Amnesia Trap (GL) - Chapter 3

Sheng Zhi listened to Ji Qingfan introduce herself, affectionately calling her “Zhi Zhi” over and over, and claiming they had been very much in love since getting married. It felt no different from listening to the joke of the year.

Due to Sheng Zhi’s suspected amnesia, the doctor who had just left soon returned to the ward to ask a few questions and perform some checks.

It was confirmed that Sheng Zhi had indeed lost a part of her memory. She was vague about many memories related to Ji Qingfan, the most significant point being that she had almost completely forgotten Ji Qingfan as a person.

This situation actually had many precedents and is medically known as selective amnesia, which usually occurs after a patient suffers a major external stimulus or a head injury from impact.

“About how long will it take for her memory to recover?” Ji Qingfan asked while holding the CT scans.

The doctor was also a bit melancholic about the result, thinking it must be very sad to be forgotten by your loved one who has amnesia. He offered comfort: “Actually, there’s a high possibility of recovering from selective amnesia. Having the patient frequently interact with familiar presences from the past or taking her to relive past experiences, performing some selective stimulation—all of these can help her slowly awaken her memory.”

Listening to the doctor, Ji Qingfan’s expression became more desolate, her fingertips involuntarily trembling slightly, and her jade-like eyes veiled with melancholy. She truly looked devastated by the news of being forgotten by her lover, the entire person resembling a pale, fleeting Epiphyllum about to fade.

Sheng Zhi watched this scene, feeling both surreal and a little resentful inside.

They were only fake wives and true rivals in a contractual, interest-based marriage, yet anyone unaware would think their relationship was deep and profound.

After saying a few more things, the doctor left. Ji Qingfan closed the ward door and walked to Sheng Zhi’s bedside, her tone very considerate: “You might still feel a bit nauseous and want to vomit right after waking up. I’ll pour you some water when Zhi Zhi feels a little better… The phone that was broken in the car accident, I’ve bought you a new one and arranged for someone to restore and import the data.”

Their eyes met.

The woman’s face held a gentle charm that Sheng Zhi had never seen before. Even the way she addressed her had changed since earlier, no longer the full name “Sheng Zhi,” but the more intimate “Zhi Zhi.”

After a few seconds of pause, Sheng Zhi had shaken off the initial shock and felt a little more grounded.

She openly re-examined Ji Qingfan standing by the bed.

An abnormality suggests a scheme.

Ji Qingfan’s elaborate act was either because she still didn’t believe Sheng Zhi had amnesia and was trying to trick her, or she believed Sheng Zhi had amnesia and was scheming against her, planning to use the events of this period to humiliate her once she “recovered her memory.”

She wasn’t yet sure which of the two possibilities represented Ji Qingfan’s true intentions, but she was certain that in either case, Ji Qingfan wasn’t up to any good.

So, Sheng Zhi’s performance of amnesia became even more convincing, mixed with a sense of wary unfamiliarity: “You said earlier that you are my wife, and that we were… very much in love?”

Ji Qingfan hummed in affirmation, her reddened eyes making her answer very persuasive: “Our feelings were very deep.”

—Lie, keep lying if you dare.

Sheng Zhi sneered inwardly, and without giving her time to think, she stared at her and continued to question: “Then, which of us pursued the other?”

Ji Qingfan met her gaze without the slightest guilt, her eyes filled with deep affection: “I pursued you.”

Sheng Zhi spoke faster: “You pursued me? Do you know what my favorite fruit is?”

Ji Qingfan let out a soft sigh: “Strawberries and cherries.”

…She got it right?

Sheng Zhi was a bit suspicious, feeling Ji Qingfan might have guessed: “And the fruit I dislike the most?”

“Apples and kiwi.”

She asked a series of questions, including some tricky ones, but Ji Qingfan answered without hesitation. Not only did she get them all right, but while showing her their marriage certificate photo, she also recounted their sweet past memories, making Sheng Zhi seriously doubt reality.

For a moment, she almost thought she really had amnesia, or that she had somehow traveled to a parallel world where they were indeed so deeply in love, otherwise how could Ji Qingfan know her so well?

Sheng Zhi quickly suppressed the bizarre thought that popped into her mind.

She spoke with a hint of sarcasm: “You love me that much?”

There were only the two of them in the cold, white-toned hospital room. Their eyes remained locked. In response to Sheng Zhi’s query, Ji Qingfan acknowledged it with immense tenderness: “Yes, only you.”

Sheng Zhi’s suspicion and disbelief were very obvious, yet Ji Qingfan stopped trying to argue. She simply raised her finger to stroke Sheng Zhi’s cheek, curving her beautiful eyes: “Zhi Zhi, you’ve just woken up from a coma, and you’ve forgotten me and the feelings we shared. It’s perfectly normal that you can’t accept this fact right away. There’s plenty of time ahead. We have a lot of time to spend helping you remember…”

Since learning about Sheng Zhi’s car accident, Ji Qingfan’s heart had been pounding anxiously, and every breath was painful. She couldn’t bear the thought of something truly happening to Sheng Zhi. After entering the ward, she stayed glued to her side until Sheng Zhi woke up, which somewhat calmed her down.

However, she genuinely hadn’t expected Sheng Zhi to have amnesia and to have forgotten her.

…Was it because she had suggested extending the agreement right before the accident, causing a shock?

She looks so unfamiliar, her expression and actions are so different from how she usually is with me. Did she truly forget me?

If she truly forgot… then that’s just… too perfect.

Ji Qingfan wasn’t as sad about Sheng Zhi forgetting her as she let on, nor did she want Sheng Zhi to remember too quickly. In other words, she even hoped she would never recover her memory. Sheng Zhi remaining forgetful was the best outcome for her.

Her forgetting her, forgetting their history, was like a blank slate that could be colored anew. This was simply an opportunity sent from heaven.

The stirring desire in her heart could no longer be contained. Ji Qingfan leaned close to her ear, looking from the side as if she were completely embracing Sheng Zhi.

She casually tucked the long hair that had fallen forward behind her ear, her voice soft and gentle, as if whispering sweet nothings: “So… Zhi Zhi, let me take care of you during this time, okay? Hmm?”

The distance suddenly closed. A cool fragrance enveloped her. If she hadn’t remembered she was faking amnesia, Sheng Zhi would have almost lost her composure upon hearing this.

Ji Qingfan’s hand was slightly cold. The intensity of her affectionate posture made Sheng Zhi feel a growing spread of discomfort, starting from the small area of skin on her cheek, making her entire body almost numb with unease.

Sheng Zhi slightly turned her head, avoiding Ji Qingfan’s touch. At that moment, she was even more certain in her heart—

She knew Ji Qingfan’s act of being a loving wife was absolutely leading up to something sinister. Sure enough, now she was volunteering to take care of her.

Given their years-long rivalry, Ji Qingfan saying this was as likely as the sun rising in the west.

But the sun would not rise in the west, and Ji Qingfan’s care, even if real, would definitely not be sincere.

It was all a scheme, a setup.

Luckily, she had seen through it. In short, she would absolutely not be tricked by Ji Qingfan!

“I have family and friends. I don’t need you.”

After dropping this sentence, Sheng Zhi completely turned her back, though she didn’t explicitly tell her to leave, the lack of trust in her action was very clear.

Ji Qingfan’s expression remained unchanged, and her voice was still sweet and gentle: “Then I’ll just stay here for a while until the person Zhi Zhi trusts arrives before leaving. I won’t do anything, but given your current physical condition, it’s best to have someone by your side.”

She paused here, and a very slight smile curled on her lips at an angle Sheng Zhi couldn’t see: “After all, I’m the only one Zhi Zhi has right now.”

Sheng Zhi felt completely uncomfortable hearing Ji Qingfan’s tone of deep concern. Moreover, her mind couldn’t help but recall the sight of the other woman’s reddened eyes moments ago…

That sense of shock still lingered in her body. Sheng Zhi didn’t want to deal with her, and since her head was genuinely still throbbing, she simply closed her eyes, facing Ji Qingfan with silent rejection.

Ji Qingfan didn’t seem to mind.

Her beautiful eyes held a unique allure as she gazed at Sheng Zhi lying in the hospital bed, her focus completely unwavering.

Ji Qingfan was well aware that everything she had just said was a lie.

Sheng Zhi and she were merely in an emotionless, contractual business marriage. There was no “in love” between them whatsoever. If anything, Sheng Zhi genuinely disliked her.

This method of using someone’s amnesia to get closer was truly despicable… If Sheng Zhi recovered her memory, she would definitely hate her even more.

But the opportunity was right in front of her, and the person she had yearned for and coveted for years was so easily within reach. How could she possibly restrain herself from taking advantage of this chance?

She couldn’t.

Even if what she obtained was merely an illusion, it was enough to be greedy for.

Just like now, while her heart was aching with worry, and even fear, alongside that, she couldn’t help but feel a secret joy from being able to stand guard at Sheng Zhi’s bedside like this.

The overt love that could not be expressed in the past was now on full display. Ji Qingfan watched her with a long and focused gaze, as if only Sheng Zhi existed in her sight.