122: Dissociative Identity Disorder

In an instant, Yichen’s gaze turned cold, followed by a flicker of bewilderment in the depths of his eyes. He scanned his surroundings, then drove away with an expressionless face.

The city’s sunlight slanted into every office space where the curtains remained undrawn. Xiao Qi held a stack of files in her arms, lost in thought under the gentle sun, a sweet smile playing on her lips. Yiyang walked out and caught her silly, dazed grin.

"Did you find money? Why so happy?"

Xiao Qi snapped back to reality, "I did not!" She looked at Yiyang with a bashful expression. "Anyway, my aunt went shopping today, so I came to the office a bit late. I’m sorry!"

Although Lin Yichen was the CEO, she worked in Yiyang’s department, so she felt she had to explain her tardiness. While Xiao Qi could lie without batting an eye, her heart was churning. She realized that after spending so much time with Lin Yichen, her once clear-as-water conscience was gradually becoming muddled.

Yiyang said nonchalantly, "What is there to be sorry about? We’re family." He checked his watch. "It’s almost lunchtime. How about I take you out for something good?"

Xiao Qi shook her head immediately. Honestly, why were those two brothers always thinking about feeding her? It made her feel like a pig being fattened.

Since Xiao Qi refused, Yiyang didn’t press the issue. Ever since he joined TC, his relationship with his mother had improved significantly, and he often visited the Lin residence to keep her company. Since Xiao Qi wasn't going, he drove home from TC specifically to have lunch with his mother.

The mother and son chatted while they ate, the television playing in the background. The atmosphere was rare in its harmony and warmth.

"Security is something one must provide for oneself. In the end, I am the one who needs to give him that sense of security. Yichen is twenty-eight now, yet he has never dated. It really comes down to a lack of security..."

A familiar voice from the television caught the attention of the mother and son. Xu Lu looked up. "Yiyang, is that Anna being interviewed?"

Yiyang looked over. Who else could it be? Just hearing her voice had been enough to confirm it. Xu Lu set down her chopsticks and stood up. "Yiyang, let’s go to the living room and see what the reporter is asking Anna."

The two walked over to the television.

The reporter asked, "Miss Qiao, do you and Mr. Lin have any plans for marriage in the near future?"

Anna smiled. "That is a secret for now..."

"Isn't Yichen’s girlfriend that girl who delivers takeout?" Xu Lu asked, puzzled. "Why is he with Anna now?"

Yiyang frowned, his gaze darkening as he watched Joanna Qiao on the screen.

***

Anna opened the door to reveal Yichen, dressed in a dark blue handmade suit. He looked noble and elegant, with priceless blue sapphires embedded in his collar and cuffs, accentuating his tall, slender frame like a prince from a fairy tale.

It only made Anna more infatuated. She smiled enchantingly. "You're here."

Yichen gave a slight nod and walked in, standing before the floor-to-ceiling window. Anna lived in a high-end, luxurious apartment in a bustling district; Yichen could overlook the entire view of City A. He lit a cigarette, the smoke rings enveloping him in a pale, ethereal haze—distant, cold, and somewhat unreal.

Yichen glanced sideways, his deep black eyes meeting Anna’s. For some reason, Anna’s heart began to hammer like a drum. His gaze felt like he was there to settle a score. But he was the one who had broken their appointment; she should be the one settling scores.

With that thought, Anna prepared to speak, but Yichen stepped in first. "I didn't think Miss Qiao could weave such a perfect lie. Even I almost believed it myself."

Anna knew he would say that. She walked over to him, plucked a yellow leaf from a potted plant by the window, and said pointedly, "Look at these yellow leaves. If you don't pluck them out in time, the healthy ones might get contaminated." She was referring to Xiao Qi.

Yichen’s calm, dark eyes looked at her with displeasure. "Miss Qiao, announcing such news without authorization is not good for either of us. I hope you will clarify things with the media..."

"You think there’s no benefit," Anna interrupted, "but I think there is. At the very least, you’ve taken the initiative to come see me instead of leaving me waiting."

"It was my mistake for not arriving on time yesterday," Yichen said, his gaze fixed on her. A smile played on his lips, and his tone was soft, yet his words held a stern, powerful weight. "I apologize, but isn't it inappropriate to use such a willful method to handle the situation? I will say it again: I hope you go to the media and clarify that there is nothing between us."

"Willful? Nothing between us?" Anna laughed mockingly. "So, in your eyes, what I do is just willfulness? To you, we have no relationship at all? Lin Yichen, I think it’s because I wasn't willful enough that I’ve been hurt by you time and again."

Yichen’s lips curled, but there was no warmth in the expression. "I’ve apologized for missing our appointment, but that is no reason for you to act out. Miss Qiao, whether in the past or now, you are a stranger to me. I am grateful for your help, but that is all. I will not tolerate you using me to spread such casual lies."

"Are these casual words?" Anna’s eyes turned bloodshot. "Do you know that I have loved you for three years? Do you know that when I found out about your absurd amnesia, I was ecstatic? I used to think you truly hated me, but that wasn't the case. You had just forgotten me because of your condition. Yichen, if you had no feelings for me, you wouldn't have said in the past that you loved how I pursued you."

At the last sentence, the memory of a young girl’s sweet, vibrant voice rang in his ears: *“Yichen, Yichen, you are the most handsome and charming boy I have ever met. From this moment on, I will spare no cost to chase you and make you my boyfriend.”*

Yichen rubbed his temples and turned his head to look at her, his dim eyes gradually deepening. "We were together in the past?"

At this, Anna’s lips curved in a mysterious way. She nodded. "In the past, many women liked you, but they were all after your status. But you know I am different from them. I wanted you—just you. It was like that then, and it is like that now. Yichen, do you really have no memory of me at all?"

Yichen looked at the beautiful face before him; his deep expression became blank. His voice was clean and indifferent. "I’m sorry, I don't remember at all."

"That's right," Anna’s eyes misted over. "I knew this would be the result, yet I couldn't help but ask you one more time."

Yichen said dully, "I have no way to remember my past. For me, the present is what matters most."

"Then let’s talk about the present," Anna said, looking at him with watery eyes. "Yichen, let’s start over, shall we? If you are with me, I am certain you will love me again, just like before."

Yichen said expressionlessly, "I’m sorry, I have never considered that question."

The implication was clear: there was no possibility for them.

Anna played her trump card. "There are rumors about us everywhere now. You have to consider it."

"Are you forcing me?" His tone was icy.

Anna was no longer a little girl; she was not afraid of Yichen like this. "Yes, I am forcing you, and I am forcing myself. Because I don't want to be like before, just waiting foolishly. At least this time, I tried."

Yichen narrowed his black eyes. Anna moved closer to him, looking at him with gentle, liquid eyes. "Yichen, let’s try together, okay?"

***

When Yiyang returned to the company, he pulled Xiao Qi into his office and asked her to read files to him. His excuse was that his head spun whenever he saw the dense text on the documents.

Thus, Xiao Qi spent the entire afternoon reading files. Her throat felt scorched, and she used the excuse of getting water to leave. As long as she wasn't looking at a computer or touching her phone, she wouldn't see Anna’s press conference. Yiyang had even confiscated her phone.

Xiao Qi felt Yiyang was acting strange that afternoon, but she didn't think much of it. She was in a good mood, after all! Maybe she could go see Lin Yichen while she was getting water. It had been nearly five hours since she last saw him.

Thinking of him, the corners of Xiao Qi’s mouth tilted upward involuntarily.

She reached the CEO’s office and, without knocking, pushed the door open and poked her head through the gap. She saw Yichen standing before the floor-to-ceiling window. He wore a maple-red shirt, his figure striking and tall. He held a wine glass, the shimmering color of the red wine swirling against the glass like a sunset that could not escape his palm.

Xiao Qi tiptoed in and gently closed the door.

"Not working hard at work, standing there looking at the scenery and slacking off? CEO Lin, you’re not setting a good example at all!"

Yichen knew it was her the moment he heard her sweet, soft voice—a voice that belonged only to her. He loved hearing her speak; he didn't know why, but her voice always pierced his eardrums and transmitted clearly to his auditory nerves and senses. It was strange, too; since his amnesia, he hadn't heard her voice many times, yet he had remembered it so deeply.

Yichen turned to look at her, then walked to his desk and sat down. He set aside his glass, picked up a file to review, and asked emotionlessly, "Do you need something?"

Xiao Qi felt he was acting a bit cold, but she didn't dwell on it. She walked up to him and said with a grand air, "Nothing at all. I just knew you were slacking off, so I came to check on you."

His hand paused as he turned the page. His gaze crossed the sharp edge of the paper to look at her, his lips curling in a cold smirk. "I forgave you for drugging me last time. Now, you’ve left your post without permission during work hours and are turning the tables on me. I am truly curious: who gave you the courage and the gall to be so thick-skinned?"

"..."

What did he mean by that? Why was he being sarcastic again?

Xiao Qi braced her hands on the desk and lowered her head to look at his face. "Hey, why do I feel like you’re acting weird?"