Volume 1, Chapter 65: What did you want to say to me when you asked me out back then?

Sensing Lin Qiutong’s body trembling slightly, Shen Chiyan gently wrapped his arms around her.

Leaning against Shen Chiyan’s chest, Lin Qiutong was crying on the outside, but her heart was filled with wild ecstasy.

Although she and Shen Chiyan had grown up together, their relationship had never crossed the boundary of good friends and companions; she had never embraced him this closely before.

His embrace was as warm and comfortable as she had imagined, making it hard for anyone to bear leaving.

The people in the hospital room were sensible enough to leave the space to Lin Qiutong and Shen Chiyan.

Lin Qiutong stared at Shen Chiyan with tear-filled eyes, as if she wanted to carve his entire appearance into her mind.

"A-Yan, you've lost so much weight."

Shen Chiyan’s emotions and expression were extremely complicated.

For the past three years, he had prayed every single day for Lin Qiutong to wake up. When she first woke up, he had been deeply moved and overjoyed.

Today, he was still happy. On his way here, he even had a bellyful of things he wanted to say to Lin Qiutong.

Yet when facing her alone, he suddenly didn't know what to say, or even how to begin.

How could this be?

Clearly, he loved her so much. Why couldn't he even utter a simple sentence about how much he had missed her?

Sensing something was amiss with Shen Chiyan, Lin Qiutong’s heart sank slightly, and her tears flowed more fiercely. "A-Yan, aren't you happy to see me wake up?"

Realizing he shouldn't act this way, Shen Chiyan forced a smile at Lin Qiutong and reached out to stroke her hair. "How could that be? All of us have been waiting for you to wake up."

A trace of sorrow flickered across the depths of Lin Qiutong's eyes. "I never expected that I would end up lying here for three years..."

Three years—more than a thousand days and nights.

The finest years of a person's youth, yet her life had been reduced to a complete blank.

Filled with immense guilt, Shen Chiyan said, "Qiuqiu, I'm sorry."

With tears streaming down her face, as if afraid that Shen Chiyan would blame himself, she smiled and shook her head. "I don't mean to blame you at all. By the way... back then, when you asked me to meet you at the Bund, what were you trying to tell me?"

"I..."

The words of confession were right on the tip of his tongue, but for some reason, Shen Chiyan simply couldn't say them.

Suddenly, he felt a wave of irritation, believing that all of this was somehow influenced by Song Qinian.

Otherwise, he loved Qiuqiu so much, and back then he had gone to the Bund to confess with such a thrilled heart, even preparing a whistle as a confession gift. Why on earth couldn't he say it now?

Seeing Shen Chiyan's inner struggle, Lin Qiutong's expression turned remarkably grim as a thought crossed her mind.

Damn it...

Could it be... even though Shen Chiyan had lost his memories of that period, having spent three years as husband and wife with Song Qinian, had he actually fallen in love with Song Qinian instead?

No!

Absolutely not!

Clenching her fists tightly, Lin Qiutong feigned confusion and called out to him, "A-Yan, what's wrong?"

Shen Chiyan shook his head, still unable to force the confession past his lips. "It's nothing. Let's wait until you've fully recovered before talking about anything else."

Disappointment washed over Lin Qiutong, accompanied by a growing sense of unease.

"A-Yan, Xingxing told me you're married now. I... I don't know what to say, con—"

Biting her lip, Lin Qiutong offered her blessings amidst her tears, a sight that made Shen Chiyan's chest ache with discomfort.

"Alright, Qiuqiu, don't say anymore."

Lin Qiutong threw herself back into Shen Chiyan's arms. "I'm sorry, I wanted to bless you, but I just can't bring myself to do it. A-Yan, I can't do it..."

A heavy weight pressed against Shen Chiyan's chest. He knew Qiuqiu loved him; clearly, they had both harbored feelings for each other, yet because of Song Guanliang and the Song family, things had ended up in this current state.

He patted Lin Qiutong's back in silent comfort while his mind remained a tangled mess.

Over the next few days, Shen Chiyan stayed constantly by Lin Qiutong's side, lifting her spirits immensely.

So what if Shen Chiyan and Song Qinian were married? As long as Shen Chiyan's current memories dictated that the person he loved was her, that was enough.

A marriage could always end in divorce!

As for Song Qinian...

Hmph... a mute could never hope to defeat her!

***

Having not seen Shen Chiyan for several days, Song Qinian still felt a twinge of loss in her heart, but figuring he must be busy with work, she didn't dare to disturb him.

She actively cooperated with her medical treatments, plotting to throw herself into work the moment she fully recovered so she could share some of Shen Chiyan's burdens.

Mu Youxin, a corporate slave worked to the bone, finally found time to visit Song Qinian. Noticing that Song Qinian had been cooped up in the ward and fearing she would fall ill from sheer boredom, she dragged the limping Song Qinian downstairs.

The private hospital boasted breathtaking scenery, featuring a sprawling garden on the ground floor of the inpatient building filled with countless varieties of flora.

During May and June, vibrant and gorgeous peonies bloomed in fierce competition, a truly pleasing sight to behold.

By September and October, the intoxicating fragrance of osmanthus flowers filled the air, refreshing the soul.

Inhaling the sweet scent of osmanthus, Song Qinian's mood improved considerably.

"You really should come out and get some fresh air. Staying cooped up in that ward sketching all day, how are you ever supposed to find any inspiration?"

Prompted by this, Song Qinian remembered something she wanted to share with Mu Youxin.

Noticing she had something to say, Mu Youxin helped her over to a bench and sat her down.

"Alright, spill it. What good news did you run into?"

Song Qinian gestured excitedly. "I submitted a manga script to Aiman Tribe earlier, and they liked my story. They want to sign a contract with me."

Mu Youxin's eyes lit up. "Really? That's amazing! Did you accept?"

Song Qinian nodded. She had loved drawing since she was a little girl, and growing up, her dream had always been to become a manga artist.

However, Liu Xiaohan had deemed drawing a dead-end career and insisted she major in business administration.

Entering the Dingsheng Group had served two purposes: first for Shen Chiyan, and second for the money.

Yet creating comics that everyone loved remained her ultimate life goal.

"That's fantastic! I'm about to witness the rise of a manga artist. Babe, once your comic gets adapted into an anime or a television series, I'll definitely be your number one fan."

Mu Youxin had seen Song Qinian draw before; whenever she sketched, she became entirely immersed in her own world, rendering characters and backgrounds alike with incredible vividness and life.

"By the way, what kind of story are you planning to create? Do you have any ideas yet?"

Just as Song Qinian raised her hands to sign her reply, an untimely voice interrupted them.

"Oh, well, if it isn't Song Qinian. What are you doing here?"

Sensing the newcomer's hostile intentions, Mu Youxin stepped in front of Song Qinian to shield her, casting an icy glare at Lin Lanxing. "Something the matter?"

Lin Lanxing looked Mu Youxin up and down. Noticing Mu Youxin was wearing a cheap T-shirt that cost only a few dozen yuan, a mocking smirk curled the corner of her lips. "Hah... truly, birds of a feather flock together. You're pathetic and poor, and your friends are just as pathetic and poor."

No matter what Lin Lanxing said about her, Song Qinian didn't care, but she could not tolerate Lin Lanxing insulting Mu Youxin as well.

Knowing she couldn't match Lin Lanxing in a verbal sparring match, just as she moved to intervene, Mu Youxin let out a cold laugh. "All your designer clothes and expensive perfumes can't mask the stench coming out of your mouth."

Though Song Qinian couldn't speak, when it came to reading people and throwing insults, Mu Youxin had never lost.

Unprepared for the sharp-tongued nature of the woman before her, Lin Lanxing chose not to waste time on irrelevant people and shifted her gaze straight back to Song Qinian.

"Song Qinian, do you know why Big Brother Chiyan didn't come to see you on your birthday?"