Chapter 25

He waves, nods, and smiles warmly, occasionally scratching his head shyly. Although these are just simple little gestures, his comfortable attitude makes people want to get closer to him.

Compared to the beaming Grand Secretary Li, the Newly Promoted Junior Academy Student standing next to him had a much less cheerful demeanor.

What a wicked stepmother's face! A gloomy face, frowning, as if she hadn't repaid a hundred thousand taels of gold in the world. Even her steps were heavy, arrogant, and full of foul air, with an air of arrogance.

She's just a lowly Academy Student whom the Chief Counselor casually rescued; what right does she have to walk so arrogantly beside the Chief Counselor?

The newly Academy Student is so ignorant of ethics and seniority; if it weren't for Grand Secretary Li's intercession, he would have been kneeling until he died without a second thought!

Get out of the Chief Counselor's sight, you Garlic Head that ruins the scene.

Why are you drifting further and further away from me?

"To conform to the meaning of the name"

"Hmm? Public opinion?" He tilted his head, puzzled, then frowned and pondered for a moment. "Is it because your ex wouldn't let you be with him? Did he hide you away as his secret lover?"

"... Hey, he's not a demon, okay? You're making him sound like a monster." How is he supposed to recover his memories if he continues down this obsessive path? He used to be a dashing, arrogant nobleman, how did he end up being seen as a pretentious, affected, and unpopular jerk?

"You clearly hate him so much, why are you still speaking up for him?" He glanced at him sideways, slightly displeased.

"Isn't he you? As long as you regain your memories." Why the sour, jealous look, and why draw such a clear line? Once he remembers everything, he'll definitely regret his humiliating behavior today.

"What memories are you trying to recover?"

"Of course, it's all the things from the past!" Especially his past relationship with the Courtesan Liu Rongrong! That way, she can escape unscathed!

Do you really want me to remember?

"Of course!" How could I possibly get the person I like wrong?

Even our past unpleasantness?

"Uh... between us..." While there wasn't anything particularly happy, it wasn't unpleasant either, right? The part about being chased by the dog was a bit tragic, but that was all they ever did.

"But that's not important!" Their past was insignificant compared to all his memories. Grabbing his sleeve, she forgot her earlier insistence on keeping her distance and hurriedly dragged him outside. "Come on, come on! I've already arranged to take you somewhere! It'll definitely remind you of so many things!"

Nothing is more important than helping him remember his past. "There's also a very important person I need to take you to see! Once you see her, you'll remember everything! I had a lot of trouble persuading Young Master Piao to let you go see her! Don't miss the time, seize the opportunity!"

Only when Acacia Sect do you realize the bitterness of unrequited love; every inch of longing turns to ashes. Liu Rongrong will surely cure all his ailments and heal his lovesickness.

He saw her anxious concern, but instead of being happy, he frowned and his face darkened.

"You really are..." Compared to his current state, she definitely preferred the old him, that annoying guy. But he didn't intend to recall that guy. That past must have been incredibly painful and unbearable, making him feel so distant from her now. Occasionally, he'd close his eyes, and the memory would become a hazy blur, accompanied by the jarring sound of a piano, making his chest feel heavy. Since it wasn't a good thing, he had the right to bury it and discard it. As long as she was still by his side, what did it matter if she had memories or not? Unless she only loved that past, and not the person standing here now—

"I don't want to regain my memories." He stopped.

"No... what are you saying?" she asked incredulously.

"I said I don't want to regain my memories." He shook off her hand, stood still, and repeated firmly.

"Why? Didn't you say you were going to try hard to remember?"

"..." That's because she lacked those memories; she treated him like a stranger. But gradually, he realized that without those memories, she didn't see him as the Li Chenjing she knew before. So, did she love him, or was it just those memories from the past?

From the very beginning, she found it strange that he wouldn't acknowledge his feelings, yet refused to be close to him. Was it because he had lost his memory that she was excluding him? If that was the case, then he should just refuse to remember.

What he wanted to remember was everything about her. He couldn't turn back into the person he used to hate—not even if it was her wish.

"What's the point of remembering? He and I are different now!"

"Different? How are they different?"

"Can't you see the difference between us? What you're seeing is probably not me at all, right?"

"Hey! Are you deliberately trying to pick a fight with me?" His awkward and barbed words finally made Zhu Bafu realize something was wrong. What was he arguing with her about? Everything she did was for his own good! She was furious. "What do you mean by 'same' and 'different'? You are the Grand Secretary of the Dongxu Grand Secretary, the son of the Prime Minister. You are Li Chenjing, and Li Chenjing is you. If there's any difference, well, there really is a difference. He wouldn't be as childish and clingy as you!"

"... Am I childish and clingy?"

"Yes! Not only is she childish and clingy, but she's also dull, slow-witted, self-centered, and ungrateful!"

"..."

"Why are you glaring at me! Stop glaring at me with that face that looks just like Li Chenjing's! Didn't you say you didn't want to regain your memories and didn't want to be Li Chenjing? Then don't talk to me with the same expression!"

He tossed his sleeves and walked past her, gritting his teeth. "It doesn't matter. I'll show you how I'm different from him."

Author's Note:

Second update since it's now a paid chapter~~~~~

Chapter 26, Chapter Twenty-Five

Zhu Bafu regretted it.

She regretted her momentary lapse of judgment, which led her to pick a fight with a mentally unstable person with a confused memory, a fight that lasted for several days and nights.