After Losing My Memory, I Was Targeted by the Obsessive Movie Queen [gl] - Chapter 35

“Click.” The sound of the handle turning felt exceptionally jarring in the quiet bedroom.

Yan He’s pulse throbbed in her head. In a flurry of motion, she scrambled to shove the things back into her backpack. She turned around to see Lu Youqing drying her hair with a towel. Her eyes, misty from the steam, were beautiful and clear, like a lake with floating shards of ice.

“What are you doing?” Lu Youqing’s gaze fell directly on her, passing over her to lock onto the backpack behind her. She knit her brows slightly. Her voice was somewhat damp and soft. Because she had just showered, her porcelain skin was flushed pink, and her wet hair clung to her body. The usual bewitching edge of her features was softened, replaced by a sudden, delicate charm.

Yan He instinctively moved her hand behind her back, pulling the bag closer to her. Her heart was pounding. “Nothing, just getting some clothes,” she stammered. As she spoke, she pulled a set of undergarments out of the bag, her palms feeling hot as she gripped them.

Her movements were stiff, and she avoided Lu Youqing’s gaze—a behavior that inevitably sparked suspicion. Lu Youqing looked at her awkward posturing, then glanced down at the bag hidden behind her, a subtle, complex smile playing on her lips.

She has her own little secret.

Lu Youqing curved her lips without exposing her. A hint of irritation at being kept in the dark flickered within her; she had never liked Yan He keeping secrets from her. Had this been before, she certainly would have walked over and demanded Yan He open the bag. But not now. She had resolved to start over, so she suppressed that dark streak of possessiveness.

She reached out for the nearby hairdryer. By the time she looked at Yan He, she had composed herself, her tone carrying a hint of a pout. “Then hurry and help me dry my hair. After that bath, my whole body aches. I’m so tired.”

Yan He dazed for a moment before setting the undergarments aside and pulling her bathrobe tighter. “Okay.”

Lu Youqing had pulled an all-nighter for a major scene, gotten injured, and then spent the rest of the night at the hospital. She hadn’t slept at all. She looked like a listless little animal, dispirited even as her hair was being dried. She leaned half against Yan He with her eyes closed. Yan He felt a pang of heartache seeing her like this, but also a sliver of sweetness at Lu Youqing’s instinctive reliance on her.

Lu Youqing was staying in a single suite with only one bed. Naturally, she wouldn’t let Yan He sleep on the sofa outside, so they ended up in bed together.

Yan He no longer felt the resistance she had at the beginning. When Lu Youqing embraced her, it was more of a flutter in her chest, like a butterfly’s wings stirring up a series of tremors.

“So tired,” Lu Youqing murmured, finding a comfortable spot in Yan He’s arms. She was truly exhausted; the high-intensity work made her want nothing more than a long sleep. She didn’t even want to open her eyes to look at Yan He. Their bathrobes were tied loosely, and after some shifting, a significant amount of skin was exposed. Bound together like this, it felt like skin against skin; they could even feel the rise and fall of each other’s chests.

The tips of Yan He’s ears were red. A breeze from the window made the curtains flutter, casting dancing shadows across the room. Yan He’s lashes trembled, unsure if she should move.

Lu Youqing’s breathing had turned shallow; she was sleeping soundly against Yan He’s heart, even letting out an occasional unconscious mumble. Without her makeup, she remained breathtakingly beautiful, though she seemed softer and more alluring than she did on screen. The beauty mark at the corner of her right eye rose and fell with her breath, like a speck of sand drifting on a white beach.

In Yan He’s limited memory, she had only seen Lu Youqing show this side to her. She felt a secret joy. The vibrant, radiant Lu Youqing she had seen on the internet was right here beside her. Yan He no longer felt uneasy; her heart settled peacefully. She returned the hug, closed her eyes, and breathed in the faint scent of shampoo. Her consciousness began to blur.

Whether it was because she had returned to a place she once knew or because Lu Youqing was by her side, a dam seemed to break in Yan He’s memory. Fragments of the past began to surge through her mind at an incredible speed.

She was wearing an oversized blue-and-white school uniform, standing in an empty hallway. Outside, a misty drizzle was falling. One autumn rain, one layer of cold. The chilly wind snuck into her jacket, and she shivered as she zipped it up.

Looking at her clothes, it seemed the uniform still carried the scent of the laundry detergent from Lu Youqing’s house. Thinking back to what happened that day, her ears—hidden beneath her hair—turned red.

That day, the sky had been dim, and her mind was muddled. Due to her shyness, she had forgotten much of the memory, but the fragrance and heat that enveloped her nose remained like a lingering shadow. Recalling it now, she could almost smell Lu Youqing’s crisp scent. She instinctively bit her lip; a soft, lingering sensation seemed to remain there.

The image of Lu Youqing’s face, magnified, appeared in Yan He’s mind. Her clear, trembling eyes looked like they held a whole lake. Yan He’s face suddenly flushed. She clenched her hands in her pockets and buried half her face in her collar.

Even now, she couldn’t believe she had actually kissed Lu Youqing. That day felt like an illusion, but the scent of the detergent always dragged her back to that dim, rainy afternoon. Out of shame and shock after that passionate kiss, she hadn’t dared to even look at Lu Youqing. She had grabbed her uniform and fled the house.

It had been nearly a month since then, and she still didn’t dare speak to or look at Lu Youqing, even though they were seatmates who saw each other constantly.

Wu Yu’s voice came from behind her. Yan He hurriedly tossed the chaotic thoughts aside, cleared her throat, and tried to look normal.

Wu Yu ran up beside her, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Finally, two days off! This damn school only gives us two days a month. Want to go out tomorrow? The girls from Class 5, 18, and 32 specifically asked me what you’re doing.”

Yan He shook her head. “Not going out. I’m staying home to play games.”

“Aw, don’t be such a shut-in. We finally have two days off, come out and play. I think the girls from No. 3 High are having a get-together tomorrow and specifically wanted to invite you.”

“No. 3 High? Li Qing and the others?” Yan He and Wu Yu chatted as they walked down the hallway.

“Apparently Li Qing’s older sister, who’s been abroad for years, is back. They want to celebrate. You really not going?”

Yan He thought for a moment and shook her head. “My mom’s coming home tomorrow. I’d better stay in.”

Wu Yu laughed. “Alright, I guess I’m going alone then. Are you going to play the ‘good girl’ at home again?”

Yan He didn’t answer, giving only a helpless smile. Her mother was very busy and her supervision was practically zero, but she liked Yan He looking like a “good girl.” To avoid arguing with Ms. Yan Suy弈, Yan He had learned from a young age to put on a well-behaved, trouble-free act. They got along fine that way, though in reality, she was nothing like what Yan Suy弈 expected.

Wu Yu dropped the subject and turned to tease her about Lu Youqing. “What a coincidence that you and Lu Youqing are still seatmates after the seat reshuffle. How was it? You said you went to her house to get your uniform. How are things? I feel like she’s a bit different toward you.”

The words instantly dragged Yan He back to that dim day in the small bedroom. Her footsteps faltered. “Nothing special. I made her dinner, got my jacket, and left.”

Even as she said it, Yan He’s heart jumped. Kissing after dinner—what kind of ‘interaction’ does that count as? Simultaneously, she noticed Wu Yu’s last sentence.

“Different? How so?” Yan He asked, her tone curious as she looked at Wu Yu.

Wu Yu gave a knowing smirk. “You haven’t noticed? It’s totally different. We’ve been her classmates for so long and she probably doesn’t even know our names, but she treats you so specially. Tsk tsk, talk about being slow. Truly, the person involved is blind while the bystander sees all. Whatever, figure it out yourself. I forgot something, I need to go back to the classroom. Wait for me here.”

Yan He didn’t even hear what Wu Yu said after that; her mind was occupied by the phrase “Lu Youqing treats her specially.” She felt like a firework had been lit in her heart, exploding into brilliant colors.

A youth is easily made joyful by the slightest gesture from another. Yan He was like a stream that had finally found its direction, flowing with happiness.

It’s probably just because I’m her seatmate, Yan He thought. Yet, she couldn’t help but touch her lips. She didn’t even realize she was smiling.

She was standing not far from the teachers’ office. Despite the warmth in her heart, her body was shivering from the cold wind. She decided to move closer to the office to dodge the draft, her mind still full of Lu Youqing. As she reached the door, she heard her homeroom teacher’s familiar voice. She saw that the door was slightly ajar.

“The seat reshuffle went according to your wishes this time. Don’t forget you have to participate in the provincial competition.” It was the teacher’s voice, seemingly talking to a student. Yan He had no interest in competitions and was about to move away when she heard a voice she knew all too well.

“Thank you, teacher.” Lu Youqing’s voice drifted out with the wind. Yan He suddenly lost her urge to leave.

“I’m still curious, why were you so insistent on being Yan He’s seatmate that you specifically came to ask for my help? With your grades, you could have sat with any of the top-ranked students.”

Yan He’s feet felt like they were nailed to the floor. She listened to the teacher’s words, her eyes trembling. The shock was so great she didn’t immediately process the meaning. Then, she heard Lu Youqing’s toneless voice.

“No reason. I’ve already promised to join the competition.” The subtext was clear: don’t ask any more questions.

Yan He leaned against the wall, listening to their conversation. Her heart was pounding like a drum in her head. Hearing footsteps inside approaching the door, she instinctively turned and bolted down the stairs, moving even faster than the day she fled Lu Youqing’s house.

The biting wind scraped against Yan He’s face, whistling in her ears, but she didn’t feel the cold. Her racing heart set her whole body on fire, including her reason. She replayed the conversation in her mind over and over until, by the thirtieth time, everything became clear.

She stopped at a corner to catch her breath, looking up at the storm-swept sky. The cold wind cut like a knife, yet she had never felt warmer.

Her cheek suddenly felt a bit itchy. Yan He frowned and opened her eyes from the dream. The first thing she saw was Lu Youqing’s smiling eyes and her delicate, beautiful wrist.

Lu Youqing had been awake for a while. She was propping her chin on her hand, teasing Yan He’s cheek with her fingers, her every movement radiating charm. Seeing her wake up, Lu Youqing tucked a stray hair behind her ear, a smile on her lips. “A-He is finally awake. Did you sleep well?”

The youthful Lu Youqing from her memory merged with the seductive, gentle Lu Youqing of the present. Yan He looked at her in a daze, finally speaking as Lu Youqing’s brows began to knit.

“I dreamed about the past.”

The hand Lu Youqing was leaning on curled slightly, and her heart sank. She hadn’t expected Yan He to remember something else so quickly. Her lashes flickered as she forced a gentle smile, asking casually:

“Oh? What did you dream about?”

Suddenly, the woman before her reached out and hugged her. Yan He rested her head on Lu Youqing’s shoulder and whispered into her ear, her voice husky with the remnants of sleep:

“I dreamed… that I was the one who kissed you.”