Chu Xin’s thoughts were a tangled mess. He could hear water splashing in the bathroom, and just thinking about that man taking a shower inside made him both embarrassed and flustered.
Even though the steam from the bathroom could not possibly reach the bedroom, Chu Xin still felt a flush on his face.
He might as well get up and leave. Otherwise, when Zhou Huaijin came out, he would be even less sure what to do.
As he pushed himself up, his hand brushed against a hard object. Looking down, he saw it was the original owner’s phone.
The phone unlocked with face recognition, and as soon as he picked it up, it opened automatically, showing three missed calls and one WeChat message.
Staring at the word 「husband」 on the missed-call note, Chu Xin felt truly mortified and, on a whim, changed it to Zhou Huaijin.
He did not open the WeChat message until he reached the living room: Something came up suddenly. I’ll be back later.
Chu Xin froze slightly. The timestamp showed it had been sent about five minutes after the little dumpling hung up the phone.
So Zhou Huaijin really did report his whereabouts to the original owner.
Thinking of that frost-cold face, he found it really did feel a little out of place.
Chu Xin’s dazed, silly grin while hugging his phone happened to be caught by the little dumpling standing on the stairs.
Although Zhou Xingyu looked like a four-year-old child, he was not actually a child at all.
The way Chu Xin was grinning at his phone was just like the female lead when she had first fallen for the male lead. Chu Xin was acting so strangely now. Could it be that he had fallen for someone else?
Zhou Xingyu could not think about anything else. He thudded down the stairs, and the noise drew Chu Xin’s attention.
Chu Xin only took one look before his throat tightened. “Xiaoyu, slow down!”
Upstairs in the bathroom, Zhou Huaijin frowned slightly. “Yes, Xinxin seems to have forgotten some things.”
The person on the other end of the call seemed to say something else. After a moment, Zhou Huaijin’s expression grew even uglier. “You mean Xinxin has only forgotten a period of memory, and that period is from after we got married until now?”
“Mr. Zhou, it does sound a little unbelievable, but your husband really is in this state. And Mr. Chu is very guarded inside. He deliberately does not want others to know he has lost a stretch of memory.
“That is why it was not discovered when he was in the hospital before.”
Zhou Huaijin was already starting to tune out the doctor’s words. Why had he forgotten only the memories after their marriage?
Could it be that Xinxin had actually always resisted their marriage? Otherwise, why would he forget only this stretch of memory?
The doctor on the other end continued, “Mr. Chu’s condition cannot be treated with medication. If you are not at ease, Mr. Zhou, you can bring Mr. Chu to the hospital for a more detailed examination.”
After ending the call with the doctor, Zhou Huaijin braced both arms on the washstand and looked at himself in the mirror, then gave a silent sneer.
Xinxin had only forgotten a stretch of memory, but he still remembered him, didn’t he?
As long as Xinxin stayed by his side, one day he would remember.
Downstairs, the little dumpling was drinking water from a cup, but his eyes were fixed on Chu Xin’s phone sitting on the coffee table.
If he just asked for it directly, would Little Papa grow suspicious? After all, the little dumpling had his own phone.
Looking at the cup in his hand, the little dumpling had a sudden idea and tossed it onto the floor, spilling a puddle of water.
Throwing a cup down also required skill. He could not really smash it, or what if Little Papa cut his hand while cleaning up?
Chu Xin was indeed drawn by the noise and hurried over. “Xiaoyu, what’s wrong?”
The little dumpling pouted and looked at Chu Xin pitifully. “Papa, the cup fell.”
Chu Xin carefully lifted him up, but then his hands suddenly felt lighter, and a faint mint scent drifted to his nose.
Turning slightly, he saw Zhou Huaijin standing behind him, his face showing not the slightest emotion.
But Chu Xin’s body stiffened. When had Zhou Huaijin gotten behind him?
No, when had he come downstairs?
Zhou Huaijin had already taken the little dumpling over to the side. “I’ll handle it.”
Chu Xin was a little stunned. It was only a bit of water, but coming from that cold, stern face, “I’ll handle it” sounded as if this were some major matter that was difficult to decide.
“N-no, no, I can do it.”
Chu Xin did not know what he had said wrong. The moment the words left his mouth, he saw Zhou Huaijin frown slightly.
He instantly lost the nerve to say anything more and silently took the little dumpling away.
Zhou Huaijin picked up the cup from the floor, but his thoughts were on what Chu Xin had just said. Xinxin had not refused him for a very long time.
The little dumpling, who had been taken away by Chu Xin, felt conflicted. Was he incompatible with Zhou Huaijin?
He had only wanted to see what was on Little Papa’s phone.
Just as the little dumpling was fretting, Chu Xin set him on the sofa and then walked toward Zhou Huaijin, clearly intending to help Zhou Huaijin clean up together.
The little dumpling pouted. It was only half a cup of water. Did two people really need to deal with it together?
Still, with Little Papa gone, it was just right for him.
The little dumpling glanced over. Both of them had their backs to him, so he quickly hopped down from the sofa and picked up Chu Xin’s phone.
He knew the unlock code. After opening it, the screen was still on WeChat, and there was only Zhou Huaijin’s chat history.
The little dumpling opened it and took a look. No matter how he read it, it was just a simple sentence. Little Papa smiled stupidly at this?
Chu Xin still did not know the little dumpling had opened his phone. At the moment, he was standing awkwardly beside Zhou Huaijin, not knowing what to do with his hands or feet.
He did not even know what had gotten into him. Why had he insisted on coming over? Even if this bit of water were left alone, it would naturally dry in a few minutes.
Now he could neither stay nor leave.
Seemingly sensing his awkwardness, Zhou Huaijin let out a soft sigh. “Xinxin, the hospital called just now. They want you to go back for another examination tomorrow.”
“Huh? Isn’t everything already fine? Why do I still need another exam?”
Had he shown too many flaws? Did Zhou Huaijin suspect him?
Zhou Huaijin first looked at him with a rather deep gaze, then turned around to wash his hands. “Xinxin doesn’t need to be nervous. It’s just a physical examination.”
How was he supposed not to be nervous? At home there was not a single one, old or young, who was easy to fool.
No matter how uneasy Chu Xin was, the next day he still got into Zhou Huaijin’s car and went to the hospital.
Before going to the hospital, the two of them dropped the little dumpling off at kindergarten.
Chu Xin only glanced at it from outside and knew the little dumpling’s kindergarten was an elite school.
So how exactly had the little dumpling hurt his arm?
Chu Xin was sitting in the passenger seat, still thinking about the little dumpling, when Zhou Huaijin suddenly leaned over and scared him.
“W-what are you doing?”
Zhou Huaijin did not answer. He reached over, pulled the seat belt across, and fastened it for him. Then he stayed half-turned in front of him and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Chu Xin nervously twisted his fingers together. Fortunately, Zhou Huaijin kept looking at his face and did not notice.
“I, I was thinking about Xiaoyu’s arm injury. Is it okay for him to go to school?”
Zhou Huaijin sat back down, looked at the road ahead, and started the car again. “As long as he doesn’t fight with anyone again, it’s fine.”
Fight?
Although he had already guessed the injury on the little dumpling’s arm had not been caused by the original owner, hearing Zhou Huaijin say it still let Chu Xin breathe a sigh of relief.
That, in turn, made him less resistant to the hospital checkup. He had originally thought Zhou Huaijin was bringing him here for some kind of brain or psychiatric examination, but it turned out to be only some routine physical tests.
Chu Xin was becoming more and more unable to understand Zhou Huaijin. Weren’t these things already done before discharge?
Of course he would not be stupid enough to ask Zhou Huaijin. The more he said, the more chances there were to say something wrong.
Instead, Zhou Huaijin talked with the doctor for a long time, and Chu Xin was very curious about what they were discussing.
But after Zhou Huaijin came out of the doctor’s office, he said nothing at all about Chu Xin’s condition.
“Should I take you home, or will you come with me to the company?”
C-come with him to the company?
Chu Xin’s eyes went wide at that. Hadn’t it been said that the original owner and Zhou Huaijin had no feelings for each other?
Why was he being asked to follow him to work?
Since he was like this now, it would be best to reduce contact with Zhou Huaijin as much as possible, so he absolutely could not go to the company with him!
When Zhou Huaijin saw his startled expression, a trace of regret flashed in his eyes. “I can take you to your company instead.”
The company he meant was the place where the original owner worked. Going there would actually be pretty good, and he could also learn more about the original owner.
Most importantly, he did not know where the original owner worked. Now that Zhou Huaijin was taking him there, he would not have to worry about getting lost later.
According to the little dumpling, the original owner had fallen down the stairs at his own parents’ home, and for the moment Chu Xin did not dare rashly go to the original owner’s parents’ house.
“Mm, let’s go to the company. I’ve taken a few days off already. It’s about time I got back to work.”
When Zhou Huaijin heard that, he did not say anything else, and all the way there he drove in silence to Chu Xin’s workplace.
He only stopped the car at an intersection, then unlocked the doors. “I’ll pick you up after work.”
Chu Xin got out of the car blankly, working hard to conceal his confusion. “O-okay.”
Why had he stopped at the intersection? Was he afraid someone would see?
Chu Xin was full of questions, and under Zhou Huaijin’s deep, unreadable gaze, he walked forward.
It was only a short stretch of road, but Chu Xin felt both panicked and dazed.
He could feel Zhou Huaijin staring at him the whole time. He nearly ended up walking with the same hand and foot on the same side, and he had no idea how to get to the original owner’s company at all.
Fortunately, after turning the corner, he saw an office building across the street. With Zhou Huaijin’s line of sight gone, Chu Xin quickly pulled out his phone, found the work group, and checked the company name.
It took Chu Xin a great deal of effort to make his way all the way to the original owner’s workstation.
Fortunately, there was a helpful colleague. Before Chu Xin even opened his mouth, the other person had already rattled off a long string of words.
“Xinxin, why aren’t you saying anything? Are you still not feeling well?” Lin Xiaoyan asked with concern.
The other man was not tall, with ash-brown hair and bright, lively eyes, a very cute boy.
Chu Xin liked people who looked cute.
Everyone in the company wore ID badges, so Chu Xin did not have to worry about calling someone by the wrong name.
Chu Xin curved his lips and smiled. “No, I’m fine.”
Lin Xiaoyan was just about to continue speaking when a rough voice suddenly shouted, “Chu Xin! What’s going on with you?”
As the shout ended, a stack of documents was also slammed onto Chu Xin’s desk.
Chu Xin was left dumbfounded by the shouting. What was going on?
Only after he clearly saw the man’s nameplate did he realize this slightly short, fat middle-aged man was the department manager, and also his direct supervisor.
“You can’t even handle something as simple as checking the data? If you can do it, then do it. If you can’t, get lost! You took a week off for a little injury. If you’re that precious, why bother coming to work at all?” the man barked at the top of his lungs, veins bulging in his neck, drawing most of the office’s attention.
Chu Xin frowned. Even if there was a problem with the work, there was no need to yell at him in front of so many colleagues.
More importantly, his phone had always been on. Since he woke up in the original owner’s body, no one had called him except Zhou Huaijin.
The cute-looking Lin Xiaoyan had, however, contacted him on WeChat twice, so was this manager doing it on purpose?
Lin Xiaoyan was very skilled at smoothing things over. “Manager Wang, if there’s an issue, let’s talk it out properly. Chu Xin isn’t the careless type.”
“What do you mean? You’re saying I wronged him?” The man called Manager Wang slammed a hand down hard on Chu Xin’s desk, making the whole stack of documents bounce.
Lin Xiaoyan, seeing this, picked his ear without the slightest politeness. “What’s with all the temper, Manager Wang? Did Chu Xin cost the company money, or bankrupt the company?”
Manager Wang’s face turned red. “He, he, stay out of our department’s business!”
Chu Xin flipped through the documents Manager Wang had thrown onto his desk and realized that, since his job matched the original owner’s, he could understand the file. It was just market research data for a product.
Chu Xin remained seated steadily at his workstation, his eyes fixed on the furious Manager Wang as he said calmly, “The researcher is Chen Yan, the verifier is Zhang Haitang. Manager Wang, what does a problem with this document have to do with me?”
Author’s Note:
Xinxin gradually discovered that the 「plot in the book」 he knew was wrong, because 「the original owner」 was a pitiful little thing who was bullied all the time…