Past Memories of Living with the Goddess: I Think I've Seen You Somewhere Before

Li Huangxuan is a twenty-three-year-old recent graduate living in Jiangcheng, working as a junior designer at an advertising agency with a modest salary. After his roommate Zhang Chuan departs for his hometown, Li Huangxuan faces a lonely existence in their shared apartment. His life changes when a strikingly beautiful woman named Lin Ximeng moves into Zhang Chuan’s former room. She claims to be staying for only one month, having quit her job to relax, but her presence immediately disrupts Li Huangxuan’s mundane routine. She is assertive, demanding, and perfectionistic, enforcing a strict co-living agreement that includes early morning wake-up calls, chore rotations, and noise restrictions. Despite his initial resistance, Li Huangxuan finds himself increasingly drawn to her competence and care, particularly her exceptional cooking skills which transform their drab apartment into a warm home.

Li Huangxuan harbors a secret crush on his gentle colleague, Xu Wanqing, whom he has admired for months but never confessed to. He attempts to maintain a boundary between his professional aspirations and his domestic life with Lin Ximeng, yet their interactions grow intimate. Lin Ximeng frequently displays jealousy regarding Xu Wanqing, subtly undermining Li Huangxuan’s attempts to pursue her. She invites him on outings, including a trip to their university campus where she breaks down while listening to a nostalgic song, revealing a deep emotional wound from a past relationship. Li Huangxuan comforts her, and their bond strengthens through shared vulnerability and daily routines, such as morning jogs and cooking together.

A pivotal moment occurs when Li Huangxuan plans a date with Xu Wanqing, only for her to cancel due to family obligations. He impulsively invites Lin Ximeng to accompany him to a movie instead. During the film, Lin Ximeng holds his hand and cries, confessing that she has someone she cannot forget. Li Huangxuan, realizing his own feelings, asks if she would consider starting anew, but she remains noncommittal, stating she must leave the following month. The tension escalates when they visit Luweng Mountain for a weekend trip. Amidst the autumn scenery, they exchange maple leaves with hidden messages. Li Huangxuan writes “Can you stay?” on his leaf, hoping for a future with her. Lin Ximeng’s response remains unread, leaving the outcome ambiguous as they descend the mountain at dusk.

Throughout the narrative, Li Huangxuan struggles with his identity as a mediocre worker and an aspiring web novelist, finding motivation only through the encouragement of a single online reader. His relationship with Lin Ximeng serves as a catalyst for personal growth, pushing him to adopt healthier habits and confront his insecurities. However, the looming departure of Lin Ximeng casts a shadow over their developing romance. The story explores the complexities of modern urban relationships, where transient connections can provoke profound emotional shifts. Li Huangxuan is caught between the safe, unattainable ideal of Xu Wanqing and the vibrant, complicated reality of Lin Ximeng, forcing him to question what he truly desires in love and life.

As the month draws to a close, the dynamic between the two roommates shifts from awkward cohabitation to deep emotional dependency. Lin Ximeng’s mysterious past and her refusal to fully commit to a new relationship create a barrier that Li Huangxuan cannot easily breach. Despite his growing affection, he respects her need for space, though he remains hopeful that his confession on the maple leaf will yield a positive response. The narrative concludes with the couple returning from their mountain trip, the unresolved tension between them hanging in the air. Li Huangxuan is left to ponder whether their time together was merely a temporary escape or the beginning of something significant, while Lin Ximeng prepares to return to her life elsewhere, leaving Li Huangxuan to navigate the aftermath of their intense, short-lived romance.