Ai Xuan slept fitfully.
Her slender brows drew together tightly. Like an outsider, she was forced to watch scene after scene play back like a movie.
If those memories of the “future” had seemed far-fetched, what she saw this time was even more unbelievable. She saw Gu Heng appear after “she” got into the car accident. His face was deathly pale, and his whole body shook as he lifted her into his arms. He called her name over and over, his eyes full of panic and helplessness.
Afterward, she lay unconscious and didn’t wake up. He stayed with her through twelve long nights, keeping watch by her bed from daylight until dawn and asking the doctors about “her” condition again and again…
Perhaps watching from the outside made it all the more affecting. Ai Xuan was stunned by the tenderness and concern she saw in his dark, bright eyes.
She was almost certain that Gu Heng liked “her.” He probably liked her a great deal.
The scenes kept playing. She saw Jin Yan suppress all news about “her” while he continued searching for her. He called her phone over and over, looking somewhat distraught.
The car involved in the accident had exploded, but Jin Yan refused to believe she’d died in the crash. He also called off the engagement ceremony the Jin family had arranged and flew into a rage.
The scenes felt so real that it took Ai Xuan a long time to process what she was seeing.
Before long, she was even more stunned. She saw that after “she” came back from the seaside, her memories gradually returned, and she remembered what had happened in the past.
“She” wanted to go home. Gu Heng hesitated for a long time, his eyes making it painfully clear how reluctant he was to let her go. In the end, he still took “her” back. As soon as Jin Yan heard she’d returned, he went to find her.
Their feelings for each other grew warmer. He promised “her” he would never marry anyone else or agree to a marriage arranged by his family, and he made it clear that he liked her.
They went back and forth for several months and even shared a sweet spell together. Then they got carried away in the heat of the moment, and “she” got pregnant.
Jin Yan was surprised and delighted. He secretly began preparing to propose. He also took her to Old Master Lu’s birthday banquet, where Mother Jin was in attendance. Mother Jin had brought Xie Yinyun, the woman she approved of as a daughter-in-law for the Jin family. She set “her” up in front of everyone, causing her to fall and putting the pregnancy at risk.
At the time, Jin Yan was negotiating a major deal and had no idea what was happening. Gu Heng showed up and took “her” to the hospital. While “she” was still in the hospital, Mother Jin came to see her and told her outright that she would never accept “her.” She also accused “her” of having an improper relationship with Gu Heng and called her shameless. In the end, “she” lost the baby and spent her days in tears.
And it still wasn’t over. What followed was one melodramatic ordeal after another. People sabotaged her, Mother Jin singled her out, and Xie Yinyun and another wealthy heiress who liked Jin Yan plotted to drug and kidnap her. After she got pregnant again, the real suffering began. She even had to give birth in secret.
A Best Actress winner had her reputation dragged through the mud, fell from grace in the film industry, and hid away in a backwater county town, where she struggled to give birth. When she began hemorrhaging, Gu Heng was once again the one who came with help and saved her. He took her back with him to recuperate while she was still weak. In the end, all he did was quietly stay by “her” side, clear obstacles from her path, and watch “her” live happily with Jin Yan.
…
After Ai Xuan woke up, she lay in bed staring blankly at the ceiling, going over the previous night’s dream again and again.
Only one word came to mind: melodrama.
It was an absolute melodramatic train wreck.
If someone could see her own future and knew she would narrowly escape death several times, suffer a miscarriage and severe bleeding, have her reputation ruined and her name dragged through the mud, and be humiliated and slandered, all for one coldhearted, arrogant man, would she still go through with it?
She’d probably react exactly as Ai Xuan did now and wonder what the hell was wrong with her.
As if something had just occurred to her, she threw off the covers and went into the bathroom. She leaned close to the mirror and studied her face.
She looked just as the author had described her in the novel. She had slender, willow-leaf brows, almond-shaped eyes, and clear, porcelain-white skin. She was strikingly beautiful. For the first time, she thought she really was quite good-looking.
That only sent Ai Xuan deeper into thought.
At the breakfast table.
Sister Wang brought out one dish after another. Breakfast was as lavish as ever: bird’s nest with coconut sugar, red rice noodle rolls with fresh shrimp, soup dumplings filled with free-range chicken broth, coconut glutinous rice cakes, pan-fried pandan noodles, and translucent pandan cakes…
Ai Xuan liked the flavors of the dishes here. Gu Heng had asked Secretary Pei to hire a well-known chef to prepare all three meals each day.
Gu Heng wasn’t particularly fond of sweeter foods. He looked up and saw Ai Xuan absently eating the coconut rice noodles in her bowl. Something flickered in his eyes.
After a long moment, he asked as casually as he could while eating his breakfast, “How does it taste?”
If she didn’t like it, he’d get another chef.
His question brought Ai Xuan back to the present. Meeting his clear gaze, she once again thought that “she” really was a scumbag.
In the dream, when “she” had suffered severe bleeding, Gu Heng had openly confessed his feelings and even wanted to take “her” abroad to settle down. But as soon as “she” recovered, “she” took the baby in her arms and said goodbye to him. “She” wanted to go back to Jin Yan so the child could have a father and a happy family. “She” also believed that Jin Yan loved her deeply.
Later, “she” even went to Gu Heng for help several times. Admittedly, what happened was more than “she” could handle, and “she” had no choice but to ask for help. Even so, it was a pretty manipulative thing to do. “She” had probably counted on him to help, knowing he couldn’t say no to her.
Was this how the second male lead was supposed to be treated? He quietly gave everything he had, spent his nights grieving alone, and still had to wish the heroine happiness?
Ai Xuan’s memories were still a mess. Bits and pieces about Jin Yan had surfaced, too, but there were so few she could practically disregard them. It all seemed absurd. The fact that it felt so absurdly real made the corner of her mouth twitch more than once.
“Xiao Xuan,” Gu Heng called again.
“Mm.” Ai Xuan took another sip of coconut milk. “It tastes really good. I quite like it.”
“That’s good.” The corners of his mouth lifted, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. He watched her expression, the crease between his brows deepening.
It was as though he held happiness in his hands and could feel it slipping away. All he could do was beg time to slow down a little.
As Ai Xuan sorted through the memories in her head, she said, “By the time we go back, I’ll probably have remembered most things. Then I can get back to a more normal life.”
Gu Heng slowed his movements without looking at her. He spoke slowly, his tone giving nothing away. “Let’s have Doctor Zhang give you another full checkup, just for peace of mind.”
“I’ll do as you say.” Ai Xuan picked up a piece of pan-fried noodles with her chopsticks and took a small bite. She glanced at his face out of the corner of her eye, then suddenly smiled. “Do you know Jin Yan?”
Before she’d even finished speaking, Gu Heng froze. Visibly uneasy, he fidgeted with his hand under the table. He looked away and said, “No, I don’t.”
“Then I must’ve remembered wrong.” Ai Xuan let the matter drop and lowered her head to finish her breakfast.
He was lying to her.
She could tell at a glance. He was always gentle and warm with her, often with a smile on his lips, calm and unhurried. Now he looked flustered and at a loss, his gaze darting away.
Gu Heng was desperate to know what else she’d remembered, but he didn’t dare ask for fear of bringing back more of her memories. His thoughts were in turmoil, leaving him restless and agitated.
“Third Young Master, Miss Ai.” Secretary Pei walked in carrying a briefcase and greeted them respectfully.
“Good morning, Secretary Pei. Have you had breakfast?” Ai Xuan asked. Then she added, “Would you like to join us?”
Gu Heng saw her smile brightly at someone else and show him concern. Thoroughly displeased, he swept an icy glance toward Secretary Pei. The moment Secretary Pei noticed it, he hurried to decline. Fighting the urge to shiver all over, he said to Gu Heng, “Third Young Master, there are urgent company documents that need your signature.”
“Mm.” Gu Heng rose, composing his expression. He looked at Ai Xuan and said gently, “I have a few things to take care of first. I’ll go for a walk by the sea with you in a little while.”
“Go ahead. I can go by myself.” Ai Xuan was worried she’d hold up his work.
Secretary Pei knew how to read the room and quickly spoke up. “It’s still early, and it’s cold out. If you wait a little longer, it’ll warm up once the sun’s out, and the sea breeze will feel nicer.”
Ai Xuan understood and nodded. Her eyes curved into a slight smile as she said to Gu Heng, “I’m in no hurry. I’ll wait for you so we can go together.”
She figured he probably wanted to go with her.
Sure enough, pleasure flickered in Gu Heng’s eyes. “Mm.”
He headed upstairs. Secretary Pei let out a huge sigh of relief and hurried after him.
Once they were in the study and the door was shut, Gu Heng’s face darkened. His eyes flashed with anger as he looked at Secretary Pei. “You picked a bad time to show up,” he snapped.
“I’m sorry, Third Young Master.” Secretary Pei looked grave and remorseful. He immediately promised, “It won’t happen again.”
“Don’t hover around her.” Gu Heng gave him a cool sidelong look.
What an eyesore.
“…” Secretary Pei stared at him, dumbstruck. He apologized again, then reported on company matters with the utmost respect, without daring to mention Ai Xuan at all.
Ai Xuan saw Secretary Pei coming downstairs just as the kitchen finished preparing a few “coconut eggs.” She went out with a smile and asked if he’d like to try one.
Secretary Pei stopped several meters away, hardly daring to look her in the eye. He declined without a moment’s hesitation. “No, thank you, Miss Ai. I have something to take care of. I’ll be going now.”
“Are you in that much of a hurry?” Ai Xuan found his odd expression even more puzzling. Out of politeness, she offered, “There are still some pastries in the kitchen. Shall I have some packed for you?”
“No need.” Cold sweat broke out on Secretary Pei’s forehead. He could only hope Miss Ai would let him go. He really didn’t want to face the Third Young Master’s wrath. He quickly added, “I still need to go over a few things with Sister Wang.”
He’d rushed over two days earlier to buy the villa on short notice and had arranged for them to move in less than a day later. He’d originally wanted to ask Ai Xuan if there was anything she still needed, but now he didn’t dare cross the line the Third Young Master had drawn. He could only ask Sister Wang instead.
Ai Xuan invited Gu Heng to take a walk along the beach with her and enjoy the sea breeze.
“I’ll go upstairs and get the camera,” Gu Heng said. “I can take some pictures of you while we’re out there.”
For his own sake, he wanted to keep more photos of her. He wanted to hold on to every moment, to capture them all so he could look back on them later.
“Mm.”
While she waited for him, Ai Xuan changed into her sandals, put on her sun hat, and headed outside. Secretary Pei and Sister Wang were talking in the front yard, though she couldn’t tell what they were saying.
She strolled ahead, looked up at the deep blue sky, and took a deep breath of fresh air. Her spirits lifted. She was about to turn around to see if Gu Heng had come out when a maid approached her with a pen and paper, barely able to contain her excitement. “Xuanxuan, I’ve been a fan of yours for so long. Could I have your autograph? You’re so beautiful! I’ve seen everything you’ve been in, and I loved all of it. I never thought I’d get to meet you. I…”
The maid’s eyes reddened as she spoke, and her words began to tumble out incoherently. She couldn’t take her eyes off Ai Xuan. Beside herself with excitement, she kept moving closer.
“What are you doing?” Secretary Pei’s expression changed abruptly, and he strode over. He turned a stern look on Sister Wang. “What nonsense is she going on about?”
Sister Wang went pale with alarm. She rushed over, grabbed the maid by the hand, and yanked her back, bowing as she apologized. “I’m sorry, Miss Ai. I’ll take her away right now. I’m so sorry. She’s talking nonsense. Please pay her no mind.”
The young maid was too frightened to react and nearly fell when Sister Wang pulled her so hard. Ai Xuan spoke up to stop her. “I’m fine. It’s all right.”
Sister Wang kept pulling the maid away. Ai Xuan turned to Gu Heng as he approached and hurriedly said, “It’s okay. She didn’t scare me.”
Secretary Pei’s face remained tense. He frowned at Sister Wang, warning her again to take the maid away at once.
Gu Heng walked over with the camera, seemingly taking the incident in stride. “As long as she didn’t scare you,” he said to Ai Xuan.
“Mm.” Ai Xuan nodded.
By then, Sister Wang had let go of the maid. After asking her a few questions, she learned that the maid was covering someone else’s shift. She apologized to Ai Xuan again, looking remorseful, then asked the maid whose shift she was covering.
The whole thing was a headache for Secretary Pei as well, and he tried to downplay it as he spoke.
Ai Xuan followed Gu Heng toward the beach, tilting her head up slightly. The sea breeze blew against her face, refreshing her in body and mind. As Gu Heng watched her, the hard look in his eyes eased a little.
Ai Xuan looked as composed as ever as images flooded her mind. Deafening applause and shouts seemed to rise and fall around her.
“Xuanxuan!”
“We love you, Xuanxuan!”
“Xuanxuan, can I have your autograph?”
“Please welcome this year’s Most Popular Actress, Ai Xuan!”
…
She was an actress, a glamorous star in the spotlight. A talent scout had discovered her at fifteen, and at nineteen she’d won her first Golden Horse Award for Best Actress.
People said she was born for the stage. One production after another became a smash hit, and people said she’d come into the world to perform. Directors called her a role model for young actors. She could endure hardship and was willing to go all in. If a role called for her to cut off her long hair, she did it without hesitation. Her figure looked great on camera, and so did her face, even without makeup.
She was the darling of industry investors, her company’s cash cow, and one of the industry’s biggest draws. She lived boldly and did as she pleased, as though everyone spoiled her. Her path to stardom had been smooth.