The soft glow of Luqi's computer screen illuminated her face, casting an ethereal light on her piercing blue eyes. Surrounded by stacks of books and papers, she sat at her desk, her fingers dancing across the keyboard with a practiced grace. Her mind raced with ideas, a constant stream of thoughts and theories flowing through her brilliant intellect.

A notification popped up on her screen, interrupting her train of thought. Luqi sighed, her eyes scanning the message. It was an invitation to a prestigious AI conference in China. She'd been avoiding her homeland for years, but the opportunity was too tempting to ignore.

A flashback:

A young Luqi, her eyes filled with fear, watched as her parents argued violently. The once-harmonious home she'd known had shattered into pieces. The echoes of their screams still haunted her, a constant reminder of the trauma she had endured.

The memory faded, and Luqi returned to the present. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. It was time to face her past.

The next day, Luqi boarded a plane to China. As she looked out the window, she saw the vast expanse of the country below. A mix of anticipation and dread filled her heart. She'd spent years building a new life for herself, far away from the pain and suffering of her childhood. But a part of her longed to return to her roots, to confront the demons of her past.

The plane landed, and Luqi stepped off the plane into the warm, humid air. She took a moment to adjust to her surroundings, then headed to her hotel. As she unpacked her bags, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The familiar sights and sounds of China brought back a flood of memories, both good and bad.

Luqi decided to take a walk around the city to clear her head. As she strolled through the bustling streets, she couldn't help but be impressed by the country's rapid development. It was a far cry from the China she remembered. The towering skyscrapers, the vibrant markets, and the endless stream of people were a testament to the country's progress.

As the sun began to set, Luqi found herself in a quiet park. She sat on a bench and watched the people go by. A sense of peace washed over her, and for the first time in a long time, she felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps returning to China was the right decision after all.

As she watched the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Luqi couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. She missed the simplicity of her childhood, the carefree days spent playing in the park with her friends. But she also knew that those days were gone forever.

With a heavy heart, Luqi stood up and began to walk back to her hotel. As she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that her past was catching up with her. She was about to face the demons of her childhood, and she wasn't sure if she was ready.

The bustling conference hall in Beijing was a hive of activity, filled with the murmur of voices and the clinking of coffee cups. Luqi stood at the back of the room, watching the crowd of attendees. Despite her years of experience in public speaking, she felt a sense of unease. The spotlight was something she had always avoided, preferring to remain in the shadows.

As the keynote speaker took the stage, Luqi's eyes wandered through the audience. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a familiar face. A man with dark, expressive eyes was staring directly at her. Luqi's heart pounded as she tried to place him. He looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't quite remember where she'd seen him before.

The man continued to stare at her, a curious expression on his face. Luqi shifted uncomfortably, trying to avoid his gaze. She was not accustomed to being the center of attention, and the intensity of his stare made her feel self-conscious.

After the keynote speech, Luqi made her way through the crowd to the coffee break. As she reached for a cup of coffee, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

She turned to see the man from earlier standing behind her. "Excuse me," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I couldn't help but notice you. Your presentation was fascinating."

Luqi nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you." She was surprised that someone had noticed her presentation. She was used to blending into the background, going unnoticed.

The man introduced himself as Lu Sicheng. He was a prominent figure in the AI industry, and he'd been following Luqi's work for years. Luqi was impressed. She hadn't expected to meet someone who knew her work so well.

As they talked, Luqi found herself drawn to Lu Sicheng's charismatic personality. He was intelligent, witty, and surprisingly easy to talk to. Their conversation flowed naturally, as if they had known each other for years.

As they continued to talk, Luqi began to feel a strange sense of familiarity. It was as if she'd met Lu Sicheng before, in a different life. She couldn't quite place it, but the feeling was undeniable.

Could it be possible that they had met when she was younger? Perhaps at a gaming tournament or a tech conference? The more she thought about it, the more the possibility seemed plausible.

Luqi decided to ask Lu Sicheng about it. "Do you think we might have met before?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Lu Sicheng's eyes widened in surprise. "You think so?"

"I'm not sure," Luqi admitted. "It's just a feeling I have."

Lu Sicheng nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe we did meet somewhere. I've been to a lot of conferences and events over the years."

Luqi smiled. "I'll keep thinking about it."

As they continued to talk, Luqi realized that she was enjoying herself. She hadn't had a conversation like this in a long time.

As they parted ways at the end of the conference, Luqi couldn't shake the feeling that she had met Lu Sicheng before.She was determined to figure it out.

Luqi and Lu Sicheng sat across from each other in a quiet teahouse in Beijing, sipping tea and chatting. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, a far cry from the bustling city outside.

As their conversation continued, Luqi began to feel a strange sense of familiarity. It was as if she'd known Lu Sicheng for years, despite their recent meeting. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to their connection.

"Do you remember a time when we met before?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Lu Sicheng's eyes widened in surprise. "You think so?"

"I'm not sure," Luqi admitted. "It's just a feeling I have."

Lu Sicheng nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe we did meet somewhere. I've been to a lot of conferences and events over the years."

Luqi continued to ponder the possibility. She remembered a time when she was a young teenager, attending a gaming tournament. Feeling sick and overwhelmed by the crowds, she had wandered off to find a quiet place to rest.

She recalled seeing a boy sitting alone on a bench, looking lost and confused. She had approached him, offering him some help.

The boy had been grateful for her kindness, and they had talked for a while. She'd never seen him again after that day.

As Luqi described the encounter, Lu Sicheng's eyes widened in disbelief.

"That sounds like me," he said. "I was lost and didn't know where to go."

Luqi's heart raced. Could it be possible that the boy she had helped all those years ago was Lu Sicheng?

She looked at him, her eyes filled with wonder. "Do you think it could be?"

Lu Sicheng nodded. "I think it's possible."

As they sat there in silence, a wave of emotion washed over Luqi. She felt a strange connection to Lu Sicheng, a bond that went beyond friendship or even love. It was as if their paths had been intertwined from the very beginning.

The idea that they had met as children was both exciting and terrifying. It added a new layer of complexity to their relationship, a shared history that they had both forgotten.

Luqi couldn't shake the feeling that their meeting was more than just a coincidence. It was a twist of fate, a chance encounter that had brought them together again.

As they continued to talk, Luqi realized that she was falling for Lu Sicheng. She had never felt this way about anyone before, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Lu Sicheng seemed to feel the same way. Their connection was undeniable, a bond that had been forged years ago and was now stronger than ever.

As they left the teahouse, Luqi knew that her life was about to change forever.

END OF CHAPTER~~~

feeling in the word count...never mind..skip it...its still 479 need few more stuff to complete 500..

hope you are enjoying the story...please do check out my chat story withe same character and similar plot but different..it will be published in October. thank you