After Losing My Memory, I Was Targeted by the Obsessive Movie Queen [gl] - Chapter 18

When it was time to go to sleep that night, Yan He watched Lu Youqing come out of the bathroom, tilting her head to towel-dry her damp hair. A sense of tranquility rose from the depths of her heart. Peering through the small window of their daily interactions, she pieced together the intimacy they must have shared before; for a moment, she actually felt a wave of nervousness about leaving tomorrow.

Just as she was thinking about the next day, she heard Lu Youqing’s voice: “A-He, can you tell me why you went downstairs this afternoon? What exactly happened while I was away?”

Yan He looked up. Lu Youqing had finished drying her hair and was sitting on the edge of the bed, her moist eyes watching her like a young deer. The distance between them at this moment felt like a cozy fireside chat.

Recalling how she had been spotted by Lu Youqing the moment she went downstairs, Yan He figured it was normal for her to be worried, so she gave a brief account of the day’s events.

“In the afternoon, because I didn’t see you, I was worried and wanted to find you. Just then, I heard someone outside calling my name, and the hallway sounded very chaotic. I was worried something had happened, so I took advantage of the confusion to go downstairs. Thinking back now, those people calling me were probably sent by the people who surrounded you. They knew where you were, so it wouldn’t be hard for them to investigate where I was.”

Given what she had seen and encountered yesterday and today, it was natural for her to link the voices calling her name to paparazzi desperate for a big scoop.

The smile that had risen on Lu Youqing’s lips because of Yan He’s concern suddenly froze when she heard about someone calling Yan He’s name.

“Someone called your name?” Her voice was devoid of emotion.

“Yes, but it was probably just those paparazzi trying to lure me out. Didn’t you say all my friends are abroad? I was in too much of a hurry and forgot that. Luckily I didn’t run into them.” Yan He let out a sigh of relief, feeling lucky that the bodyguards at the door had escorted the callers out. Otherwise, tomorrow’s trending search might have been: [Lu Youqing caught in a secret hospital tryst with mysterious girlfriend].

Lu Youqing’s tense expression relaxed at Yan He’s teasing tone. She raised a hand and lightly grazed Yan He’s cheek with her fingertip: “A-He is so smart. It probably really was those people trying to get a video of me meeting my fiancée in private. Rest now; we’ll leave here tomorrow, and we won’t run into them again.” With that, she leaned down and kissed Yan He gently on the forehead.

As the soft lips touched her forehead, a flare of resistance still rose from deep within Yan He’s heart, but her level of acceptance was much better than during their previous kiss. Perhaps the experience of proactively kissing Lu Youqing had given her more confidence. Although she was still somewhat at a loss regarding Lu Youqing’s intimacy, she no longer froze up entirely. She lowered her eyes and accepted the kiss submissively.

Lu Youqing stood up. Seeing Yan He with her eyes closed and her lashes trembling, she suddenly felt a surge of tenderness. She couldn’t help but ask:

“A-He, do you find me annoying?”

Yan He: “?”

Lu Youqing laughed again. She turned off the main light and switched on the small bedside lamp, cutting off the answer Yan He hadn’t yet spoken: “I’m overthinking. Sleep well, A-He.”

The next day was a beautiful, clear day. Perhaps because of Lu Youqing’s call to Xue Yi last night, Yan He didn’t see any strange people hanging around outside the hospital when they went downstairs, nor did she see the paparazzi she had observed over the past few days.

Instead, it was Lu Youqing who was amused by Yan He’s serious expression. Lu Youqing reached out and pressed the hat on Yan He’s head down a bit, ensuring that Yan He could only see her. In her pupils, deep as dark springs, was the reflection of Yan He’s face—even without makeup, she was a sight to behold.

Still, it was her first time leaving the hospital she had lived in for so long to enter the outside world. Yan He’s beautiful amber eyes flickered with curiosity as she looked around. Even though Lu Youqing had narrowed her field of vision, her eyes were still full of novelty when she looked at her.

Feeling helpless, Lu Youqing took her hand and led her to a black sedan: “Alright, this time we are really going home.”

Before Yan He could get a clear look at the buildings around the hospital, she was pulled into the car by Lu Youqing. The driver was the female bodyguard who had stood outside the ward; a faint scent of incense in the car dispelled the smell of leather.

This was Yan He’s first true outing since her amnesia. She looked out the window at the scenery with a look of wonder, completely unaware of the woman’s burning gaze beside her.

Just as Yan He was trying to see what kind of shops lined the streets, a faint fragrance drifted to her nose, followed by the rustle of clothing from the woman beside her.

Yan He turned her head and suddenly met Lu Youqing’s eyes at extreme proximity. She froze instantly. The distance between them was mere inches; she could smell Lu Youqing’s perfume in every breath. Yan He liked this scent.

But at this moment, the distance was truly too close, especially within the narrow confines of the car. The tremor in her soul brought by this eye contact was profound. Yan He instinctively looked toward the bodyguard driving in front; fortunately, the guard was focused entirely on the road, oblivious to what was happening behind her.

“A-He is still the same as before,” Lu Youqing said in a low voice, pulling Yan He’s attention back.

Before Yan He could ask what she meant, Lu Youqing had already sat back. She raised her hand to tidy her hair, returning to her calm and gentle demeanor.

Her right hand, resting at her side, was caught. Because she hadn’t moved her arm or hand for a long time, Yan He couldn’t make any sudden movements; she could only feel Lu Youqing’s fingers interlaced with hers. She lacked the strength to pull away, and the warm touch traveled from her arm to her chest, making it feel numb.

With her attention easily stolen by Lu Youqing, Yan He didn’t look out the window for the rest of the trip. She noticed that the car they were in was very new—whether it was the incense used to clear the air or other details, Yan He believed this was a new car, likely purchased very recently.

To Yan He’s guess, Lu Youqing only gave an unfathomable smile: “Because the one we usually use at home was driven away by A-He.”

Yan He froze, suddenly realizing Lu Youqing was right. The one from home had been driven by her and wrecked in the accident; this one must be a new purchase.

A thought crossed her mind, and she realized she might have asked a redundant question, but she did remember one important thing.

“Why did I get into a car accident?”

Lu Youqing’s gaze toward the window faltered for a moment. Then, she turned back and gave Yan He a deep look. She spoke, her thin lips moving as she slowly recounted what she had heard from the traffic police.

“It was a traffic light. You were driving normally, but the driver of the truck that hit you was driving while fatigued and didn’t see the red light. He hit you at the intersection.”

Lu Youqing seemed unwilling to elaborate; she said only that one sentence before looking away out the window, her finger tapping the seat as she closed her eyes.

The image of Yan He covered in blood during the accident flashed in her mind again. Lu Youqing’s despair and sorrow almost enveloped her consciousness once more; luckily, Yan He continued to talk to her, stopping her from dwelling on it.

“I see,” Yan He nodded. Seeing Lu Youqing’s grave expression, she realized that Lu Youqing must have suffered greatly at the time, so she didn’t want to pursue the topic. However, she still really wanted to know why she had driven away alone and why Lu Youqing hadn’t been in the car with her.

But before she could voice her inquiry, Lu Youqing spoke up unexpectedly.

“I was so, so scared.”

“What?” Lu Youqing’s voice was very low and thick. Before Yan He could hear clearly, Lu Youqing leaned over and rested her head on Yan He’s shoulder. Her fingertip hooked onto the necklace of Yan He’s clothes as she spoke in an accusatory tone.

“So, you are not allowed to leave without my permission. You cannot go anywhere without telling me. I am so afraid something will happen to you.” The scene of the accident had become a recurring nightmare for Lu Youqing; thankfully, Yan He had woken up.

Lu Youqing put her arm around Yan He’s waist, leaning half into her embrace like a bird seeking protection. She used Yan He’s clothes to wipe her own tears and looked up at her with red-rimmed eyes, looking like she wouldn’t stop until Yan He agreed.

So she had driven off without telling Lu Youqing; no wonder Lu Youqing was so reluctant to let her out after she woke up. Yan He thought to herself. She raised her hand and gently wiped the tears from the corner of Lu Youqing’s eyes, saying slowly:

“I promise you.”

Having received a satisfactory answer, Lu Youqing broke into a smile through her tears. She leaned in to hug Yan He lightly, her misty eyes brightening and the corners of her mouth curving upward.

“Good. I believe you, A-He. You’re not allowed to lie.”