After the message was relayed back to a certain location, it wasn’t long before the identity of the female caregiver was sent over—”Qian Yuyu, private professional bodyguard, currently employed. Preliminary determination of employer: Ruan Chenxuan. Her identity does not match the originally assigned medical role of Li Nian. Please ensure the patient is protected and no accidents occur.”
Male caregiver: “Received!”
As soon as the message was sent, a ringtone sounded. The female caregiver sitting at the door openly took out her phone to check the message. Seeing the blank profile information sent over, her eyes slightly darkened.
—”The identity profile is highly encrypted and cannot be deciphered. Congratulations, you’ve encountered a tough nut.”
Female caregiver: “…”
She looked up at the male caregiver, exchanged a few seconds of eye contact, then smiled slightly and withdrew her gaze. However, when her eyes dropped to the floor, they turned cold again—some people, no matter how well they disguise themselves, are betrayed by the bloody aura and body movements they carry.
This was also why they could detect each other’s unusualness from the beginning.
It seems they really encountered a tough opponent…
The atmosphere in the living room gradually changed with the mutual probing, like a bowstring about to be fully drawn, ready to shoot sharp arrows through each other, filled with a tense sense of crisis.
Just as the two were about to make a move, a joyful sound suddenly came from the patient room: “Quack~ Quack~ Quack Quack Quack~ I’m a cute little yellow duck~~~”
The two caregivers nearly sprained their backs: “???”
In the patient room.
Compared to the intense atmosphere outside, the room with only Xu Chenghao was as still as dead water, without the usual cheerful and bustling warmth. The room finally revealed its originally cold and lonely side.
So, for the first time, Xu Chenghao took the initiative to play the Little Yellow Duck song and turned the TV volume to the maximum, letting the quirky quacking fill the entire room. Although it didn’t have much effect, at least it brought some liveliness.
But being alone still made him think too much…
Xu Chenghao even felt like he would explode if he didn’t find something to do! He lay in bed for half an hour, worrying about Jing Yicheng’s safety one moment, getting angry that he took all the chili seeds the next, fearing he might not come back, and wondering what to do if the pepper mission failed…
Finally unable to stand it, Xu Chenghao sat up and called Li Nian: “Got any work? Give me something to do.”
Li Nian, almost as busy as a spinning top, felt his teeth ache at hearing such an annoying request: “You think I don’t want to? If it weren’t for you being a patient, would I have to check emails even when going to the bathroom?”
Xu Chenghao: “But I’m idle anyway, and I keep thinking too much… You might as well let me stay busy.”
Li Nian, holding the phone between his ear and shoulder while sorting documents: “What nonsense are you thinking about? Didn’t we say to wait, so we wait. If not, we consider him dead.”
Xu Chenghao quietly tugged at his blanket: “But I want to wait… and while waiting, I end up thinking too much.”
Li Nian was speechless: “Alright, I’ll send you some emails later, but you have to pace yourself and not overdo it.”
Xu Chenghao: “Okay.”
After negotiating with Li Nian, emails started flying in like scattered petals, causing Xu Chenghao to instantly forget all matters of the heart and immerse himself in his career, burying all his emotions and using work to numb himself.
In the following days, except for taking a day off to change his cast, Xu Chenghao was constantly busy, almost turning his hospital room into a new office.
The male caretaker, seeing his patient look more exhausted each day, had shaky fingers when sending photos, feeling that if a certain demon king saw them, he wouldn’t survive until he got back.
The female caretaker, after reporting the situation to her employer, saw Ruan Chenxuan return the next day with a gift box and a bouquet: “Good morning, Mr. Xu.”
Xu Chenghao looked up from his computer, his expression instantly displeased: “Mr. Ruan seems quite free.”
Ruan Chenxuan placed the gift by the bed and smiled: “Not too busy, just a bit tired of the family drama, so I came out for some peace and quiet.”
Xu Chenghao closed his laptop and started tidying up his documents: “I’d also like some peace and quiet, so Mr. Ruan, please leave.”
Ruan Chenxuan asked, “Why does President Xu always reject me so much? Did I do something excessive in the past? I’m sorry I don’t remember, but if you give me a chance, I’m willing to make amends.”
Xu Chenghao: “Our relationship is famously bad. Why do you think I reject you? Besides, you’ve done plenty of excessive things. I’m not willing to forgive or give you a chance to make amends. The further you stay away from me, the better.”
Ruan Chenxuan: “I don’t want us to become strangers, which is why I’m trying to make amends. At least in my memory, I have a good impression of you. Your business acumen and style are outstanding among the younger generation. I’ve wanted to be friends with you many times.”
Xu Chenghao: “That was your impression a year ago. Things have changed. You’d better recognize that fact. Otherwise, living in the past will be your biggest disadvantage.”
Ruan Chenxuan’s eyes lit up slightly: “Are you giving me advice?”
Xu Chenghao snapped, “Who’s giving you advice?”
“Okay, okay, it’s my fault for misspeaking.” Ruan Chenxuan quickly corrected himself, but his gaze at Xu Chenghao was full of amusement. This was the first piece of advice he’d received since losing his memory, a kind of concern in its own way…
Ruan Chenxuan felt a warm sensation in his heart and became more puzzled about why, despite his admiration for Xu Chenghao and the latter’s willingness to advise him, they ended up like this.
Thinking of the videos on his computer and phone, Ruan Chenxuan tentatively asked, “Does Mr. Xu reject me because I hurt you before?”
Xu Chenghao gave him a cold glance and said nothing.
Ruan Chenxuan took this as confirmation and continued, “I found many videos of you on my computer…”
Xu Chenghao’s fingers paused: “What are you trying to say?”
Ruan Chenxuan: “Did I like you before?”
“No,” Xu Chenghao denied quickly, “Our relationship soured because you poached my fiancée of over ten years. As for you liking me, that’s not amnesia, it’s delusional!”
Ruan Chenxuan frowned: “I don’t know your fiancée, and no one around me has mentioned this.”
Xu Chenghao said, “That’s because you had a falling out with your family over An Ruoyu. Your family doesn’t like her, so of course they wouldn’t bring it up.”
Ruan Chenxuan persisted, “But my friends haven’t mentioned it either.”
Xu Chenghao: “It depends on what kind of friends you have made.”
“Besides, An Rouyu just left a few months ago. All those things you guys stirred up are still on the newspapers and websites. You can check for yourself.”
Ruan Chenxuan: “The newspapers and websites exaggerate. They’re unreliable.”
Xu Chenghao sneered: “How are they exaggerated? You were like that back then.”
Ruan Chenxuan suddenly smiled: “Your nervous arguing only makes me more certain that something definitely happened between us.”
Xu Chenghao: “…”
Xu Chenghao lost his patience and threw the little yellow duck pillow at him: “Nonsense, you’ve messed up my plans more than once!”
Ruan Chenxuan was taken aback by this treatment, stunned for a moment before quietly picking up the little yellow duck pillow and placing it back on the bed: “I’m sorry, but I really don’t remember.”
Seeing the other’s humble demeanor, Xu Chenghao’s anger dissipated. He said helplessly, “If you don’t remember, you don’t remember. Why cling to the past? Maybe when you regain your memory, you’ll regret it.”
Ruan Chenxuan said seriously, “I’m not clinging to the past. I just want to understand what happened between us.”
Ruan Chenxuan continued, “Actually, since I woke up, I haven’t asked anyone else about the past or reminisced about what happened a year ago. I only ask you because I want to know what I did wrong, why things turned out this way. This really bothers me and I can’t let it go or figure it out.”
Xu Chenghao: “Then why are you so concerned about my matters?”
Ruan Chenxuan was stumped by this question and after thinking for a while, he said uncertainly, “I don’t know, but I subconsciously care about you, I habitually observe you, pay attention to you… Maybe this was a habit from before I lost my memory, which is why my attention to you has increased. Your resistance to me makes me even more curious.”
With sincere eyes, Ruan Chenxuan said, “I really want to know.”
Xu Chenghao looked at the other’s earnest expression and didn’t know how to respond.
If he wanted to scold him, this was an amnesiac Ruan Chenxuan who didn’t know those things and was treating him sincerely, seriously, humbly, and politely. He would feel bad scolding him; but being friends wasn’t possible either. That face was right there, and his memory loss was temporary and uncertain. It would be so awkward if he regained his memory later.
After thinking for a while, Xu Chenghao proposed, “If I tell you, will you stop bothering me in the future?”
Ruan Chenxuan thought about it and uncertainly replied, “If I was really excessive, I definitely wouldn’t appear in front of you.”
That made it easier. Xu Chenghao recounted what happened between him and Ruan Chenxuan according to the original events, slightly modified and with some narrative flair, easily portraying Ruan Chenxuan as a big villain who not only stole his fiancée but also his contracts and partners.
Ruan Chenxuan frowned and seriously said, “I’m sorry,” then got up and left.
Xu Chenghao felt an immense sense of relief, cheerfully lying down on the hospital bed—The Ruan Chenxuan from a year ago was more rational and sincere. Knowing how bad he was, he should not appear in front of him again!
However, it turned out that the reason Ruan Chenxuan left that day was not guilt, but possibly an urgent need to use the bathroom!
Because three days later, he returned, bringing a contract: “Regarding the Jiang family’s matter, I’m sorry. So, I can only compensate you with this contract. This contract’s profit distribution and investment amount are almost identical to the Jiang family project, only the timeline is different.”
“As for stealing your fiancée…” Ruan Chenxuan smiled at Xu Chenghao.
Xu Chenghao looked puzzled: “???”
Ruan Chenxuan continued to smile: “President Xu, take a look. How about the person delivering the contract?”
T/N: Amnesic Ruan Chenxuan is admitting what the non-amnesic Ruan Chenxuan couldn’t admit hahaha. Haohao is mighty, he even bent the protagonist lol
