Chapter 43: Past Recalled

Many things in life that seem like mere coincidences actually bear the subtle traces of human design.

Upon seeing Wei Anchen’s face, which bore a striking resemblance to a young Gu Yu, one could not help but let the imagination wander down a far deeper and more complex path.

Although the performance on stage was not yet over, Dugu Yi had already lost all desire to keep watching. He leaned over and whispered softly to Gu Xinyao beside him, "I want to go back."

Gu Xinyao was also frowning as she looked at the darkened corner of the stage. Never had she imagined that the person performing up there would look so remarkably similar to someone they knew well. Was this pure coincidence, or something deliberately orchestrated?

"Alright, let's go!" Originally, she had hoped to take advantage of the concert's interactive segment to sing a song for him, but now it seemed there would be no such opportunity. His sullen expression filled her with worry.

Gu Xinyao took his hand and led him away through the crowds.

Wending through the sea of people, she noticed that the corner gate of the campus had grown pitch dark. Presumably because no more audience members were entering, the school authorities had turned off the lighting equipment in that area.

Jostled from all directions, their clothes were utterly rumpled by the countless bodies pressing against them. Finally, after a nearly suffocating squeeze, they escaped the school grounds as if fleeing a disaster, and that breath of fresh air tasted truly precious.

Gu Xinyao smoothed down Dugu Yi's clothes. Just then, a luxury sedan—discreet in appearance, yet unmistakably high-end by its brand—glided past them, slid forward a short distance, and then reversed.

Having already learned to be wary of approaching strangers, Gu Xinyao pulled Dugu Yi to her right side and watched as the car's tinted black window rolled down.

In the slightly chilly, quiet night, a luxury car halting beside them for no apparent reason felt rather eerie.

The window descended without warning, revealing a face that was both familiar and strange.

"Would you... like a ride?" The voice drifted out from the window. It was somewhat low, slightly cold, and above all, carried a mechanical quality devoid of emotion. It was not a pleasant voice, contrasting sharply with the gentle lyricism of the music he had played earlier. No wonder he had refused to speak a single word, leaving the stage the moment his performance ended.

Gu Xinyao took a vigilant step backward before speaking, "Thank you, no need." They were neither relatives nor acquaintances, and she certainly did not believe he would offer such a kindness to passing lovers out of pure benevolence.

The man in the car frowned slightly and rolled the window back up.

Gu Xinyao assumed he was about to leave, but the next moment, the sleek black door swung open.

First to come into view was a pair of meticulously polished black handcrafted calfskin shoes, followed by long legs encased in jeans, and finally, the owner of those limbs.

Stripped of his halo as a renowned violin virtuoso, Wei Anchen looked like an ordinary man with striking features. On his upper body, he wore only a simple silver-gray long-sleeved T-shirt, which accentuated the perfection of his slender neck.

Standing beside the car, he possessed the air of an automotive model. His short hair was fluffy yet neat, giving him the casual, effortless vibe of a boy next door.

"Are you Yiyi?" Wei Anchen's gaze bypassed Gu Xinyao and landed directly on Dugu Yi's face. Dugu Yi's expression at that moment was somewhat tense and overly aloof, but that did not deter Wei Anchen from attempting a greeting.

Hearing Wei Anchen once more use the pet name reserved exclusively for members of the Wei family, Gu Xinyao felt a slight sense of clarity, though whether he was friend or foe remained to be seen.

"And who are you?" Dugu Yi did not feel flattered to have his childhood nickname uttered by a completely unrelated stranger. He asked in a chilling tone. He hated being kept in the dark, especially when everything around him was in chaos.

Standing by the car and faced with Dugu Yi's question, Wei Anchen was momentarily stunned before he smiled. His face wore a smile, yet a flash of bewilderment flickered in his bright eyes. He spoke softly, "I am Wei Anchen. I am Wei Anchen."

His voice was very light, yet resolute when he pronounced his own name.

Gu Xinyao noticed that his smile lacked natural warmth; it resembled a pre-programmed expression that could only stretch to a certain extent without any deeper extension.

Dugu Yi's already furrowed brow deepened. He had no idea who this man was, why he had blocked their path, or why he was speaking such incomprehensible words.

"I don't know you! Please stop harassing us!"

Recovering from his momentary daze and wiping the deliberate smile from his face, Wei Anchen fixed his deep pupils on Dugu Yi, scrutinizing him as though trying to look through him to find someone else.

After a moment, he shook his head and murmured to himself, "No, you don't look like him. I was wrong."

Sensing that something was deeply amiss with this man, Dugu Yi and Gu Xinyao had no desire to converse further and prepared to walk past the car toward the main road.

Just as they took their first step, three robust women suddenly materialized out of nowhere. Judging by their attire, they were bodyguards.

They barred the path of Dugu Yi and Gu Xinyao, though they used no force, merely blocking the way.

Wei Anchen stepped away from the car and walked toward them. Seeing his gait, Gu Xinyao could not suppress a slight start of surprise.

When he reached them, a faint smile returned to his lips, as if he were long accustomed to such startled stares from others.

"If you don't mind, please come inside my car to talk, shall we?" He used the word "please" and spoke with great politeness, showing no intention of compelling them, yet the bodyguards did not step aside. Clearly, this conversation was going to happen whether they liked it or not.

Gu Xinyao knew this probably involved the past affairs of Gu Yu and the Wei family. Strictly speaking, she was an outsider and had no business meddling, but since it concerned Dugu Yi, she could not simply stand idly by.

Recalling that there was a quiet café nearby where crowds were sparse, she proposed, "If we must talk, let's go to the Youdao Café over there. It's quiet, and no one will notice your identity."

Dugu Yi frowned slightly, though he offered no objection.

Wei Anchen raised an eyebrow, as if only just noticing Gu Xinyao. After studying her for a moment, he nodded.

Conscious of his appraising gaze, Gu Xinyao felt rather awkward, yet helpless. Who could blame her when the man beside her was so extraordinary that people always noticed him first and overlooked her?

"You may go back first. When I am done talking, I will return on my own," Wei Anchen instructed the three bodyguards.

The three nodded and vanished as swiftly as they had appeared.

"Let's go!" Once they were gone, Wei Anchen waved his hand, signaling the pair to lead the way.

Gu Xinyao had not expected him to be so unconcerned about dispensing with bodyguards.

Dugu Yi turned around first. Gu Xinyao made a polite gesture and followed suit. Wei Anchen trailed behind them at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Bathed in the illumination of streetlights, the road exuded a quiet, desolate atmosphere. Perhaps everyone was at the concert, for not a single pedestrian was to be seen.

None of the three spoke along the way, walking in silence. Within three or five minutes, they arrived at Youdao Café. The entrance was marked by a single, soft, orange-tinted lantern, and the plain walls lacked elaborate decoration, setting it apart from other coffee shops.

The café's door was made of heavy brown solid wood; pushing it open created a sense of solemn weightiness unlike a typical café entrance.

Stepping inside, they were greeted by a receptionist. Upon hearing Gu Xinyao request a secluded spot to discuss matters, they were led to a corner table that offered an open view while remaining tucked away.

Two sets of separate dark brown sofas flanked a long, slender red solid wood table, upon which sat a single fresh lily. Such an arrangement felt entirely incongruous with a coffee shop, leaning instead toward the comfort of a home.

Gu Xinyao had Dugu Yi sit in the inner seat first. Remaining standing until Wei Anchen arrived, she directed him to sit opposite Dugu Yi before she stepped away.

Observing Gu Xinyao take a single-seat chair off to their side, Wei Anchen's eyes flashed with surprise, which quickly gave way to understanding.

"Ha, I wonder where I should begin?" Before Dugu Yi could ask, Wei Anchen spoke first.

Sitting across from him, Dugu Yi could take in Wei Anchen completely. In the soft lighting of the café, the man's features were laid bare under his gaze.

"You really mind me calling you Yiyi, don't you?" Wei Anchen looked at Dugu Yi with a gaze that held a mixture of gentleness and probing inquiry, as though seeking to verify something.

Dugu Yi lowered his gaze, pondering for a moment before voicing the sense of dissonance in his heart: "I suppose anyone would feel uncomfortable having their childhood nickname called out by a complete stranger."

He harbored no hostility or aversion toward the man before him. On the contrary, because the man possessed a face resembling his father's, he felt a strange sense of familiarity mingled with internal resistance. It was impossible for two people in this world to look that similar.

"A stranger?" Wei Anchen savored the word, then let out a low chuckle. "Right, we are strangers. But can you imagine that I have known you for over thirty years—even earlier than you might think?"

Dugu Yi showed a flicker of surprise. Judging by the man's appearance, he was at most of the same generation; how could he have known him from such a young age?

"I knew your father. Oh, no, saying I knew him isn't entirely accurate. I knew your father from photographs. Your father didn't know me; he wasn't even aware of my existence."

The waiter brought freshly squeezed juice and milk, placing the juice before Wei Anchen and the milk in front of Dugu Yi.

Noticing this arrangement, Wei Anchen smiled again, gripping the juice glass with both hands as he began to speak slowly. Watching the swirling liquid, he seemed to drift into distant memories.

Dugu Yi increasingly felt as though he had fallen into an unfathomable well, needing time to find a way out.

He gripped his glass of milk—a habit Gu Xinyao had helped him cultivate after their marriage, insisting he drink a cup every night before bed for nutrition and stamina.

"I don't know how much you understand about your father's past, but what I must tell you is that your parents did not unite out of love," Wei Anchen said slowly after taking a small sip of his drink.

"How many people in this world are truly together because of love!" Dugu Yi said softly, his words free of mockery, springing purely from his innermost thoughts.

Wei Anchen's eyes lit up, and he nodded in agreement with his sentiment.

"Your father, Gu Yu, along with my wife Wei Wenlan and Wenlan's elder sister Wei Qinghua, were childhood playmates who grew up and studied together.

"Wenlan and your father were of a similar age and naturally fell in love. Like every loving couple, they dreamed of what their future home would look like and whom their future children would resemble. Alas, how could heaven allow two people so deeply in love to attain happiness so easily? Wenlan and Qinghua were sociable people, and one day they brought back a girl from out of town. That girl was bright and enthusiastic, and they quickly became inseparable friends.

"At the time, Wenlan was researching quantum particle detonation, and many data points remained inconclusive. That girl happened to be an expert in the field and provided several sets of data that matched Wenlan's precisely. Overjoyed, Wenlan poured her heart into the research, intending to announce her marriage to your father as soon as the experiment succeeded.

"A few days later, however, Wenlan noticed changes in her body—her once-full breasts were gradually shrinking. Why? She went to the hospital for a checkup, and the doctor informed her that two aspects of her research involved radioactive elements.

"Those elements had destroyed her cellular structure, rendering her physiological functions dead. Unless a miracle occurred, she would never be able to bear children." Pausing here, Wei Anchen took another sip of juice to steady his racing heart.

Dugu Yi had just taken a sip of milk but set his cup down, startled by the narrative. He stared straight ahead; the story bore an uncanny resemblance to his own situation with Gu Xinyao. Yet he knew the outcome might not mirror their fairy-tale ending where lovers finally reunited.

In the quiet space, perfectly suited for storytelling, Wei Anchen resumed: "Those radioactive elements were mentioned in the girl's data sets. Everyone had assumed they were safe, leading to this disastrous result.

"At that time, Wenlan felt like dying. Yet, she felt she could not drag your father down with her; she overthought everything, making happiness elusive.

"So, she staged an act, forcing your father to marry your mother. Perhaps you can guess that the girl was your mother. I don't know what methods Wenlan used to make your father completely lose hope, but I know that Wenlan always held a place for him in her heart. Unfortunately, both of them were too proud, neither willing to yield, which led to such a tragic outcome."

Finally, he let out a soft sigh. As an outsider to those events, he could not fully comprehend the inner thoughts of the principals.

When he finished, a profound silence settled between them, one that defied expression in words.

"Since you said Wenlan could not bear children, why did you marry her? And why are you telling me this story?" Dugu Yi suddenly realized that he had no place in this narrative, prompting him to wonder why the man had come to tell it.

Wei Anchen touched his own face, the mechanical smile returning to his features. "Because my life is only this long. I loved her, and I was willing to do anything for her. Besides, I knew Wenlan still held your father in her heart. There are many things your father does not know, and I hope you can tell him."

Looking at that flawless face, Dugu Yi felt something flash through his mind, too swift to grasp.

"You?"

"This face belongs to your father. Of course, it was crafted based on how he looked in his youth. The moment the doctor removed the bandages, I discovered how truly handsome and striking your father was. Pity that I could never fully become him; had I completely transformed into him, I could not have stayed by Wenlan's side for so long as myself." Wei Anchen spoke as if murmuring to himself, or perhaps explaining it to Dugu Yi.

Gazing at his face, Dugu Yi felt a creeping sense of horror. What kind of love could compel a person to willingly transform into another? Was such love not overly extreme?

"Don't be afraid. I have no wish to harm you; I only wanted to see how much his son resembled him—resembled the man he loved so dearly that he chose separation as an expression of love. Sadly, you don't look entirely like him." Wei Anchen shook his head, sounding somewhat regretful yet oddly relieved.

A dull ache gripped Dugu Yi's heart. They say love can elevate one to heaven or cast one into hell; it was hard to tell who was in heaven and who was in hell.

When they emerged from Youdao Café, it was past midnight. The luxury sedan was parked outside, its warm orange light casting a sun-like halo upon the roof.

"I apologize for disturbing your rest. I shouldn't have come, but Qinghua said she wanted to visit an old friend here, so I tagged along. I... simply wanted to see you." Seated in the car, Wei Anchen looked at Dugu Yi and spoke softly.

Dugu Yi stood beside Gu Xinyao, gazing at the man who mirrored his father, feeling an inexplicable wave of sorrow rise within him.

His father at least had him as a son, but what did this man in the car possess—a man whose face was young yet whose heart had grown old? He had nothing save for a woman who looked upon his face to reminisce about past affection.

"Good—" He raised a hand in farewell, uttering only that single syllable.

The car door shut, and the vehicle sped away into the night, vanishing as silently as it had arrived.

Gu Xinyao and Dugu Yi had initially believed that this man merely wished to catch a glimpse of his predecessor's son—perhaps to see whether he resembled the man himself or if his son bore a closer likeness. Yet less than a month later, they learned how mistaken they had been. The man's arrival stemmed from a lingering regret, the heartbreak of failing to find resolution with his beloved. That very morning, they saw the headline on the front page of the newspaper: *World-renowned violinist Mr. Wei Anchen passed away yesterday morning at the age of forty-seven.*

***

*Author's Note:*
Today's chapter is undoubtedly sorrowful. Long after typing the final word, my emotions remained difficult to calm. Wei Anchen's love was extreme and desperate, yet heartbreakingly endearing.

Of course, writing a character to their death probably had an inseparable connection to my persistent cervical spine pain (*^__^*) Heehee... Still, I hope everyone enjoys this story.