After Losing My Memory, I Was Targeted by the Obsessive Movie Queen [gl] - Chapter 45

Yan Suyi let out a heavy sigh. The scene back then had been far too shocking; it was the first time she had witnessed such profound love in a girl who had only just reached adulthood. That burning passion of Lu Youqing’s didn’t seem to have changed at all, even now.

A gratified smile played on Yan Suyi’s lips. During those years abroad, she had consciously limited the ways she received news about Yan He. Although she would occasionally hear bits about her daughter and felt the urge to visit, she was afraid she would soften and return to the country. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to bow her head to Yan He, so she simply chose not to know. The primary reason she could afford to be so unconcerned was Lu Youqing.

The consequence of this information blackout was that she had no idea what had transpired between Yan He and Lu Youqing over the last few years, nor the extent of the conflicts they might have had. From her perspective, Lu Youqing had indeed taken excellent care of Yan He—at the very least, this amnesiac Yan He hadn’t shown her mother a single expression of sorrow.

Lu Youqing’s eyes were beautiful; when she looked at someone, the corners would tilt up slightly with a hint of allure. Yet, her overall aura was gentle and cool, like an enchanting fox walking through the snow—noble and untouchable. She appeared cold-hearted on the surface, but she was more deeply devoted than anyone.

Yan Suyi could see the hidden, intense longing and obsession in the depths of Lu Youqing’s eyes. This emotion had already been there when she was eighteen—like a predator that locks onto its prey and never lets go. These feelings only truly revealed themselves when she looked at Yan He. Far from fading over time, that gaze seemed to have only intensified.

Watching the interaction between the two, and seeing the natural intimacy Lu Youqing displayed toward Yan He, Yan Suyi’s chestnut-brown eyes—identical in color to her daughter’s—darkened slightly.

On the eve of her departure abroad years ago, she had asked the eighteen-year-old Lu Youqing why she was so insistent on taking care of Yan He. She didn’t believe in mere “puppy love.”

Lu Youqing hadn’t beaten around the bush. Her dark eyes were void of casual emotion, yet they left Yan Suyi feeling genuinely shaken for the first time.

She had said that because she loved Yan He, she would never let go in this lifetime, and whether Yan Suyi believed her or not would not change her heart.

Facts had proven that Lu Youqing hadn’t broken a single word of that promise. She had indeed loved Yan He for seven years, right up until this moment.

The “clink” of porcelain brought Yan Suyi back from her distant memories. She watched Lu Youqing across the table, holding a spoon and fussing over Yan He with worried brows. She looked down and smiled. Her sharp eyes caught the ring on Lu Youqing’s left middle finger, and her heart stirred.

“When did you two… get engaged?” she asked suddenly.

Both Yan He and Lu Youqing turned to look at her, their gazes following hers to the base of Lu Youqing’s left middle finger. Lu Youqing was the first to react.

“I proposed early last year. We originally planned to tell you and hold the wedding this year once my workload eased, but something happened with A-He, so we’ve put things on hold for now.” She spoke sincerely and flawlessly, while her hand beneath the table gripped Yan He’s.

Yan Suyi nodded. “You’ve been together so long; it is indeed time to prepare for marriage.”

She had no objections to the union. Now, it was just a matter of when they would actually hold the ceremony.

Yan He looked at Lu Youqing, who happened to be looking back at her. The warmth of their joined hands rose, like small flames flickering in her palm. The heat flowed through her blood to her entire body, making her very breath feel scorched.

Marriage.

Honestly, Yan He hadn’t thought about it. During her time with Lu Youqing since the amnesia, Lu Youqing had never discussed wedding arrangements with her. It felt like “fiancée” was just a title similar to “girlfriend”—a label for a lover. Only now, with it being brought up, did she truly realize just how intimate their bond was. Yan He felt a stir in her heart and a faint sense of expectation.

They had indeed discussed many wedding details before the accident, but with her amnesia, everything had to be started over. She knit her brows slightly, truly beginning to ponder the matter.

Lu Youqing watched her from the side, a very complex smile on her lips.

After dinner, Yan Suyi went upstairs to rest. Yan He and Lu Youqing wandered around the villa together, listening to Lu Youqing recount stories from their high school and college days.

Lu Youqing said that after the argument with her mother, Yan He moved into her house. They ate together, slept together, and prepared for university together. They spent the summer doing “nothing” but were incredibly happy.

Lu Youqing’s tone was full of joy, her eyes shining with light. She truly cherished that period of time.

Unknowingly, they walked to the indoor swimming pool. Yan He noticed it was still filled with water, the clear surface rippling in the breeze.

“A-He used to love swimming as a child. When the pressure of high school was too much, you’d often swim here.”

Yan He sat on a lounge chair by the pool and looked at Lu Youqing, her eyes bright like a little fawn’s.

“Based on what you’re saying, I must be a pretty good swimmer. I remember the house in Qingcheng also has a pool. Can I go for a swim?”

Lu Youqing turned to her, her gaze intense. “But do you still remember the strokes? I think it might be necessary for me to give you some ‘training’ first.”

Yan He froze. “Um, I suddenly feel a bit tired and don’t want to swim anymore. Let’s go for a walk instead—let’s go see your house.”

Lu Youqing startled, but quickly regained her composure. “My house?”

“Yeah. Didn’t you just say I stayed at your house for the summer? I’m curious to see where we lived together. I want to see the home where you grew up.”

Yan He was desperate to know everything about Lu Youqing. It felt as though knowing more about her past would soothe the insecurity caused by her amnesia. She was especially drawn to the place where a teenage Lu Youqing had lived.

Lu Youqing lowered her eyes, her long lashes trembling slightly. Although she was reluctant to let Yan He come into contact with things that might trigger her memory, she simply couldn’t refuse Yan He’s requests. If Yan He showed even a hint of vulnerability, Lu Youqing would soften instantly. Whatever Yan He wanted, she would grant it. This time was no different.

“Alright.” Lu Youqing’s voice was low. Really… this is foul play. I just can’t say no to A-He.

A brilliant smile broke across Yan He’s face. She stepped forward and hugged the still-pouting Lu Youqing, holding her tight and planting a kiss on her forehead.

“You’re the best.”

Lu Youqing looked at her with a helpless gaze, but her heart was flooded with a dense, sweet warmth.

They took the car to a nearby supermarket to buy some groceries for dinner before driving into the villa district where Lu Youqing’s home was located. The two houses weren’t far apart; they arrived in just half an hour.

Lu Youqing still remembered the gate code. She entered it, and the gate gave a “ding.” As the long-unopened gate swung open, it made a sharp, grating sound.

“This place is like the other house; I haven’t been back in years.” Lu Youqing led Yan He inside. The sky was dimming; the setting sun merged with the horizon, and clouds churned in the distance.

“I have a cleaning company come by, but it’s been a while since the last visit. It might be a bit dusty inside.” Lu Youqing entered the code and pushed the front door open. Knowing Yan He didn’t like the smell of dust, she stepped in front of her to keep her back from the living room.

The curtains were drawn tight, blocking out all light. The dim depth of the living room felt somewhat oppressive. One could smell the dust in the air. Yan He knit her brows, her nose feeling uncomfortable, and followed Lu Youqing inside.

Lu Youqing flipped the light switch, but the bulb emitted only a weak, negligible glow. She walked over and pulled back the curtains. The yellow light of the setting sun spilled in, illuminating the dancing dust motes. Both coughed a few times before they could see the interior.

The sofa, coffee table, and all the items in the living room were covered in white dust cloths. A thick layer of dust had settled on the fabric; it was clear no one had been here in a very long time. Yan He pulled the cloth off the sofa, and they finally found a place to sit.

Yan He looked around curiously, not bothered by the lack of water and power or the dusty air. Her nose tickled, but it couldn’t block the trembling emotions deep in her heart.

This was her first time at Lu Youqing’s home since the accident—a close-up encounter with the things the younger Lu Youqing had touched. It felt like she could see the forgotten versions of her through these objects: the seventeen-year-old Lu Youqing, the youthful Lu Youqing—the one she had always loved. Yan He felt a warmth in her chest that drowned out everything else.

Lu Youqing took her hand and led her to her bedroom, showing her where she used to live. Although they had lived together for a long time, walking into her old room hand-in-hand made it feel as if she were eighteen again—the age where their feelings were still ambiguous and her heart was racing.

Compared to Yan He’s room, hers was much tidier. There were no posters or decorations; looking in from the door, it almost had the vibe of a hotel room.

“Why does it look so empty?”

Seeing Yan He’s confusion, Lu Youqing couldn’t help but smile. In truth, before going to university, she had packed every single item belonging to Yan He in that room into her suitcase and taken them to Qingcheng.

She naturally couldn’t tolerate Yan He’s things not being with her. Since she didn’t have many belongings anyway, she simply took everything—including Yan He herself—and moved them to Qingcheng.

There were very few things in Lu Youqing’s room, so Yan He left quickly. “Can I look around?”

With Lu Youqing’s permission, Yan He walked up the stairs. The light was still blocked by curtains, so she couldn’t see the path clearly. She reached out, turned a handle at random, and stepped inside.

Compared to the other rooms, this one was exceptionally clean. There was no dust in the air; instead, there was a faint scent of incense. There was almost nothing in the room—a bed, a cabinet, and a lone, empty altar standing there.

The curtains in the room blocked the sunlight, so Yan He couldn’t see the contents of the altar clearly. She walked closer. In the dim light, the items on the altar seemed veiled. As she drew near, she finally saw what they were.

Two black-and-white funerary portraits. The woman on the left had eyes, brows, and a nose identical to Lu Youqing’s, though a closer look revealed many differences. She was smiling; even in a funerary portrait, one could see the lively, sunny nature she’d had while alive. Of the two portraits, the woman on the left looked older than the woman on the right.

Yan He’s legs went weak. The solemnity of the deceased made her instinctively back away two steps, but her back suddenly hit something soft. Then, Lu Youqing’s voice, clear and cold like water striking jade, sounded in her ear.

“This is my sister.”

“And her lover.”