His poise and charm stirred a passionate tumult deep within her heart.

The strikingly handsome man drew frequent glances from the women in the cinema. Beside him, the focus of so many admiring eyes, the man remained indifferent, seemingly oblivious to the attention surrounding him.

Xiaoqi tugged at his sleeve. “Hey, so many girls are looking at you!”

Yichen glanced at her. “Don’t look around while walking. You might trip.”

“…”

If there were ever someone so completely oblivious to romance, it would be him.

They followed the crowd toward the bar to buy movie tickets.

“Hey, let me choose,” Xiaoqi pushed past him.

“No,” Yichen instantly became alert. The person before him was prone to mishaps, and though five years had passed, he still responded instinctively. He remembered well that she wanted to watch “A Chinese Odyssey.” Even though it wasn’t showing now, if she were to pick, she might choose something even more… Well, all he wanted was to watch a warm romance with her.

But…

“I want to see this,” Xiaoqi pointed to a movie on her phone. “Lord of the Gods: Nezha.”

Yichen looked closely, a line of black appeared in his mind. It was an animation.

He said helplessly, “Not this one. Choose another, ok?”

“No, if not, let’s just go home. I won’t watch anything.”

There it was, her little tantrum again. This time, it seemed even more brazen than before.

Yet he rather enjoyed her audacity with him.

The tickets were purchased, and the show would start in twenty minutes. They had ten minutes to wait.

“I’ll go buy popcorn,” she said, grabbing his arm. “You don’t like it.”

Xiaoqi looked confused. “How do you know I don’t?”

“You used to…” The words died in his throat—used to, five years ago. Now, Xiyang had lost her memory.

Yichen’s handsome face flushed slightly. “Let’s go together.”

“I want an ice-cold cola.”

“Have juice,” Yichen insisted. “Cola isn’t good for you.”

Xiaoqi pouted, “I don’t want juice, I want cola.”

When she acted up like this before, Yichen sometimes thought she was just a child. Now, she was exactly the same.

He sighed, “Just this once, never again,” and reached up to smooth her wind-tousled hair.

That gesture, that expression, radiated a warmth almost tangible.

Xiaoqi felt as if they were a couple on a date at the movies.

Suddenly she regretted coming with him. He was Ye Xiyang’s boyfriend, and Ye Xiyang was the one he loved. She was Xiaoqi, an alien, not Ye Xiyang.

“Lin Yichen, I don’t want to see the movie anymore.”

Yichen narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“No reason,” Xiaoqi said, picking at her fingers. “I just suddenly don’t want to.”

Yichen’s gaze darkened. “No reason?”

There was none. She didn’t bother to explain, turning straight for the exit.

Her nape was seized.

“You’re really annoying! I said I don’t want—” She looked up and met a pair of ink-dark eyes, filled with emotions she couldn’t understand. Her words faltered.

After a moment, the hand at her neck released. For reasons unknown, Xiaoqi couldn’t face him now and ran out.

Yichen sat in the driver’s seat, cigarette between his fingers, smoke swirling and blurring his expression.

He rarely smoked these days.

Yesterday he had said, “I yield to the warmth of reality, so I’ll spend my life with you.”

Before knowing her, he didn’t understand what sunlight or warmth meant.

All of that came after meeting her.

But she had left quietly, without a trace for five years.

Now she was back. Though she had lost her memory, he was confident that, given how much she once loved him, he could make her love him again.

But now…

It seemed he was repeating his old mistakes—too confident, too sure.

What should he do to bring her back to how she was—sunny, bold, loving him without hesitation?

Xiyang, you’re the sunlight I cannot refuse, shining across my life. But now you no longer wish to light my path. What am I to do?

He looked out at the crowded street, and scenes with Ye Xiyang flashed before him—her restless notes in class, his scolding after the bell.

Yet as he scolded her, his tone always softened.

Those memories made him smile.

They became the sweetest times rooted deep in his heart.

No matter how time erodes, he would never forget; no matter how long the separation, he still held on to his love for her.

But now…

For a moment, Yichen felt lost.

Five years had been so long, yet felt like the blink of an eye.

But in truth, it was a long time.

Would Xiyang regain her memory in the future? Would she love him as she once did?

His phone rang, snapping him out of his reverie. Fang Li said on the other end, “President Lin, that friend of Cruz is Joanna, and I found out…”

“Go on.”

“The young master once liked someone—it was Joanna.”

When Yiyang was at university, he said he liked a girl, but she left. Unexpectedly, it was her.

Yichen suddenly remembered Yiyang’s odd behavior lately.

And Joanna had returned to the country at this time.

But did Joanna say she liked him?

He had amnesia, so he wouldn’t remember women of his age.

Yet with Joanna, he always felt he’d known her before.

He stubbed out the unfinished cigarette and started the engine.

Inside a high-end villa, a woman in a red tailcoat dress descended gracefully. Her exquisite makeup and brown curly hair gave her a seductive charm.

“President Lin, your visit is truly an honor,” she said.

Lin Yichen, hands in his pockets, stood tall by the window. Seeing her, he raised his dark eyes and pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

Joanna’s red lips curved slightly. “Not long ago, at your place, President Lin, you…”

She left the sentence unfinished.

“I didn’t expect you to know Cruz,” Yichen said directly.

Joanna ignored him, stubbornly pressing on: “Last time you said that, and now you visit again. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

Yichen pressed his lips, his face darkening.

Joanna seemed not to notice, continuing, “I heard President Lin is always polite and considerate to women, but you treated me differently. Was that reputation just a fabrication?”

“Miss Joanna,” Yichen’s face was dark, but his tone was calm, “I never overstep with women.”

The implication: you say you like me, so I’ll be decisive.

Joanna had wanted to say more, but her interest faded.

Still, even after his attitude that day, she remained captivated by him.

Lin Yichen—he was, in her heart, a man of strength, courage, and striking looks.

His presence and charm made her pulse race.

He was outstanding in appearance, possessed a clever mind, and came from a good family. How could she not be enthralled?