Chapter 2: The Life She Cannot Remember
The room felt too quiet after he left.
Feng Ruanxi sat on the bed, her hands resting on the blanket. She did not move for a long time.
It was not that she did not want to.
It was that she did not know what to do.
"You're my wife."
The words stayed in her mind.
They did not feel real.
She looked down at her hands again.
They were steady.
Clean.
Unfamiliar.
He's lying.
The voice came again.
Soft, but certain.
Ruanxi closed her eyes.
"…About what?" she asked quietly.
No answer.
Silence filled her head again, but it did not feel empty anymore.
It felt watched.
A nurse came in after some time, checking her pulse and asking simple questions.
Ruanxi answered slowly.
Her voice sounded calm.
Too calm.
When the nurse left, the room returned to stillness.
Ruanxi glanced at the door again.
Waiting.
She still did not understand why she was waiting.
Time passed.
She could not tell how much.
Then the door opened.
Feng Chen stepped inside.
He looked the same.
Calm. Composed. Untouched by everything.
But this time, he was holding a bag.
Food.
Ruanxi watched him walk closer.
Her eyes followed every movement.
"You should eat," he said.
His voice was quiet, but not cold.
He placed the bag on the table and began taking out the containers. The food was simple, but still warm.
Ruanxi noticed that.
Warm.
"You came back," she said softly.
He paused for a brief moment.
Just a second.
"I said I would."
It was a simple answer.
But it did not feel empty.
He handed her the food.
Their fingers brushed lightly.
Ruanxi felt it immediately.
A small shock.
She pulled her hand back slightly.
"…Thank you."
Feng Chen sat down beside the bed.
Not too close.
Not too far.
He did not rush her.
Ruanxi began to eat slowly.
Each bite felt unfamiliar, like she was learning again.
She noticed something.
He was watching her.
Not directly.
But enough to notice small things.
When she paused for too long, he spoke.
"Is it not to your taste?"
She shook her head quickly.
"No… it's fine."
She hesitated, then added quietly,
"I just… don't remember what I like."
For a brief moment, something changed in his expression.
Not much.
Just enough.
"…Then we'll figure it out," he said.
Simple words.
But they stayed with her.
Silence settled again, but this time it felt different.
Less tense.
After a while, she spoke again.
"…When can I leave?"
Feng Chen looked at her.
"I've already spoken to the doctor."
Almost immediately, there was a knock.
The doctor walked in, holding a file.
"Miss Feng," he said, "your condition is stable. We would like to observe you overnight, just to be sure."
Ruanxi nodded.
Feng Chen's voice came next.
"Will her memory return?"
The doctor hesitated.
"It may. Or it may not. Memory loss like this is unpredictable."
Ruanxi lowered her gaze.
Unpredictable.
"I understand," Feng Chen said.
There was no frustration in his voice.
No impatience.
Just acceptance.
The doctor gave a few more instructions before leaving.
The door closed.
Silence returned once more.
Ruanxi looked at the table.
Then back at him.
"…My phone," she said.
Feng Chen's gaze shifted to her.
"Can I have it?"
There was a pause.
Not long.
But noticeable.
"It was damaged in the accident," he said. "Beyond repair."
Ruanxi stilled.
"Oh…"
She nodded slowly.
Something about it felt… off.
But she had nothing to compare it to.
"I see."
She did not ask more.
Feng Chen watched her for a moment.
Then reached for the water beside her.
"Drink," he said.
She took it.
Again, their fingers brushed.
This time, she did not pull away as quickly.
After she finished eating, he cleaned up quietly.
He did not call the nurse.
He did it himself.
Ruanxi noticed that too.
"You should rest," he said.
She nodded.
As she lay down, he adjusted the pillow behind her slightly.
The movement was careful.
"You don't have to stay," she said softly.
Feng Chen looked at her.
"I know."
But he did not leave.
Ruanxi did not ask again.
The lights dimmed.
The room grew quiet.
She could feel his presence.
Steady.
Unmoving.
Her eyes slowly closed.
Sleep came slowly.
Just before she drifted off—
Destroyed?
The voice returned.
Her breathing slowed.
"…Do you think he lied?" she murmured weakly.
A pause.
Then—
No.
Ruanxi frowned slightly.
He just didn't tell you everything.
Darkness took her.
Morning came with soft light.
Ruanxi opened her eyes slowly.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then she remembered.
The hospital.
The accident.
Him.
She sat up.
A nurse entered with breakfast not long after.
"You'll be discharged today," she said with a smile.
Ruanxi nodded.
She ate quietly.
Her mind was clearer now.
But still empty.
The door opened again.
Feng Chen walked in.
He had changed clothes.
Still dark.
Still composed.
But when his eyes landed on her—
They softened.
Just slightly.
"Ready?" he asked.
Ruanxi looked at him.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
He helped her out of bed.
His hand was steady around her arm.
Not forceful.
Just… supportive.
They walked out together.
The hospital hallway felt unfamiliar.
People passed by, but none of it felt real.
Outside, a black car waited.
Feng Chen opened the door for her.
Ruanxi paused before getting in.
She glanced at the glass briefly.
Her reflection stared back at her.
For a moment—
It felt distant.
It isn't you yet.
Her breath caught slightly.
Then she got into the car.
Feng Chen closed the door and walked around to the other side.
The car started moving.
Ruanxi sat quietly, looking out the window.
"…Where are we going?" she asked.
"Home," he replied.
Home.
The word felt unfamiliar.
She turned her gaze forward again.
Beside her, Feng Chen said nothing.
But his presence remained steady.
Grounding.
Ruanxi did not understand him.
But she did not feel unsafe.
And for now—
That was enough.
End of Chapter 2.