Otis and Mei had known each other since college but broke up before graduating. Both of them ran off to places thousands of miles apart, thinking they would never cross paths again. Yet, fate had other plans, and they ended up becoming roommates. The moment Otis pushed the door open and saw Mei sitting on the sofa, he froze. "You look like my ex-girlfriend." Mei immediately jumped up, stomping her foot in frustration. "I am your ex-girlfriend!!!"
Chapter 1 I want you to kiss me...
"I want you to kiss me..."
A delicate, oval face swayed before his eyes, its fair skin glowing. Her bright, captivating eyes brimmed with affection, stirring Otis's heart.
But a sharp, detached voice cut through his daydream.
"Sign here. Rent is one month upfront, plus three months' deposit. That's a total of forty-eight hundred."
The landlady's plump fingers, adorned with gold rings, pointed to two thin sheets of paper on the mahogany table.
She spoke while eyeing the young man sitting across from her. His handsome face, clear, innocent eyes, and tall frame painted the picture of someone freshly stepping into adulthood. His toned arms, visible beneath the short sleeves of a white t-shirt, hinted at a regular exercise routine.
If only I were twenty years younger...
Otis Prescott glanced at the papers, then looked up to ask, "What about the other tenant?"
The landlady gestured toward the open front door. This was the ground floor, facing the street. At the far end of the lane, a figure in denim shorts and a light blue sun jacket with shoulder-length hair could be seen.
The distance was too great, and without his glasses, Otis couldn't make out the details. All he could register was a sense of familiarity. That figure... it resembled his ex-girlfriend.
He immediately dismissed the thought as absurd. How could it be? This place was miles away from their college. There was no way he'd run into his ex here.
It must be that he was still caught in the shadow of their breakup, which made him think of her at a moment like this.
His ex had a beautiful name: Mei Hawthorne.
In Otis's memories, Mei was about a head and a half shorter than him, with silky, jet-black hair cascading to her waist. In summer, she would wear a pristine white dress, her long hair swaying in the breeze, captivating anyone who saw her.
They would stroll hand-in-hand beneath the shaded paths on campus, whispering and teasing each other, stealing kisses in the warm summer wind.
On those sweltering summer days, her lips were like a cool spring, refreshing and intoxicating.
On weekends, they'd spend the day at a cat café or sit silently together in a quiet coffee shop. As night fell, they'd walk along brightly lit sidewalks before slipping into the shadows, embracing in secluded corners.
In the dark, she'd blush, wrap her arms around him, and softly call his name. He loved that about her...
No, he didn't love it!
They'd broken up. Stop thinking about it!
Otis gripped the pen tightly. Damn it, why was he thinking about her now?
I don't miss her at all!
The landlady noticed Otis's face shifting through a range of emotions and assumed he was reconsidering. She interjected, "The other tenant is a young woman. You've seen the place; it's spacious, and you won't interfere with each other. The location is excellent, close to the subway. You won't find another place this good."
Otis indeed found the location ideal, just a twenty-minute walk from his workplace and close to public transport.
Having just graduated, he had only six thousand yuan to his name. During college, he'd worked part-time to save some money, but most of it had gone toward dates with Mei.
This apartment was the cheapest he could find. Even if the other tenant turned out to be a three-headed, six-armed monster with eight tentacles, he'd still rent it.
After reviewing the lease to ensure there were no issues, Otis signed without hesitation and handed over the forty-eight hundred.
The landlady beamed, her wrinkles smoothing as she smiled. She pulled out a jangling bunch of keys and, after a brief search, handed one to Otis.
"Here you go. Do you need me to show you up?"
Otis shook his head. "No, thanks. I remember the way."
The landlady nodded, offered a few last words of advice, and watched as Otis dragged his suitcase away.
The wheels of his suitcase clicked against the pavement as he glanced toward the end of the street. The figure in the sun jacket had disappeared.
Once again, Otis found himself wondering about his new roommate.
She seemed to be about the same height as his ex.
His ex again. His ex again. Stop bringing her up!
I'm just looking for a reference point!
Otis's thoughts were a mess. Shaking his head, he hoped she'd at least be someone who didn't leave trash everywhere.
He'd read many horror stories online about cohabiting with strangers. Far from romantic encounters, it often involved clogged drains, scattered belongings, and endless headaches.
Please, let her be normal.
Otis pulled his suitcase into the apartment building, pressed the elevator button, and rode it up to the twenty-first floor.
Apartment 2102-his new home.
As he stood before the door, Otis plastered a determined smile on his face.
Let's go, Otis. Welcome to your new life.
No more dwelling on the pain of your breakup. No more thinking about Mei.
At that moment, Otis recalled something Mei had once told him.
After graduation, she wanted to work at Émerveillement Corporation. Otis had joked, "What a coincidence. I want to work there too. We're meant to be."
But then they'd broken up, and Otis had packed up and moved to Snow City, thousands of miles away from Jinghai.
By now, Mei was probably happily snapping selfies on Émerveillement's bustling streets.
Hmph. Goodbye, Mei. We'll never meet again.
He slid the key into the heavy door and pushed it open.
The living room came into view, fully furnished with a dining table, coffee table, and sofa. No television, though.
Sunlight poured through the windows, illuminating the tiled floor.
On the sofa sat a young woman with short hair covering one side of her face. She seemed engrossed in her phone but slowly turned her head when she heard the door open.
Otis raised his hand in greeting, but the woman stopped mid-turn, staring at him.
Familiar. So familiar that it made her dizzy, as if she were dreaming.
Mei had been enjoying a relaxing moment, scrolling through her phone and reading a novel before starting her new job.
To hell with you, Otis! I'll never see you again in this lifetime!
But now, she was looking at a figure she had longed for... no, recognized.
Otis's hand froze mid-air as he stared at the familiar-yet-different face before him.
Still as beautiful and charming as ever, though her hair was shorter.
Wait a second. Am I dreaming? Is this a dream?
The room fell silent, the dust particles visible in the sunlight.
Both tried to say the other's name.
"Mei?"
"Otis?"
Three seconds of silence. One. Two. Three.
Both of them widened their eyes in shock and exclaimed at the same time.
"What are you doing here?!"
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