Chapter 3: Where Did This Lover Suddenly Appear From?

Slitting her wrists was secondary; Yu Baichuan had gotten her to the hospital in time, so there was nothing seriously wrong. With a few days of rest, she would be fine. But amnesia was another matter entirely, one that left the whole hospital at a loss. According to the medical report, there was nothing in Li Wanbai’s brain that could explain her memory loss. So far, they could only confirm that she didn’t suffer from any mental illness. If she claimed amnesia, then perhaps she truly was amnesiac. As for why she lost her memory, or when she might recover it, those remained mysteries.

Li Wanbai was still the biggest money-maker in Sister Chen’s portfolio. Even though Ye Xiruo came from the same agency and shared the same manager, her commercial value was far inferior to Li Wanbai’s—that much had to be acknowledged. Sister Chen pinched her nose and exchanged a few perfunctory words with Li Wanbai, talking up the importance of the reality show next week, stressing how crucial the upcoming endorsements were, reminding her to take care of her health and rest—nothing more than a few polite remarks as she left.

Once she’d sent off Sister Chen and Ye Xiruo, Li Wanbai checked her account balance, found her way to her villa using a note in her phone, discharged herself from the hospital, and spent the next few days doing nothing but sleeping.

She had no memories, but her body had not changed. The damage from her previous suicide attempt lingered, and whether it was her imagination or not, her right hand—where she’d cut her wrist—felt weak and clumsy, as though she could do nothing with it.

It wasn’t until Ye Xiruo messaged her that she roused herself. The meeting with Su Chengzi had been arranged at a downtown café. Only then did Li Wanbai leave the house in haste.

She didn’t trust Ye Xiruo, but she trusted Su Chengzi unconditionally. Her only fear was that Su Chengzi would be unwilling to believe in the twenty-eight-year-old Li Wanbai.

That anxiety gnawed at her constantly, and the moment she saw Su Chengzi, it finally exploded.

Su Chengzi sat by the window, brows furrowed with impatience. She didn’t look up until the bell above the door chimed. At the sight of Li Wanbai’s face, her expression went blank for a moment, then her brows drew even tighter, as if seeing her filled her with nothing but irritation and displeasure. She snatched her bag and made to leave.

Li Wanbai was startled and quickly stepped in her way. “Wait, please, just hear me out!”

“What could we possibly have to talk about? Fine, since you’re so eager, I’ll humor you—just this once. After today, don’t ever bother me again!” Su Chengzi sneered. “So, have you divorced Yu Baichuan?”

Jumping straight to the big questions, are we?

Li Wanbai answered honestly, “No, I haven’t. He was my school idol—how could I ever divorce him?”

“I knew it! Li Wanbai, you’ve lost your mind—wait, what did you just say? You haven’t divorced Yu Baichuan, and he’s your school idol?” Su Chengzi’s eyes widened. She waved her hand dismissively. “What new trick is this? You’ve been tangled up with him for years—one wanting a divorce, the other refusing—do you really think that’s something you can just sum up in a few words?”

“I really haven’t divorced him,” Li Wanbai replied with a small smile.

It was true. The divorce papers at her hospital bedside had never even been opened. Her mind was so overloaded with information it was about to burst—she had neither time nor energy to bother with such things. Besides, in her heart of hearts, she had no desire to divorce Yu Baichuan.

“Duoduo, I know you didn’t believe me last time, but I’m serious. I really am the eighteen-year-old Li Wanbai. I lost my memory—I don’t remember anything from the past ten years, from eighteen to twenty-eight.” Li Wanbai looked earnestly at Su Chengzi. “You’ve always been my only friend since we were children. I don’t understand what happened in these ten years to bring us to this point.”

Duoduo was Su Chengzi’s childhood nickname.

It had been a long time since anyone had called her that.

Su Chengzi looked dazed, half convinced, half in doubt. She took a deep breath and asked slowly, “You say you’re from ten years ago, the eighteen-year-old Li Wanbai. Then tell me, what did I have for breakfast the day before your last memory?”

Li Wanbai thought for a moment, then replied, “That morning we ate at the new soup dumpling place by the road—I think it was called Sister Wang’s Soup Dumplings. You burned your mouth on the broth and told me you got a blister.”

She poured out every detail she could remember. At those words, Su Chengzi’s expression changed dramatically.

She didn’t ask about medical tests or what had happened—she just grabbed Li Wanbai’s wrist, her eyes shining. “You really did lose your memory!”

There was no way the twenty-eight-year-old Li Wanbai could remember such things. In fact, no normal person would recall what they had for breakfast on a random day ten years ago. Su Chengzi only remembered because that mouthful of broth had burned her so badly it led to an infection and a trip to the hospital. But the very next day, Li Wanbai had left for an extended visit abroad to see her grandparents, and the time difference made it hard to keep in touch. Eventually, Su Chengzi had forgotten all about it.

By rights, she should remember that day, but Li Wanbai shouldn’t—not the twenty-eight-year-old her.

Su Chengzi was visibly agitated. Suddenly, she tightened her grip on Li Wanbai’s wrist and pulled her to her feet. “You’re a big star now. You think a mask is enough to come alone to a café?”

“Then... what should I do?” Li Wanbai was at a loss. She still hadn’t adjusted her mindset; in her heart, she was still the campus beauty at eighteen, not a first-tier actress mocked across the internet.

That was precisely why, when Ye Xiruo suggested this meeting place, she hadn’t found it the least bit strange—she’d simply donned a mask and gone alone.

“What else? Come with me. I know the owner of a private club—he can give us a private room,” Su Chengzi said, glaring at her before hurriedly leading her away.

But they were still a step too slow. A handsome young man holding a huge bouquet of roses strode straight toward Li Wanbai, his eyes full of lingering tenderness.

A fan?

Li Wanbai’s expression shifted. Although this café was centrally located, it wasn’t a busy hour; only the receptionist, Li Wanbai, and Su Chengzi were present. She hadn’t even taken off her mask, yet this young man had come straight for her. The information must have spread incredibly fast! With her reputation, who could say what might be hidden among those roses?

To her, roses and sulfuric acid were one and the same.

Su Chengzi immediately stepped in front of Li Wanbai, eyeing the young man warily. “Mu Sang! What do you want?”

The young man tilted his head and sneered, “What I want is none of your business, is it? I came to see Xiaobai, not you. If you know what’s good for you, step aside!”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Don’t you know Xiaobai is allergic to pollen?”

“Allergic to pollen? After all these years, I’ve never heard her say that!” scoffed the young man called Mu Sang, rolling his eyes.

No sooner had he spoken than there was a crash—Li Wanbai’s whole body collapsed backward.

The entire café fell into an eerie silence.