Chapter 106: A Fresh Start

Lin Wanbai went to bed promptly at nine-thirty. Only a nightlight was left on in the room, with Aunt Rong keeping her company by her side.

Lin Wanbai turned on her side, eyes wide open as she watched her. Perhaps it was because there was an extra person in the house, but she felt no sleepiness at all. She stared blankly at the lamp, showing no intention of closing her eyes.

Aunt Rong smiled, reached out, and waved her hand in front of Lin Wanbai’s eyes. "What are you thinking about? Close your eyes and go to sleep."

She snapped out of it, her gaze shifting toward the door. She whispered, "Is he outside?"

"Who?"

"Who else? Besides you and me, who else is in this house? Aunt Rong, why are you playing dumb with me?"

Aunt Rong smiled and said, "You seem to really dislike him."

"I don't like him very much."

"Why?" Aunt Rong pondered. Ever since her memories were locked away by the hypnotist, Fu Juxing had been very restrained with her. He never pushed her if she felt uncomfortable, and he even reduced his appearances in front of her.

Lin Wanbai thought for a moment. "I don't know. I just don't like him. He makes me feel uncomfortable. Aunt Rong, are you really not lying to me? Is he truly my husband? You’re the only one I trust. I don't remember anything, so you mustn't deceive me."

"How could I lie to you? He is indeed your husband. Didn't he show you your marriage certificate? And your wedding photos—you saw how happy you looked in them."

She furrowed her brows. "If a couple has a good relationship, even if I lost my memory, I shouldn't dislike him."

"Alright, don't overthink it. It’s time to sleep. You two haven't spent much time together, and the young master is not one for smiles. He looks serious when he’s not smiling, so it’s normal that you feel uncomfortable. Things will get better as you spend more time together."

Aunt Rong simply turned off the nightlight and told her to close her eyes. To continue this conversation would be endless.

In the darkness, Lin Wanbai reached out and grabbed the hem of Aunt Rong’s clothes. "Aunt Rong, please sleep in my room tonight. I feel more at ease when you're here."

"Alright." Aunt Rong rose and sat down beside her.

Lin Wanbai felt reassured clutching her clothes. Perhaps due to her lack of memory, she felt exceptionally insecure and relied solely on Aunt Rong. She thought that maybe she should try to recover her memories; otherwise, it wouldn't be fair to Fu Juxing.

With that thought, she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Aunt Rong waited until Lin Wanbai was fast asleep before tiptoeing out.

Fu Juxing was still standing at the door. "Is she asleep?"

Aunt Rong nodded. "She is."

"I’ll go in and check on her."

Aunt Rong stepped aside to let him pass. Fu Juxing entered, and once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he slowly groped his way forward while Aunt Rong waited at the door.

After he came out, Aunt Rong led him to another master bedroom on the same floor as Lin Wanbai’s, separated by the length of the hallway. Knowing he would stay for a month, she had arranged for his clothes and toiletries in advance, with brand-new bedsheets and covers.

"If there’s anything you need, just let me know, and I’ll call someone to bring it over."

Fu Juxing glanced inside and nodded as he walked in. The manor was built in a European style, and the interior was heavily decorated in a somewhat ornate, dazzling manner. Fu Juxing disliked overly complex things, so Aunt Rong had already removed many decorations to make the room look simpler.

He placed his cane aside, unbuttoned his suit jacket, took it off, and folded it over the back of the sofa.

"It’s fine now. You should go rest too," he said.

Aunt Rong didn't move. After hesitating, she closed the door and walked behind him. "How is little Bao doing lately? With the changing of the seasons, the temperature shifts make it very easy to catch a cold. You should take extra care of him."

She pursed her lips and gathered her courage. "I have an idea. Actually, I think it would be good to bring little Bao here. I can take care of him. If you're worried, you can hire another nanny. I just feel that they should spend more time together as mother and son. Xiaobai likes children, and her personality is much brighter now. If there were a child by her side, it would definitely be better. If she could build a deeper bond with the child, then even if she remembers the past one day, she would have something to live for and wouldn't do anything so extreme again."

"A mother is strong; no matter how hard things get, she will live on for her child."

She spoke cautiously, weighing every word, terrified that one wrong sentence might enrage him. Thinking back to the tragic scene of Lin Wanbai jumping from the building, she still felt a lingering fear. She had almost died in that accident herself.

No one expected Lin Wanbai to jump—to choose death on a day meant for family reunion. She had been so resolute, leaving herself no room for retreat. Fortunately, she had been downstairs and happened to see her sitting on the window ledge.

It happened so fast that there was no time to prepare; she had to catch her manually. It was only because she tried her best to block the impact that Lin Wanbai survived; otherwise, given the angle of her fall, her head would have been crushed. It was a posture meant to kill instantly.

Because of that, Aunt Rong’s left hand never fully recovered; she couldn't exert any strength with it. After the accident, Fu Juxing seemed to lose his humanity, becoming manic and nearly insane. Except for his doctor, Wang Mingcheng, no one dared to speak to him. If one said the wrong thing, he would lose control and beat them until they bled.

It was then that Aunt Rong truly saw Fu Juxing’s real nature. He was perverse, brutal, and regarded no one—not even his biological father, Liang Yukang.

Aunt Rong found it hard to believe that the person she had looked after for over thirty years possessed such a cruel personality. She was the person closest to him, having watched him grow up and seeing him endure countless humiliations and bullying as a child. She never imagined he had become this twisted.

Only in front of Lin Wanbai would he consciously hide his malice. He seemed afraid, so he restrained himself, becoming a gentle and elegant man. Fortunately, Lin Wanbai survived. Aunt Rong couldn't imagine what he would have become if she had died that year. Wang Mingcheng had said he might have turned into a mass murderer.

Aunt Rong was terrified by that conclusion. Ever since then, she felt an inexplicable fear when facing Fu Juxing. Like now, as she gathered her courage to speak, her heart raced, and fear gripped her.

Fu Juxing said, "The child is being cared for by my uncle. You can rest assured."

Hearing this, Aunt Rong breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, and nodded. She didn't dare say anything more.

"I will consider your suggestion. If it is truly feasible, I will arrange for the child to come."

Aunt Rong’s heart lifted, and she nodded quickly. "Good, good. Then you get some rest, Young Master. I’ll be going."

Fu Juxing nodded.

Not long after Aunt Rong left, he seemed to remember something. He quickly got up, rushed to Lin Wanbai’s room, and checked the windows and doors repeatedly. They were all sealed tight, not even an opening wide enough for a crack. Only then did he feel slightly at ease.

He pulled back the curtains, and the moonlight spilled in, landing on the bed and covering her. Fu Juxing felt his feet rooted to the spot, unable to move. His legs seemed to have a mind of their own, leading him to the bedside. His gaze slowly moved to her lips.

Unable to control himself, he leaned in. Lin Wanbai showed no reaction, sleeping soundly, her breathing light, looking so innocent. He reached out and touched her cheek lightly. She didn't respond, so he grew bolder. He leaned closer, but just as his lips were about to touch hers, he stopped abruptly.

He clenched his fists, the warnings of Wang Mingcheng echoing in his mind. He gritted his teeth until they clicked, then changed direction and kissed her over the quilt, right above her heart. Then, he fled in a panic.

The next morning, Lin Wanbai woke up early. Dazed, she washed up, changed her clothes, and went downstairs. Upon entering the dining room and seeing the person sitting at the table, her sleepiness vanished in an instant, and she became wide awake. Her steps faltered, and she subconsciously took a step back.

Just as she prepared to run back upstairs, Fu Juxing saw her. "Good morning."

Lin Wanbai stopped immediately, froze for a second, then quickly put on a smile and waved at him. "Good morning! You’re up so early."

She walked over and sat in the chair opposite him. Aunt Rong heard the commotion and brought out her breakfast. Lin Wanbai had a regular routine, waking up automatically at seven o'clock every day without an alarm. She didn't like to linger in bed and would get up as soon as she woke up.

However, because the doctor had advised against strenuous exercise, Aunt Rong didn't allow her to run or do yoga. Later, Aunt Rong came up with an exercise perfect for both of them: Tai Chi. The movements were slow and not overly difficult, and it helped cultivate the mind. They developed a habit of practicing Tai Chi every morning.

Aunt Rong’s temperament was a bit impatient, so she only stuck with it for a week before joining a line-dancing group, but Lin Wanbai still enjoyed Tai Chi. Now, they each practiced their own routine without interfering with each other.

After breakfast, Lin Wanbai wanted to return to her room. Aunt Rong, who had been prepared, stopped her as she tried to sneak away. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going back to sleep. I didn't sleep well last night, so I’m going to take a nap." With that, she ran upstairs quickly.

Fu Juxing was already sitting in the living room. Hearing her, he looked back and saw only her retreating figure as she ran off.

Aunt Rong cleared her throat and gave a dry laugh. "She... she probably really didn't sleep well. Let her sleep a bit more." She quickly went to the kitchen to brew tea for Fu Juxing.

On that first day, Lin Wanbai spent almost the entire day in her room. There was a small study inside her room filled with books, so she could stay there all day without getting bored.

Three days passed like this. Aside from mealtimes, Fu Juxing almost never saw her, and the two had no further interaction.

On the fourth day, at dinnertime, Aunt Rong knocked on the door. Lin Wanbai was curled up in the sofa in the study with a book over her face, seemingly asleep. Aunt Rong sighed slightly, walked over, and removed the book. Lin Wanbai woke up instantly.

"Aunt Rong." She sat up straight, stretched, and looked outside. "What time is it?"

There were no windows in the study, so she couldn't tell the passage of time, but she felt hungry and knew it must be dinner time.

"If you keep sleeping like this, you won't be able to sleep at night." Aunt Rong placed the book on the table and sat down beside her. "Why are you hiding in your room?"

Lin Wanbai scratched her head, feigning ignorance. "I’m not hiding. I was just so engrossed in my book that I didn't notice the time."

"Do you think I can’t see through your little tricks?"

"If you already saw through them, why ask?" She grinned and leaned against Aunt Rong’s shoulder.

"I know he is a stranger to you, but it’s wrong to avoid him like this. You have a long life ahead of you. I’m getting old and will leave you one day; you can't be alone forever. You can't be alone at all. He is your husband, the person who will spend the rest of your life with you. I know you might feel some rejection and fear toward him, but he truly loves you. He won't do anything to hurt you."

Aunt Rong held her hand and continued, "Don't tell me you intend to spend this whole month in this room?"

Lin Wanbai thought about it. "That’s not impossible."

"Look at you. He specifically put aside his work to keep you company. Look, you’ve been holed up in your room for days, and he hasn't disturbed you or forced you to do anything, has he?"

Lin Wanbai propped her head up with one hand, her eyes fixed on Aunt Rong’s face. She squinted and said, "I didn't ask him to keep me company."

"You’re being unreasonable. You are a married couple. Even if you lost your memory, that relationship won't change."

Lin Wanbai blinked, was silent for a moment, and suddenly asked, "Is he all I have?"

Aunt Rong paused slightly.

"Before I got into the car accident, was he all I had in my life? No one else? Even if my parents are dead and I have no relatives, don't I have any other friends?" She looked at her with clear, black-and-white eyes.

"Didn't I tell you? You married the young master very early and have always been a housewife, so you didn't have much contact with the outside world. That’s why you don't have many friends." Aunt Rong spoke seriously, trying to look her straight in the eyes.

"So, he is the only person in my life?"

Aunt Rong nodded. Before Lin Wanbai could ask anything else, she quickly said, "Alright, let’s go down for dinner. From tomorrow on, you are not allowed to hide in your room. If you want to know about the past, you can ask him yourself."

She pulled Lin Wanbai up to leave. "The young master cooked dinner himself today."

Lin Wanbai was surprised. "He knows how to cook?"

"Of course. When you were together before, he was the one who cooked for you."

Lin Wanbai didn't believe it. "Wasn't I a housewife? Why would he cook for me? What was I doing?"

Aunt Rong chuckled and patted her head. "Why don't you think that the young master loves you, so even if you were a housewife, he still wanted to cook for you himself?"

It sounded reasonable, but Lin Wanbai still felt nothing for the "love" Aunt Rong spoke of. She found it very strange. In TV dramas and romances, when amnesiac protagonists meet, they fall in love at first sight or feel a special connection. Why was it so different for her?

According to Aunt Rong, her life revolved entirely around Fu Juxing. She should be deeply dependent on and in love with this man. If she loved him so much, how could she have forgotten him completely? And forgetting aside, why would she feel such aversion toward him? She thought and thought until her head hurt, so she gave up on it.

When they arrived at the dining room, Fu Juxing was indeed wearing an apron, bringing dishes out from the kitchen as if he knew what he was doing. Without his formal suit, he looked much gentler, less sharp.

He looked up, gave her a slight smile, and said, "Time to eat."

Lin Wanbai returned the smile, responded, and followed Aunt Rong to the kitchen to wash her hands before helping bring the dishes out. Aunt Rong’s words had some effect. During the meal, Lin Wanbai talked more.

"I really couldn't tell you could cook. And not only can you cook, but the food is actually good. Did you go to a culinary school?"

"Practice makes perfect. The more you cook, the better you get."

"So, what Aunt Rong said is true—you were the one who always cooked before?"

Fu Juxing picked up a piece of meat and put it into her bowl. "Yes."

"So I was a lady of leisure who didn't lift a finger?"

Fu Juxing smiled. "Yes."

Lin Wanbai glanced at him, feeling that he was hard to talk to. She looked at Aunt Rong from the corner of her eye, who was smiling happily. "Indeed, a lady of leisure who didn't lift a finger. Very happy, indeed."

"How many years have we been married?"

Fu Juxing replied, "Five or six years."

"Did we not have any children?" She had a scar on her lower abdomen that looked like a C-section scar. She had asked about it before, and Aunt Rong said it was from surgery after the car accident. She hadn't thought much of it.

But over the past two days, she had been thinking about many things—the things Aunt Rong told her, the things that had become a tangled mess in her head. She gave up on trying to sort it out because it made her head hurt. However, Aunt Rong’s words reminded her that if she wanted to know, she could ask Fu Juxing directly. Since they were husband and wife, he must know a lot about her. Life was long, and she couldn't keep living in her own bubble.

Hearing this, Aunt Rong was slightly startled and looked toward her. Her expression was calm, as if the question were casual, without deeper meaning. Aunt Rong lowered her eyes, remained silent, and stole a glance at Fu Juxing. She thought that if she wanted to bring little Bao over, now was the chance.

Fu Juxing didn't answer immediately. He chewed slowly, swallowed the food, and said, "We have a child."

Lin Wanbai’s expression froze. She looked up at him, then at Aunt Rong, pulled back her hand, and put down her chopsticks. "What?"

"We have a child, born before your car accident."

"Why didn't you tell me before? Aunt Rong?"

Aunt Rong was overjoyed to hear Fu Juxing say it. Her face was full of smiles as she said, "It’s just that you hadn't fully recovered yet, and you were always so resistant toward the young master. I thought about it and decided not to tell you first, fearing you’d be scared."

Fu Juxing nodded. "Yes, we were planning to wait a while until you could accept me, then tell you."

Indeed, the news left Lin Wanbai stunned. She was speechless for a long time.

Aunt Rong teased, "Look at your reaction. Our concerns were justified."

Lin Wanbai looked at Fu Juxing, her gaze lingering for a long time. With curiosity and inquiry in her eyes, she seemed to be truly seeing this so-called husband for the first time. They locked eyes; his gaze was deep, making his thoughts difficult to read.

After a moment, Lin Wanbai looked away first, unable to handle his gaze. She nudged Aunt Rong. "You should have told me earlier. Last time I asked you about the scar on my abdomen, you said it was from the car accident surgery."

"I was just afraid you wouldn't be able to handle it."

"Whether I can handle it or not, I should have been told."

"Alright, alright, it’s my fault."

Lin Wanbai asked again, "Where is the child now?"

Fu Juxing said, "He is with my uncle. You can rest assured; many nannies are looking after him. He is very well."

"A boy or a girl?"

"A boy."

Lin Wanbai felt a little disappointed. "A boy, huh?"

Fu Juxing laughed. "What’s wrong? You don't like boys?"

"I prefer girls."

"Then let’s have another one."

Lin Wanbai spat out her food, choked, and turned bright red, feeling as if she were dying. She quickly waved her hand. "I’ve only just recovered, and I’m still on medication. It’s definitely not appropriate to have a baby. By the way, what’s the child’s name?" She quickly changed the subject.

"Fu Linsheng."

At first, she didn't realize it, but after saying it to herself, she sensed something unusual about the name. She clicked her tongue and asked, "Who chose it?"

Aunt Rong said, "A fortune teller chose it, and you picked it."

"What a coincidence."

"Yes, that’s why they say you two are a match made in heaven."

Lin Wanbai twitched her mouth. The phrase "match made in heaven" gave her goosebumps.

The meal was relatively pleasant. After dinner, Lin Wanbai didn't go straight back to her room; Fu Juxing accompanied her for a walk outside to digest. They walked around the house once. Fu Juxing spoke very little, but his eyes never rested, constantly watching her, which made her feel uncomfortable enough to throw out topics to talk about.

"So, how did we meet? Am I like Cinderella?" During these days, Lin Wanbai had watched too many idol dramas and romances, most of which featured the Cinderella and rich heir trope. She naturally fit herself and Fu Juxing into this setting.

Furthermore, they both said she had no friends or family, only him, so his background must be poor—perhaps with a scumbag father who abandoned his wife and daughter, a mother who died of illness, forcing her to rely on herself, and then meeting Fu Juxing by chance...

Before Fu Juxing could say anything, she had already imagined a whole scenario. She found it funny and started laughing to herself.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing, just thought of something funny." She immediately stopped smiling, coughed twice, and put on a serious expression. "You haven't told me how we met."

Fu Juxing looked at her. After a moment, he said, "We knew each other since we were children."

"Childhood sweethearts?"

"Yes, you... you were a child bride sent to my family. You were my wife since we were little."

Lin Wanbai was surprised. "Really?"

"Of course it’s true."

"Are there still child brides nowadays?"

"Yes."

Lin Wanbai was skeptical, but since she had no memory, she just listened. "Then did you like me since you were a child?"

He nodded. "Yes, I loved you since we were children, and I only ever loved you."

Lin Wanbai stopped, turned to look at him, blinked, and said, "Then I forgot you, you must be very sad, right?"

His eyes grew dark, and something welled up in his gaze. He took a step forward and suddenly grabbed her hand.

Lin Wanbai was startled. She subconsciously pulled away, took a step back, and maintained a safe distance. She gave a dry laugh. "I really can't remember anything at all." She put her hands behind her back, a hint of panic flashing in her expression.

Fu Juxing’s hand hung in mid-air, his fingers stiffening before slowly curling into a fist. He pulled his hand back, curled his lips, and said, "It’s okay. It’s okay if you don't remember. We can start over."

"No need to start over. You can help me recall the past, or you can take me to the places we’ve been together. Maybe I’ll slowly remember. Since we grew up together, we must have had many, many memories, right?"

His eyes flickered with a momentary distraction. His heart felt as if it had been clawed at, starting to ache faintly. Memories? He didn't even dare let her remember those memories.

He chuckled. "Yes, but memories are things of the past. It doesn't matter if you don't remember. The future is much longer; it’s enough that you remember everything from now on."

Lin Wanbai glanced at him, feeling skeptical but not pressing further.

They continued walking. After a lap, they went back inside, watched a movie together, and when the time came, they each returned to their rooms to rest.

...

In the morning, An Ning looked at the calendar on the wall. September 10th was circled with a red marker. It was today. She walked up to the calendar, gave a knowing smile, tapped the circle twice, then went to the bathroom to wash up. She tied her hair back, applied light makeup, carefully chose an outfit from her closet, and checked herself in the mirror repeatedly before grabbing her handbag and heading out.

After breakfast, she went to the station and took a bus to Pingshun. After three or four hours, she finally stopped at the gate of Pingshun Prison. The prison was located in a remote area, served by only one bus route. The surroundings were quiet, with very little traffic. She told the taxi to wait for a while, got out, and walked to the prison gate. She checked the time—it was 11:00 AM, and he was supposed to come out at noon. One hour left.

This last hour felt excruciatingly long. She stood against the wall, then by the gate, then squatted down, her emotions rising and falling violently.

Finally, the clock struck twelve.

The gate in front of her clicked open. An Ning turned sharply, gripping her bag tightly. Then, she saw the person she had been thinking about for so long coming out. His hair was shaved very short, and he looked rougher than he had two years ago. His skin was less pale, and he looked much sturdier. He wore a black short-sleeved shirt and black casual pants, carrying a bag. After nodding to the prison guard, he walked toward her.

An Ning felt her eyes burning. For a moment, she wanted to rush over and hug him. But she didn't. She stood where she was, wearing a self-composed smile as she watched him approach.

Within seconds, he was standing before her. "Let’s go."

An Ning took the bag from his hand. "The car is over there. I’ll take you home first."

"Hmm." He said little, walking side-by-side with her toward the taxi.

An Ning stole glances at him from the corner of her eye, her heart beating uncontrollably fast. They got into the car; An Ning sat in the front passenger seat, and he sat in the back. The ride was silent.

An Ning brought him back to her place. His assets had all been cleared by Fu Juxing, meaning he was now penniless, without even a house. Getting out of the car, they passed a small shop. Lin Zhouye used the money he earned in prison to buy a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. He pulled one out, lit it, and followed her into the alley while smoking.

Over the past two years, to avoid Fu Juxing, An Ning had lived in the slums on the outskirts of North City. The houses were old, and the environment and security were poor. But she had made it through. Fu Juxing’s pursuit of them seemed to have relaxed; he hadn't even asked about Lin Zhouye’s early release.

An Ning said, "I haven't found a suitable place yet, so we’ll have to make do here for now. I’ve tidied up the room for you, and I bought the sheets and covers according to the brands you used to like."

"Don't go to such trouble. Things aren't like they used to be."

Lin Zhouye entered the house, looked around, and sat on a chair. An Ning went to the kitchen, poured him a glass of water, placed it on the table, and brought over an ashtray. Lin Zhouye glanced at her and stubbed out his cigarette. He ran a hand through his crew cut, silent for a moment.

An Ning sat down beside him. "Have you always lived here?"

An Ning: "Yes, at least here, Fu Juxing’s people won't find us." She thought for a moment, got up, and went to the room to bring out a stack of documents—all about Fu Juxing. "I'm sorry, I couldn't protect Lin Wanbai. After she left that day, she never returned, and I couldn't find her. Later, there was a rumor that she jumped from a building, but I don't know if it was true or not. Since then, I haven't seen her or heard any news about her."

Lin Zhouye silently flipped through the documents. The information was limited, mostly from news reports. She was a lone person and couldn't do much.

"Before this, did anyone come looking for you?" He flipped through the files, gaining a rough understanding of Fu Juxing’s current status, then closed the folder and asked.

"No, why?"

"I was sentenced to six years, but they let me out after two years and nine months. They said it was for good behavior, but someone must have done something to get me out early."

An Ning shook her head. "I don't know about that. No one came to see me."

Lin Zhouye: "No rush. He will come to find me himself."

An Ning nodded firmly, her eyes fixed on him, looking a bit mesmerized. For some reason, she felt he had more presence and was even more handsome than before.

He looked at the tiny bathroom and asked, "Can I take a shower?"

An Ning didn't react immediately. Lin Zhouye looked at her and asked again, and she finally snapped out of it, stood up, and nodded. "Yes, but be quick—if you take too long, the hot water won't last."

"Alright."

"Then... you shower, and I’ll go buy lunch. What do you want to eat?"

"Anything is fine."

"Okay." She didn't dare look at him, grabbed her keys and wallet, and ran out quickly, her face burning and her heart racing. She clutched her chest with both hands and stood at the door for a long time to calm down before heading out to buy food.

Lin Zhouye took his clothes and went into the bathroom to shower. The bathroom was so small that standing in it felt cramped. He looked around and, seeing no place to put his clothes, placed a chair by the doorway for convenience. The showerhead was tiny, and when he turned it on, it was barely a trickle.

Just as he was washing, a knock came from the door. He opened his eyes. It couldn't be An Ning; she had taken her keys. He rinsed off the soap, turned off the shower, and a few minutes later, stepped out of the bathroom and unlocked the door.