This Damn Instinct

"Cough! Cough! Lin Ao! Someone is greeting you, why are you just standing there like a statue?"

Li Wanyu shot a glare at Lin Ao. When did this kid become so dim-witted?

"Ah? Oh, long time no see, Menghan."

Only after hearing Li Wanyu speak did Lin Ao snap out of his memories.

"You two chat. I'm taking Niannian to get some water; she says she's thirsty."

Li Wanyu scooped up Liu Nian and headed toward the house.

Seeing that Li Wanyu and Liu Nian were about to leave, Liu Menghan reached out in a panic to grab Liu Nian's clothes, hoping to make her stay and keep her company, but Liu Nian ruthlessly shook her off and gave her a look to ponder over.

Who knows who had been spouting such bold words before they left the house?

Liu Menghan stood there feeling a bit at a loss, and Lin Ao felt a trace of awkwardness as well. He patted the empty lounge chair beside him.

"Um, Menghan, why don't you sit down and soak up some sun? It's quite comfortable, haha."

Lin Ao could only scramble for a topic, wondering to himself why Liu Menghan seemed so on edge.

She looked nothing like the head of a family.

Hearing Lin Ao's invitation, Liu Menghan walked over and lay down.

For a moment, the scene fell silent again.

They really were just minding their own business, lying on the chairs and basking in the sun.

"Um... have you been doing well these days?"

Liu Menghan's soft voice drifted over; if it hadn't been quiet enough nearby, Lin Ao truly wouldn't have heard her speaking to him.

"Oh, yeah, I'm doing quite well. Just went out to clear my head."

Lin Ao didn't know what to talk about with Liu Menghan. He hadn't really interacted with her much lately. He did know many of her little secrets, but those were all from the previous timeline.

If he brought them up now, she would inevitably think he was a creep who had been investigating her.

Although Liu Menghan was a dignified family head in her daily life, her personality was like a little rabbit—soft and sweet. It was because of this that the previous Lin Ao had secretly gone to apologize to her; he truly couldn't bear to hurt this woman.

"The MV was filmed very well. That girl is also very pretty."

Lin Ao froze for a second. How did Liu Menghan notice that? It had only just been released.

This was all thanks to Liu Nian. She was the one who told Liu Menghan, while simultaneously making things difficult for her in a roundabout way: Look, Auntie, there's another person by Uncle Lin Ao's side. You haven't even met him a few times—you have no chance.

Liu Nian's words kept stinging Liu Menghan, and she had just stared blankly at Lin Ao and Xia Qiange in the MV.

"Haha, just helping a friend out. I didn't expect you to see it so quickly, haha."

Lin Ao could only offer an awkward reply.

He chuckled, but when he noticed Liu Menghan didn't respond, he looked over curiously and nearly fell off his chair in shock.

He saw that Liu Menghan's eyes were red, with crystalline tears hanging in her lashes, and her lips were pouting unconsciously.

There was an indescribable cuteness to it that stirred a sense of pity in one's heart.

Seeing Liu Menghan like this reminded Lin Ao of the times he used to tease her.

Whenever she felt wronged, she would make this expression at him, telling Lin Ao that she was very sad inside.

This gave Lin Ao the illusion that he had returned to that time.

Although he hadn't been in control of himself back then, he had still enjoyed the process quite a bit.

Whenever Liu Menghan made this face, Lin Ao would gently flick her soft, pouting lips and say, "Silly girl, what are you angry about?"

Lin Ao felt a bit dazed. Without realizing he had stood up, he walked over to Liu Menghan and crouched down.

He really did gently flick Liu Menghan's pouting lips and said:

"Silly girl, what are you angry about?"

After his finger tapped her, time seemed to stand still. Lin Ao froze, and Liu Menghan froze as well.

The tears that had been lingering in her eyes couldn't be held back any longer and began to stream down. She couldn't forget this familiar gesture and tone from Lin Ao.

"Ah... um... Menghan, I'm sorry. I don't know why I did that, hahahaha. It was all an accident, I'm so sorry. I'll just leave now, haha."

Lin Ao wanted to find a hole to crawl into out of embarrassment. Damn this instinct, why did it have to pop up right now?

Lin Ao slapped his own cursed right hand, feeling like it was beyond saving.

[Heavenly Mandate smiles slightly.]

Just as Lin Ao was about to stand up and leave, Liu Menghan, with her red eyes, lunged forward and hugged him tightly.

Her body was trembling slightly, though it was unclear if it was from excitement or fear.

Lin Ao didn't understand the situation. Does she cry just from a little flick?

Liu Menghan slowly pushed herself up. Her palms were also trembling slightly as she reached out and gently touched Lin Ao's face.

"Lin Ao? Is it really you who has returned?"

Her voice trembled, and she could no longer control her emotions.

"Is that you back?"

She looked at Lin Ao again and asked. Liu Menghan felt that this must be a dream; she didn't know how many times she had dreamt of this, but none of them had felt as real as today.

Lin Ao heard Liu Menghan's question and didn't understand it at first, but with the example of Xia Qiange right in front of him, could it be that Liu Menghan had also regained her memories? No way, right?

"What do you mean? Menghan, I just did that subconsciously; I don't even know why myself."

Lin Ao didn't dare to be certain, nor did he dare to guess in that direction, so he had to play dumb.

"You said you liked my gentleness, that I was the most special girl you had ever met. You said you liked black stockings and that you liked me wearing orange-scented perfume. You also said you liked me wearing..."

Lin Ao covered Liu Menghan's mouth. Now he was certain that Liu Menghan was just like Xia Qiange.

"Cough, cough, Menghan, don't say any more. You really shouldn't be saying things like that."

Liu Menghan, being covered by Lin Ao, blinked her large, teary eyes and looked at him innocently.

Lin Ao clutched his forehead. What kind of situation is this! Why did flicking her mouth cause her memories to come flooding back?

Come to think of it, how did Xia Qiange remember last time? Was it because I held her and spun her around dozens of times?

Does everyone have a different way of regaining their memories?

What about Gu Wanqing then? How should I make her remember? A hug? No, I already hugged her a long time ago. A kiss? I've tried that too. Could it be...

And besides, is it a good thing or a bad thing that they are remembering?

What if they immediately defect to Xiao Fan or Ye Chen?

"Menghan, what do you mean by this? I didn't quite catch that; I don't think I've even had any contact with you."

Liu Menghan nodded while making muffled sounds, and only then did Lin Ao remember he was still covering her mouth.

"Lin Ao, actually I remember. I remember everything. I don't know how to explain it to you clearly, but the extra memories in my mind tell me that they are all real, and between us..."

Liu Menghan poured out all the memories she had gained and the feelings she had suppressed for so long to Lin Ao.

"I also remember you coming over to apologize to me. Ever since then, I discovered that my behavior and my soul were detached, and that sense of dissonance became more severe each time."

Lin Ao remembered that Xia Qiange had mentioned this situation as well.

"Menghan, I..."

Liu Menghan interrupted Lin Ao, placing her fingertip against his lips.

She thought that Lin Ao couldn't accept this reality for the moment, or rather, that he didn't fully believe what she was saying.

"Lin Ao, I don't need you to believe me right now. This time, I don't want you to leave again. Also, you must remember, if someone named Ye Chen appears, you must, must be careful."

Although Liu Menghan's tone was gentle, it sounded incredibly firm, and at the same time, she warned Lin Ao to be on guard against Ye Chen.

Lin Ao was speechless. I want to tell you that I remember too, but you have to give me a chance to speak! However, it seemed that Liu Menghan was likely not on Ye Chen's side, which made Lin Ao breathe a sigh of relief.

Liu Nian was held by Li Wanyu in front of the window, watching the two of them with a knowing, maternal smile.

"Niannian, was this your arrangement?"

Li Wanyu pinched Liu Nian's fair, tender cheek.

"Hee hee, isn't this helping Uncle Lin Ao find some helpers? It'll be easier to deal with those people later, right?"

Li Wanyu and Liu Nian looked at each other with profound meaning.

One old fox and one young fox, smiling as they watched Lin Ao and Liu Menghan outside the window.

It seems they have some little secrets of their own.