Chapter 2: Sis, I Really Lost My Memory, Sis

Sister Chen felt as though lightning had struck her, leaving her frozen to the spot. Her voice trembled in disbelief as she pressed for confirmation, "You... you really lost your memory?"
Li Wanbai nodded honestly.
Without the slightest hesitation, Sister Chen spun around and rushed out of the room.
This was precisely why Li Wanbai chose to come clean at this moment—after all, they were in a hospital, and she wanted a scientific explanation, something that could be settled in one go.
Yet the other girl did not leave. Watching Sister Chen's hurried departure, she covered her mouth to stifle a laugh and then exclaimed, as if she'd just realized, "Since you lost your memory, does that mean you don't recognize me either?"
Li Wanbai nodded. "And you are?"
"I'm your best friend, Ye Xiruo," the girl replied, her eyes curving into a smile like autumn waters shimmering in the sun. Still, Li Wanbai couldn’t shake the feeling that deeper emotions hid within those eyes, something she had yet to see.
Now was not the time to dwell on such things—Li Wanbai stood there, momentarily stunned.
Ye Xiruo’s smile faded slightly. "What, you don't believe me?"
"No, no... Well, yes, actually," Li Wanbai shook her head, then awkwardly nodded. "I just didn’t react in time. I only remember my one and only, closest girlfriend is Su Orange."
"Oh, so it’s her," Ye Xiruo deliberately drew out her words, smiling faintly. "I thought you wouldn’t remember her at all."
"You know her too?" Li Wanbai was confused. The tone unsettled her; it had to be sarcasm—no, definitely sarcasm!
"Of course I know her." Ye Xiruo's smile looked utterly sincere as she sat on the bed, her voice as gentle and clear as a mountain spring. "I still remember you once told me that back in university, you two were the best of friends. But she stole your design draft to take the spotlight for herself, and after that she deliberately sabotaged your date with your crush, always pushing you toward Yu Baichuan... I don’t know if it’s true, but that’s how you told it."
Just listening to the beginning, Li Wanbai’s expression soured, her gaze puzzled as she looked into Ye Xiruo's eyes.
If what Ye Xiruo said was true and the two of them were best friends, their conversations about Su Orange shouldn’t have been limited to college. After all, she and Su Orange had known each other since kindergarten, sharing countless memories. How could they only talk about university?
Besides, wasn’t Yu Baichuan her crush? Why would Su Orange break them up only to push her toward him?
It made no sense at all, and only the last sentence provided some explanation.
Countless questions swirled in Li Wanbai's mind, hovering on the tip of her tongue.
Seemingly by accident, Ye Xiruo switched on the TV, and a face Li Wanbai knew all too well appeared on the screen.
"Yu Baichuan’s new film, 'Goodbye, My Love,' hits major theaters with a bang! Everyone’s favorite Yubai is looking more handsome than ever!"
The media coverage seemed eager not to block even a single pixel of Yu Baichuan’s striking face, the words scrolling slowly above his head.
The entire screen was awash with comments praising Yu Baichuan’s looks, and any negative remarks were quickly drowned out by his fans.
Staring at that handsome face on the big screen, Li Wanbai nearly wept with joy.

She had seen countless attractive men and women, but never anyone like Yu Baichuan, whose every feature, every inch of skin, seemed tailored to her taste.
From the moment she first saw him in middle school, Li Wanbai knew that the slightly awkward boy would grow up to be a heartthrob. Even then, Yu Baichuan always wore a stern expression, a look that persisted all through high school and into college.
Still, Li Wanbai pursued him with determination.
To attend the same university as him, she pushed herself to the limit, studying day and night, so much so that Su Orange wondered if she’d been possessed. In the end, she made it.
Su Orange, to accompany her, turned down the chance to study abroad and enrolled at the same university.
Once, the friend she cherished so deeply and the person she loved so much both slipped away in the blink of an eye.
How could Li Wanbai not care?
She made a silent vow to uncover the truth behind it all!
But first, she had to indulge herself in Yu Baichuan’s stunning appearance!
Her initial shock at seeing him again had numbed her senses, leaving her still reeling from the reality of her situation.
Now, as she gazed at the glamorous Yu Baichuan on screen, she realized that the man she had seen not long ago was utterly exhausted and haggard—a far cry from the screen idol.
A bittersweet ache crept into her heart.
Ye Xiruo cleared her throat gently, her fingers trembling slightly.
Yu Baichuan’s face vanished, replaced by someone even more familiar to Li Wanbai—so familiar, in fact, that she saw her every morning in the bathroom mirror: herself.
Though she’d already heard from both Sister Chen and Ye Xiruo that she was a top celebrity, seeing her own face suddenly appear on the screen still made her heart skip a beat.
As Sister Chen had said, Li Wanbai’s fame was well-known across the internet, with few who could rival her. What she hadn’t expected, however, was that this so-called fame meant she was universally loathed online!
Like before, the screen filled with comments—
—but this time, they were completely different from Yu Baichuan’s.
Every single comment was an insult directed at Li Wanbai.
"What makes her worthy of being my husband’s wife? Is it just that face?"
"No talent, no character; hubby, hurry up and divorce her, please!"
"Let Yu Baichuan shine on his own! Stop riding on his coattails and get lost!"

Ye Xiruo let out a little gasp, lowering her head apologetically. "Sorry, I forgot you’ve lost your memory and don’t remember what happened before. Facing all this online hate so suddenly—doesn’t it hurt?"
Hearing no response for a long while, Ye Xiruo looked up in confusion.
She saw Li Wanbai stroking her chin, a faint smile on her lips as she gazed at her own image on the screen. There was no trace of hurt or sorrow from being the target of universal hatred—only appreciation for her own beauty.
Ye Xiruo inhaled sharply. "You... why are you reacting like this?"
Li Wanbai finally looked over at Ye Xiruo, smiling. "Were you talking to me just now? Don’t worry about it—it’s nothing. I’m this beautiful, and it’s only natural for a star like me to be this popular!"
Ye Xiruo was left speechless, forcing a smile without another word.
Li Wanbai glanced at her calmly. She’d lost her memory, not her intelligence; if this was an accidental slip, it sure looked intentional!
After all, she’d gotten into Capital University on her own merits—how could she not spot such an obvious trap?
"What are you smiling at?" Ye Xiruo asked, eyeing her sudden grin with suspicion.
Li Wanbai cleared her throat and waved her hands. "No, it’s nothing—oh, by the way, you said you know Su Orange. Do you have her contact info? She’s blocked me, and my calls won’t go through."
"You want to get in touch with her?" Ye Xiruo looked at her with a half-smile.
Li Wanbai shivered under her gaze, blinking and smiling sweetly. "Yes, I have some things that need resolving."
"That’s true, especially since you’re missing ten years of memories," Ye Xiruo replied with disarming honesty. "In that case, I’ll arrange for the two of you to meet directly."
Sister, don’t! You’re making my earlier suspicions seem so petty now.
Of course, Li Wanbai kept these thoughts to herself. Her feelings toward Ye Xiruo grew ever stranger, but she said nothing more than a polite, "Thank you!"
"I can only arrange for you two to meet; I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to resolve your issues," Ye Xiruo replied, her smile unchanged.
Ye Xiruo would arrange their meeting, but the rest would be up to Li Wanbai.
Not long after, Sister Chen returned, looking thoroughly defeated and helpless.
It seemed she had already confirmed Li Wanbai’s condition with the attending physician.