Rebirth as a Rich Family's Heiress

Chapter 4: Drowning Fish (4)

"Why Wen Shaohuan, why must you be so incredibly handsome?"

"Everyone else spends Valentine's Day in sweet intimacy, but mine is spent fending off those girls who lust after your body. Don't you feel ashamed? Don't you have anything to show for it?"

"Show?"

As he spoke, he picked up my phone and turned on the camera mode, then pulled me into his embrace and kissed me just as the picture was taken.

Held tightly in his arms, I watched dumbfounded as he opened my social media and uploaded the photo we'd just taken.

Flushed and startled, "You... what are you doing?"

"As a gesture to rid you of your troubles."

"Come on, explain yourself for making me wait two hours. Give me a satisfactory explanation."

I chuckled nervously and scratched my head, "I... ran into someone I know on the street."

"Who?"

"Well... a distant aunt of a friend's sister?"

He stared at me silently, folding his arms and quirking his lips, "And then?"

"Then... she wouldn't stop pestering me. I chatted with her for a while and then rushed here!"

He smiled at me, his thin lips parting, "Miss Liang'an, your clothes are on backwards, your hair is a mess, and you're not wearing any makeup." He reached out to smooth my bird's nest-like hair, "Are you sure you didn't oversleep and forget about our date?"

"Liang'an, I am someone who has nothing."

"Every single day in that hell, I wished someone would come and save me."

"The day I saw you rush onto the road to save that trembling kitten."

"I thought, how I wish I could be it..."

He slurred, pulling me into his embrace.

"Thank you for liking someone like me, and I too... will always like you."

"Miss, are you alright?"

"You... why are you crying? Is something wrong with you?"

The voice before me snapped me back to reality. I hurriedly touched my face, realizing tears had been streaming down without my notice.

He watched my flustered attempt to wipe away the tears, his face a blank canvas of confusion. "Do you need me to call a doctor?" After a few seconds of silence and no response from me, he moved to reach out to the nearby nurse.

Reacting impulsively, I grabbed his arm, the laundry basket falling once more. Surprise flashed in his eyes at my sudden action, yet he simply stared at me calmly.

Gazing at the man before me, familiar memories flooded my mind. My lips quivered as I uttered broken words,

"Wen, Wen Shaohuan."

He furrowed his brow, straightening me up before stepping back. When he looked at me again, his eyes were cold and indifferent, "Do we know each other?"

My lips trembled, unsure what to say, my heart filled with a painful ache, like a dying fish gasping for air in mud.

"I-I am..."

My cluttered mind seemed to freeze, the world silencing, that voice echoing in my head again.

"From now on, you are me."

Coming back to my senses, I lowered my gaze, "…I am Mu Xiayun."

The man frowned, "Mu Xiayun?"

He stated seriously, "Though I don't know how you know my name, it seems you've mistaken me for someone else. We don't know each other." With that, he gently pushed away my hand and walked off.

Anxiously watching his retreating figure, I wanted to follow but stopped, staying rooted to the spot.

Yeah, I am Mu Xiayun. Even if I have my own consciousness, even if I remember, who would believe me? They'd just think it's a post-surgery complication.

I retrieved my hanging hand, bent to pick up the laundry basket, and continued towards the ward.

Cheng Haixia hadn't arrived yet when I returned, so I sat on the bed, leisurely sorting the freshly dried clothes.

My hands worked automatically, my mind preoccupied with the events that just transpired.

The vivid memories that flooded my mind upon seeing that man, and the despondent pain in my chest...

"Thank you for liking someone like me, and I too... will always like you."

Wen Shaohuan… What was our relationship before I died? Was he…my boyfriend? But how did he get here?

Thoughts interrupted by a knock on the door.

My jumbled thoughts scattered by the crisp knock, I shook my head, a bit flustered, "Please, come in!"

The door opened, revealing a man in a white coat, a stethoscope hanging around his neck, holding what seemed to be my medical record?

Sunlight from the window highlighted his black locks framing a clean, fair face. Calm eyes nestled within his composed features, looking pure and handsome.

I squinted, reading the name tag on his chest.

Min Xian.

"Dr. Min, hello." I politely nodded, then looked up expecting his question, but his gaze was fixed on me.

Unexpectedly, he just continued staring at me coldly, showing no intent to speak.

His unreserved stare, fixed on me as if searching for something, made me awkwardly rub my nape and smile.

"Well… hehe, I heard I'm being discharged so I'm sorting my clothes. Is there anything?"

He remained silent, and to escape the stifling atmosphere, I subconsciously avoided his unwavering gaze, looking down to resume folding clothes.

Expecting him to leave soon, I was startled by his clear voice.

"Patient Mu Xiayun."

Pausing as if in thought, he looked up at me, "I'm your attending physician."

I was puzzled, "Attending physician? Isn't mine surnamed Zhao?"

"A month ago, I was delayed abroad due to certain matters, so he temporarily took over. But because of the complexity of major surgeries, the handover process was prolonged, so Dr. Zhao continued to stand in. However, I performed your surgery."

Listening to his elaborate explanation, I was partially baffled but he seemed confident, so I nodded along, "Ah, I see…"

"Any other questions?"

His cool gaze met mine, making me nervous, "N-no."

Min Xian withdrew his gaze, "Then it's my turn to ask."

Opening the black notebook, his deep voice asked, "According to your report, you experienced mild concussion post-surgery and temporary amnesia. Have you remembered anything yet?"

I pondered briefly, "I've recalled some fragments, triggered by encounters with certain people."

Min Xian didn't lift his head, penning notes in the black file, "Encountering others can indeed prompt memory retrieval in amnesiacs. Who have you encountered since your hospitalization?"

Who? My mind flashed to that man whose face I didn't see that night!

"Oh! I met a strange person!"

Min Xian raised an eyebrow at me, "A strange person?"

"Yes! I was sleeping, and he just stood there watching me. I was so nervous, I decided to ignore him, but he actually bedded me!"

Upon hearing my explosive statement, Min Xian's face darkened instantly. I was about to elaborate when I caught myself, remembering my current situation.

Bedding talk might not be appropriate with my attending physician...

"Um...but I didn't regain any memories from him."

Halfway through, I suddenly remembered Cheng Haixia's frequent visits and chats, "Ah! But, I did hear...uh..." My cheeks flushed red as I continued, "I heard my husband mention some childhood stories."

He frowned at my words, puzzled, "...who?"

Realizing my slip, I reined in my bashful gaze, "My husband visited me often this past month, bringing me food and chatting with me."

At my answer, his expression soured instantly, pausing for a few seconds, "...visited you often?"

Before I could reply, Min Xian chuckled, clipping his pen to his breast pocket, his tone tinged with sarcasm.

"So, Patient Mu Xiayun, you must have recalled many childhood memories then?" He looked at me naturally, closing the folder.

"Well, it's not like that, I actually…"

"Xiayun!"

Just as I was about to tell Min Xian about encountering Wen Shaohuan, the door burst open, and a tall man strode towards me.

Watching him approach, my heart raced for no reason. Like a fool, I stood up, grinning silly and sweetly like a manga heroine gazing at her campus prince.

"You…"

"Why are you wearing so little?"

Cheng Haixia drew my collar closer, then noticed another person standing beside me. He froze for a moment, frowned at Min Xian, then turned away without a word, grabbing my hand.

"Let's go." He urged me hastily.

"Hey, wait, my luggage…" Confused, I was dragged out until I turned around, my hand held firmly.

The man behind radiated authority, exuding an imposing aura. I turned to find Min Xian gripping my wrist.

Caught off guard, I froze, forgetting to resist.

He glanced at Cheng Haixia, then focused on me, his cool, refined face like snow-covered, his eyes devoid of warmth, filled with mockery and ridicule.

Seeing his glare, I finally reacted, struggling, "Wh-what are you doing! Let me go!" But his grip was like iron, my struggles futile.

"It hurts...let go."

Halfway through my struggle, Min Xian's sleeve was held by another hand.

"Let her go, can't you hear she's in pain?" Cheng Haixia frowned, anger evident in his tone.

Min Xian arched an eyebrow at him, his tone mocking, "Are you planning to play the hero now, Cheng Haixia?"

"But before acting, shouldn't you clarify your role first?"

"Or because she mistook you as her husband, the i***t…" His voice lowered, anger mounting, "you actually believe it?"

Cheng Haixia didn't speak, only stared intensely at Min Xian. Tension hung in the air until he slowly released Min Xian's sleeve, turning to look at me complexedly.

Only then did I realize...huh? Do they know each other?

Confused, I watched this drama unfold, Min Xian still gripping my hand, remembering his insult, my anger flared, and I yanked my hand away, glaring at him fiercely.

"You're the i***t!"

This broke the tension, Min Xian freezing, his hand suspended mid-air.

Cheng Haixia seemed stunned by my words too, aborting his move to grab my hand.

"Do I know you well?! You're just my attending physician, what's with you pulling me like that?!"

"Who I mistake as my husband is none of your business!"

"What right do you have to meddle?!"

"I…"

Seemingly startled by my outburst, his shock grew, leaving him speechless after "I…"

While I felt justified and fierce, like a boss with boundless coolness, I instantly regretted it.

Looking at him again, his face was stormy, his eyes changed, previously cold gaze ablaze, staring daggers at me.

I recoiled, afraid he'd devour me in rage.

Thankfully, my phone rang timely.

"Hello, Mom?"

Phone in both hands, I retreated cautiously, staring at the two men, whispering to her.

"Has your husband picked you up?"

"Not yet, Mom…" Chuckling, "There's a sudden situation…"

She sounded puzzled, "Huh? Strange…"

"Min Xian said he'd come for you right after finishing his work?"

Absorbed in her words, a keyword hit me, and I froze, then exclaimed, "What?!"

"Mom, what did you say?!"

"Hmm?" Puzzled, she continued matter-of-factly, "I said Min Xian's coming to get you?"

Hearing this, I froze, then exclaimed in shock, "Mom, you said Min Xian is my husband?!"

"Huh? Is something wrong?"

"Xiayun? Hello?"

"Xiayun…"

Ending the call, realizing the truth, I was thunderstruck, looking at Min Xian with shock and resentment.

This guy...is my husband?

"Now you know?"

His face still dark, he glared at me, sneering, "What right do I have?"

Hearing this, I turned dazedly to Cheng Haixia, who forced a smile, "So you mistook me as your husband...seems you really don't remember anything."

Dumbfounded, Min Xian calmly removed his white coat and stethoscope, called someone to send them to his office, then returned, towering over me.

"Mu Xiayun." He said coldly.

"Considering your amnesia, I won't hold it against you for misidentifying your husband…"

"But don't push my limits."

Hearing him grind out these words, I recalled the man by my bedside that night!

"You're awake, I know." Icy words echoed.

"Mu Xiayun...I have no patience."

Crumbling, could he be the ice block man?

After throwing me those harsh words, Min Xian disdainfully glanced at Cheng Haixia, grabbed my hand, and led me out.

Studying the infuriated man, I glanced at his hand, so cold, and I felt despair at its chill.

Weakly, I asked, "Um, where...are we going?"

He glanced at me, his face void of warmth.

"Home."

"But, I didn't get my luggage…" Desperate.

Meeting his icy glare, I decided to shut up.