104: Cold and Ruthless

No one spoke; silence stretched heavily between them.

Yi Chen paused for several seconds, seemingly absent-minded, then took a step toward the car.

His sleeve was suddenly gripped tightly by a hand.

“Yi Chen,” he heard her voice, low and faint, almost like a pitiful whimper of a small creature, “do you really not want me anymore?”

What was she saying?! Yi Chen turned to look at her, his expression as if he had seen a ghost.

“Do you really not want me anymore?” Her voice was soft and light, and she looked like a discarded little animal.

In such a quiet moment, he suddenly felt a trace of reluctance, a faint urge to hold her.

It was madness. Although everyone said this person was his girlfriend, to him, she was a stranger.

How could he possibly have the impulse to embrace a stranger?

This amnesia was making him feel as if even his nerves were malfunctioning.

Yi Chen tugged back his sleeve, but Xiao Qi’s hand stubbornly held on.

That familiar tenacious stubbornness made Yi Chen’s head ache suddenly.

He frowned. “Let go.”

Perhaps his voice was too harsh, Xiao Qi’s hand trembled slightly, then her fingers slowly, one by one, loosened their grip.

She lowered her head; Yi Chen couldn’t see her expression, but in his mind appeared the image of her grievance and sadness.

Every expression was so vivid in his mind that it could soften his heart in the next moment.

Yi Chen felt more and more that his mind was failing him.

A gust of wind blew, clearing his thoughts somewhat.

He had just felt as if he was completely broken.

Xiao Qi glanced at him secretly, thinking, “This is my pitiful look, right? He should soften and let me in, right?”

Once she got in, everything would be easier.

Yi Chen looked at her; she was shrinking beside him, furrowing her brows in a strangeness of tone: “Miss, everyone around me says you are my girlfriend, but I don’t remember you. So from now on, don’t keep tugging at me.”

Ah, maybe my pitiful act still isn’t enough to move him.

Xiao Qi looked helpless. “Before, when we were together, you liked it when I held your hand,” she said, pointing to her face, “Look at me—you suddenly forgot me. I really can’t accept it. That’s why I’m so haggard now, so thin, even my chin has sharpened... but you’re cold to me. You’ve put me in a dilemma with nowhere to turn. I really don’t know what to do so that you’ll treat me like before.”

Yi Chen looked at her, slightly sarcastic. “Yes, now you’re so thin that your eyes look even bigger—big enough for me to see clearly. The moment you saw me, there was a flash of panic.”

“...”

“Just like now, your eyes flickered slightly but then calmed without a ripple. Your complexion is a little pale, but your gaze is clear and spirited. Hmm, your expression is spot on, but your acting is still lacking.”

Xiao Qi: “...”

Damn it, isn’t amnesia supposed to make a person stupid?

This amnesiac not only didn’t get stupid, but his personality changed drastically—dark and sinister.

Truly not at all likable >_<

“Yi Chen, how can you say that about your girlfriend?” Xiao Qi looked deeply hurt. “You always spoke to me so gently before.”

“Gently?” Yi Chen cast her a glance. “Then tell me, how was I gentle?”

Page (1/3)

Page (2/3)

Xiao Qi felt that glance was like a murder blow, and his voice was cold enough to freeze.

Damn it, it’s just amnesia—forgetting her—is that any reason to speak so frighteningly?

But the show must go on.

No no no, this isn’t acting, this is helping him.

“You used to often come find me, pick me up for work and bring me back. After work, you’d take me out for big dinners and movies, pampering me like a little princess. You treated me so well, never once scolding me, always praising me for being gentle and virtuous...”

Xiao Qi said a bunch without blushing or losing breath.

Yi Chen said expressionlessly, “Then tell me, why did I like you so much before?”

“Because I’m pretty!” She remembered he said that himself, though Xiao Qi had added some embellishments.

“You used to stare at me with those deep eyes all day long, wishing to keep me in the palm of your hand every day. You said you didn’t want to be with anyone else in this life except me, even if I had nothing, you’d still choose me. Have you really forgotten all that?”

The last sentence was asked with much guilt.

“Is that so?” Yi Chen’s intense gaze fixed on her; Xiao Qi felt weak under his stare and quickly looked away.

God, the capitalist’s eyes were really terrifying.

Her anxious gaze revealed a faint unease.

This person was not only ill-mannered but also liked to lie.

Yi Chen grew colder. “What you said was about the past, but I don’t want to continue with you now. Tell me, how much money will it take for you to break up with me?”

Xiao Qi was stunned. Even if not everything she said was true, some of it was, and he had amnesia—should he insult her like this?!

Although I love money, I have my principles.

“If I said I don’t want money, I just want you?”

“Sorry, I have no feelings for you now,” Yi Chen coldly spat out the hurtful words. “You’d better be sensible and take the money. But if you expect other benefits from me, you’ll be disappointed. Giving you money is already me being generous.”

Xiao Qi’s face suddenly went pale. She finally realized how hurtful words could be. Embarrassed, she could only squeeze out a few words, “You don’t believe a single word I just said?”

“Do you think what you said is true?”

Though it was a question, it was nine parts certain.

She said it all; he didn’t believe a word.

Rage and humiliation filled Xiao Qi’s entire being. All the pathetic acts, all the attempts to move or change him, all the signals—thrown far away.

“You capitalist! You think your filthy money makes you great? You think being a CEO makes you special? I don’t care at all! Break up, then! Break if you want. But don’t ever come begging me to get back with you, you rogue capitalist scoundrel...”

Xiao Qi blew up in anger.

Yi Chen said nothing, shot her a dark glance, turned, got into the car, started the engine, and drove into the villa.

That resolute expression tore at Xiao Qi’s heart.

For some reason deep inside, a faint bitterness surfaced. She felt as if she had been a clown, directing and acting alone.

No, a clown acting out of one-sided wishful thinking.

#

Xiao Qi wandered through the neon-lit streets.

Suddenly, her arm was grabbed. She looked up, a subtle joy bubbling up from her heart.

She had wandered from his villa, thinking maybe he would come find her.

Page (3/3)

He must still have some feelings for her.

But...

“I don’t want to be ambiguous with you, nor owe you anything. Fang Li said that because of you, my family doesn’t know about my amnesia. You helped me once, so I owe you,” Yi Chen pulled out a check and stuffed it in her pocket. “Consider this as…”

“I don’t want it...” Xiao Qi threw the check away.

Amid the flowing crowd, the two standing still attracted some attention.

Yi Chen, naturally wanting no eyes on them, pulled her into the car but didn’t start it.

He lit a cigarette and took a slow drag.

Xiao Qi hadn’t seen him smoke in a long time.

Only when she first met him did she occasionally see a cigarette between his fingers.

Zhuang Jia said: “You’ll never know how much he loves you.”

Pan Sen said: “You hurt him, and he couldn’t accept it, so he escaped and subconsciously forgot you too.”

So, in the end, it was because he loved Ye Xiyang too much, couldn’t bear being hurt even a little, that he forgot Ye Xiyang.

Though she wasn’t the real Ye Xiyang, his forgetting Ye Xiyang was caused by her.

No matter what, she couldn’t give up halfway.

Thinking this, Xiao Qi resolutely said, “No matter what you say or give me, I won’t agree to break up with you.”

Yi Chen frowned, his gaze cold and dark. “Why? What exactly do you want?”

“I said I only want you,” Xiao Qi said naturally and firmly this time. “I just want to be with you. Even if you have nothing, I want to be with you.”

Yi Chen’s eyes flickered. “What if I want to break up? What can you do about it?”

Xiao Qi shrugged, using his own words against him, “Then I won’t break up. What can you do?”

Yi Chen sneered, “Money, status, or something else—just say the word, I’ll give you. You’re so lazy with me. Don’t say you only want me. I’m not a character in a novel, nor a fool.”

Xiao Qi’s gaze dimmed gradually, but she didn’t lose her temper. “Lin Yi Chen, do you know you’re really annoying like this? Arrogant, conceited, cold-hearted, completely indifferent to others’ feelings. But the more like this you are, the more I want to be with you. Because you’re so detestable, the more I want to change you.”

“Don’t you think your all-in gamble is ridiculous?!” Yi Chen mocked, “And saying that, you’re overestimating yourself. Do you think I’ll change for someone like you?”

Someone like me? And calling me ridiculous.

Damn it, I’m trying to help him, and he mocks me mercilessly.

His amnesia is like schizophrenia.

This change is just too extreme!

Xiao Qi took a breath, took a detour, lowered her head before him, her shoulders slightly slumped, speaking in broken, disjointed words, “Yi Chen, every word I told you... comes from my heart...”

“I didn’t come to listen to your nonsense,” Yi Chen cut her off impatiently. “I give you money—take it or get nothing.”

Xiao Qi looked up at him, her voice trembling, “I just want to be with you.”

“Get out.”

Page (3/3)