Phoenix’s Revenge: The Business Battle

Chapter 8: The Memory Chip

Gu Wanqing sat motionless on the cold plastic chair in the hospital corridor, as if sculpted from stone. Around her, the sharp scent of disinfectant filled the air, and the occasional footsteps reverberated like heavy hammers striking her nerves. The red indicator light outside the operating room had already gone out, yet time seemed to stretch endlessly, each passing second becoming an unbearable torment. Her gaze remained fixed on the closed doors of the operating room, her heart fervently praying that Shen Xubai would emerge unharmed.

At long last, the doctor emerged, exhaustion etched on his face. Gu Wanqing sprang up from her seat like a coiled spring, rushing toward him. She threw aside all pretense of politeness, her voice urgent as she asked, “Doctor, how is he? Has he woken up?”

The doctor removed his mask, his voice weary but assuring. “The surgery was successful. Mr. Shen is no longer in immediate danger. We’ve transferred him to the intensive care unit for further observation.”

A wave of relief washed over Gu Wanqing’s heart, but the doctor’s next words felt like an icy stone, plunging her back into despair.

“As we mentioned earlier, Mr. Shen suffered a severe head injury. There may be some lasting effects. At present, he has not fully regained consciousness. Even if he wakes, it will take time to determine whether his memory has been affected.”

“Memory loss… Is that really possible?” Her voice trembled, grasping at the last thread of hope.

The doctor nodded solemnly. “Amnesia caused by head trauma is not uncommon. We’ll need to wait and see how he responds upon waking and conduct further tests.”

Gu Wanqing felt a rush of dizziness, as if all her strength had been drained. She braced herself, forcing the words out, “Can I see him?”

The doctor nodded again. “You can, but there are visiting hours in the ICU, and he is still very weak. Please remain quiet.”

Without a second thought, Gu Wanqing rushed to see Shen Xubai, desperate to ensure his safety.

Guided by a nurse, she entered the intensive care unit. Shen Xubai lay still on the bed, his face pale, his body covered with various tubes and monitors, beeping steadily. Seeing him in this state, tears streamed down her face like pearls from a broken string.

She approached cautiously, gently taking his cold hand. It was large, once so strong, but now frail and powerless. A sharp pain pierced her heart as she bent down, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

“Xubai, you must wake up. You must remember me,” Gu Wanqing’s voice broke, filled with both hope and fear.

At that moment, she noticed Shen Xubai’s father standing in the corner of the room. Dressed in a dark suit, his figure appeared more hunched, his face etched with exhaustion and worry. In his hand, he still tightly grasped a jade ring, which stood out starkly under the dim light of the room.

Gu Wanqing hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to approach him. Despite the distance between them, their common concern for Shen Xubai bound them together.

“Uncle, you’re here too,” she said softly.

Shen Xubai’s father slowly turned around, his face showing a complex expression when he saw her. His eyes lingered on her hand, which was still holding his son’s, and a fleeting glimmer of guilt passed through his gaze.

“You… You’re Wanqing, right?” His voice was hoarse, laden with weariness.

Gu Wanqing nodded. “Yes, Uncle. Are you… alright?”

Shen Xubai’s father shook his head, his gaze returning to his son. His voice was heavy with regret. “It’s all my fault… If only I…”

He trailed off, as if something weighed heavily on his heart.

Gu Wanqing’s curiosity was piqued. His words only deepened her suspicion that Shen Xubai’s accident wasn’t as simple as it appeared.

“Uncle, do you know something?” she asked, her tone tentative.

Shen Xubai’s father fell silent for a long while, finally sighing deeply and shaking his head. “It’s too late to say anything now. All I can do is hope that Xubai wakes up safely.”

Gu Wanqing watched him, certain that he was concealing something. However, at this moment, there was nothing she could do but wait. Shen Xubai’s wellbeing was the only thing that mattered.

After spending some time in the ICU, Gu Wanqing reluctantly left. She knew there was nothing more she could do here, so she could only wait quietly.

The following day, Shen Xubai finally regained consciousness. Gu Wanqing was immediately notified and rushed to the hospital. When she entered the room, she saw him staring blankly at the ceiling, his eyes filled with confusion.

“Xubai!” she called out, her voice trembling with emotion as she hurried to his side.

Shen Xubai turned his head slowly at the sound of her voice, his expression calm but tinged with unfamiliarity and bewilderment.

“Who… are you?” His voice was weak, filled with uncertainty.

Gu Wanqing’s heart felt as though it were being crushed by an invisible hand. She forced a smile, her voice shaky. “Xubai, I’m Wanqing. Don’t you remember me?”

Shen Xubai furrowed his brow, scrutinizing her with his eyes full of confusion. “Wanqing… That name sounds familiar, but… I can’t seem to remember.”

Tears spilled from Gu Wanqing’s eyes once again, but she held back the overwhelming grief in her heart, clinging to his hand. “It’s okay, Xubai. Take your time. You’ll remember.”

The doctor arrived shortly afterward to conduct a preliminary examination. The results confirmed Gu Wanqing’s worst fears—Shen Xubai had indeed lost part of his memory. While he could remember who he was and some basic facts, the events of the past few years—including his meeting and relationship with Gu Wanqing—were completely erased from his mind.

The news plunged Gu Wanqing into despair. How could she accept such a cruel reality? After all they had been through, after finally being together, was everything now to be lost, as if starting over from the beginning?

Shen Xubai’s father also arrived at the hospital. Seeing his son awake, he seemed relieved, but when he heard the diagnosis of amnesia, his expression darkened.

“Doctor, is there truly no way for him to regain his memory?” Shen Xubai’s father asked anxiously.

The doctor shook his head. “Amnesia caused by head trauma is difficult to predict. Some patients may gradually recover their memories, while others may never remember what they lost. It will take time and further observation.”

Gu Wanqing looked at the confused Shen Xubai lying in the bed, her heart filled with helplessness and sorrow. She had no idea how to face the man she loved when he no longer remembered her.

Over the next few days, Gu Wanqing remained at the hospital, caring for Shen Xubai. She patiently recounted the story of their meeting, the moments they had shared, hoping to trigger a spark of recognition in his mind. She showed him photos they had taken together, played songs they had listened to, hoping that something, anything, would bring back memories.

But Shen Xubai’s reactions remained calm, his eyes filled with unfamiliarity and doubt, as though she were just a stranger he had recently met.

“Wanqing, the things you’re saying… I really can’t remember. Am I… important to you?” Shen Xubai asked carefully, his tone tentative.

Gu Wanqing’s heart ached as though a knife were twisting inside her. She smiled through her pain, holding his hand tightly. “Of course you’re important, Xubai. You’re the most important person in my world.”

Shen Xubai gazed at her, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes. He could feel that this woman was someone significant to him, but the emptiness in his memory left him confused and uneasy.

Shen Xubai’s father visited often, but their interactions were brief and awkward. It seemed as though he had something to say, yet the words never left his lips.

One day, as Gu Wanqing was caring for Shen Xubai in his room, Shen Xubai’s father suddenly entered. He held the jade ring in his hand, his gaze intense as he looked at his son.

“Xubai, do you remember this?” Shen Xubai’s father asked, holding out the ring.

Shen Xubai frowned, studying the ring with confusion in his eyes. “This… I think I’ve seen it before, but… I can’t remember.”

Shen Xubai’s father’s face grew darker, and he fell silent for a moment. Finally, he turned to Gu Wanqing, his voice heavy with foreboding. “Wanqing, there are things I think I should tell you.”

Gu Wanqing’s heart skipped a beat. She knew that whatever Shen Xubai’s father was about to say, it was likely connected to Shen Xubai’s accident.

“Uncle, please, go ahead,” Gu Wanqing said, her voice firm.

Shen Xubai’s father sighed deeply, his expression pained. “Xubai’s accident wasn’t an accident…”

Gu Wanqing’s heart sank, her suspicions now confirmed.

“Uncle, what do you mean?” Gu Wanqing pressed, her voice shaking with disbelief.

Shen Xubai’s father’s face was marked with pain and guilt. “It was me… I had someone orchestrate the accident.”

Gu Wanqing’s mind went blank. She could hardly believe her ears. Shen Xubai’s accident had been planned, and the person behind it was his own father!

“Why? Uncle, why would you do such a thing?” Gu Wanqing asked, her voice filled with disbelief and anger.

Shen Xubai’s father’s eyes were filled with complex emotions. “I… I just didn’t want him to be with you.”

Gu Wanqing was stunned. She couldn’t understand his reasoning.

“Why? We love each other. What’s wrong with that?” she demanded.

Shen Xubai’s father shook his head, his voice heavy. “You don’t understand our family’s past… Some things, once begun, can’t be undone. I just wanted to protect him, to keep him from making the same mistakes I did.”

Gu Wanqing stared at Shen Xubai’s father, her mind swirling with confusion. His words seemed to hide a massive secret, something about their family’s past.

“Uncle, what exactly are you saying? What happened between us?” Gu Wanqing asked, her voice filled with urgency.

Shen Xubai’s father remained silent for a long time, finally sighing and shaking his head. “It’s too late to discuss it now. All I want is for Xubai to forget you and start his life anew.”

With those words, Shen Xubai’s father turned and left the room, leaving Gu Wanqing standing there, overwhelmed with shock and confusion. She had never imagined that Shen Xubai’s accident had been orchestrated by his own father, and the reason behind it had everything to do with their love.

Looking at Shen Xubai, who lay in the hospital bed with a dazed expression, Gu Wanqing’s heart was filled with pain and despair. She didn’t know what to do next, nor what the future held for them. But one thing was certain—she would never give up on him. She would do everything in her power to help him regain his memories and return to her side.