Chapter 23: The Lost Path

Chen Shanyi stepped out of her apartment building, the bright sunlight shining above her, and the bustling city surrounding her. Yet, she felt an unprecedented sense of solitude. This city, which was so familiar, felt as though it had nothing to do with her. Each step felt like walking on unfamiliar ground, burdened with an unspoken heaviness.

She didn't take a taxi or a bus; instead, she chose to walk. She didn't know why, but there was a voice inside her calling her forward, even though the path ahead seemed empty, and nothing had been revealed. She walked slowly, yet each step was resolute, as if heading toward a predetermined conclusion.

With each beat of her heart, there was a sharp pain, as though every pulse was a reminder: You cannot turn back. You cannot stop.

People hurried past on the street, not exchanging a single word, as if all were lost in their own worlds. Chen Shanyi looked up and saw the towering skyscrapers in the distance, standing like giant beasts made of steel and cement against the city skyline. Her gaze swept across these buildings, and suddenly, it stopped at the entrance of a coffee shop on the corner.

She halted her steps, her heartbeat seeming to quicken at the sight of this coffee shop. For some reason, she felt an inexplicable pull toward it, as though something was waiting for her inside. After a brief hesitation, she walked in.

The atmosphere inside the shop was warm and peaceful. A few customers were speaking in low voices, and the scent of coffee filled the air. Chen Shanyi walked up to the counter and ordered a latte. Her eyes scanned the corners of the café, and suddenly, they locked onto a man sitting in the corner.

He was dressed in a dark coat, his hair messy, and his face devoid of expression, as if he were lost in his own world. Her heart raced even faster. She felt that there was a subtle connection between them, as if there was some unspoken bond between them. Unconsciously, she walked toward him, slowly approaching his table.

The man seemed to notice her approaching and looked up. Their eyes met for a few seconds. In that instant, Chen Shanyi could hardly breathe. His eyes pierced through her, as if they could see through all her secrets.

"You..." Chen Shanyi whispered, her voice trembling, "Who are you?"

The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gazed at her silently, his expression complex, as if he were contemplating something. After a moment, he spoke, "Do you know what you're doing?"

His voice was low and cold, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, as if the words were just drifting through the air before her.

Chen Shanyi was stunned, and the confusion in her heart deepened. She suddenly realized that this man might be deeply connected to her lost memories and the secrets Siska had mentioned. Her lips felt dry, and she could hardly speak.

The man seemed to sense her confusion and flashed a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Don't be so nervous. I don't intend to harm you." He paused, then added, "Your name is Chen Shanyi, right?"

Her heart skipped a beat. Without thinking, she took a step back, her expression wary. "How... how do you know my name?"

The man gently raised his hand and pointed to the table next to hers. "Sit down. I have something to tell you."

Chen Shanyi hesitated for a moment but eventually sat down. Her heart was full of questions, but there was an even stronger, irresistible pull, as if this conversation had been destined all along.

The man remained silent for a while, as if waiting for something. His gaze locked onto Chen Shanyi's face, piercing through her eyes, as though he were probing deep into her soul.

"You may have already guessed," the man finally spoke, "I am like Siska, from the same organization."

Chen Shanyi's heart jolted, as if struck by lightning. Her tightly clenched hands began to tremble involuntarily.

"You..." her voice quivered, "Why are you approaching me? What do you want?"

The man didn't answer directly. Instead, he pointed to a folder beside him. "Do you want to know the memories you've lost? Do you want to know the truth? Everything you want to know is in this file."

Chen Shanyi's eyes unconsciously fixated on the folder. It was something she had never seen before, yet it carried an incredibly strong pull, as though it contained all the answers she longed for.

"What you're seeking may not be as simple as you think," the man said calmly. "Some secrets, once known, cannot be undone."

Chen Shanyi's emotions grew more complex and heavy. She knew that the contents of this file held not just her past, but possibly a future she could never escape.

"Who exactly are you?" she asked through gritted teeth. "What do you represent?"

The man glanced at her indifferently, his gaze unreadable. "You already know. I am with the same force as Siska. I represent 'them.'"

Chen Shanyi's mind went blank, and the world around her seemed to blur. She had once thought that all the mysteries would be solved in this moment, but the reality was even more tangled. The man before her was part of the mysterious force, and she herself seemed to have already become deeply entangled in it.

Her fingers gently grasped the corner of the folder, as though it might be the key to breaking free from all her predicaments. However, with her movement, a new unease settled in her chest. She knew that nothing was as simple as it appeared, and the truth might be far beyond what she had imagined.