Chapter 105: Without you, my life is henceforth devoid of all meaning.

It all happened in the blink of an eye. Lin Wanbai gave him no time to react, not even a single word. She held the resolve of someone determined to die, leaving no room for negotiation, so there was nothing she needed to say, nor anything she wished to say to him.

She only wanted to slap him hard while he was at his most self-satisfied, to tear away the facade of superficial glamour and expose the wretched truth beneath, to tell him that he had always been in hell and would never, ever see the sun.

Through this desperate act, she told him that even if she became just like him, she would never be with him.

Fu Juxing threw aside what he was holding and lunged forward without a moment’s hesitation, rushing to the window and jumping out after her. But he could not save her; he couldn't even touch a finger.

The second floor was neither very high nor very low, but at the wrong angle, it could be fatal. Moreover, the ceiling height here made it nearly equivalent to a third-story drop. She had fallen backward, intending to land on her head, giving herself no chance of survival.

Fu Juxing jumped down directly. He was barefoot, and the impact was too great for him to keep his footing. He collapsed upon landing. A sharp, searing pain shot through him, and he felt the bones in both feet fracture; his left foot, in particular, throbbed with such intensity that he could not stand.

He braced his hands against the ground, his head bowed, glancing sideways at Lin Wanbai, who lay a few steps away. Her face was turned toward him, stained with blood and devoid of all life.

Gritting his teeth, he let out a guttural roar and slowly forced himself to stand. The pain pricked at his nerves, yet it was nothing compared to the agony in his heart. He walked toward her, step by step; his left ankle was visibly deformed, though he seemed entirely unaware of it.

The distance of four or five steps felt like walking on blades—every movement was a fresh sting, every footprint a stain of blood.

She lay there on the ground, her skin appearing even paler, her bright red dress as jarring as fresh blood.

Fu Juxing felt his heart shatter. The pain was millions of times worse than any physical injury; his world had collapsed. He stood by her side, his breathing ragged, each breath a struggle.

"Lin Wanbai..." he whispered her name, his voice weak and trembling, laced with a hint of supplication.

"Lin Wanbai." He knelt down, his eyes turning bloodshot instantly. His hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists, veins bulging on his forehead.

Finally, as if venting, he shouted at her, "Lin Wanbai!"

But she didn't respond. Neither fear, nor panic, nor joy would ever appear on her face again.

She lay with her eyes closed, sleeping peacefully.

Fu Juxing swallowed, tasting a hint of metallic sweetness. It felt as if something were lodged in his throat, impossible to swallow. He reached out with trembling hands, yet he dared not touch her.

His fingers brushed against hers, then he carefully took her hand, holding it gently between both of his and pressing it to his chest.

At that moment, servants rushed over, horrified by the scene. They quickly called for an ambulance, standing at a distance, afraid to approach.

Fu Juxing remained kneeling by Lin Wanbai’s side, motionless. As the cold wind blew, the servants could faintly hear a sound of sobbing, as if in a dream. They dared not speak, only exchanging glances before looking at the man's back. Was he crying?

The paramedics arrived ten minutes later, along with Liang Yusheng. They couldn't pull Fu Juxing away, and eventually, Liang Yusheng had to drag him aside so the medical staff could perform emergency aid.

Fu Juxing seemed to wake from a trance. He grabbed one of the doctors, still kneeling on the ground, and pleaded, "Please, save her. I beg you..."

"Sir, please rest assured, we will do everything in our power."

Seeing that Fu Juxing was also injured and in poor condition, Liang Yusheng called for another doctor to attend to him.

Beside Lin Wanbai lay Auntie Rong. When Lin Wanbai jumped, Auntie Rong had tried to catch her below, but the force was too great; though she had cushioned the fall, she had been knocked down and rendered unconscious.

Both were severely injured.

They were loaded into the ambulance together. Fu Juxing wanted to get in, but there was no room. For once, he didn't lash out; he simply stood there, watching the doors close and the vehicle speed away from the villa.

The sound of the ambulance faded until it disappeared completely.

Liang Yusheng supported him, and seeing his state, guided him to a car. "Get in. We’re going to the hospital."

Fu Juxing didn't move. After withdrawing his gaze, he shook off Liang Yusheng’s hand and turned back inside.

His feet were bleeding, leaving a trail of crimson with every step. He ignored it, climbing the stairs, refusing any help. No one dared to intervene. Liang Yusheng could only follow behind, wanting to say something but finding no words.

Fu Juxing returned to the room and saw the box on the vanity. He walked over and opened it.

Inside was the sweater she had been knitting, along with a pair of gloves and a scarf.

He dumped everything out. Wrapped inside the scarf was something bundled in white paper that fell out.

Leaning on the table with one hand, he bent down to pick it up. Inside was a small USB drive. He turned the white paper over; it was just a blank sheet, nothing more.

Liang Yusheng asked, "Why is there a USB drive?"

Fu Juxing stared at the drive in his palm. A moment later, he rushed into the study, clumsily turned on the computer, and rummaged through the drawers until he found an adapter. He plugged it in, and the drive popped up. He opened it to find two videos.

He didn't need to play them to know what they contained.

"Why..."

She had left nothing else, only this drive, without a single word on the paper.

She must have seen the contents. She had the opportunity to destroy him, yet she didn't—she hadn't released what was on the drive.

In the next second, Fu Juxing collapsed to the floor.

He covered his eyes with one hand, emitting a sound that was neither a sob nor a laugh.

Some people, even if dragged into hell, would never succumb to the darkness as he wished. She would always be a flower far beyond his reach; even when crushed, she maintained her pure heart and stood firm by her principles.

She was as good as she had always been. He would never be worthy of her in this lifetime.

They would never be the same kind of person.

Liang Yusheng stood nearby, glanced at the computer screen, and immediately pulled the USB drive out, slipping it into his pocket. He crouched down and said, "Behave. We’re going to the hospital. If you keep this up, your leg will be ruined."

Fu Juxing didn't react. Liang Yusheng called for servants to carry him to the car, grabbed a set of clothes for him, and headed to the hospital.

Upon arrival, Liang Yukang was already there. Together, they supported him into the emergency room.

Just then, the doors opened, and doctors and nurses pushed out a mobile bed. The flash of vibrant red caught his eye, and he immediately broke free, rushing forward.

It was unbelievable; despite the state of his feet, he was still able to walk.

He caught up and saw clearly that the person on the bed was indeed Lin Wanbai.

Her face was ashen, looking like a corpse. He grabbed her hand, saying, "Don't leave me. You cannot leave me. You cannot..."

A nurse noticed him and immediately tried to steady him. Seeing the blood on his clothes, she hurried to say, "Sir, let me take you to see a doctor."

"Let go! I need to follow her. I won't let her leave me like this."

He was persistent, and with surprising strength, he shook her off. He followed them to the operating room, where he was finally blocked at the entrance. He pressed himself against the door, peering through the small window, determined to watch even if he couldn't see anything.

He stared, unblinking.

Liang Yukang and Liang Yusheng followed, their hearts aching at the sight of his wretched state.

Liang Yusheng walked over and stood beside him, his gaze falling on Fu Juxing’s face. This was the first time he had seen him so frantic and lost, like a child who had caused a great disaster and didn't know what to do.

His eyes were red, shimmering with tears, filled with desperation. His lips moved, but no sound came out.

Liang Yusheng felt a pang of sympathy; none of this was entirely his fault—how could one blame him?

He placed a hand on his shoulder and said with unusual gentleness, "Ah-Xing, listen to me. Go see a doctor first. I will watch here; nothing will go wrong."

He didn't react, as if he couldn't hear a thing.

Liang Yusheng continued, "You can't go on like this. You need to get better yourself so you can take care of her later. If you collapse, who will look after her when the doctors save her? Be sensible, go get treated. It won't take long. Standing here won't change anything."

He remained silent, staring into the room.

Knowing he couldn't be persuaded, Liang Yusheng called a doctor over to perform a quick examination.

After checking his left foot, the doctor said, "We need an X-ray, and quickly. If we delay any longer, I fear it won't heal properly."

Fu Juxing didn't cooperate; nothing anyone said worked.

The operating room doors opened again, and the staff came out to explain Lin Wanbai's current condition. Fu Juxing stared at the doctor's moving lips, but could hear nothing.

The nurse brought a pen for him to sign the papers.

He looked at the dense text on the page, a massive weight pressing on his chest. Something rose in his throat, and as he saw the word "Death" written on the form, a mouthful of fresh blood erupted from his mouth.

The nurse was startled and hurried to steady him.

Fu Juxing slowly collapsed, unable to hold himself up any longer. He wiped the blood away, gripped the pen, and signed his name, stroke by stroke.

Everything around him began to blur into chaos, voices calling his name echoed in his ears. He opened his mouth slightly, his lips trembling, and whispered, "I was wrong."

Everything before him went dark, and he sank into a black void.

*Xiaobai, I am so afraid—afraid of losing you like this, of never being able to hold you again.*

*Without you, my life is utterly meaningless.*

...

Two years later.

Lin Wanbai woke to a wave of noise. She opened her eyes to find herself on the sofa, a sunflower seed still clutched in her hand. The television was playing the latest popular fantasy drama. She rubbed her eyes, sat up, and looked outside. Someone was mowing the lawn, and the noise was quite loud.

She pulled the blanket off and walked over to look. It was a young gardener, not the one from last time—the one who came last month was an old man. This one looked very young, muscular, and tall; from the back, he looked quite handsome.

She squinted, her mouth suddenly dry.

"Xiaobai, come take your medicine."

Hearing this, Lin Wanbai replied but remained standing at the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the man mowing the lawn.

"Still looking?" Auntie Rong walked up to her, smiling. "Come on, drink your medicine."

Lin Wanbai grinned at Auntie Rong, her cheeks flushing slightly. She turned and ran back to the living room. A bowl of Chinese medicine sat on the coffee table. She sat down, looked left and right, and asked, "Auntie Rong, didn't you prepare any candy?"

"I did. Drink the medicine first, then I'll give it to you."

"Give it to me first, then I'll drink it." She giggled, holding out her hand.

Auntie Rong said, "You're trying to cheat again. I fell for it last time; this time, absolutely not."

"Oh, come on, I won't cheat this time. I promise I'll drink it all and then eat it," she said, wiggling her fingers, then adding, "Where did this boy mowing the lawn come from?"

"Found him in the village ahead. Did you think he fell from the sky?"

Auntie Rong brought the medicine to her. "Drink it quickly before it gets colder and even more bitter."

Lin Wanbai looked at the black concoction, pouting. "How much longer do I have to drink this? I'm already better."

"This is to nourish your body. You're still a bit weak; the doctor said to keep drinking it. It does no harm."

"But it's so bitter! So bitter I feel like I'm going to faint."

Auntie Rong chuckled. "I made soufflés today. If you drink it all obediently, I'll let you have two."

Lin Wanbai’s eyes lit up, and she held up three fingers. "Three."

Auntie Rong patted her head. "I'm feeling generous, so three it is. Now, drink your medicine."

Lin Wanbai looked at the medicine, took a deep breath as if summoning all her courage, grabbed the bowl, closed her eyes, and downed it in one go. Afterward, she stuck out her tongue and reached into Auntie Rong’s pocket, chattering, "I want candy, quick, quick! It’s bitter to death!"

Auntie Rong laughed, took out two lollipops, unwrapped one, and put it in her mouth. "You... you've been drinking this for days, how are you still not used to the taste?"

With the lollipop in her mouth, she mumbled, "Who gets used to eating bitterness? Go out and ask anyone if they can get used to bitterness." Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly stood up, heading outside. "I'm going to ask the mower if he likes bitterness."

Auntie Rong tried to pull her back, but Lin Wanbai was quick and agile. Auntie Rong’s left hand was weak, and she couldn't catch or stop her, so she had to follow. When Lin Wanbai reached the door, Auntie Rong said, "Mr. Fu is coming for dinner tonight. What dishes should we prepare?"

At these words, Lin Wanbai stopped in her tracks, turning around with a look of horror. "What did you say?"

"You forgot? It's Saturday. Mr. Fu comes to eat here every other week."

"I forgot." She said it as if it were natural. She never kept track of dates; she only remembered when her flowers bloomed, when the fruit trees bore fruit, when the hens laid eggs. Who would keep track of what day of the week it was?

She frowned. "I remember he was just here yesterday."

Auntie Rong chuckled softly. "Talking nonsense again. He wasn't here yesterday."

Lin Wanbai pouted. "I feel like he was."

Auntie Rong took her hand and pulled her close. "So, what shall we make for tonight?"

"I don't know. I don't know what he likes to eat."

"What do you want to eat today?"

"I want chicken."

"Fine, we'll have chicken tonight." Auntie Rong tidied her hair. "Do you want to wash your hair? It looks like you haven't washed it in three or four days; it's starting to smell."

"I guess so." She pulled at a lock, catching a sour scent. She immediately cast the young gardener out of her mind and headed upstairs to take a shower.

Seeing her go to her room, Auntie Rong hurried outside to dismiss the gardener, then picked some fresh vegetables from the garden. Before long, she met the village woman at the back door to collect the ingredients and began preparing dinner.

Lin Wanbai took a bath, making herself smell fresh, then sat at the vanity to apply a face mask. Her hair only reached just below her shoulders. She complained that it grew too slowly and had asked Auntie Rong several times to buy some hair-growth tonic to speed it up.

She was a person without memories—none at all. When she first woke up, she didn't know who she was, nor did she recognize anyone around her.

Auntie Rong said she had been in a severe car accident two years ago and nearly died. Because she underwent craniotomy surgery, her head had been shaved. Perhaps the nerve damage had caused her total memory loss.

She had only woken up a year ago. Upon waking, she felt terrified of the world because it was so unfamiliar. She recognized no one, her mind a blank slate, like a child's. Later, after being discharged, she came here with Auntie Rong—a manor built at the foot of a mountain. It was large and had everything, but very few people.

The two of them lived here without going out. Perhaps because she had no memories, Lin Wanbai had no desire to leave; she liked it here.

She was free to do as she pleased.

She raised three dogs: a Golden Retriever, a Husky, and an Akita.

She could play with them for an entire day.

She also grew flowers and vegetables. Every day was filled with tasks, and her life was surprisingly fulfilling. It felt like living in seclusion.

Whenever Lin Wanbai thought about the person she had to face that evening, her heart would pound, as if something were weighing on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She rubbed her chest repeatedly and paced around until she calmed down.

Goosebumps rose on her skin, and she scrubbed them away.

She had an inexplicable fear of this man. She didn't want him to come; she wished she would never see him. There was no reason, just a simple, instinctive aversion.

Logically, she didn't know him. He was handsome—exceptionally handsome—yet she disliked him for no reason. But Auntie Rong said he was her husband. She truly couldn't believe he was her husband.

As for the rest, Auntie Rong said to let the past be the past and to look forward. Since Heaven had taken her memories, she should just live happily and not waste energy on the past.

Lin Wanbai thought that made sense. Besides, her head would ache if she thought too much, and she hated pain and bitterness. She avoided anything that made her suffer and was content with her current life.

So, she lived happily here, with the only wish being that Mr. Fu would visit as rarely as possible.

In the evening, Lin Wanbai dressed neatly and sat in the dining room, waiting for Mr. Fu's arrival.

Auntie Rong checked the entrance twice, but no car appeared.

Lin Wanbai stared at the steaming dishes on the table as they slowly grew cold. Growing impatient, she said, "He's always late. Better he didn't come at all."

She was a bit angry, her mouth turning down. She slammed her hand on the table and picked up her chopsticks. "I don't care. I'm hungry; I'm eating."

Auntie Rong turned back. "Fine, I'll go heat it up, then you eat."

"It's fine. It's too hot anyway; this is just right." As she spoke, she grabbed a chicken leg, took a bite, and smiled, happy again.

Auntie Rong sat beside her, serving her food while glancing outside. She wondered if she should call to ask—the trip from Beicheng wasn't easy; it took an entire day.

Just as she was thinking this, a beam of light flashed through the window. Auntie Rong smiled. "He's here."

She put down her chopsticks and hurried to open the door.

Lin Wanbai didn't move, clutching the chicken leg, feeling a bit lost.

She and this man must have bad karma. He didn't come when she was waiting, but the moment she started eating, he arrived. How annoying. She had only taken one bite. She thought for a moment, put the chicken leg back, wiped her hands, and followed Auntie Rong to the door.

A black Bentley pulled slowly into the driveway and stopped. Auntie Rong stepped out and opened the door. "Young Master."

Lin Wanbai stood inside, tilting her head to look.

The man stepped out, dressed in a well-tailored black suit, even his shirt was black. He wore no tie. As he looked over, Lin Wanbai instinctively retreated, hiding behind the door, then slowly peeked out with just her eyes to watch him.

Even though she had lost all her memories, she felt differently toward him than toward anyone else.

Auntie Rong smiled. "Xiaobai and I were just waiting for you to eat. You must be tired from the trip."

Fu Juxing’s attention was fixed on the person inside; he didn't really hear what Auntie Rong said. Auntie Rong bent down to take a cane from the car and handed it to him. He politely said, "Thank you," and walked inside, leaning on the cane.

Seeing him approach, Lin Wanbai should have stayed to greet him, but she instinctively ran back to the dining room and sat upright in her seat, twisting the corner of her clothes, feeling tense.

Soon, his figure appeared in her peripheral vision.

His leg was bad, and he walked slowly. The distance that took her half a minute took him a minute and a half.

She watched him from the corner of her eye until he reached her side. Only then did she look up, coughing slightly, and flashed a smile. "Welcome, Mr. Fu."

Fu Juxing sat down. "Let's eat."

Lin Wanbai said nothing, waiting until Auntie Rong sat down before picking up her chopsticks.

She took the chicken leg she had bitten into and placed it in Fu Juxing’s bowl. "You eat. This is an old hen that Auntie Rong and I raised. It tastes great; you can't get this outside."

The bite mark on the chicken leg caught his eye, prompting a faint smile. "Good." He took a bite right where she had, smiling. "It's delicious."

"If it's good, eat more."

Having an extra person at the table made Lin Wanbai feel uncomfortable. She didn't enjoy the meal as much, and her appetite was worse than usual.

After dinner, she went to feed the three puppies, with Fu Juxing accompanying her, while Auntie Rong stayed to clean up.

The puppies had their own house, built by a master carpenter Auntie Rong had found—a small wooden cabin, just the right size. Lin Wanbai had decorated it beautifully; it was quite cozy, with each puppy having its own bed and toys.

At the door, Lin Wanbai said, "You wait outside. It's a bit dirty inside. I haven't cleaned it today."

"It's fine. I'll help you clean."

Lin Wanbai glanced at him but said nothing. The two entered the cabin one after the other. The three puppies swarmed around Lin Wanbai, wagging their tails enthusiastically. Lin Wanbai played with them for a while before distributing their dinner and pulling up a small stool to watch them eat.

Fu Juxing stood to the side the whole time, his eyes only on her. Seeing her happy expressions and laughter made him feel happy, too.

He brought a chair over, walked slowly to her side, set it down, and sat. "What have you been doing lately?"

The smile on her face faded slightly, and she instinctively straightened her back. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, thought for a moment, and said, "The same as before. Nothing else."

"And your health? Any discomfort? Does your head still hurt?"

"No, nothing hurts." She suddenly thought of something, turned to look him in the eye, and said, "Tell Auntie Rong to stop giving me that Chinese medicine. It's so bitter, so hard to drink."

Perhaps remembering the taste, she frowned and pouted as if she could still taste the bitterness.

Fu Juxing was stunned and didn't answer. Lin Wanbai waited for a moment, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, and immediately looked away. She moved her stool to the middle of the puppies to continue watching them eat, stroking their fur and stealing glances at him from time to time. When she saw him still staring at her, she turned her back to him.

Fu Juxing wasn't angry. He sat there without following her, knowing she was repulsed by him, even a little afraid. Being too close made her uncomfortable.

That year, when she jumped from the window, thanks to the doctors' desperate efforts, her life was saved. She had been in a coma for a year, during which she had been in critical condition three times, but she had finally been snatched back from the gates of hell.

She had woken up once before, and he had thought she would lose her memory, but she hadn't. She remembered everything—every detail. When she woke up and saw him, she had been traumatized and went crazy, requiring sedatives to keep her calm.

This had happened several times. No matter what Fu Juxing did or said, she wouldn't listen, didn't want to listen, and was on the verge of a breakdown.

Later, through Wang Mingcheng’s introduction, he found a hypnotist to seal off all her memories.

When she woke up again, she remembered nothing.

But even then, she remained resistant when she saw him. Even if she didn't say it, her actions said it all.

Later, when she was slightly better, he sent her here.

This was a property under Lin Zhaowei’s name, a manor villa built in a fishing village south of the city. The climate was like spring all year round, and the environment was good, suitable for recovery.

After such a severe trauma, Lin Wanbai’s body was not what it used to be and required careful nurturing to recover slowly.

The three puppies finished their meal quickly and were ready for exercise.

Lin Wanbai took three dog bones and brought them outside to run around.

She threw the bones with all her might, and the three puppies raced out, chasing each other happily.

Halfway through, the Husky stopped, distracted by something, and stared up at the sky.

Lin Wanbai was amused by its behavior and laughed aloud. Her laughter filled the empty lawn.

Fu Juxing watched her, a surge of impulse rising in him. The next moment, unable to restrain himself, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tight.

The laughter stopped abruptly. Lin Wanbai froze, then widened her eyes, feeling suffocated by his embrace.

A few seconds later, she pushed him away and took several steps back. Because she was so flustered, she stumbled and almost fell, but Fu Juxing reacted quickly and caught her, pulling her back.

"Be careful." He frowned slightly.

Lin Wanbai swallowed. "Um, I'm standing now. Let go."

He didn't.

"No, Auntie Rong told me you're my husband, but I don't remember. To me, you're no different from a stranger. I'm not comfortable with this." She pulled at his hands, looking like she was about to cry. "Can—can you wait a little longer? Maybe I'll remember something in a few days."

Fu Juxing pursed his lips. A moment later, he slowly let go and stepped back. "I'll be staying here for a month this time to keep you company."

Lin Wanbai’s face clearly fell; she was obviously very unhappy about him staying for a month.

She couldn't imagine how she would get through the month. If she had to see him every day, how could she live?

She thought for a moment and asked, "Then... which room are you sleeping in?"

She was afraid he would want to sleep with her. After she arrived here, the first time he came for dinner, he tried to sleep with her that night and almost...

Thinking about it was terrifying. That look, that strength—it was truly frightening.

"I’ve already asked Auntie Rong to prepare a room."

Lin Wanbai visibly relaxed, twitched the corner of her mouth, nodded, and said nothing, turning to run off and play with the dogs.

Fu Juxing watched her run away, thinking: *No matter what, as long as she is still by my side, that is enough.*

His phone rang. He walked back a few steps and pulled it out to see a call from Wang Mingcheng.

He answered. "Old Wang."

"How is it? Any better than last time?"

"It's fine."

"You must not be impatient. As long as you treat her with sincerity, she will feel it. Take it slow, don't rush. If there are any problems, call me immediately, and I'll help you. When you can't control yourself, walk away immediately. Calm down, understand?"

"I know. You're annoying."

Wang Mingcheng laughed. "I'm just worried about you."

"I remember everything you said."

"Good luck then."

Fu Juxing hung up, feeling calm. He turned to look at Lin Wanbai playing happily with the three dogs. A painful feeling arose in his heart, and a thought surfaced, but he immediately turned away and suppressed it.

Wang Mingcheng hung up and set his phone aside.

Liang Yusheng looked at him. "How is his condition? Any better?"

"He's been cooperative these past two years, and there's been some improvement. At least he's much better in how he treats Lin Wanbai. I suppose Lin Wanbai’s actions back then really shocked him and made him realize he had a problem." Wang Mingcheng sighed. "Unfortunately, it was too late."

Liang Yusheng thought for a moment and took a USB drive from his pocket. "I trust you, and I hope Ah-Xing can fully recover, which is why I'm giving this to you. I think this might be one of the biggest reasons for his complete change. See if you can find a way to treat the root cause."

He placed the drive in his hand and instructed, "Keep this absolutely secret."