HCB Chapter 1436 Lin Shenjianyu: I Didn't Expect to Meet Again
Chapter 1436 Lin Shenjianyu: I Didn't Expect to Meet Again
The sound of the gavel still resonated in our ears when the adjournment announcement rang out, breaking the solemnity of the courtroom.
Wang Yuran closed the case file in her hand, her fingertips pausing lightly over the three characters "Bai Xiuxian." The fatigue from working on this case for days finally gave her a moment to catch her breath. She stood up and straightened her lawyer's robe; the dark blue fabric was crisp yet carried a hint of somberness, much like her less-than-relaxed mood at that moment.
As the legal aid lawyer in Bai Xiuxian's case, every detail of the trial touched her nerves.
Following the flow of people out of the courtroom, the corridor was slightly dimly lit. The windows on both sides were embedded in the thick walls, and the sunlight that shone through was cut into small spots that fell on the cold floor tiles.
Most of the people coming and going were in a hurry. There were lawyers discussing the case in hushed tones, anxious family members of the parties involved, and bailiffs maintaining order. Everyone was caught up in their own trivial matters and kept moving.
Wang Yuran wanted to find a quiet corner to review her defense strategy, but she had only taken a few steps when a familiar figure suddenly came into her view.
The figure stood by the window at the end of the corridor, tall and straight, wearing a dark gray casual suit with the cuffs casually rolled up, revealing a section of the wrist.
He turned slightly to the side, seemingly gazing at the scenery outside the window, or perhaps deep in thought, exuding an aloofness that kept strangers at bay. Yet, this seemingly ordinary posture acted like a key, instantly unlocking Wang Yuran's long-sealed memories.
Wang Yuran's heart skipped a beat, and she froze instantly, even unconsciously slowing her breathing.
Her gaze was uncontrollably fixed on that figure, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears. A warm sensation spread across the corners of her eyes, but she forcefully suppressed it. It was him, Lin Junze.
She had silently repeated this name in her heart countless times, but she never imagined that she would meet it again in such a setting and in such a way.
They hadn't seen each other for so long that Wang Yuran had almost forgotten that she could still remember his back so clearly.
So long that she thought they would just disappear from each other's worlds in tacit agreement, never to cross paths again.
Over the years, they hadn't deleted each other's contact information, yet they'd never exchanged a single greeting; they both knew the other hadn't truly left the city, but they always cleverly avoided any possible encounters. This tacit agreement of "not meeting" had become their most silent pact, but today, this unexpected meeting had completely shattered it.
As if sensing the intense gaze behind him, the man by the window slowly turned around. Lin Junze's movements were not fast, carrying a leisurely languor, but when his gaze met Wang Yuran's, his body visibly paused, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, which was then replaced by a deeper, more complex emotion.
The moment their eyes met, the hustle and bustle of the corridor seemed to vanish, leaving only a silent gaze between them. Time seemed to stand still, and countless memories flashed through their minds like movie clips. The days and nights spent investigating cases together, the unspoken glances, the unspoken words, and the unrequited affection—all surged forth in that instant.
Wang Yuran could clearly smell a faint scent of smoke on Lin Junze, mixed with his usual woody aroma. It wasn't strong, but it was exceptionally distinct. The smoky smell was somewhat abrupt, yet inexplicably reassuring, as if telling of the brief relaxation he had just experienced.
She later learned that Lin Junze had been arranged to come to Hong Kong by Gu Mingcheng. After the court hearing, he went to the smoking room for a smoke, which is why he was delayed until now and happened to run into her when she came out of the recess.
Lin Junze's gaze lingered on her for a long time, from her lawyer's robe to her fingers tightly gripping the case file, and then to her slightly reddened eyes.
His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing. The astonishment in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a hint of indescribable melancholy.
He knew she was now a legal aid lawyer, but he never expected that she would take on Bai Xiuxian's case—a case that involved too many people, including those from the past that they had once cared about together.
Wang Yuran's heart was pounding, her fingertips turned slightly white from gripping so tightly, and the case file in her hand was almost deformed from her grip. She could feel her cheeks burning; that long-lost flutter of excitement, like a deer's head pounding wildly, was churning inside her.
What surprised her was not that she met Lin Junze here, nor that he appeared in Hong Kong, nor that he was involved in the case, but that they had tacitly chosen not to meet for so long, yet they met unexpectedly at such a special moment.
Back then, they clearly had feelings for each other, and if only one of them had taken that extra step, the outcome would have been different.
Back then, they were both bound by their own concerns, each believing they had plenty of time and countless opportunities ahead. Little did they know that a single turn would lead to so many years of estrangement.
Those unspoken confessions, those unfulfilled promises, have become the deepest regrets in each other's hearts...
People came and went in the corridor. Some glanced at them curiously, then hurried away. But the two of them stood there, a few meters apart, silently gazing at each other.
The smell of cigarette smoke emanating from Lin Junze wafted over, mingling with the faint scent of disinfectant in the corridor, creating a strange atmosphere. That atmosphere held surprise, melancholy, longing, and a hint of barely concealed regret.
Wang Yuran was the first to look away. She lowered her head, staring at the tips of her shoes, her voice slightly hoarse: "Long time no see." Those simple four words seemed to have exhausted all her strength. The emotions that had been building up in her heart for years finally found a faint outlet at this moment.
Hearing her voice, Lin Junze's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. He looked at her slightly trembling shoulders, his eyes filled with heartache and helplessness. "Long time no see," his voice was deep and magnetic, with a hint of husky hoarseness, "I never expected to run into you here."
Yes, nobody expected this. Wang Yuran murmured to herself. She raised her head and looked at Lin Junze again, the warmth in her eyes finally unable to be held back, sliding down her cheeks.
This time, she neither hid nor dodged. Some emotions, suppressed for too long, were bound to be released. And this unexpected reunion, perhaps, was fate giving them a belated opportunity.
Not far from the courthouse, on a street corner, lies an unassuming café. Its wooden facade, worn smooth by time, is adorned with a string of small wind chimes that tinkle softly in the breeze, dispelling the solemnity and heaviness of the courtroom. Pushing open the door, warm yellow light instantly envelops you, the air filled with the rich aroma of coffee mingled with the scent of toasted bread, and the languid rhythm of jazz music flowing from an old record—a sound perfectly mirroring the mood of the two people present.
Wang Yuran had taken off her dark blue lawyer's robe and changed into a beige knitted sweater with the collar casually turned up. Her long hair was loosely tied back, revealing her slender neck.
Gone was the rigor and sharpness of her courtroom persona; now, she possessed a gentler, more approachable quality. The weariness in her eyes hadn't completely faded, yet the presence of the person before her added a subtle, almost imperceptible light. A hot latte sat before her, condensation slowly sliding down its sides, leaving a small, shallow water stain on the table.