Chapter 2

The first two classes passed in a blur.

Bai Chuxue sat quietly by the window, pretending to listen to the teacher while secretly observing everyone around her.

Whenever a classmate greeted her, she smiled politely.

Whenever someone mentioned something they had supposedly done together, she simply nodded.

No one seemed to notice that she couldn't remember any of them.

But every passing minute made her chest feel heavier.

"Why do I remember my own name... but nothing else?"

She remembered how to read, write, solve math problems, and even speak fluent English. She knew basic facts about the world and recognized her own reflection.

Yet everything after that...

Her family.

Her classmates.

Her school.

Even yesterday.

It was all a blank page.

The ringing bell finally announced lunch.

Students immediately filled the hallways with laughter.

Li Yiran hooked her arm around Bai Chuxue's.

"Come on! Let's eat before the cafeteria gets crowded."

Before Bai Chuxue could answer, another voice interrupted.

"Chuxue."

She turned around.

Fu Jingshen stood a few steps away, one hand in his pocket.

His expression remained calm, but his dark eyes stayed fixed on her.

"I need to talk to you."

Li Yiran grinned mischievously.

"I'll leave you two alone."

Before Bai Chuxue could protest, her friend disappeared into the crowd.

Silence settled between them.

Fu Jingshen looked at her for several seconds.

"You've been avoiding me since this morning."

"I..."

"I didn't think you were still angry."

Angry?

Bai Chuxue lowered her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

The words slipped out instinctively.

For the first time, surprise appeared on his usually composed face.

"You apologized?"

"...Shouldn't I?"

He stared at her.

Something wasn't right.

Normally, Bai Chuxue would argue with him over the smallest things.

She would cross her arms, glare at him, and refuse to admit she was wrong.

Today's Bai Chuxue...

Felt like a completely different person.

"...Did something happen yesterday?" she asked carefully.

Fu Jingshen frowned.

"You don't remember?"

Her heart skipped.

"I..."

A sharp headache suddenly pierced her temples.

Rain.

A black car.

Someone shouting.

Then...

Nothing.

She staggered backward.

Fu Jingshen immediately reached out and caught her wrist.

"Chuxue!"

"I'm okay..."

"You don't look okay."

His grip loosened after making sure she could stand.

"You've been acting strangely since this morning."

She forced a smile.

"I'm just tired."

He clearly didn't believe her.

Before he could ask another question, a middle-aged woman wearing a formal suit approached them.

"Miss Bai."

Both teenagers turned.

The woman bowed politely.

"Your father has requested that you return home immediately after school."

Bai Chuxue blinked.

"My father?"

"Yes."

The woman handed her an elegant cream-colored envelope sealed with golden wax.

"There will be an important family dinner tonight."

Without another word, the woman left.

Fu Jingshen watched the envelope.

"So... today's the day."

"The day?"

His expression softened.

"I guess our parents finally decided."

Before she could ask what he meant, the school bell rang.

Students hurried back to their classrooms.

Fu Jingshen looked at her one last time.

"Don't overthink it."

Then he walked away.

Leaving Bai Chuxue standing alone with more questions than answers.

That evening...

The Bai family mansion glowed beneath warm golden lights.

Luxury cars lined the entrance.

Several servants welcomed guests.

Bai Chuxue stood silently beside her parents.

Everything felt surreal.

"Smile," her mother whispered gently.

"Everyone is watching."

She obediently smiled.

A few minutes later, another black luxury car stopped in front of the mansion.

The servants immediately opened the doors.

A distinguished couple stepped out first.

Behind them...

Fu Jingshen.

He wore a perfectly tailored black suit instead of his school uniform.

For a brief moment, their eyes met.

He gave her a small nod.

Almost as if reassuring her.

"Why is he here?"

Her question was answered almost immediately.

Her father raised his wine glass.

"Thank you all for coming."

The lively conversations gradually stopped.

"Our two families have been close friends for generations."

The guests applauded politely.

"We have watched our children grow together."

Bai Chuxue's fingers tightened around her glass.

Something inside her told her she wasn't going to like what came next.

Her father smiled warmly.

"Today, the Bai and Fu families are delighted to officially announce the engagement of our children."

The room erupted into applause.

"...What?"

Bai Chuxue's mind went completely blank.

"Our daughter, Bai Chuxue..."

"And Master Fu Jingshen..."

"...will be engaged today."

Her breathing stopped.

"Engaged?"

"Me?"

She looked toward Fu Jingshen.

Unlike her, he didn't appear surprised.

He simply stood calmly beside his parents.

As though he had known this would happen.

"Everyone knew..."

"Except me."

Someone gently pushed her forward.

Her mother whispered,

"Go stand beside Jingshen."

Her legs felt numb.

She slowly walked until she stood beside him.

The applause continued.

Photographers began taking pictures.

Flashes illuminated the hall.

Fu Jingshen leaned closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear.

"You really don't remember."

She looked at him in shock.

"You know?"

"I suspected it this morning."

"How?"

"You looked at me like we had never met."

Her lips parted.

"...I'm sorry."

He remained silent for a moment.

Then quietly asked,

"What do you remember?"

She swallowed.

"My name."

"My birthday."

"How to study."

"That's all."

His eyes widened ever so slightly.

"You don't remember your parents?"

She slowly shook her head.

"My friends?"

Another shake.

"...Me?"

Silence.

"I don't."

For several seconds, Fu Jingshen said nothing.

Instead of looking hurt...

He looked worried.

Deeply worried.

Just then, an elderly gentleman walked onto the stage.

"As witnesses of this engagement, we invite the young couple to exchange family tokens."

A servant presented two velvet boxes.

Inside Bai Chuxue's box rested a delicate jade bracelet.

Inside Fu Jingshen's lay an antique jade pendant.

"They have worn these since childhood," the elder said with a smile.

"They promised each other long ago that one day they would become family."

Bai Chuxue froze.

"Since childhood?"

She stared at the bracelet.

The cool jade touched her fingertips.

The moment she held it—

A memory flashed.

A little girl laughing beneath cherry blossoms.

A young boy standing awkwardly beside her.

"Don't cry anymore."

"When we grow up..."

"I'll protect you forever."

The little girl smiled brightly.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

The vision disappeared instantly.

Bai Chuxue gasped.

The bracelet slipped from her trembling hands.

Fu Jingshen caught it before it hit the floor.

"Chuxue."

She stared at him, breathing unevenly.

"I... I saw something."

His expression turned serious.

"What did you see?"

"A little boy..."

"A promise..."

"I think..."

Tears unexpectedly filled her eyes.

"I think it was us."

For the first time that evening, Fu Jingshen smiled.

It wasn't the polite smile he gave guests.

Nor the faint smile he wore at school.

It was warm.

Gentle.

Filled with relief.

"Then maybe..."

He carefully fastened the jade bracelet around her wrist.

"...your memories aren't gone."

"They're just waiting for you to find them."

Bai Chuxue looked down at the bracelet, her fingers lightly brushing its smooth surface.

If her memories were still there...

Why couldn't she remember them?

And why had she forgotten everyone...

Except herself?

Unbeknownst to both of them, a woman watched silently from the second floor balcony.

She held an old photograph of two children smiling beneath blooming cherry blossoms.

With a quiet sigh, she whispered to herself,

"So... the memories are beginning to return."

She folded the photograph carefully.

"But if she remembers the accident..."

"...everything we tried to hide will come back too."

Far below, the engagement celebration continued with laughter and applause.

Neither Bai Chuxue nor Fu Jingshen realized that their childhood promise was only the beginning of a much deeper secret—one that someone had desperately tried to keep buried.

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