly ask me to meet..."
He Lin's words were cut short as Lin Jing looked up and smiled. "I'm going back to China."
He Lin froze.
Lin Jing's eyes curved. "This evening."
It took He Lin a moment to recover. "Isn't the company you're with giving you a raise? The prospects are so good, why the sudden change... Or is it that China is offering you better terms..."
Lin Jing shook her head. "Neither."
He Lin parted his lips, vaguely guessing Lin Jing's reason for returning home. He remained silent.
Lin Jing looked at him calmly. "I was always going to go back."
After a pause, Lin Jing added, "From the day I left, I've been thinking about returning."
He Lin swallowed, his voice a little hoarse. "Because of him?"
Lin Jing didn't evade the question at all, nodding frankly. "Yes, because of him."
He Lin's fingertips tightened around his coffee cup. "It's been so long. He might have forgotten you."
"But I haven't forgotten him," Lin Jing said, a gentle smile playing on her lips as if recalling that person.
Not only had she not forgotten him.
She missed him dearly.
A long silence fell between them. He Lin looked up. "Lin Jing, why don't you return a few days later? I'll go with you."
Lin Jing refused outright. "No need."
He Lin opened his mouth, about to say more.
Before he could utter a sound, Lin Jing met his gaze and spoke. "You were the one who called my mother back then, weren't you?"
He Lin's motion to drink his coffee froze.
Lin Jing spoke as if recounting something trivial, devoid of emotion. "I went to find him that day and stayed out all night. You indirectly asked Lan Tingting, and after you found out, you pretended to be looking for me and called my mother. Then, under the guise of casual chat, you mentioned that I didn't go for the exchange program."
"He Lin, I know all of this."
"I just didn't expose you. Just like for the past two years, I knew what you were thinking. You were thinking that as long as you stayed by my side, as long as we didn't return to China, and as long as time passed and I had no other options, I would eventually choose you."
"But He Lin, I didn't get together with him because I had no other choice."
He Lin was an intelligent man. Lin Jing knew some things didn't need to be said too directly for him to understand.
It wasn't that she didn't appreciate him. Over the years abroad, he had, to some extent, helped her.
When Jiang Wan was alive, He Lin knew she didn't like him visiting Jiang Wan, so he would always come when she wasn't around. Jiang Wan quite liked him, thinking he was someone she could entrust her life to. She had mentioned He Lin to Lin Jing several times.
Lin Jing hadn't responded simply because she didn't want to argue with Jiang Wan. Jiang Wan's illness was incurable. Knowing she didn't have much time left after coming to England, Lin Jing didn't want to cause strife between mother and daughter during her final days.
Jiang Wan could also see through her intentions, knowing that she was simply fulfilling her filial duty, wanting her to have a peaceful end to her life before returning to find Sheng Kuang without any regrets.
Initially, Jiang Wan had thrown a few tantrums, asking if she still had feelings for Sheng Kuang. Lin Jing would always calmly deny it. Jiang Wan could tell she was being insincere but could do nothing about it. Perhaps it was because her time was running out, and Jiang Wan didn't want to leave her daughter with a bad impression, so she eventually stopped bringing it up.
They managed to get along, maintaining a semblance of harmony by pretending not to know what the other was thinking.
Lin Jing didn't handle things completely callously either. After Jiang Wan passed away, she didn't return immediately. She stayed in England for another six months, completing her studies and internship.
For the past two years, she had known Sheng Kuang's whereabouts almost every day.
The yLs team had become the number one team in these two years, winning countless awards. That once spirited young man had now become an untouchable, god-like presence.
During these two years, she had attended his matches. She had fantasized about a repeat of the encounter she had with him at a competition, hoping for another story.
But some serendipitous encounters happen only once in a lifetime. She and he had never crossed paths again.
Sitting in the audience, she watched him from afar, like the fans beside her, like the person she was before she knew him. She was just one among his many fans.
She had never again caught his attention.
Before returning to China, Lin Jing had already contacted Lan Tingting.
Lan Tingting had helped her rent an apartment, furnishing it with all the necessary items. She could move in immediately after landing.
Her new residence was in the same complex as Lan Tingting's. Lan Tingting was at work, and after a long flight, Lin Jing was quite tired. She went home, took a hot shower, put on an eye mask, and began to catch up on sleep.
She had expected Lan Tingting, who knew her apartment's password, to wake her up. To her surprise, it was a phone call that woke her.
It was from a senior student she had met in England. After returning to China, she joined King of Glory and was now responsible for some of the skin designs. This senior student knew Lin Jing had a high talent for drawing and had asked her last year if she would be willing to design a few skins. Lin Jing had agreed, with a touch of personal motivation.
She hadn't expected the skins she designed to be quite so popular.
Upon learning that Lin Jing had returned to China, the senior student happened to be on a business trip to Bj. As soon as she had free time, she called Lin Jing.
Lin Jing, having slept enough, was no longer as tired. Her senior student was returning to Chengdu the next day and had arranged to meet near Lin Jing's place. Lin Jing couldn't refuse. After agreeing with her senior student, she went to wash up.
That evening, they had a simple light meal, just the two of them. Afterward, her senior student suggested they go to a bar.
On the way, her senior student talked about new skins again, mentioning that she wanted Lin Jing to help design the championship skin for this year's spring KPL season.
Hearing this, Lin Jing's fingers trembled. Feigning ignorance, she asked, "Which player, and which hero?"
Her senior student, unaware of Lin Jing's connection to Sheng Kuang, replied, "Who else? It has to be the most popular professional player right now, Sheng Kuang, the captain of the yLs team. The MVP hero for this match was Lan."