After She Fell for Me, I Lost My Memory (GL) - Chapter 59

The umbrella was one Cen Luo had borrowed from the hotel front desk. At the time, it was the only one left, and it was barely large enough to cover both their heads. Since it was a drifting rain, both of their shoulders and backs were partially wet.

Only after reaching the cafe did Cen Luo realize that Xu Yanyan must have brought luggage, and the umbrella was too small to fit a suitcase. However, she later found out she had overthought it; Xu Yanyan had already mailed her luggage to the hotel before coming to Miancheng.

Cen Luo entered the hotel with Xu Yanyan and waited to the side while she checked in. Hearing the receptionist ask if it was one person or two, Xu Yanyan turned to Cen Luo: “Did you bring your ID?”

Cen Luo let out a confused “ah,” then waved her hand: “I don’t need to stay; my house is nearby.” She added, “Sister Xu, you could stay at my place. My house is much more comfortable than a hotel.”

As soon as she said that, Cen Luo received a smiling look from the receptionist. Though nothing was said, it felt as if much had been conveyed. It was indeed a bit impolite to disparage a hotel while standing inside it.

“I’ll visit your home tomorrow instead,” Xu Yanyan said after a moment’s thought. Since it was her first day, she felt she should freshen up before visiting.

Cen Luo realized she hadn’t mentioned her family situation to Xu Yanyan. If someone hears that another person has returned to their hometown alone for half a month, their first thought is usually that relatives are there. Cen Luo opened her mouth to explain, but the receptionist politely interrupted, not giving her a chance:

“Excuse me, how many people will be staying?”

Xu Yanyan had booked a double suite, which technically allowed up to two guests.

“Do you have it?” Xu Yanyan asked again.

Once is a question; twice is no longer a simple inquiry.

While Cen Luo hesitated, Xu Yanyan said softly, “This hotel is quite strict; non-residents don’t get elevator cards. Just register now, and you can come find me anytime.”

Cen Luo finally understood her meaning and nodded. She took her ID out of her handbag and handed it to the front desk staff. However, the staff only gave them one elevator card and one room card.

“Only one card?” Xu Yanyan asked the question before Cen Luo could.

The staff member nodded: “If needed, I can register it and get you another one.”

Cen Luo thought it was too much trouble and shook her head, saying to Xu Yanyan, “Aren’t you coming to my house tomorrow anyway?”

Xu Yanyan understood and didn’t ask further.

The two collected the luggage from the counter and swiped the card to reach the suite. The suite was spacious and bright, with a large floor-to-ceiling window in the living room offering a view of the bustling city center. Once the neon lights of the business district turned on at night, it would surely be even more beautiful.

“Do you like it?” Xu Yanyan dropped the suitcase and suddenly walked to her side.

Cen Luo nodded: “It will be even prettier at night. Miancheng’s night view is great.”

Xu Yanyan hummed in response. “Want to take a shower?”

“Huh?” Cen Luo looked at her half-soaked shoulder and shook her head. “No, my friends are still waiting for me.”

Xu Yanyan’s brow furrowed slightly: “You still have to leave?”

Cen Luo thought she was asking about returning to the reunion and nodded: “Yes, the activities they arranged go until three in the morning.” She remembered the schedule included KTV, an escape room at midnight, and a few other things she’d forgotten.

The room was silent for two seconds before Xu Yanyan’s gentle voice returned: “Even if you’re going, you should go looking neat. Look, your clothes are wet.”

Cen Luo smiled, not taking it seriously: “There should be a hairdryer, right? I’ll just dry them off. Besides, someone is having a birthday at midnight; I don’t know how much cake will get smeared on me.”

Seeing Xu Yanyan standing there dazed, Cen Luo tugged at her sleeve: “Sister Xu, do you need to unpack?”

The thought of bringing Xu Yanyan along flashed through Cen Luo’s mind, but she remembered that none of her old classmates had brought friends or family. Yu Jiao had said it was because they wanted a pure reunion and were worried they wouldn’t be able to balance both.

“Mhm.” Xu Yanyan smiled.

Xu Yanyan began to unpack and hang clothes in the wardrobe, while Cen Luo started scanning the room with her phone camera to check for security. Finding no issues, Cen Luo was about to speak to Xu Yanyan when she suddenly slipped. Fortunately, Xu Yanyan was right beside her and caught her.

“Thank you…”

Xu Yanyan looked at her, her eyes as gentle as water. Cen Luo froze, her mind going blank. Sister Xu is really so gentle.

But the next moment, a notification sound broke the mood. Cen Luo hurriedly stood straight and checked the message; it was a voice note from Yu Jiao. Sending it now definitely meant she was rushing her.

“Aren’t you going to listen?” Xu Yanyan glanced at the screen. Seeing her hesitation, she spoke calmly.

Cen Luo laughed awkwardly and clicked the voice note.

“Cen Luo! Did you pick up your friend? Once you have, come to Diyue KTV. We’ve moved to the next venue.”

“Sister Xu, I have to go.” Cen Luo hesitated, then added, “I’ll come find you tomorrow.”

“Luo Luo—”

Cen Luo instinctively hummed in response. Just as she looked up, she saw Xu Yanyan gazing at her tenderly, her exquisite face leaning closer and closer.

Xu Yanyan was going to kiss her.

Cen Luo’s head suddenly went numb. A wave of rejection surged within her, and she tilted her face away slightly. She attributed this feeling to her being uncomfortable with the fact that their relationship wasn’t official yet.

“Sister Xu, I…”

They were very close; she could hear the other’s faint breathing. Xu Yanyan looked at her, the initial gentleness in her eyes gradually cooling. Just then, a ringtone interrupted them. Cen Luo was about to answer, but the phone was snatched from her hand.

At that moment, Cen Luo heard Xu Yanyan ask: “Luo Luo, have you been very busy lately?”

Cen Luo looked at her confiscated phone, momentarily stunned. She didn’t quite understand why Xu Yanyan would do this. She forced a smile and replied:

“Not busy at all. I’m quite free in Miancheng, just planting flowers and shopping every day.”

Cen Luo remembered telling Xu Yanyan this over the phone yesterday; why was she asking now?

“Mhm,” Xu Yanyan said with a gentle air of grievance, “but Luo Luo hasn’t reached out to me of her own accord these past few days.”

Hadn’t she?

Cen Luo was surprised. She remembered they chatted every day. How could she not have reached out?

“And sometimes you don’t reply to my messages for a long time.”

Had she not? Cen Luo remembered responding almost instantly.

“I…” Cen Luo stammered, unable to find an explanation. She had completely forgotten about the phone situation.

“Sometimes you post updates with others but don’t reply to me.”

“That’s because I was looking at my phone while walking, and my friend kept reminding me. I felt embarrassed, so I stopped checking my messages.” Cen Luo finally had an explanation for this. She had indeed posted a few updates, mostly when she was with Yu Jiao. Because she kept staring at her phone instead of the road, Yu Jiao kept nagging her. Cen Luo felt bad, so she’d quickly reply and put the phone away. She had explained this to her friends later, and Xu Yanyan had said it was fine at the time.

“Have you been with her for this entire half-month?”

“Pretty much; her way home is on the way.” Cen Luo thought about it—they met almost every day. Yu Jiao would stop by to see her on her way home from school. She had even walked off with two pots of precious flowers lately, though she did help with the weeding.

The room was quiet for a second, then Xu Yanyan smiled: “So, who is more important in your heart?”

Cen Luo was startled. She hadn’t expected Xu Yanyan to ask this and answered instinctively: “You guys are different.” One was a close friend and old classmate she’d known for years; the other was an older sister she really liked despite not knowing her for long. Cen Luo didn’t see the need to compare the two.

But it seemed Xu Yanyan didn’t see it that way. After all these years, her answer hadn’t changed. Years ago, Xu Yanyan had asked if Qin Ran and Xu Fengwan were more important or she was, and Cen Luo’s answer had been the same.

However, later, she had heard someone ask if Jian Mu or her friends were more important, and she heard her reply—

[They are all important, but right now, Jian Mu is just a little bit more important. If you ask who I’d save if they all fell into the water, I’d save them first and then die with Jian Mu.]

“Then, if she and I both fell into the water…”

Xu Yanyan didn’t finish the sentence, just stared at Cen Luo. This tedious question still existed even ten years later.

“Sister Xu, Yuncheng has more sea than water; how could everyone possibly fall in?” Cen Luo answered sincerely. Though she knew it was a cliché, she actually thought about who she should save. She didn’t dare answer because her first thought was that she’d have to pull Qin Ran out first.

Xu Yanyan lowered her eyes and gave a short, cold laugh: “You didn’t answer her that way.”

Her? Who? Had she answered such a boring question before?

After a few seconds, Cen Luo realized exactly who “she” was in Xu Yanyan’s mouth. Cen Luo was momentarily incredulous.

“Sister Xu, why are you suddenly bringing her up?”

They had been getting along so harmoniously, and Cen Luo truly enjoyed talking to Xu Yanyan because it was always comfortable.

“I only said ‘her,’ and you already know who I mean?”

Xu Yanyan’s smile was different from usual. Cen Luo opened her mouth but found nothing to say. She was facing Xu Yanyan’s interrogation and judgment, yet she didn’t even have those memories. How was she supposed to answer? Because she had followed Jian Mu for the past ten years, it was easy for her to associate “her” with Jian Mu.

Was that her fault?

If they were together, would she have to face more interrogations like this?

Why?

Xu Yanyan pursed her lips and said warmly: “I’m sorry. I overstepped just now.”

They were very close. Cen Luo could clearly see Xu Yanyan’s expression—the natural gentleness that was worlds apart from a moment ago. In this moment, Cen Luo realized the strangeness she felt yesterday wasn’t an illusion. Xu Yanyan was indeed different from what she had imagined.

“Sister Xu, I have to go back.” Cen Luo looked at the phone on the nightstand, trying to prompt Xu Yanyan into giving it back.

“Don’t go. Is that okay?”

Xu Yanyan placed her phone in her palm and looked at Cen Luo, emphasizing every word.

Suddenly, Cen Luo vaguely understood Qin Ran’s earlier words. It wasn’t just a desire for control—there was also an unspeakable sense of possessiveness.