“Hmm… According to your description and our examination results, Miss Jiang’s memory loss should not be permanent. Rather, it has been temporarily sealed away by the human self-preservation mechanism.”
In the bright and clean consultation room, the doctor, holding a stack of test results in one hand, spoke to the alpha sitting upright before her.
Although her professional ethics as a physician reminded her to treat all patients equally, she couldn’t help but feel a little excited.
Sitting before her was the top tycoon who had been trending for over half a year yet remained incredibly elusive.
Yet now, this person was no different from any other patient’s family member, listening intently to her diagnosis, nodding from time to time to show understanding, and even taking notes in a small notebook she carried with her.
As for the patient who could command such devotion from this great figure, the doctor’s gaze shifted to the window.
An omega with delicate but slightly pale features was sitting on a soft chair by the window. Her bright, dark eyes shimmered as she gazed at the leaves of a large tree outside, rustling in the gentle breeze.
The branches and leaves were illuminated by the bright sunlight, casting dappled shadows across the woman’s face. This only served to highlight her skin, which was so fair and delicate under the sun that a single glance could make one feel inadequate.
Her eyes were slightly narrowed, her nose slightly wrinkled, like a beautiful flower enjoying the bright sun and clear breeze outside the window.
Just then, a small white butterfly flew into view, following the windowsill.
The woman’s beautiful eyes suddenly widened. She cautiously extended a hand. The little butterfly, perhaps mistaking her slender, fair arm for a soft branch, circled up without hesitation, occasionally tapping lightly against her arm.
The woman’s eyes curved into a smile, her full lips curling slightly. She watched the little butterfly without blinking, her bright pupils gently following its flight.
Actually, she’s more like a cat.
The doctor reluctantly pulled her gaze away, silently repeating the word “professional” three times to suppress the urge to take a picture.
She recognized this Miss Jiang; she was even something of a fan. Seeing her in person today, she was indeed a bit different from how she appeared on screen. But there was no sense of disillusionment from a shattered persona. Instead, she felt she had excellent taste for being a fan of a star who was even more beautiful in person.
Perhaps because she had lost her memories, the current Jiang Hanguang lacked that polite, distant air. She was like a docile cat with a fondness for humans, extending her soft paws in a friendly gesture to every person—or butterfly—she met.
In short, she was utterly adorable, so much so that when she saw Cheng Ying carry her into the consultation room this morning, she didn’t find it strange at all.
Kitties are meant to be spoiled. Is there a problem with that?
However, this wasn’t exactly normal.
Generally speaking, people who lose their memories first react to their surroundings with resistance or even fear. This is one of the instinctive responses humans have relied on for survival over thousands of years of evolution—to naturally maintain a cautious and guarded attitude toward unfamiliar people or things.
But with Jiang Hanguang, there was no sign of this resistance. The woman was full of curiosity and love for everything.
Either she was exceptionally pure and kind by nature, or…
The doctor looked at Cheng Ying across from her. The alpha was patiently waiting for her to continue, yet she still turned her head from time to time to look at Jiang Hanguang by the window.
The moment she saw her, those light blue eyes, which had been calm and serene, rippled with lingering tenderness, like a sea that had just thawed.
Or… she was just too well-protected.
The doctor silently savored the incredibly sweet moment, gathered her shattered professionalism, and continued.
“According to your account, Miss Jiang spent a long time alone in a dark, soundless space. This takes a great toll on a person’s psyche. An ordinary person would show clear signs of mental derangement after two weeks at most in such an environment. Miss Jiang’s condition is already the best possible outcome. The temporary memory loss has, to some extent, protected her mental stability. And since her brain sustained no external damage, those memories shouldn’t be damaged either. In other words, they are still in Miss Jiang’s brain; she just needs time to find the key to open that door.”
“Yes.” Perhaps the diagnosis was better than Cheng Ying had expected, as a relieved smile appeared on the beautiful alpha’s face. She nodded at the doctor. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Hmm… The human brain is too complex. In cases like this, we generally recommend conservative treatment. There’s no need to do anything intentional. As long as the patient remains physically healthy and in good spirits, her memories should return on their own before long.” The doctor’s mood was also lifted by that smile, and her words carried a gentle, reassuring tone.
“I understand. Thank you, doctor.” The alpha stood up, nodded to her, and walked over to Jiang Hanguang by the window. “Hanguang,” she said gently, “let’s go home.”
By now, the little butterfly had fluttered away. Jiang Hanguang reluctantly pulled her gaze back and, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, opened her arms to Cheng Ying. The smiling alpha effortlessly scooped her up in a perfect princess carry.
The doctor heard the woman’s coquettish murmur, “This tree is so beautiful too.”
Then she heard the alpha’s reply, “Then I’ll discuss it with the hospital administration. We can move it to our yard so Hanguang can see it every day.”
The doctor: “…”
She ought to be thankful Jiang Hanguang didn’t find her beautiful, or else Cheng Ying would have definitely packed her up and taken her away today too.
After Jiang Hanguang woke up, Cheng Ying had taken her for a series of check-ups. Today was the last one.
Overall, aside from her body being a bit too weak from being submerged in nutrient fluid for so long, there were no major issues.
But Cheng Ying couldn’t help but feel a pang in her heart. The muscles the woman had worked so hard to build through long-term training had all atrophied from her body’s prolonged disuse. The current Jiang Hanguang, while not looking emaciated, was actually unsteady on her feet.
Fortunately, the patient herself was in good spirits. Sitting in the passenger seat, she curiously observed the world outside the window, occasionally asking questions that were both amusing and adorable.
Cheng Ying’s originally troubled thoughts were stirred by her, and her mood brightened unconsciously.
Yes, just as the doctor said, this was already the best possible outcome.
Jiang Hanguang was awake, and she had all the time in the world to wait for the woman to fully remember everything about them.
Jiang Hanguang found Cheng Ying to be a very magical person.
Most of the time, she was omnipotent. She could cook dishes Jiang Hanguang had never seen before, yet all were delicious. She could conjure up everything Jiang Hanguang liked and present it to her as if by magic.
Jiang Hanguang had lost her memories, but not her basic common sense.
She knew that obtaining such omnipotent power often came at a great price.
But Cheng Ying showed no signs of that. The alpha seemed to have a lot of free time, spending all day every day revolving around her.
On rare occasions, Jiang Hanguang could also see her vulnerable side.
When she shakily supported her body, trying to walk toward Cheng Ying on her own, the alpha instinctively wanted to rush forward and help her, yet knew it was a necessary step she had to take.
So she endured, forcing herself to stay put, watching Jiang Hanguang with a look of both anticipation and sorrow.
Whenever she couldn’t do anything for Jiang Hanguang and had to place her hopes on the woman’s own efforts, she would wear this expression.
Like a helpless child.
Jiang Hanguang didn’t tell Cheng Ying that whenever she saw that look in her eyes, her own heart would ache with a stuffy pain, and she would always feel the urge to go over and hug her.
For some reason, she always felt that doing so would only make Cheng Ying sadder.
She didn’t want to make Cheng Ying sad.
Even if she couldn’t remember anything but Cheng Ying’s name, she didn’t want to make her sad.
Some love, it seemed, was carved into her very bones and blood, and thus did not vanish with her memories.
So she could only try to appear more relaxed, smiling at the alpha and saying, “It’s okay, I can definitely walk over on my own.”
I will always make it to your side. Don’t be sad, and don’t be afraid.
She held onto the support railing Cheng Ying had set up, walking toward the alpha as steadily as she could.
She couldn’t go too fast. She could feel that her body was indeed unprecedentedly weak; if she walked too quickly, she might fall.
She didn’t know how long Cheng Ying would worry before letting her practice again if she fell.
Cheng Ying watched the woman’s frail body move toward her, trembling. Her fists clenched and unclenched, her feet stepped forward and then drew back.
At times like this, she would again feel that sense of powerlessness she had experienced countless times during the three years Jiang Hanguang was in a coma.
You can’t do anything. You can only watch, pray, and plead.
Every day, ten thousand desperate thoughts would sprout in her heart, only to be frantically stamped out at their inception.
Then she would repeat those beautiful wishes tens of thousands of times.
She’ll get better. She’ll wake up. We’ll meet again.
Fortunately, this time, her remedy was right by her side. She didn’t need to suffer for too long.
Though it was slow, the woman finally traversed that not-so-short path. She stood before her, a triumphant smile on her face, and gave her a hug full of the scent of roses.
“See? I told you I could do it.”
Cheng Ying hugged her back tightly, burying her head in her soft hair, and responded with a sound that was both aggrieved and resolute.
“Mmm.”
The days that followed were peaceful and happy.
In the spring, Jiang Hanguang sat in the glass conservatory, watching Cheng Ying fly a kite.
The sight of the kite fluttering and swaying made her eager to try it herself.
At first, Cheng Ying was reluctant, worried about her physical condition. But after Jiang Hanguang stared at her pitifully for a few seconds, the alpha decisively handed over the kite handle with both hands.
Then, like a dutiful shadow, she stuck close to her, carefully protecting the running omega, kicking away any stones that might trip her.
Summertime was their busiest season. The flowers in the garden were all in bloom, and with the hot weather, they required timely watering.
After Jiang Hanguang woke up, Cheng Ying had no heart to tend to such a large garden anymore, so she installed an automatic maintenance system for most of it, leaving only the small patch closest to the villa for her to care for herself.
Jiang Hanguang loved the feeling of watering flowers. Watching the plants, wilted from the sun, become adorned with crystal-clear water droplets and regain their vibrancy was a very fulfilling experience.
Seeing that she enjoyed it, Cheng Ying simply handed over all the minor tasks to her, staying by her side and unceremoniously carrying her back to rest whenever Jiang Hanguang stood in the sun for too long.
Jiang Hanguang watered the flowers for a while, then turned to see the alpha’s light blue eyes watching her without blinking.
For some reason, whenever Cheng Ying looked at her like that, she couldn’t help but feel hot all over.
The current Jiang Hanguang didn’t yet understand that this was called shyness or a fluttering heart; she just instinctively acted to avoid this uncomfortable feeling.
She mischievously flattened the stream of water from the hose, changing its direction into a thin mist that sprayed onto the alpha.
Caught off guard, Cheng Ying was soaked. She wiped the water from her face with a wry smile. “Alright, you ambushed me!”
The accused woman on the other side, showing no remorse, continued her attack, which was more teasing than fighting, a triumphant smile on her face. “It’s so hot today, you should get watered too.”
“Hmph!” The alpha shook the water from her head like a large dog, feigning a fierce expression as she reached for another hose nearby. “You just wait!”
“Hey, I’m still a patient, how could you?”
“Weren’t you pretty mighty when you were spraying me just now? Take my water jet attack!”
“Can’t hit me! Rebound!”
What started as watering flowers ended up as a water fight, and it was a while before their laughter and antics subsided.
Although Cheng Ying shouted loudly, it was obvious she was holding back. Jiang Hanguang’s clothes were only slightly damp as she was half-pulled, half-pushed into the bathroom.
“Look at the mess you’ve made. Go take a shower.” The soaking wet alpha frowned, but her eyes were full of laughter as she spoke in a mock-fierce tone.
Jiang Hanguang wasn’t without ways to handle her. The omega blinked and asked with a smile, “Aren’t you coming with me?”
Cheng Ying looked like she wanted to say something but stopped. After a moment of silence, her eyes swept over Jiang Hanguang’s body, whose curves were especially prominent from being wet, before quickly looking away. “…I’ll use the other bathroom.”
After saying that, she fled in disarray, forgetting to maintain her image as the disciplinarian.
The omega’s bright eyes rolled playfully, and she closed the bathroom door with a satisfied smile.
This was one of Cheng Ying’s weaknesses that she had figured out on her own.
When she had first woken up, Cheng Ying would still help her bathe. But for some reason, once they were in the bathtub, the usually calm and steady alpha would become like a malfunctioning robot, stiff and trembling all over.
She would also always sneak out halfway through the bath, only returning after a while.
After her body recovered, she refused this activity altogether.
Jiang Hanguang thought it over and came to a conclusion: Cheng Ying was afraid of bathing with her.
They bathed every day, and she was by her side every day. What was there to be afraid of?
So weird.
In the autumn, when the flowers withered, the two of them would often sit in the courtyard, eating pastries made by Cheng Ying and admiring the sight of falling petals.
Cheng Ying would tell her interesting stories about planting these plants. Jiang Hanguang would listen quietly, holding the alpha’s scarred hands in her own and gently blowing on them.
The stories were all very interesting, but she would always feel a touch of sadness unconsciously.
Because she always felt that Cheng Ying wasn’t happy when she was doing these things.
Winter was Jiang Hanguang’s second favorite season, second only to the summer when all the flowers bloomed. After a heavy snow, a thick layer of snow would pile up in the yard.
An eager Jiang Hanguang was only allowed to go outside after Cheng Ying had bundled her up like a ball.
She dove headfirst into a thick snowdrift. Hearing the alpha’s cry of surprise behind her, she quickly turned around as the footsteps approached and threw a snowball she had already packed at Cheng Ying.
Cheng Ying reacted very quickly. After a brief moment of shock, she immediately pretended to be shot and fell to the ground. “Ah, I’ve been hit!”
Then, quite unreasonably, she resurrected on the spot and angrily counterattacked.
The two of them had a playful fight, turning into two snowmen before returning inside. Jiang Hanguang pressed her icy hands against Cheng Ying’s flushed cheeks.
The other woman shrieked while pretending she was going to stick her hands inside her clothes.
But Jiang Hanguang knew she wouldn’t, because that would really make her cold, so Cheng Ying wouldn’t do it.
Her common sense told her she shouldn’t be so brazen with Cheng Ying.
After all, since losing her memory, the other woman had become her only support.
But her instincts were far more resolute than her memories. She enjoyed everything from Cheng Ying as if it were her right, without a trace of unease.
It’s okay. No matter how mischievous I am, she will love me.
Because she is Cheng Ying.
After their baths, the two of them snuggled on the large sofa in the living room, watching 《Return》 together.
Cheng Ying told Jiang Hanguang that she used to be an actress, so Jiang Hanguang wanted to see her past works.
But unexpectedly, despite having debuted so long ago, she had pitifully few works. She had already watched 《South Wind》 and 《Little Little Farm》 many times. This was her first time watching this movie, so Jiang Hanguang was quite looking forward to it.
The memory loss hadn’t affected her aesthetic sense, so she could still tell that this was a very good movie.
It was just that she couldn’t imagine how she had managed to portray the charming and alluring woman in the movie who looked so much like her.
The movie reached some intimate scenes between Gu Qingsheng and Xin Ze. Yan Zhi had used some ambiguous shots and facial close-ups as metaphors.
Jiang Hanguang watched for a moment, then turned her head and asked, “What are they doing?”
Cheng Ying: “…”
One could only say that being indirect had its disadvantages. These scenes were too subtle. For Jiang Hanguang, who had no memory and wasn’t very experienced in this area, it was probably indeed hard to understand.
She looked at the woman’s pure and curious eyes and felt that anything she said now would sound perverted.
In the end, she could only clear her throat twice and give a relatively easy-to-understand and less explicit answer, “They’re engaging in some… emotional exchange between lovers.”
Jiang Hanguang nodded in understanding, her attention drawn back to the movie’s plot.
She had clearly asked casually, but for Cheng Ying, it wasn’t something to be heard casually.
Having seen 《Return》 countless times, it could no longer hold her attention. So her gaze unconsciously fell upon Jiang Hanguang.
The heating in the house was strong, and the woman was wearing only a round-collared velvet nightgown. Her body had fully recovered its former vitality. From Cheng Ying’s angle, she could see the delicate, clear lines of her collarbone below her long neck.
It glowed with a moist sheen in the dim light, looking delicious at a glance.
Cheng Ying swallowed and stood up. “I’ll go get you a glass of milk.”
Jiang Hanguang watched the alpha’s back, then glanced at the idle food delivery robot beside her.
She knew Cheng Ying was starting to act weird again.
This time, however, she had an inkling of what the problem was.
She and Cheng Ying, had they never engaged in that so-called… emotional exchange between lovers?
When they went to bed that night, Cheng Ying felt that Jiang Hanguang was being especially clingy.
Although the woman had always liked being held by her while sleeping, she had never, it seemed, pressed against her so tightly.
She didn’t know if it was because she had ulterior motives that everything seemed off, but she really was… losing control.
How could she not want it? She was a normal alpha, separated from her lover for three long years.
Her lover had finally woken up, only to be fragile and with all her past memories gone.
She didn’t want to hurt Jiang Hanguang, and even less did she want to scare her.
She was already used to enduring. As long as she could have her in the end, any long wait before that was just a matter of enduring a little more hardship.
So she feigned calmness and sat up. “Uh, I’m going out for a bit.”
She didn’t know that in Jiang Hanguang’s eyes, this was tantamount to confessing without being pressed and walking right into a trap.
She was pushed back into the blankets by the woman. Before she could even cry out in surprise, the woman’s lips were already on hers.
It was truly a superficial kiss; clearly, the movie 《Return》 hadn’t taught Jiang Hanguang much more.
Fortunately, for Cheng Ying, it was more than enough.
The woman looked at her with a beaming smile, a triumphant expression on her face as if she had exposed her secret, like a little fox.
“Have you been wanting to… exchange with me for a while now?”
Cheng Ying: “…”
She didn’t speak, because all her strength was being used to restrain certain unspeakable desires.
But thankfully, she was soon liberated, because Jiang Hanguang kissed her again.
“I think I kind of want to, too. Do you know what to do?”
Cheng Ying let out a long breath, rolled over, and pinned down the woman’s slender, soft body. She said through gritted teeth, “I do. Just don’t you go begging for mercy later.”
Endure my ass. If she acted now, Jiang Hanguang would be the one who’s shy later. If she held back now, she’d be the one getting laughed at in the future.
When the alpha’s rough hands caressed her body, Jiang Hanguang still felt a little ticklish and tried to dodge with a laugh.
But how could she escape now? Fortunately, she wasn’t ticklish for long.
Heat seeped out from within her body, and she gradually became unable to speak those lighthearted words.
All she could let out were short, hurried syllables and gasps.
She thought she must have done this with Cheng Ying before; otherwise, how could her body accept the other person so familiarly and passionately?
Those unfamiliar sensations came in waves, both frightening and delightful.
She dazedly hugged the alpha on top of her, her eyes already filled with tears.
“Cheng, Cheng Ying… Cheng Ying…”
She heard her own sticky voice, unprecedentedly delicate, soft, and frantic.
Just like when she had first woken up, having lost everything but the memory of the alpha’s name.
Her tears were gently kissed away.
She heard the alpha’s voice.
“I’m here, Hanguang. I’m here, don’t be afraid.”
She drifted into sleep amidst this gentle warmth and had an incredibly long dream.
The dream was all about her. There were none of the happy, romantic trifles, no Cheng Ying. There was only everything pressing down on her like a mountain, and her dazed, powerless self.
Only at the very end of the story did the alpha’s figure appear, tearing through the gray scroll and leaving behind a beautiful, richly colored stroke.
Sunlight filtered through the thick curtains. The omega on the bed slowly sat up, her smooth, long hair sliding down her bare shoulders, covering the faint red marks on her fair skin.
This was probably the first time in a year that she had woken up earlier than Cheng Ying.
She looked at the faint sunlight beyond the curtains, a small smile gracing her rosy lips.
It’s a beautiful day today.
Her movements startled the alpha beside her. The other woman opened her eyes dazedly, staring blankly at the seated omega.
The woman turned her head, a mischievous smile appearing on her beautiful face, looking like a fox spirit that had perfected its craft.
“Feeling alright, Boss Cheng?”
The alpha’s eyes suddenly widened. She looked at her in disbelief. “You…”
Before she could finish her sentence, the woman’s lips descended upon hers.
Her gentle words were lost in the morning breeze, “I’m back, Cheng Ying.”
