He glanced at the person inside before closing the door.

Mr. Lewis asked, puzzled: "Captain, why didn't you tell her who you are?"

Caleb curled his lips in a bitter smile.

He stood up and said: "It’s a good thing she forgot..."

It was a good thing to forget those painful memories.

It was a good thing to forget a person who, after ten years of her suffering, had almost been the cause of her death.

Caleb stood up and sat in his car, smoking cigarette after cigarette.

The smoke clouded his eyes.

He sat until the night was deep, then looked up once more toward the direction of the ward.

He murmured: "Rowan, if these memories truly cause you such pain."

"I beg of you, never remember them for as long as you live."

Chapter 14

A month later.

Rowan was discharged from the hospital, transferred the nightclub to Mr. Lewis, and opened a flower shop.

The flower shop did well, and she stayed busy until ten o'clock every night.

On an ordinary afternoon, Rowan was arranging flowers in the shop when she saw Caleb standing outside the glass window, wearing a black jacket.

Rowan pushed the door open and greeted him with a smile.

"Officer Caleb, what a coincidence."

"Are you here to buy flowers? What kind would you like? I can help you pick some."

It was a drizzly day. Looking through the glass, Rowan saw a pair of hesitant eyes.

Caleb stood outside, looking a bit awkward: "I’m here to pick up a pre-ordered bouquet."

The two entered the shop.

Rowan felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward and, driven by some inexplicable impulse, said: "Long time no see, Officer Caleb."

The music playing in the shop happened to be Eason Chan’s "Long Time No See."

[Will you suddenly appear,

In a coffee shop on the corner?

I will wave with a smile and greet you,

Sit and chat with you for a while.

I want so much to see you,

To see how you've changed recently.

No longer talking about the past, just exchanging greetings,

Just to say to you, just to say one sentence,

Long time no see.]

Caleb nodded and said: "Yes, it has been a long time."

Rowan verified the order information and found the bouquet Caleb had ordered.

It was a bouquet of violets dotted with baby's breath, wrapped in white silk paper, reflecting a beautiful sheen under the lights.

Rowan smiled and handed the bouquet to Caleb.

"The language of violets is 'hidden love.' I didn't expect Officer Caleb to be so subtle in his confession."

Caleb was silent for a moment before saying flatly: "Rowan, these flowers are for you."

Rowan froze, her ears turning bright red.

She then heard the man in front of her let out a low, muffled laugh: "Ms. Rowan, don't misunderstand. Our precinct ordered these for you."

"We were busy with cases when you were discharged and couldn't make it to the hospital. Think of these as a bouquet to celebrate your healthy recovery."

Rowan looked down and saw that the order information did indeed have a small note attached.

"A new beginning, may the road ahead be smooth!"

Rowan took the bouquet and pursed her lips: "Thank you."

Actually, Rowan wanted to say that her injury was an accident and they didn't need to take it to heart.

But if this could ease some of their distress.

Then she would accept it.

Rowan placed the bouquet on the counter.

She looked up at Caleb, feeling that his sharp features had softened considerably.

Caleb said: "The court's verdict is in. The person who hurt you has been sentenced to life imprisonment. You don't have to be afraid anymore."

Rowan thought for a moment, then repeated: "Thank you."

Caleb looked down at Rowan. She had her hair in braids draped over her chest, tied with floral ribbons.

She wore light makeup and a pale yellow dress.

He was suddenly stunned.

It had been such a long, long time since he had seen her dressed like this.

And such a long, long time.

Since he had a proper conversation with her.

He hadn't expected that their peaceful interaction would come after she had lost her memory, as strangers.

He spoke again.

Caleb’s voice was slightly hoarse: "This is what we should do."

Once he finished speaking, Caleb seemed to have no reason to stay.

He stood up to leave, but just then, a few claps of thunder erupted outside, followed by a torrential downpour.

Caleb had just stepped outside when he was soaked by the heavy rain.

He hadn't driven, and since the area was remote, there were no taxis.

Rowan chased after him and called him back: "Officer Caleb, the rain is too heavy. Wait until it lightens up before you go."

Chapter 15

Caleb paused and returned to the shop.

He took off his coat, which had been soaked by the downpour: "Then I’ll have to trouble you."

Rowan turned to the counter, grabbed a bottle of water, and handed it to Caleb: "Officer Caleb, here, have some water."

As she handed him the water, Caleb happened to see the scars on her wrist.

Those scars were new and old, crisscrossing and horrifying.

They were caused by chains—lacerations that hadn't healed before being torn open again, over and over, resulting in such terrifying marks.

He couldn't bring himself to imagine.

How much pain she must have been in back then.

He couldn't even imagine how much agony she had endured to use chains to restrain her own will to die.

The rain was misty.

Rowan stood by the glass window, watching a child pass by, jumping in puddles: "Whenever it rains, I always think of my childhood, how I loved to jump in puddles. My parents would always grab my ears and pull me back."

Caleb looked over.

Half of Rowan’s face was in the shadows.

She suddenly turned back and saw Caleb looking at her deeply.

Outside, the heavy rain hammered against the glass, as if tapping on her heart. She looked away slightly and asked: "Officer Caleb, did you play like this when you were a child?"

Caleb’s expression grew melancholic.

She didn't remember. She had forgotten.

She had always loved splashing mud on him before laughing and stopping: "Caleb, you’re dirtier than me; the scolding you get later will definitely be worse than mine."

Caleb gripped the bottle of mineral water, clenching and releasing, clenching and releasing.

Finally, he said: "I don't remember things from my childhood anymore."

The computer chimed.

Rowan smiled awkwardly: "New order, Officer Caleb, please have a seat."

The orders came one after another, and Rowan was so busy she couldn't catch a breath.

Thus, she didn't notice Caleb watching her quietly for an hour.

The rain stopped.

Caleb stood up and said goodbye to Rowan.

"Ms. Rowan, the rain has stopped. I should be going."

Rowan was busy wrapping a bouquet, and she smiled: "Okay, Officer Caleb, goodbye!"

Caleb walked out the door, then turned back to look at Rowan.

Her face was beaming with smiles.

He suddenly remembered how, back then, whenever he said goodbye, she would pout and say seriously: "Caleb, you can't say goodbye to me!"

"Goodbye means never seeing each other again. You have to tell me 'see you tomorrow'."

"Always 'see you tomorrow'."

Caleb paused his footsteps and, toward the busy figure, said softly: "Rowan, see you next time."

After Caleb left.

Rowan finished the orders. By the time the rider came for the last one, it was already eleven o'clock at night.

She tidied up the remaining trash and wilted flowers, only then noticing Caleb’s coat hanging on the stool.

It was soaking wet, and the heater hadn't dried the water droplets on it.

She didn't have Caleb’s contact information.

She could only bring it home, wash it, and dry it before returning it to him.

Rowan drove home, only to find a box at her door.

Inside the box were many scar-removal creams.

This brand was French and very difficult to purchase.

Rowan opened her phone, took a photo, and sent it to the management office: [Please check who placed this here; it might have been a mistake.] Rowan didn't bring the scar cream inside.

She thought that whoever had made the mistake would be able to retrieve it in time once they realized.

Just as she was about to wash Caleb’s coat, something fell out of the pocket.

She threw the clothes into the washing machine and hit the button.

She bent down to pick up the item.

Only to find it was a set of keys, and a note—the note was written clearly in her own handwriting!

Chapter 16

Rowan pulled the door open to find Caleb standing on the other side.

He wore a clean-cut buzz cut, his features sharp and rugged.

A dark sweater clung to his cold, lean shoulders, and the frost-like moonlight slanted across his face.