After She Fell for Me, I Lost My Memory (GL) - Chapter 41

Cen Luo’s gaze lingered on Zhang Ming and Wang Zhen for a few seconds, then shifted back to Jian Mu.

Jian Mu pursed her lips and lifted the cardboard box she was holding, allowing Cen Luo’s gaze to settle on it. Then she said:

“This is a gift I prepared for everyone.”

Cen Luo looked at Jian Mu, then said: “No need.”

She then took a step back, preparing to close the door again.

But at that moment, Jian Mu suddenly placed her hand on the doorframe. Closing the door suddenly would certainly injure her hand.

But surely no one would be that foolish?

Waiting to be slammed by a door?

That’s impossible to imagine.

So, Cen Luo ignored the hand on the doorframe and slammed the door shut.

The force wasn’t heavy, and the speed wasn’t fast.

There was plenty of time to pull her hand back.

However, Cen Luo hadn’t expected Jian Mu to stand there without moving. She didn’t withdraw her hand even as the door was closing.

Just like that, Cen Luo heard a pained “hiss,” followed by the gasps of Zhang Ming and Wang Zhen.

She glanced at Jian Mu and saw a very clear red indentation on her fingers. The skin was badly bruised.

It was obvious that her door had caused the injury just now.

Or rather, it wasn’t the door’s fault. It was Jian Mu looking for trouble.

Cen Luo instinctively frowned. It looked painful. Was that hand still usable?

Looking at Jian Mu again, besides the “hiss” just now, there was no sign of pain on her face, as if the person whose hand was slammed by the door wasn’t her.

“Xiao Jian, are you okay?” Zhang Ming and Wang Zhen walked up to Jian Mu and asked.

Jian Mu was stunned for a moment, then shook her head: “I’m fine.”

Cen Luo looked at the three people standing at her door and pursed her lips.

Just then, Zhang Ming was about to say a few words to lecture Cen Luo, when she heard Jian Mu’s voice:

“Auntie Zhang, Auntie Wang, I have something I want to talk to her about.”

The implication was that she wanted the two of them to leave.

Jian Mu’s use of “Auntie” touched their hearts, and she had just given them a gift. How could the two of them possibly refuse such a simple request?

So, the two agreed and returned to their apartments.

Jian Mu seemed afraid that Cen Luo would close the door. Her hand on the doorframe still hadn’t moved.

Cen Luo even vaguely felt that even if she closed the door again, Jian Mu’s hand still wouldn’t move away.

She was a kind person, after all. If it were anyone else, Jian Mu wouldn’t be standing here right now. She would be at the hospital getting stitches for her finger.

“I have something I want to say to you.”

Jian Mu said, slightly lowering her head.

Didn’t they already make things clear yesterday?

Cen Luo didn’t quite understand what Jian Mu was thinking.

When they met yesterday, Jian Mu was like a mute. Now she was saying she had something to tell her?

Cen Luo felt a sudden sense of sarcasm.

But she didn’t say anything, just stood there, ready to hear what she had to say.

Although she didn’t hear Cen Luo’s reply, Jian Mu knew she was giving her a chance to speak.

“After you said those things yesterday, I thought about it. Everything you said was right. I cared too little about you. I accepted your kindness while not giving anything in return.”

“I was too selfish.”

Cen Luo’s eyelashes fluttered. She lifted her eyes to look at Jian Mu, who was speaking in front of her.

To be honest, the person in front of her didn’t resemble her usual self at all. Putting aside the consecutive sentences, her expression was also remarkably unfamiliar.

Self-reproach, regret, nervousness…

These words felt strange to use on Jian Mu, but they were real, and she seemed much more lively than her former self.

It should be said that she might have already changed slightly yesterday, but the change wasn’t as drastic as it was today.

But what was the point?

“I never expressed my emotions to you. I always made it hard for you to find me. I chose to avoid you because of my own feelings and didn’t trust you enough.”

…

At first, Jian Mu thought it would be difficult to say these words, but as she recalled the past, the words came out naturally.

Cen Luo was certain that this was the most Jian Mu had ever spoken since she met her.

Whether before or after amnesia.

Jian Mu was speaking like she was conducting a self-analysis, telling her about the mistakes she had made over the years.

It was very sincere, very serious.

It was even unlike Jian Mu.

Getting Jian Mu to open up must have been the gift the amnesiac Cen Luo wanted to receive the most.

Unfortunately, she really wasn’t the Cen Luo who loved Jian Mu more than she loved herself.

And she strongly disliked her former self.

“I’m sorry.”

This apology pulled Cen Luo out of her thoughts.

She saw Jian Mu lowering her head and repeating: “I’m truly sorry.”

Jian Mu looked very sad, but Cen Luo couldn’t help but let out a soft sneer: “To be able to hear an apology from CEO Jian in my lifetime is truly refreshing.”

“So what? What are you trying to achieve by saying all this?”

Did Jian Mu think that after apologizing, she would have a chance to go back to the way things were?

“So, you are absolutely right.” Jian Mu paused and pulled at the corner of her mouth. “I don’t deserve to bother you.”

She had heard that some people’s smiles looked worse than their cries. Cen Luo was witnessing it today.

Maybe this was also a major reason why Jian Mu didn’t like to smile?

Cen Luo tilted her head and muttered somewhat sarcastically: “If you really don’t want to bother me, then just leave my sight.”

Fate brought them together as neighbors?

Who would believe that?

“I didn’t know you were next door before I moved in,” Jian Mu added, seemingly afraid that Cen Luo wouldn’t believe her. “I promised before that I wouldn’t lie to you.”

Cen Luo, who was about to counter, stopped speaking.

Qin Ran had mentioned this to her, saying Jian Mu had promised her when they were together.

Then what about moving?

“Nanyang Yulou,” Jian Mu paused. “Too many memories.”

This was indeed one of the reasons. Every spot in the apartment carried Cen Luo’s traces, which made Jian Mu very uncomfortable.

Cen Luo: “…”

That’s a good reason.

“I just don’t want you to dislike me too much.”

Jian Mu’s expression was pitiful. She even looked terrified of being rejected.

“That’s enough,” Cen Luo was a little speechless. After a long moment, she said, “I heard what you said. My attitude remains the same: I respect the past, but we won’t bring it up again, and we won’t bother each other.”

“That means we’ll be strangers, right?”

“I guess so.”

Not bothering each other was essentially being strangers.

After hearing Cen Luo’s words, Jian Mu slightly retracted her hand.

Cen Luo casually glanced at it and saw that the spot on Jian Mu’s hand that was slammed by the door had turned from red to a dark bruise.

Didn’t she feel pain?

Cen Luo was confused.

“This is a gift I prepared for the neighbors. Can you accept it?”

Jian Mu asked as Cen Luo was about to close the door.

Cen Luo ruthlessly refused: “No.”

Before Jian Mu could say anything else, Cen Luo firmly slammed the door shut, making a loud sound.

Only Jian Mu was left standing at the door, muttering:

“Being strangers is better than being enemies.”

After returning to her room, Cen Luo sat on the sofa in a daze for a while, then got up and went back to her room.

She would live her life the way she wanted.

Was she going to change her life because of Jian Mu?

Perhaps now they had truly settled things.

It seemed Jian Mu also realized it.

It was better this way.

Let the past fade away in the wind.

Cen Luo didn’t dwell on the matter after that. In the following days, Xu Yanyan would always invite her to dinner on time. Zhao Zhao would occasionally call her to chat, but due to work, the two of them couldn’t arrange to meet again.

And Qin Ran was as busy as she said. Sometimes, she could even see her friend circle posts complaining about her boss late at night.

Xu Fengwan had asked her out a few times, and she agreed to meet her.

However, this time, Xu Fengwan seemed a little unusual.

She dragged her shopping, saying she wanted to give her a new look. Not only did her furniture need to be changed, but her entire wardrobe needed an update.

They practically finished shopping at all the large malls in the area.

Cen Luo knew Xu Fengwan meant well, but she didn’t expect her to be so lavish. She just walked into the store and pointed at a rack:

“Not that one. Wrap the rest up and send them to West Street Happiness Apartment.”

Cen Luo: “…”

She wasn’t this extravagant even when they were mischievous before. What was wrong with Xu Fengwan?

Her apartment was small. If she filled it all with clothes and bags, where would she live?

And various fancy furniture, useful or not, Xu Fengwan wanted to shove them all onto her.

Cen Luo naturally refused without thinking.

Xu Fengwan didn’t understand what was wrong with Cen Luo. She even asked Cen Luo: “How do you feel about having someone who is willing to spend money on you?”

Cen Luo replied with a forced smile: “I feel the wealth gap.”

Xu Fengwan: “…”

“I have an appointment with Sister Xu. I have to go now. We’ll hang out next time.”

Xu Fengwan: “…”

What happened to the “rich woman sticking close” concept?

What happened to the “rich woman supporting me” concept?

All those unreliable forum posts.

Xu Fengwan swore she would never believe them again.

Cen Luo was doing very well these days. She would occasionally read a book, but mostly slept and ate.

She was carefree and happy.

The place Cen Luo agreed to meet Xu Fengwan wasn’t far from the restaurant they were meeting at. Due to her recent laziness, Cen Luo wanted to walk to burn some calories. So, after leaving the mall, Cen Luo walked along the street toward the restaurant.

It was winter now, and the weather was very cold.

But for some reason, Cen Luo suddenly wanted ice cream.

So, she found a small shop and grabbed an ice cream from the freezer by the door.

Cen Luo’s eyes widened when she paid: “This ice cream that sold for three dollars ten years ago is now eight dollars?”

The cashier nodded: “Times have changed, little sister.”

Cen Luo: “…”

Even though she had been awake for a long time, Cen Luo still couldn’t adapt to the prices.

Although she was quite generous with her money before, that didn’t mean she liked wasting it.

But, an occasional splurge wouldn’t hurt, right?

Cen Luo paid and left the store. After walking a short distance, she tore off the wrapper and took a bite, only to hear the pattering sound of rain.

It was raining.

Cen Luo had no choice but to stand outside the nearby coffee shop for a while.

It wasn’t far from the restaurant they agreed on.

She planned to leave when the rain subsided a little.

Cen Luo took another bite of ice cream. It was indeed winter. She was freezing.

She wondered why she was eating ice cream in the middle of winter.

Just as she was about to put the ice cream away, she heard footsteps behind her.

Someone was coming out.

Cen Luo moved aside to avoid blocking anyone.

Then she heard a voice:

“Then, CEO Jian, it was a pleasure doing business.”

And a familiar voice:

“It was a pleasure doing business.”

But it had nothing to do with her.

Since Jian Mu came to see her that time, the two had indeed reverted to the state of strangers.

They would occasionally nod in a friendly manner when their eyes met, and once, when the elevator was crowded, Jian Mu had said “excuse me” to her.

Cen Luo was quite satisfied with this.

Jian Mu had seen Cen Luo as soon as she stood outside the coffee shop.

Seeing the continuous drizzle outside the glass window, she instantly knew Cen Luo was sheltering from the rain there.

Jian Mu walked past Cen Luo holding an umbrella.

Cen Luo looked at her phone and saw a message from Xu Yanyan asking her where she was and if she had an umbrella.

Cen Luo sent her location to Xu Yanyan.

Jian Mu, who had already walked past Cen Luo, suddenly stopped.

Under her assistant’s puzzled gaze, Jian Mu walked back a few steps and stopped in front of Cen Luo, asking:

“Do you need help?”

Her voice was calm, and her tone was polite and thoughtful.

It fit the attitude of a stranger.

Cen Luo saw it was Jian Mu. Her mind was racing. Just then, she saw Xu Yanyan walking toward her, holding an umbrella.

She ignored Jian Mu. Cen Luo waved at Xu Yanyan, covered her head with her palm, and ran toward Xu Yanyan.

Jian Mu heard Cen Luo’s joyful voice:

“Sister Xu—”

And, accompanied by the sound of the rain, Xu Yanyan’s gentle “scolding”: “I could have come to you. You should have just stayed there and waited for me.”

“No. Even if it was pouring rain, I would run toward you, Sister Xu.”

Her tone was full of playful affection and trust.

Sister Xu.

Running toward you.

Jian Mu tightened her grip on the umbrella handle. Her knuckles were white.

The assistant looked at Jian Mu cautiously. After a while, she heard her voice: “Let’s go.”