“You might as well be more forceful and complete the post-marriage process in one go.”
Even as they stood at the hospital entrance, the heat on Lin Shen’s face had yet to fully fade.
“Boss, the investigation into yesterday’s matter is complete. The detailed report has been sent to your WeChat,” someone approached and said to Lu Jing.
Lu Jing: “Mm, I understand. Go ahead and handle Lin Shen’s paperwork first.”
The person came and left just as quickly, scurrying off as soon as he received the instruction.
Lin Shen had a vague impression of him—he was Lu Jing’s assistant, Ren Chen, who often appeared alongside Lu Jing. Many of Lu Jing’s fans recognized him.
“What was being investigated?” Lin Shen sensed that the investigation had something to do with him and looked up to ask Lu Jing.
His upward glance was particularly endearing, and Lu Jing couldn’t resist ruffling his hair. “About your memory loss.”
Caught off guard by the head-pat, Lin Shen forgot to press further.
Fortunately, Lu Jing volunteered an explanation: “The exact cause isn’t clear yet. Go ahead and get checked first. Once the results are out, I’ll explain everything in detail.”
As his large hand withdrew from Lin Shen’s soft hair, Lu Jing smiled at his somewhat dazed expression. “Don’t be nervous.”
Lu Jing’s face was the kind that, once seen, could never be forgotten—sharp eyebrows, starry eyes, and well-defined features. Most of the time, his expression was as cold and stern as ice, and even his smiles carried a sense of detachment.
But when that handsome face smiled at Lin Shen, the warmth in his gaze was enough to make one feel bathed in spring breeze.
And so, Lin Shen drifted along in a daze, basking in that spring breeze as he followed Lu Jing into the hospital.
It was a private hospital, and the medical staff were well-trained. No one showed excessive surprise or curiosity at the arrival of Lu Jing and Lin Shen.
Under the doctor’s guidance, Lin Shen completed all the examinations, with Lu Jing sticking close by his side the entire time, showing no sign of impatience.
It wasn’t until the afternoon that all the test results came in. The doctor stood to the side with the reports, while Lu Jing and Lin Shen waited intently for the diagnosis.
“Based on the examination results, we can essentially rule out brain changes caused by external impact,” the doctor adjusted his glasses and looked at Lin Shen. “Have you recently experienced anything that caused extreme panic or distress? Or do you often recall something in your mind that you can’t forget or let go of?”
Lin Shen replied, “I’m sorry, but I really can’t remember anything.”
The doctor frowned at the examination report, his face full of concern.
At that moment, Lu Jing suddenly spoke up, “Before losing his memory, he witnessed a car accident. It might be related to that.”
Lin Shen’s pupils flickered slightly as he slowly raised his head to look at Lu Jing.
The doctor seemed puzzled, “What’s the connection between the two…?”
Lu Jing felt a pang of reluctance. He wasn’t sure whether Lin Shen, after losing his memory, still remembered this incident, but as the person involved, Lin Shen should know the cause of his amnesia.
Just as he was about to speak, someone else spoke first.
It was Lin Shen, “My parents died in a car accident when I was in high school. I witnessed the entire process.”
He lowered his head and then raised it again, “That’s probably the reason.”
In the end, the doctor’s diagnosis was that Lin Shen’s witnessing of the car accident had triggered some unpleasant memories, stimulating his brain and activating its self-protection mechanism, which led to the amnesia.
On the way back, Lin Shen remained silent, not uttering a word. Lu Jing gave him enough time and space to process everything on his own.
As soon as they arrived home, Lin Shen received a call from his agent.
“Hello, Brother Huang,” he answered.
Brother Huang’s voice came through the phone, “Lin Shen, the advertisement shoot this afternoon is scheduled for three o’clock. I’m tied up with something and can’t come pick you up. You’ll have to go to the shooting location yourself later. I’ll send you the address.”
Lin Shen replied, “Alright.”
After hanging up, Lu Jing asked, “Are you starting work today?”
Lin Shen nodded, “Yeah, I don’t want to delay the shoot because of my own issues.”
As someone also in the industry, Lu Jing knew that affecting the entire shooting process due to one person was highly unprofessional. Having grown up in this circle, aside from his striking looks and superb acting skills, what Lu Jing was most praised for was his professionalism.
Whether it was for himself or others, Lu Jing held himself to a very high standard. Anyone who had worked with him knew he possessed an incredibly strong resilience and had zero tolerance for sloppiness. Even when running a high fever or bandaged up, he insisted on completing his work to the best of his ability.
Yet it was this very person who now said to Lin Shen, “It’s fine to postpone work for a few days. Your health is the most important.”
Lin Shen knew Lu Jing was worried about him. He looked up and smiled at Lu Jing, “I’m really fine.”
He spread his arms and spun around a few times on the spot, “See, I’m not lying. I’m not that easily affected.”
Lin Shen had this ability to put Lu Jing at ease.
Lu Jing was amused by his adorable action and finally conceded, “Alright, but you have to send me the work location. I’ll drive you there.”
Lin Shen widened his eyes slightly, confirming, “You’ll take me?”
“Yes,” Lu Jing nodded. “Although I’ve repeated this many times in front of you, I still have to remind you once more—we are partners now.”
The phrase “partners” always struck Lin Shen’s heart with precision, making him feel as if he were in a dreamlike paradise.
“No need to be too nervous or too anxious. I’ll emphasize this repeatedly over the next few months,” Lu Jing maintained his gentlemanly demeanor, yet his tone carried a hint of grievance. “I hope you won’t find me too annoying.”
Such a tone was truly rare for Lu Jing. If his fans heard it, they would undoubtedly lose control and let out fangirl screams.
Lu Jing’s voice was so close to Lin Shen. As one of Lu Jing’s fans, Lin Shen could hardly control his facial expressions.
“I won’t find you annoying,” Lin Shen’s ears grew slightly warm. “I’ll try my best to remember.”
…
When they arrived at the shooting location, Lin Shen’s agent, Brother Huang, was waiting at the entrance.
Brother Huang was around the same age as Lin Shen, only a year older. Lin Shen had been with him since his debut, and he had been a great help in Lin Shen’s career. Their relationship was more like friends.
Seeing Lin Shen get out of the car, Brother Huang immediately approached him and said, “Finally, you’re here! Guess who I just saw inside?”
Lin Shen’s memory was stuck back when he first entered the entertainment industry. Now, he knew almost nothing about the people and matters related to his work, as if he had been reset.
“Who?” Lin Shen asked, following Brother Huang’s lead.
“Jin Yucheng!”
Lin Shen searched his mind for this name but found no relevant information. However, based on Brother Huang’s reaction, Lin Shen clearly knew this person, and it seemed something had happened between them.
“Guess what? It’s just so unfortunate. Out of countless shooting locations, we had to run into him. If I had known we’d be this unlucky, I should’ve checked the almanac before leaving home today, prayed properly at the electronic temple on my tablet, and knocked on the wooden fish.”
Lin Shen: “…”
Brother Huang looked so agitated he could hardly contain himself. “And what’s even more unfortunate, guess?”
Lin Shen gave him a puzzled look.
Brother Huang patted his shoulder vigorously. “Because the space is limited, you and him have been assigned to the same dressing room!”
Lin Shen: “Oh.”
Brother Huang: “??”
“Between him and me…” Lin Shen tentatively asked, “is there some misunderstanding?”
“Misunderstanding?!” Unexpectedly, Brother Huang grew even more agitated upon hearing this. “What kind of misunderstanding is that? It’s obvious he bullied you first, thinking he could act all high and mighty just because he latched onto a small-time sponsor, biting anyone in sight.”
The shooting location was on the twentieth-something floor, and there were few people along the way. Brother Huang was speaking excitedly while Lin Shen quietly listened beside him.
“To be honest, he totally deserved to have his endorsement replaced by Chiyun. Someone like him would only tarnish the reputation of the product and the company even if he endorsed it.”
Brother Huang was always skilled at recounting past grievances. By the time they stepped out of the elevator, Lin Shen had already learned the entire history of his conflicts with that minor celebrity named Jin Yucheng.
Half a month ago, Lin Shen was in the studio filming, eating watermelon with the actors beside him. Just as they were enjoying the watermelon, a sharp, unpleasant noise suddenly came from outside the door.
Following the principle of flocking to wherever there’s excitement, the group of extras who had been squatting on the ground eating watermelon all crowded over, craning their necks to look outside.
Lin Shen originally had no such curiosity, but the crowd surged forward so quickly that, in order to protect the watermelon in his hands, he had no choice but to follow the flow and squeeze out of the cramped space.
The commotion outside the studio became much clearer. Lin Shen casually listened while using a toothpick to pick at the watermelon chunks.
“Do you know who I am? Do you know who’s backing me?”
The staff member was somewhat intimidated but still spoke with difficulty, “Mr. Jin, we’re just following the rules. Everyone is waiting in line the same way. With your qualifications, this brand seems tailor-made for you. It’ll be yours in the end anyway, so why not take a little rest while you wait?”
Jin Yucheng, however, was not satisfied. “Even if I have to wait, I won’t do it in the same room as these nobodies who aren’t even ranked in the top eighteen. Arrange a private lounge for me.”
“This… this…”
Just as the staff member was struggling, the sound of firm, crisp footsteps echoed from around the corner, accompanied by a clear male voice. “I heard from afar that someone said our brand was tailor-made for someone else. I wondered who it was—turns out it’s just a newly acquired lapdog of the Zhang family’s young master.”
The speaker was Bai Jian, the second son of Chiyun. “Do you really think our products are so easy to endorse that just any dog can get in front of the camera?”
He glanced disdainfully at Jin Yucheng. “Your audition opportunity with Chiyun is revoked. Get lost.”
At that moment, someone walked over and whispered something to Bai Jian. Bai Jian snorted through his nose. “He recommended him? With his taste, he thinks he can handpick an endorser for my family’s company? I could pick someone more suitable from anyone in this building than whoever he found.”
With those words, he scanned the hallway and then pointed. “That one over there eating watermelon. Yes, you, stop looking around. Come out.”
What grudges Bai Jian held against the Zhang family’s young master, Lin Shen had no idea. But just like that, Lin Shen, a perennial nobody, unexpectedly landed an audition opportunity for the major brand Chiyun.
And then, against all odds, he fought his way through an audition filled with fresh-faced stars and secured the final endorsement contract.
Ding—
The elevator arrived.
Brother Huang led Lin Shen out of the elevator, still talking as they walked. “When you see him later, don’t get worked up. We earned this opportunity entirely on our own merit. We won’t stoop to his level—just treat him like air.”
Lin Shen: “…”
Brother Huang turned around. “Why aren’t you moving?”
“You seem to be the more agitated one right now. To avoid losing control when you see him later,” Lin Shen asked calmly and understandingly, “do you need to calm down outside the door before going in?”
Click.
Lin Shen looked up. The door opened.
A voice came from inside. “Brother Jin, you’re about to start makeup soon. Where are you going?”
The person standing at the door clearly saw Lin Shen too.
The person inside asked again, “Brother Jin, why aren’t you moving?”
Jin Chengyu smiled, his eyes brazenly sweeping over Lin Shen from head to toe. “It’s fine. I ran into an old friend.”
Lin Shen’s right arm was being gripped so tightly by Brother Huang that it hurt.
Lin Shen: “…”
Seems there’s no chance for Brother Huang to calm down now.
On the other side, after dropping Lin Shen off at the filming location, Lu Jing drove into the adjacent street and parked at a bar not far away.
The bar wasn’t open for business yet, and this spot was private enough. Lu Jing opened the door and walked in, only to have an expensive bottle of red wine thrown straight at him.
He caught the bottle steadily. Lu Jing said to the person with messy shoulder-length hair, “I’m not here to drink today. Let’s talk business.”
The person opposite leaned back on the leather sofa. Two empty wine glasses sat on the table before him. He casually picked one up and twirled it in his hand. “Not very considerate, are you, Lu Jing? It’s been so long since we last drank together. Talking business as soon as we meet hurts the friendship.”
Lu Jing sat down opposite him, placing the red wine casually on the table. “It’s serious business. I’m not joking with you.”
The wine glass reflected a snowy gleam under the cold white light. Qi Zhang still looked utterly nonchalant. “Then tell me, what’s this serious business?”
Lu Jing: “Lin Shen has lost his memory.”
Bang
The glass slipped from Qi Zhang’s hand, rolling across his cheek and the sofa before falling to the floor.
“Lin Shen lost his memory?!”
Lu Jing frowned and nodded.
Ignoring the pain on his face, Qi Zhang quickly sat up straight and pressed, “Are you joking?”
Lu Jing looked at him with a grave expression. “Do I look like I’m joking?”
Qi Zhang stared at Lu Jing’s face. It really didn’t seem like a joke. Besides, how could Lu Jing joke about something like this? Everyone close to Lu Jing knew exactly how much Lin Shen meant to him.
After barely suppressing his shock, Qi Zhang asked, “Does he remember anything at all?”
Lu Jing: “No, it’s not clear exactly when his memory stops.”
Qi Zhang got straight to the point. “Does he remember you two are married?”
Lu Jing shook his head. “He doesn’t remember.”
It was as if a long breath was stuck in his throat. Only after a while did Qi Zhang ask, “So what are you planning to do now?”
Lu Jing: “Start over. Pursue him again.”
“With your special circumstances, it took so long to build that emotional foundation…” Suddenly remembering something, Qi Zhang leaned forward, closer to Lu Jing. “Don’t tell me you two haven’t taken the final step yet?”
Lu Jing: “Do I look that abstinent?”
“True, you only look abstinent on the surface,” Qi Zhang leaned back against the sofa again. “Anyway, you two have done everything you should have. Why chase him again? As the saying goes, ‘accomplish the whole task at one stroke, achieve complete success in one move’…”
“You might as well be more forceful. Complete the post-marriage process in one go.”
Author’s Note:
This story is set in a fictional world. The amnesia and entertainment industry elements are entirely made up. The main characters are not perfect; both the gong and shou have flaws. Please just enjoy it for fun and don’t take it too seriously.
Hope you enjoy reading!