The wrist-cutting incident was relatively minor. Since Yu Baichuan had rushed her to the hospital promptly, it wasn’t serious at all. Duo Duo would recover after a few days of rest. However, the amnesia was something the entire hospital staff found helpless against.
Even according to medical reports, they couldn’t find anything in Li Wanbai’s brain that could cause her amnesia. So far, they could only confirm that Li Wanbai had no mental illness. If she claimed to have amnesia, then she probably really did.
As for why she lost her memory or when she might regain it, those remained unknowns.
Li Wanbai was still Chen Jie’s biggest cash cow. Although Ye Xiruo came from the same company and shared the same agent, her commercial value was far inferior to Li Wanbai’s—a fact she had to accept no matter what.
Chen Jie held her nose and exchanged a few polite words with Li Wanbai, emphasizing how wonderful and important the reality show scheduled for next week was, reminding her to fulfill her remaining endorsement shoots as agreed, and tossing out a couple of perfunctory remarks about taking care of her health before leaving.
After sending off Chen Jie and Ye Xiruo, Li Wanbai checked her bank balance, found her luxury villa using her memo, completed the discharge procedures, and spent the following days doing nothing but sleeping heavily.
Lacking memories didn’t mean her body had completely changed.
The damage from her previous wrist-cutting lingered. Whether it was Li Wanbai’s imagination or not, her right wrist felt weak and inconvenient for any task.
It wasn’t until Ye Xiruo’s message arrived—informing her that she had arranged a meeting with Su Chengzi at a café downtown—that Li Wanbai hurried out.
She didn’t trust Ye Xiruo, but she unconditionally trusted Su Chengzi.
Her only fear was that Su Chengzi wouldn’t be willing to believe the 28-year-old Li Wanbai.
This worry haunted Li Wanbai until the moment she saw Su Chengzi, when it erupted completely.
Su Chengzi sat by the window in the café, frowning deeply and full of impatience. She only looked up when the wind chimes rang.
At the sight of Li Wanbai’s face, Su Chengzi’s expression went blank for a moment, then her frown deepened as if filled with disgust and dissatisfaction. She grabbed her bag and made to leave.
Startled, Li Wanbai quickly stopped her: “Wait, don’t go! Let me finish what I have to say!”
“What do we have to talk about? Fine, since you’re so eager, I’ll humor you for now! But don’t ever bother me again after this!” Su Chengzi scoffed. “Did you divorce Yu Baichuan?”
Starting with such a bombshell?
Li Wanbai answered honestly: “No, I didn’t. He’s my campus crush—how could I possibly divorce him?”
“I knew it! Li Wanbai, you’ve lost your—wait, what? You just said you didn’t divorce Yu Baichuan? That Yu Baichuan is your campus crush?” Su Chengzi’s eyes widened, then she waved her hand dismissively. “What new trick is this? You’ve been entangled over divorcing him for years, and he’s been refusing! Do you think this can be settled with just a word or two from you?”
“I really haven’t divorced him,” Li Wanbai smiled.
It was true—the divorce agreement placed at the head of the hospital bed remained untouched by Li Wanbai. Her mind was a chaotic jumble of information, nearly on the verge of exploding. Where would she find the time or energy to deal with it?
Not to mention, deep down, she had no desire to divorce Yu Baichuan.
“Duo Duo, I know you didn’t believe me last time, but I’m serious—I really am the 18-year-old Li Wanbai. I’ve lost my memory and have no recollection of what happened over the past ten years, from age 18 to 28.” Li Wanbai looked at Su Chengzi with sincere eyes. “You’ve been my only friend since childhood. I don’t understand what happened in these ten years that led us to where we are now.”
Duo Duo was Su Chengzi’s childhood nickname.
No one had called her that in a long time.
Su Chengzi stared at her, dazed and half-convinced. She took a deep breath and said slowly, “You claim you’re from ten years ago, the 18-year-old Li Wanbai. Then tell me, what did I have for breakfast the day before in your memory?”
Li Wanbai thought for a moment, not too long, and replied, “That morning, we ate soup dumplings from that newly opened street stall—I think it was called Sister Wang’s Soup Dumplings. You burned your mouth on the hot soup and told me you got a blister.”
Li Wanbai poured out every detail she could recall. At her words, Su Chengzi’s expression instantly shifted.
She barely asked about hospital check-ups or what had actually happened. Instead, she grabbed Li Wanbai’s wrist, her eyes lighting up. “You really have lost your memory!”
The 28-year-old Li Wanbai would never have remembered such things!
Or rather, no ordinary person would recall what they had for breakfast on a random day ten years ago.
The only reason Su Chengzi remembered was entirely thanks to that mouthful of soup—it had scalded her so badly she developed a blister, which later worsened into an oral infection requiring a hospital visit.
But the very next day, Li Wanbai had left to visit her grandparents abroad and stayed for a long time. With the time difference making communication difficult, Su Chengzi eventually forgot about the incident.
Logically, she might remember that day, but Li Wanbai shouldn’t—at least, the 28-year-old Li Wanbai wouldn’t.
Su Chengzi grew excited, then suddenly gripped her wrist tighter and pulled her to her feet. “You’re a big star now! How could you come to a café alone, wearing just a mask?”
“Then… what should I do?” Li Wanbai’s mind struggled to catch up. She hadn’t fully adjusted her mindset yet, still thinking of herself as the 18-year-old campus belle rather than the internet-mocked A-list actress.
That’s why, when Ye Xiruo suggested this meeting spot, she saw nothing wrong with it. She just put on a mask and came alone.
“What else can we do? Follow me. I know the owner of a private club who can arrange a private room for us.” Su Chengzi shot her a glare and hurriedly led Li Wanbai away.
But they were a step too late. A handsome young man, holding a large bouquet of roses, strode directly toward Li Wanbai, his eyes filled with tender affection.
A fan?
Li Wanbai’s expression shifted. Though the café was in a central location, it wasn’t peak business hours. Only Li Wanbai, Su Chengzi, and the front desk staff were present.
Li Wanbai hadn’t even removed her mask. How did this young man charge straight toward her without hesitation?
How did the news spread so quickly?!
Given her reputation, was he sure there wasn’t sulfuric acid hidden in those roses?
Of course, to Li Wanbai, roses might as well be sulfuric acid.
Su Chengzi immediately stepped in front of Li Wanbai, eyeing the young man warily: “Mu Sang! What do you think you’re doing?”
The young man tilted his head and sneered, “What I’m doing is none of your business, is it? I came to see Xiaobai, not you. Be smart and step aside!”
“Stop talking nonsense! Don’t you know Xiaobai is allergic to pollen?”
“Allergic to pollen? I’ve known her for years and never heard her mention that!” The young man called Mu Sang rolled his eyes and retorted irritably.
No sooner had he spoken than there was a clatter—Li Wanbai’s entire body slumped backward.
The entire café fell into an eerie silence.