Startled by her sudden awakening, Jin Liwei, who had been crouching beside her bed, jumped back in surprise and ended up sitting on the floor. Caught off guard and somewhat embarrassed by the situation, he quickly tried to regain his composure.
"Why are you still sleeping? It's past dinner time, and you're still sleeping. Everyone is waiting for you downstairs. Are you some kind of princess to make everyone wait on you? So lazy..." he chided, his words laced with a teasing tone to conceal his earlier startled reaction.
'What am I even thinking, considering kissing her? Am I some kind of pervert?' he scolded himself inwardly, his inner thoughts filled with self-reproach.
Xie Ming, who was still groggy from sleep, was stunned. Having just woken up, she couldn't fully comprehend his words and actions. Moreover, technically speaking, she was not a 'Princess' but an 'Empress,' although an unwanted one.
Before she could say anything, he stood up and said, "Come downstairs for dinner. No one is going to bring you dinner in your room." He said while avoiding her confused gaze and turned around, leaving the room and slamming the door shut loudly.
While descending the stairs, he mumbled to himself, "Her craziness is affecting me. I'm starting to hallucinate. I must be crazy to think that she's beautiful and her lips are kissable."
__
In the room, Xie Ming stared at the door, which had been slammed just moments ago. She recalled that she was having a nightmare and was reminded of her dark past when a soothing, cold hand had comforted her, making her dream of nothing.
She also felt a lingering sensation on her lips, and upon opening her eyes, she saw him staring at her in a daze, his finger gently brushing her lips. "What was he doing?" She couldn't help but wonder why he had been so close to her. Thinking about it, she felt her cheeks burning and reached up to touch them, trying to cool the heat.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she reminded herself, "I should remain focused. I am Zhao Ming, not Xie Ming. I must behave myself. I am the Empress, after all." She felt guilty for having such thoughts about another man. "Moreover, he doesn't even want to live in this house with me. Why would he touch my lips? It must be a misunderstanding."
With these thoughts, she stood up from the bed and went to the washroom to freshen up. She was indeed feeling hungry, and it was just at the right time that he had come to wake her up. Otherwise, she would have been disappointed to miss her meal because of oversleeping.
___
Downstairs, Jin Liwei waited at the dinner table, where a generous spread of food had been laid out. Various dishes graced the table, all carefully prepared with nutritious ingredients and an abundance of vegetables to ensure Xie Ming's easy digestion and to provide her with strength.
At the dining table, Jin Liwei pretended to read some documents on his tablet while waiting for her, still feeling embarrassed about what had transpired earlier. As he struggled to concentrate on the text before him, his thoughts kept drifting back to her dazed expression and her lips.
With an exhausted sigh, he looked up when he heard footsteps descending the stairs. His gaze fell upon a woman dressed in a plain white dress, her hair flowing freely, making her way downstairs with slow and elegant steps.
Every step Xie Ming took was a dance of elegance and discipline. As she descended the stairs, her hand gracefully rested on the railing, and walked gracefully, even while donning simple home slippers.
Xie Ming was still adjusting to the sleeveless, skin-revealing clothes that dominated this era, especially the contents of the original Xie Ming's wardrobe. When she opened her closet to select an outfit to change into, she couldn't help but notice that most of her dresses were short, shining, and more suitable for parties and events.
The dress she chose, the one she was currently wearing, was relatively modest by Xie Ming's standards but still revealing for her liking. It was a knee-length white dress that lacked the excessive sparkle of her other garments. In her own time, she was accustomed to wearing dresses that were concealed beneath large robes, covering her from head to toe.
She couldn't fathom how people in this era could wear clothing that exposed so much skin without feeling self-conscious.
With graceful strides, Xie Ming descended the stairs and made her way to the dining table. As she settled into her seat, her eyes widened at the array of delicious-looking dishes before her, and her mouth began to water.
The hospital's food had been dull at best. But the feast before her? It looked tantalizing.
Wasting no time, she picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of stir-fried vegetables, placing it in her mouth. She chewed slowly, savoring the familiar taste. The dish, though simple, felt comforting and wasn't overwhelming to her senses.
All the while, Jin Liwei watched her intently. She ate with such quiet dignity, never complaining about the mostly vegetable and healthy dishes, and seemed to genuinely enjoy every bite.
Regaining his composure, Jin Liwei began to eat, occasionally casting glances her way. To him, Xie Ming resembled a portrait come to life, her every movement with her chopsticks a study in elegance. The soft, deliberate manner in which she chewed added to the image.
He had never witnessed this side of her before. Her regal bearing, so reminiscent of royalty, was in stark contrast to the Xie Ming he remembered. He pondered, 'Can amnesia truly alter someone to this extent?'
The dinner proceeded in silence, with no one uttering a word. After they had finished eating and Xie Ming began to make her way upstairs, Jin Liwei, who had been watching her closely throughout the meal, finally broke the silence.
"Wait," he said, causing her to turn and face him, a look of confusion in her eyes. "Do you not remember anything?"
Xie Ming frowned at his question, her voice laced with confusion. "What kind of question is that? Do I look like I'm acting?" Her response caught him off guard. While she had countered his question, her tone was neither loud nor confrontational. It was as if she were Xie Ming, yet not the same woman he had known before.
He regarded her with his dark, intense gaze and proceeded to explain. "Since we've decided not to divorce for six months, during that time, you will hold the title of Mrs. Jin Liwei and must adhere to certain rules."
He continued, "That means you cannot engage in a relationship with any other man, and you must show respect to my family and manage this household. It would be in your best interest to maintain a proper reputation and avoid frequenting those clubs or getting involved in unnecessary scandals. Dealing with embarrassing headlines can be quite a hassle, after all." He sighed, reminiscing about the times he had to clean up the messes she had created.
"Though our relationship is only in name," he went on, "as Mrs. Jin, you have responsibilities to fulfill. Things cannot continue as they were before. Otherwise, we will proceed with an immediate divorce, whether or not you regain your memories."
Upon hearing his words, Xie Ming snorted inwardly. The situation felt eerily familiar – a loveless marriage where she was expected to follow all the rules and remain faithful while her husband could do as he pleased. She had no intention of living this way again.
She regarded him seriously and responded, "Okay. But you also cannot engage in any relationships with other women, and if you bring any consorts into this household, I will ensure that their lives become a living hell. I am not the only one in this marriage who must be faithful, even though it is only a marriage in name."
Her reply seemed to surprise him, and he briefly thought, 'Consorts? What kind of era does she think she's living in, or has she watched too many period dramas?'
However, he remembered the doctor's warning about her tendency to speak strangely and mix things up. Deciding to be patient with her, he said, "Alright. You have my word."
Xie Ming was taken aback by how easily he had accepted her condition. Not wanting to prolong the conversation, she stated, "If there's nothing else, then I'm leaving," and promptly made her way upstairs without waiting for him to respond further.
As Xie Ming climbed the stairs and disappeared into her room, Jin Liwei remained seated at the dining table, his gaze lingering on the spot where she had stood. He was lost in thought, contemplating whether her current behavior was her true self or merely a result of her memory loss.
"Was she always like this, or is it the side effect of her memory loss?" he mused silently, his eyes still fixed on the now-empty stairs. "If this is a side effect, then maybe I should hope she never remembers her past. Life with this new Xie Ming doesn't seem so bad."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he considered her insistence on his loyalty and not having an affair. It was something she had never asked him before. Could it be that she wanted to take their marriage seriously as well? The thought crossed his mind, and he was momentarily taken aback by it.
He quickly shook his head to dispel such distracting thoughts. "Jin Liwei, you shouldn't be swayed by her changed personality. It's just temporary," he reminded himself firmly as if trying to reassert his focus. "Temporary."