The Departed

Early in the morning, Zhang San opened the shop door as usual to start the day.

But he saw a man in white clothes standing on the misty street, carrying a food container, with a somewhat lonely look on his back.

Zhang San was slightly surprised,

because that figure in white clothes looked somewhat familiar.

Lu Gaosheng?

Not until the man in white turned around did Zhang San confirm his identity - it was indeed Lu Gaosheng.

However, it was very strange.

Unlike Zhang San's previous encounters with Lu Gaosheng several times, this time Lu Gaosheng was wearing white clothes, and the white jade cloud-patterned ring that used to be on his right hand was gone, or rather, he was wearing it on his left hand now.

Moreover, Zhang San didn't know how to describe it, he just felt that the temperament of Lu Gaosheng in front of him was completely different from before.

Plain, reserved, and somewhat lonely.

Lu Qingming asked, "Can I come in?"

...

...

Some time ago, before Zhang San opened the shop.

Lu Qingming carried a food container and came to the front door of the tofu shop. He knocked gently on the door.

Soon, Bai Fang slowly opened the door.

The two met.

For a moment, in the morning mist, it was as if they were worlds apart.

The man's appearance, the white clothes on the man, the white jade ring on the man's left hand that had originally belonged to his father, and later was put on by her own hands.

"Qingming..." Bai Fang froze in place, murmuring.

Her eyes were misty with tears.

She seemed to cry out.

Lu Qingming said, "I'm back. I'm sorry I didn't pass the exam last time. For the second exam, I stayed there for three years, leaving you alone for three years. I'm really sorry, but I really had no choice, those people were too malicious..."

Lu Qingming smiled helplessly, and his smile contained some sarcasm.

Lu Qingming held up the food container in his hand and said, "After struggling in the commandery city for three years, it wasn't completely fruitless. I learned some cooking skills. This time when I came back, I made some desserts that you and Xiaoyu should like."

He handed the food container to Bai Fang sincerely smiling.

However, Bai Fang lowered her head, her emotions gradually turned from shock, longing, to anger and hatred!

Bai Fang said word for word, "Lu Gaosheng, do you think this is very interesting!"

Lu Qingming took a step back in puzzlement and said, "You..."

Bai Fang looked up angrily. Her beautiful face no longer showed the usual calmness and indifference. She snatched the food container from Lu Qingming's hand and smashed it violently on the ground!

The food container was made of very good material and was not broken, but the lid came off and the pastries and plates inside were scattered all over the ground.

Lu Qingming wanted to explain something very much.

But Bai Fang just sat down on the ground limply, with tears streaming down her face.

Seeing this, Lu Qingming walked around Bai Fang and went to pick up the food container that had fallen to the ground, and picked up a cake that hadn't gotten dirty.

Lu Qingming came back to Bai Fang's side again and said, "This piece is not dirty. You like sweets. I've always remembered. This is made by me. Try a bite, okay..."

That voice, that demeanor, that gentleness, were exactly the same as Lu Qingming back then.

But this made Bai Fang even more angry and sadder.

She slapped Lu Qingming again.

But Lu Qingming turned his head back with the same smile, without a hint of anger.

It looked more and more like him, more and more like Lu Qingming.

For a moment, Bai Fang didn't even know what to do with this "Lu Gaosheng". She just stared at him blankly.

After a while, Bai Fang cried out!

At this time, the expression on Lu Qingming's face was no longer as relaxed and smiling as before. He panicked a little.

But he heard Bai Fang's mournful voice, "Lu Gaosheng, please spare me, okay? I'm begging you, don't talk to me in this way anymore, just let me go!"

Lu Qingming knew that whatever he said now would be in vain. He stared blankly, straightened up, and took a few steps back.

Bai Fang wept and murmured, "I've decided to entrust it to Mingqing. Since you don't want to give that ring back to me, then you can keep it. I just ask you not to appear in front of me again, don't make me think of him again!"

"You told me yourself six years ago!"

"You told me yourself that Lu Qingming was already dead!"

Hearing these words, Lu Qingming didn't know why, but he also shed tears, just that he didn't cry out loud.

The cake fell to the ground.

Lu Qingming tidied up the food container a bit. He walked away step by step, glancing back at the woman sitting sadly on the street in the early morning. Every time he wanted to go back and explain to her, to talk to her, he eventually gave up.

Lu Qingming left dejectedly.

The morning mist engulfed his figure. His past could not be told to anyone.

However, the two wolves hiding in the dark had already noticed this scene. But thinking of Lu Gaosheng's usual prestige, they didn't dare to come forward and interfere with the matter between the young lady Bai and Lu Gaosheng. Even though Lu Gaosheng was beaten, if it was not life-threatening, they dared not act rashly.

...

...

Back to the present.

When Lu Qingming came to the door, Zhang San noticed his minor injuries.

Zhang San was very suspicious, thinking to himself: What is going on with this Lu Gaosheng now?

However, when Lu Qingming got closer, Zhang San clearly felt two unusual gazes. His internal skill was still lacking just a little bit, so Zhang San decided to continue this "word game" with the prefect.

Let's see if you, a scholar without any martial arts skills or experience in the Jianghu, can catch me making a mistake.

This was Zhang San's thought at the moment.

Lu Qingming walked into the room and sat down on a stool, taking a rest for a while. After all, he had walked for a while and got beaten up, so it was natural that he felt tired without a strong physique.

Zhang San hurried to Lu Qingming's side, with a "concerned" look, and said, "Master Lu, what happened to you?"

Lu Qingming smiled faintly and said, "Nothing serious really, I just somehow feel a little headache and chest tightness for some reason. You're the only acquaintance I know nearby, so I came to bother you."

Zhang San felt a little doubtful. He thought, is Lu Gaosheng changing his moves? Whatever, I'll just respond invariantly to all changes.

Zhang San said, "Then feel free to rest here, my humble shop is honored by your presence!"

Lu Qingming looked at Zhang San and laughed, "Then thank you, shopkeeper, but you don't have to be so respectful. I'm a bit older than you, just calling me Brother Lu is fine."

Hearing this expression of gratitude, Zhang San now confirmed the strangeness about Lu Gaosheng.

This is completely wrong!

From entering the door until now, this Lu Gaosheng was completely different from the previous Lu Gaosheng in terms of temperament, attire, tone of voice, and speech.

If there was anything that remained the same, it would probably only be his appearance and physique.

Logically speaking, how could a person undergo such tremendous changes in a short period of time?

Zhang San looked at Lu Gaosheng somewhat doubtfully, thinking to himself: Could it be... twin brothers?