Lin Zhihua rubbed her sore eyes. When she looked up, dusk had already fallen outside the window. The orange-red afterglow filtered through the blinds, scattering in fragments across her desk.
She closed the last document, her gaze subconsciously falling on her phone. The screen remained dark.
She picked up her phone and woke the screen. Her chat with “Great Lawyer Fu” was still frozen on the message he had sent an hour ago: “I’ll come pick you up after work. Wait for me.”
But even now, there was still no sign of him downstairs.
Lin Zhihua couldn’t help feeling a little worried. Fu Shengyan had always been punctual. This had never happened before. She called him, only to hear an automated message from the receiver: “The number you have dialed is currently switched off.”
Lin Zhihua frowned slightly. Today was their third wedding anniversary. Could Fu Shengyan be preparing some kind of surprise for her?
But no matter what he was doing, there was no reason for him to not even answer his phone. Lin Zhihua took a deep breath and tried to suppress the uneasiness in her heart, silently telling herself: Don’t panic yet. Fu Shengyan was, after all, the male lead’s son. The kidnapping plot had ended ages ago. Nothing should happen to him now.
That’s right. Lin Zhihua had transmigrated into a book.
However, she had already been in this book for twenty-five years, and most of the plot had already run its course.
In her previous life, Lin Zhihua had died in a plane crash while on a business trip and unexpectedly transmigrated into a melodramatic novel she had just read—The CEO’s Sweetheart Runs Away with His Baby.
The good news was that she had transmigrated into an insignificant passerby in the book, so she didn’t have to be forced through any melodramatic plotlines.
The bad news was that she had transmigrated into a newborn baby, yet she still had to help take care of the other little brat in the crib next door!
That little brat was the “ball” the runaway heroine had been carrying—the genius child who came into contact with computers at the age of five, became one of the world’s top hackers two months later, and had already mastered the bull market at just six years old.
But no matter how much of a genius the “ball” was, he was still only a child. The heroine was busy with work and dealing with the male lead, so she had no choice but to entrust her child to the neighbors across the hall—the Lin family.
Father Lin and Mother Lin were both university professors. Seeing the heroine alone while heavily pregnant, they felt sorry for her. When Mother Lin learned that the two of them even had the same due date, she took even better care of her. As they spent more time together, the two women became close friends.
It wasn’t until the child was taken back by the Fu family that the genius child officially ended his stay with the Lin family and began the sweet daily life of a family of three.
The Lin family then happily disappeared from the rest of the novel.
Of course, Lin Zhihua’s butterfly effect had still brought a few small changes to the entire story.
She sighed. After yet another unsuccessful attempt to call Fu Shengyan, Lin Zhihua decided to stop waiting around.
She had just opened the car door and sat down when her phone suddenly vibrated.
Lin Zhihua picked it up almost instantly. Fu Shengyan’s name was displayed on the screen.
“Hello? Where are you?” Lin Zhihua’s voice carried obvious anxiety and concern.
“Hello, may I ask if you are Mr. Fu Shengyan’s wife? This is City A First Municipal Hospital. We just received a group of injured patients from a multi-vehicle accident on the overpass, and we found your contact information on him…”
Her mind instantly went blank. Lin Zhihua could no longer hear what was said afterward.
She hurriedly hung up, started the engine, and pressed the accelerator all the way down. The car shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.
Throughout the entire drive, Lin Zhihua was frighteningly calm. She overtook car after car, completely ignoring the constant blaring of horns around her.
Finally, Lin Zhihua reached the hospital as quickly as she could. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, she pushed open the door and rushed out.
“Hello, where are the patients who were just brought in from the multi-vehicle accident? I’m Fu Shengyan’s family member.”
The nurse on duty flipped through the records. “Fu Shengyan’s family member, right? Someone has already paid his fees in advance. The patient is currently in Ward 6 on the sixth floor.”
After thanking her, Lin Zhihua hurried toward the elevator. The moment she saw the sign for the Neurology Department on the sixth floor, a bad feeling surged through her.
He didn’t injure his brain, did he?
She hurried to the hospital room. Through the glass, she saw her husband sitting with his back toward her, a circle of gauze wrapped around his head.
At least he could sit up, so it probably wasn’t anything too serious. Lin Zhihua let out a breath of relief, and the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally began to settle. Perhaps because her nerves had been stretched taut the entire way here, the moment she relaxed even slightly, a wave of dizziness immediately washed over her.
“Why did I have to get into a car accident today of all days?!” Fu Shengyan’s voice was filled with frustration.
“You know today is your third wedding anniversary. Luckily, you’re not seriously hurt. You’ll be able to leave the hospital later.” A young voice came from inside the room. Lin Zhihua rubbed her temples and saw Tang Yuan standing beside the hospital bed in a white coat.
Only then did she remember that Tang Yuan happened to be an attending physician in the Neurology Department of this hospital.
Tang Yuan had been their high school classmate. He had gotten into the medical university beside A University. He had a baby face and an energetic, carefree personality, and he was on good terms with both of them. They still contacted each other from time to time.
Lin Zhihua was just about to push the door open when Fu Shengyan’s words made her outstretched hand pause.
“Tangyuan, what are you talking about? What third anniversary?” Fu Shengyan stared at him in disbelief.
“Huh? Brother Fu, did you really get your brain damaged? I wonder who it was that started showing off his loving relationship all over Moments first thing this morning.” Tang Yuan spoke with a slightly pained expression.
“Your brain is the one that got damaged! I still have to go to A University!” Fu Shengyan instinctively retorted.
“Brother Fu, you’re not joking with me, are you?” Tang Yuan froze. He immediately realized that something was wrong and stared at him in horror.
Outside the door, Lin Zhihua held her forehead and thought to herself, As expected.
The law of car accidents causing amnesia in melodramatic novels had never deceived her.
“Who’s joking with you?!” Fu Shengyan frowned, his expression dark. “Hey, stop cosplaying and explain yourself. What third wedding anniversary?”
“Well… Brother Fu, you’re already married.” Seeing how ugly his expression had become, Tang Yuan’s voice weakened.
No way. Had he lost his memory again?
From the looks of it, not only had he forgotten his wife again this time, but he had also lost several years of memories.
“What did you say? I’m already married? Then what about my white moonlight?” Fu Shengyan’s face instantly turned pale. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his pupils involuntarily contracted. He felt as though something had blocked his throat, and even the air around him seemed to grow thick.
Tang Yuan was about to say something when his gaze shifted and landed on Lin Zhihua outside the door. Cold sweat immediately trickled down his face.
“Brother Fu, you…”
Please, just say less!
“Fu Shengyan! You’ve followed me around since we were little. Where did this white moonlight of yours come from?!” Lin Zhihua pushed open the door and stared at him coldly.
Great. She had spent all this time worrying herself sick, only for this man to still be thinking about some white moonlight who had appeared out of nowhere!
“Zhi… Zhizhi?”
Fu Shengyan looked at her in surprise and delight.
Lin Zhihua raised an eyebrow and stared at him suspiciously.
Hadn’t he lost his memory?
Fu Shengyan tilted his head and looked Lin Zhihua up and down before suddenly saying, “Zhizhi, you look so much older…”
Seeing Lin Zhihua’s already clenched fist, Tang Yuan hurriedly covered Fu Shengyan’s mouth and said with an ingratiating smile, “Class Monitor, calm down, calm down. Brother Fu might really have injured his brain.”
Seriously, say less, Brother Fu! Can’t you see how terrifying the Class Monitor’s smile is?
Tang Yuan desperately winked at him.
Fu Shengyan blinked innocently, staring blankly at the two people in front of him.
Lin Zhihua resisted the urge to kick him. After silently repeating He’s a patient three times in her head, she forced out a smile and asked softly, “Fu Shengyan, what were you originally planning to do today?”
Two suspicious patches of red appeared on Fu Shengyan’s cheeks. He awkwardly looked away and coughed. “Ahem. I went to buy you a cake. It’s your birthday today, isn’t it?”
Actually, he had made the cake himself. He had also prepared a surprise for Lin Zhihua, but on his way to the Lin family’s home, he had been hit by a tricycle that came speeding out of nowhere. After that, the cake…
“Huh?” Fu Shengyan’s expression changed drastically. He nervously looked around the hospital room. Where was the cake he had worked so hard on for two whole days?
After hearing Fu Shengyan’s words, Lin Zhihua’s heart sank. She exchanged a glance with Tang Yuan.
Tang Yuan picked up his pen and cautiously asked, “Brother Fu, how old are you now?”
“Eighteen,” Fu Shengyan answered instinctively. Although he was still a few hours away from turning eighteen, it was close enough.
Tang Yuan silently wrote a few words in the medical record, then looked up at Lin Zhihua. “Family member, take the patient for an examination first.”
Lin Zhihua nodded heavily.
Fu Shengyan looked completely confused. “What kind of riddle are you two playing?”
An hour later.
Fu Shengyan was painfully trying to digest the fact that he had lost seven years of memories, his eyes filled with confusion and unease.
Just moments ago, Tang Yuan had told him that not only had he lost his memory, but this was actually the second time he had suffered amnesia!
The first time had been “not long ago,” when he had been hit by a tricycle and knocked his head against a rock in the ditch.
Tang Yuan told him that afterward, not only had he forgotten Lin Zhihua and Lin Zhihua alone, but he had also hated her. Every day, he would run over to provoke her, making Lin Zhihua so angry that she ignored him for half a year.
Fu Shengyan wanted to cry but had no tears. He wished he could travel back in time and give himself two hard slaps.
Tang Yuan comforted him. “Brother Fu, don’t be too upset. A loss can turn out to be a blessing. Haven’t you regained all the memories involving the Class Monitor from the past eighteen years?”
Fu Shengyan took a deep breath, cautiously glanced toward the door, and asked, “Is she married now?”
Tang Yuan coughed, desperately suppressing the corners of his mouth from rising, and nodded solemnly. “She is. And she and her husband are very much in love.”
When Lin Zhihua returned after paying the fees, she saw Fu Shengyan lying on the bed looking completely shut down, staring hollowly at the wall while his entire body radiated a lonely and depressed aura.
A trace of confusion flashed through Lin Zhihua’s eyes.
Hadn’t he just lost his memory?
This was his second time. Shouldn’t he have some experience by now? Why was he still so dejected?
Could it be that the realization that he had suddenly aged seven years was simply too much of a shock?
“Are you sure he doesn’t need to stay in the hospital for observation?” Lin Zhihua looked at Fu Shengyan worriedly.
“No need.” Tang Yuan guiltily shifted his gaze away. “All of his examination results show that he’s physically healthy. He only has a mild concussion. This type of amnesia should be temporary. I’ve handled several similar cases before.”
“Every single one of those patients eventually recovered their memories. It’s only a matter of how long it takes. If he’s quick, he might recover by tomorrow.”
Lin Zhihua fell silent.
Sure enough, in a melodramatic novel, something like amnesia wasn’t rare at all.
She let out a deep sigh. After giving her statement and submitting the footage from the dashcam, she took Fu Shengyan home.
Fu Shengyan silently followed her out of the hospital.
Just as they reached their car, Lin Zhihua heard Fu Shengyan quietly say, “I’m sorry.”
Lin Zhihua looked at him in confusion. Why was he apologizing out of nowhere? He hadn’t actually done something to wrong her, had he?
But Fu Shengyan said nothing more. Just as he was about to open the driver’s door, Lin Zhihua stopped him.
“Do you still remember the way home?” Lin Zhihua looked at him suspiciously.
Fu Shengyan froze. He pursed his lips, his voice filled with deep disappointment. “I’ll have to trouble you to take me home.”
Lin Zhihua: “?”
It wasn’t exactly any trouble.