After Losing My Memory, I Was Targeted by the Obsessive Movie Queen [gl] - Chapter 20

Watching the figure in the open kitchen, Yan He’s heart sank like a stone falling into deep water. Because of her injuries, she wasn’t allowed to enter the kitchen to help Lu Youqing.

Yan He felt uneasy and tried to sneak in several times, but Lu Youqing caught her every time, laughing and scolding her as she shooed her back.

Left with no other choice, a sense of frustration welled up in Yan He. She began pacing back and forth in the living room, hoping her footsteps would catch Lu Youqing’s attention.

One wall of the living room was hollowed out with wooden planks, creating a shelf-like display. Various valuable items, such as trophies won by Lu Youqing and herself, along with handmade crafts, were displayed there. Yan He examined them one by one, hoping to trigger some precious memory.

In the center of the display sat a music box protected by a glass cover. The music box was entirely golden, with a rotating mechanical winding key on the top left. Turning the key would likely make it play. The rest of the box consisted of dozens of small, exquisite metal combs and a rotating cylinder.

Unlike the other flawless items, this music box had a long crack running through its center, and several of the delicate combs were broken. Even if it could still operate, it likely wouldn’t produce its original melody; it looked quite battered.

Yan He stared quietly at the music box behind the glass, and a sudden urge to take it out surfaced. However, before the thought could take shape, it was interrupted by a few coughs from the kitchen.

Yan He snapped out of it and turned around. She saw Lu Youqing stepping out of the open kitchen, holding a spatula and frowning slightly. Noticing Yan He’s gaze, she tilted her head and saw the music box so close to Yan He. Her eyes suddenly darkened.

“How did this music box end up like this?” Yan He walked to her side, using a tissue to wipe away the tears triggered by the choking smoke in Lu Youqing’s eyes.

Lu Youqing stared fixedly at her movements, her gaze falling on the tips of Yan He’s fingers. It seemed to touch a memory she was unwilling to recall. When she spoke again, her voice sounded weary.

“It was a gift from you. I accidentally broke it.” Lu Youqing’s voice carried an unbearable sadness. Her raven-wing lashes trembled slowly, and a flickering light fell into her eyes. Her clear pupils reflected Yan He’s image. Yan He’s heart sank slowly at Lu Youqing’s words.

This was actually a gift she had given to Lu Youqing.

Flashes of images crossed her mind, but Yan He still couldn’t remember anything. She felt a surge of sadness; her current self couldn’t share this pain with Lu Youqing. She reached out and pulled Lu Youqing into her arms. The faint scent of Lu Youqing’s perfume mixed with the domestic aroma of the cooking, making Yan He feel incredibly at peace. She raised her hand to affectionately stroke Lu Youqing’s head and spoke softly.

“It’s okay. We’ll have many more and better gifts in the future.”

“Mm.”

Lu Youqing leaned obediently in her arms. Hearing those words, a part of her heart collapsed, feeling both sour and swollen. She closed her eyes, her thoughts involuntarily drifting back to the distant past.

[“In the last minute of Christmas, if you turn the music box, the music can freeze time and remember everything about this moment.”]

[“Classmate Lu, what about you? Will you remember me?”]

Later, she had broken the music box herself. Yan He had given her many different gifts afterward, but none were like the music box from that time.

For lunch, Lu Youqing made many dishes, every one of them perfectly suited to Yan He’s palate. A person might not remember their own tastes, but the person living with them would. Yan He was now fully convinced that they had indeed lived together for a very long time.

Yan He’s right hand was now capable of simple movements like holding chopsticks. She felt proud of this breakthrough as she ate.

Lu Youqing propped her chin on her hand, watching her with a satisfied smile. “Do you like it, A-He?”

Yan He nodded, her eyes shining as she looked at Lu Youqing. “I love it. It’s really delicious.”

Lu Youqing’s smile deepened. She placed some food from her own side into Yan He’s bowl. “Eat more if it’s good. You were mistreated in the hospital having to eat such bland things; now you can finally eat to your heart’s content.”

Yan He couldn’t help but smile. Just as she picked up a piece of stir-fried pork with chili, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that Lu Youqing seemed remarkably uninterested in the full table of food. Yan He paused. It occurred to her that she hadn’t seen Lu Youqing use her chopsticks much since they sat down.

Doubts rose in Yan He’s mind, and she paid closer attention to Lu Youqing. Before long, Lu Youqing used her chopsticks to put a piece of meat into her mouth. Within seconds, her cheeks and lips turned a deep red, and her eyes became misty. She opened her mouth slightly to breathe, and small beads of sweat appeared on her nose.

Yan He’s hand holding the chopsticks froze. She realized Lu Youqing couldn’t handle spicy food. Scanning the table, she saw that almost every dish contained chili. Linking this to the coughing she heard earlier, a pang of bitterness rose to her nose. Yan He lowered her head, not wanting Lu Youqing to see her reddening eyes.

When she had forced her emotions back down, she stood up under Lu Youqing’s confused gaze, opened the refrigerator, and placed a bottle of milk in front of her.

Lu Youqing blinked, her eyes watery. “What’s this?”

“You can’t eat spicy food.” Yan He’s voice was soft and gentle. “Drink this. It helps with the spice.”

Lu Youqing’s lips curved, the light in her eyes shimmering. She set down her chopsticks and spoke naturally, “I thought A-He wouldn’t notice.”

Yan He sat back down and couldn’t help but ask, “You knew you couldn’t eat spicy food, yet you made so many spicy dishes… was it because of me?”

Lu Youqing reached out and took her hand. “Is A-He feeling guilty again? It’s okay. Today is the first day you’re home; of course we have to celebrate. Besides, it’s not that I can’t eat spicy food at all; I’ve just been eating bland food with you for so long that I’m not used to it yet. A-He really worries about me.”

She was becoming more and more unable to leave A-He; she wanted A-He by her side forever.

Yan He’s cheeks flushed at her words. Having lost her memory, she was easily made to blush by Lu Youqing’s simple remarks. She turned her head away, her heart still swelling because of Lu Youqing’s gesture.

“Just drink the milk,” she said curtly, prompting a soft chuckle from Lu Youqing.

After lunch, Yan He insisted on clearing the table and putting the dishes in the dishwasher. Looking through the kitchen window, she noticed the courtyard outside the villa was massive—big enough to keep many small animals.

“Want to go out and see?” Sensing Yan He’s curiosity, Lu Youqing spoke up. Yan He turned and nodded vigorously.

The two of them went out for a walk in the yard to digest their meal. The front yard was a large stretch of lawn; the warm afternoon sun made one want to lie down on it.

Yan He thought the front was beautiful enough, but when she reached the backyard and saw the swimming pool, she truly felt the allure of wealth.

“A-He used to love swimming, so we built a pool here so you could swim at home. Someone comes to clean it regularly, so it’s very hygienic.” Lu Youqing led Yan He to a lounge chair by the pool. Yan He stared blankly at the clear water.

She used to swim here.

“Even though A-He has forgotten all of this, it’s okay,” Lu Youqing said, turning to look at Yan He with a gentle gaze.

“We can learn together.”

Yan He: “Together?”

Lu Youqing leaned back in the lounge chair, looking lazily at the sky. “I don’t know how to swim. Now that A-He has lost her memory, we can learn together.”

She was quite good at finding joy in hardship. Yan He couldn’t help but smile, but then she suddenly realized that if she and Lu Youqing swam together, she would have to wear a swimsuit and be in close contact in the water.

Yan He suddenly closed her eyes and went silent on the chair.

“We’ll see… at least wait until my arm and leg are completely healed.” For now, she couldn’t handle that level of intimacy.

Lu Youqing turned her head, watching Yan He’s flushed cheeks with an irrepressible smile.

The afternoon sun was comfortable. Since they had woken up early to head home, they were both a bit tired and took a short nap on the lounge chairs.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in the study. Lu Youqing read scripts while Yan He found a book at random; to her current self, any reading was a form of learning.

After dinner, Yan He felt a sense of regret that her day had passed by without her accomplishing much. Looking at the darkening sky and Lu Youqing, who had already entered the bedroom, Yan He’s limbs grew stiff. The thought that had been lingering in her mind since the afternoon was now magnified.

She was going to have to sleep with Lu Youqing.

In the hospital, they couldn’t share a bed because of her injuries, but now that they were home in their shared space, it was impossible to imagine not staying together.

Yan He’s brow furrowed in distress, her fingers curling instinctively. Despite all her mental preparation, she was still nervous. she realized she still harbored a level of resistance to intimate interaction.

Recalling how Lu Youqing had looked dejected and tearful when she rejected her before, Yan He felt a suffocating pressure. She hesitated on how to explain the situation without hurting Lu Youqing’s feelings.

Just then, the sound of Lu Youqing’s footsteps came from the bedroom. Yan He looked up instinctively and saw Lu Youqing carrying a quilt and sheets, opening the door to the guest room.

Yan He hurriedly followed. “What are you doing?”

“Making the bed,” Lu Youqing replied without looking back, efficiently spreading the sheets. She turned to wipe the sweat from her forehead, a smile on her lips.

“I’m sleeping here tonight.”