Chapter 54: The Cliché of Amnesia

Taking several deep breaths, Jiang Zao gradually regained her composure.

No, this is not the time to break down.

No matter what state Zhou Lichuan was in, she had to remain calm and not let her emotions get the better of her.

She couldn’t risk hurting the child.

Fifteen minutes later.

Three or four doctors and nurses emerged from the room. Addressing Zhou Jiayan and Jiang Zao at the door, one said, “Mr. Zhou’s condition is still unstable. We need to take more scans. Dr. Shen is inside; please wait a moment, and he’ll explain everything to you.”

Zhou Jiayan, upon hearing this, also looked unsteady on her feet.

Du Bin stepped forward, grasping her wrist to support her. “Don’t worry—Dr. Shen is incredibly skilled. Everything will be fine.”

Zhou Jiayan shook her head at him, then glanced at Jiang Zao, signaling him not to say anything more.

If their eldest brother truly lost his memory, Jiang Zao would be the one who suffered most…

What felt like an eternity passed before Shen Mushi finally emerged from the hospital room.

Jiang Zao clung to him as if grabbing hold of a lifeline. “How is he?”

Shen Mushi looked at everyone’s faces before finally resting his gaze on Jiang Zao. “The human brain is a complex and delicate instrument. The damage caused by a brain tumor as a foreign body is difficult to predict.”

Jiang Zao’s grip loosened abruptly; the words sounded like a death sentence.

“Does that mean… he’s already forgotten me?”

Shen Mushi hesitated but spoke the truth. “He hasn’t just forgotten you. He remembers nothing at all after his injury.”

The egg custard she’d just eaten churned in her stomach; only by leaning against the cold wall did she manage to suppress the nausea.

Meng Qiaoyuan, suddenly explosive, shoved Shen Mushi aside. “Can’t you be a bit more tactful with your words? Ever heard of bedside manner? How did you even graduate?”

Scolding Shen Mushi, she rushed to embrace Jiang Zao. “It’s all right, Zao. We’ll figure something out. Medicine is so advanced now, and it’s just a period of memory loss. Even if he never regains it, we can create new memories together. He loves you so much—losing memories won’t change that…”

But Meng Qiaoyuan couldn’t go on.

It was simply too cruel.

Jiang Zao sniffed, forcing a smile for everyone’s sake. “Thank you, all of you. Du Bin, please call the old house and ask the elders to come. And… if Zhou Lichuan doesn’t ask about me, don’t mention me. Just… let me keep a little dignity.”

Everyone present agreed immediately to Jiang Zao’s request.

Du Bin said, “Don’t worry, Miss Jiang. At least Mr. Zhou’s condition is under control now, and there’s plenty of time ahead—”

Zhou Jiayan’s stiletto heel pressed down on Du Bin’s trouser leg. “Enough, go make the call.”

Du Bin fell silent. Consoling others was never his strength; he’d better stick to what he could do.

When the two elders from the Zhou family arrived after being notified, Zhou Lichuan was lying in bed, listening to Zhou Jiayan recount the story he’d lost.

Jiang Zao hid behind Zhou Jiayan, watching Zhou Lichuan, lost in confusion, in a daze.

Absurd.

Utterly absurd.

How could Zhou Lichuan possibly have amnesia? Was this some clichéd old-school soap opera plot?

Shen Xiaonan sat down and spoke to Zhou Lichuan for a while, finally confirming she hadn’t misheard: her son truly had lost his memory.

Jiang Zao was dazed but not dull. She still keenly sensed the look Shen Xiaonan cast her way—a look she’d never seen in that woman’s eyes before.

Suddenly, she recalled the last time they’d been alone together, in the garden at the old house—Shen Xiaonan had worn that same expression then.

“Where’s Xiao Mu? Can we be certain Lichuan has no issues apart from the memory loss?” Zhou Huai’s question brought Jiang Zao back to reality.

Zhou Jiayan nodded. “They did more scans and tests—everything came back fine. Dr. Shen is in a meeting. The cause of my brother’s amnesia still needs to be discussed by the team.”

Zhou Huai glanced at Jiang Zao and sighed. “Lichuan, what are your thoughts? Your parents are here; your assistant is here. Tell us.”

Zhou Lichuan pondered for a moment. “I need time to process this. Lin Rui’s betrayal, Zhou Kuan’s scheming—it’s all outrageous. And Dr. Meng—how did a socialite like her end up tangled in our family’s affairs? No matter what, there must be an explanation.”

Shen Xiaonan interrupted the father and son. “Lichuan just started to recover. Let him rest. Business matters can wait a few days.”

Once assured of Zhou Lichuan’s safety, Shen Xiaonan insisted on making him soup. Before leaving, Zhou Huai shot Jiang Zao a look, signaling her to follow.

After Shen Xiaonan got in the car, Zhou Huai spoke to Jiang Zao out in the open.

“I heard from Du Bin that you don’t want anyone to mention you in front of Zhou Lichuan. Why is that?”

Jiang Zao pressed her lips together and spoke slowly. “Uncle, this all happened so suddenly. I need time to adjust.”

“And when you’ve adjusted?” Zhou Huai pressed.

Jiang Zao met his gaze, her answer sincere. “I don’t believe in this amnesia, nor do I believe he’ll never remember. Even if, in the end, he only forgets me—then I’ll make him fall in love with me all over again. And don’t forget, I still have an ace up my sleeve.”

Zhou Huai smiled. “Just now your aunt was worried I’d pressure you, told me not to be too strict. I knew your frailty was only on the surface. You’re starting to look like the woman of the house. That’s good.”

Jiang Zao mustered a smile in return. “It’s not just for show—I truly am sad. But I can’t stay trapped in sorrow forever. Life has to go on. Zhou Lichuan just has a memory disorder; as long as he’s healthy, nothing else matters.”

Zhou Huai listened thoughtfully. “Take care of yourself. If it gets to be too much, go home and rest.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Watching the luxurious family van drive out of the parking lot, Jiang Zao took a moment to collect her thoughts.

When soldiers come, you fight them; when floods come, you build dams. After a breakdown, life must go on.

…

For several days, Jiang Zao stayed by Zhou Lichuan’s side, hardly leaving him.

Strangely, although Zhou Lichuan seemed to find her utterly unfamiliar, he didn’t reject her presence.

Another child with congenital heart disease had recently been admitted to the cardiology department, leaving Meng Qiaoyuan little free time. Each visit, she barely sat for a moment before being called away.

This day, she came again to Zhou Lichuan’s hospital room, but found only him sitting on the bed, waving his hand in front of his face to check his vision.

“Mr. Zhou, are you here alone?”

In recent days, Zhou Lichuan had grown accustomed to Meng Qiaoyuan’s occasional visits and nodded gently. “Miss Jiang has gone to the restroom. She doesn’t seem to be feeling well.”

Of course Jiang Zao wasn’t feeling well—she was carrying his child, exhausting herself, while he remembered nothing of her at all.

Meng Qiaoyuan was about to leave. “I’ll go check on her.”

Zhou Lichuan stopped her in time. “Dr. Meng, please wait. Are you and Miss Jiang friends? Could you perhaps persuade her a little? She’s my attendant, but with her health so poor, there’s no need for her to stay with me every day. I’ve already asked my assistant to arrange someone to take shifts with her, but she doesn’t seem willing.”