"Xiao Mei, you have to pick him up from the hospital," Xiao Mei's mother whined into the phone for the sixth time since the conversation started. "You're his fiancée; you have to be there for him."
"But I have a meeting in the next five minutes, and it's really important that I attend. Father is..." Xiao Mei had not even finished her sentence when her mother hung up the phone. Ever since Zhi Yuan regained consciousness, life had been hell for Xiao Mei.
She had always hated him for ruining her life. She had such a perfect life before he showed up; she was going to take over the company from her father and finally move out of her parents' house when Zhi Yuan found a way to buy most of the company shares and then threatened her father into approving their marriage.
A part of her was so happy when she heard the news about his accident, and when Xiangu called her that day to announce that he had regained consciousness, she didn't know what to feel or say; she had felt numb all through the drive.
When they arrived and she found out that he had lost his memory, a part of her wanted to scream for joy. Would this mean freedom for her? She asked herself.
"Excuse me, Miss." A squeaky voice disrupted her train of thoughts. Xiao Mei looked up from her desk to find her secretary staring right at her. "Your father has canceled the meeting; he said you have somewhere to be." She said, and Xiao Mei frowned.
"What?" She slammed her fists on the desk; the secretary jumped in fright but Xiao Mei paid her no attention. She took a deep breath and relaxed into her seat.
"Should I get you something to drink?" The secretary asked, but Xiao Mei waved her off, and she walked out quietly, mindful not to disturb Xiao Mei, who had her eyes closed and her head tossed backward in her chair. Everyone around here knew better than to get on her nerves. Since her father had announced her betrothal to Zhi Yuan, she could feel and see how people shifted uncomfortably around her, the silent whispering intensified, and at one time, she had heard an employee in the restroom call her the devil's wife.
Zhi Yuan is that devil. With an illegal drug business and various investments that he has stockpiled over the years through illegal and dubious means, Zhi Yuan had created a name for himself on the streets of Beijing.
His ruthless and unforgiving spirit instilled fear in people at the mention of his name, and the fact that not one single official has been able to pin one out of the numerous crimes he has committed, on him remains a mystery to everyone.
Xiao Mei grabbed her car keys and stood up from her chair; she had no choice. Her father had been so shaken up by Zhi Yuan's threat, and her mother didn't care about anything other than the perfect image she would present to the public. It didn't irk her that Xiao Mei is going to get married to a man like Zhi Yuan. Instead, she was worried about what the public would say if they found out that Xiao Mei had been forced into the marriage, so she took it upon herself to get Xiao Mei to act accordingly.
Since the meeting has been canceled, she might as well go and pick him up. She ran her hand through her long, dark hair as she walked out of the office, dressed in a cream-colored blouse and a black skirt that highlighted her curves.
It didn't take much time to get to the hospital. Even though she didn't have to, a nurse escorted Xiao Mei to the VIP section where Zhi Yuan is. She entered the room to find him at the window side; his broad shoulders and dark hair looked so attractive in the sunlight.
Other than the fact that Zhi Yuan has a bad character and always speaks without manners, Xiao Mei knew he is one of those extremely rare, handsome men. He turned around and smiled at the sight of her, but this time, it wasn't the usual creepy and cold smile that he gave her anytime he saw her.
This time, it was different, it felt different. Something about him wasn't right; it might be because he had lost his memory, but something about his usual cold aura had changed, and the mad glint in his eyes had disappeared.
"You're here!" He said cheerfully. "I thought it would be Xiangu, but it's good to see you." Xiao Mei had not been expecting his last sentence, so she was a bit taken aback. She just stood at the entrance, gawking at him.
"Is everything alright?" He asked.
"Yes!" She snapped out of her trance. "Yes, everything is good. Can we go now?"
"I hope you don't mind, Miss, but where are you taking me?" He asked, his eyes boring into hers.
"Miss?" Xiao Mei looked at him in shock, her eyes almost bulging. Even if the almighty Zhi Yuan had lost his memory, she wasn't expecting him to lose his attitude too; it was his signature style, so she was shocked to finally meet a part of Zhi Yuan that wouldn't leer at her anytime she was in his presence.
"I would drop you off at your house." She added, and he raised an eyebrow.
"I have a house?" He asked again; he looked truly shocked, and Xiao Mei was beginning to find their conversation really intriguing. She decided to turn up the heat.
"Do you really not remember anything?" She asked as she began to walk towards him. He watched her movements, his eyes glued to the gradual and sophisticated sway of her hips as she walked towards him. She knew he was watching her; she wanted him to because she wanted to prove that he was simply putting up a facade about losing his memory.
"Is this some sort of joke to you? Do you enjoy watching this drama unfold?" She asked. She now stood in front of him, and he seemed to have taken a step back but bumped into the wall.
The real Zhi Yuan would never have stepped back. In fact, his aura would have been too much for her to step forward in the first place.
"I don't understand what you're talking about, miss." He replied softly, his eyes darting around the room as if he was searching for an escape route.
"The doctor said it's normal due to the injury sustained. The name, Zhi Yuan, doesn't even sound familiar to me, and it's driving me crazy to be surrounded by people that act like they know me so well, and I can't even remember their faces."
He sounded sincere, so Xiao Mei stepped away from him.
"I still don't believe you, Zhi Yuan, and just so you know, do not even think for one second that I would let my guard down around you. I would never make that mistake again." She looked him over and turned around.
"I would be waiting in the car." She said as she walked out.
"Mistake? What mistake?" Zhi Yuan thought as he watched her leave. He had no idea who this woman is, and yet she seemed to be so upset with him. He could tell she hated him, and he didn't know why.
When the memory wave had hit him earlier, he had passed out, and when he woke up, he still wasn't sure about what he had remembered. His memory wasn't complete; the image of Jian on the cold floor after the accident kept flashing in his head, but he still couldn't piece it together.
What does this even mean? He groaned in frustration as he began to feel another headache coming on.
The doctor had told him to be patient, that the memories might return after some time, and advised him to surround himself with friends and family. But when he had asked Xiangu about his friends and family, the man simply laughed.
Yuan wondered what kind of man he was and what kind of man he is expected to be after he leaves this hospital room.
"You're all set, sir." A nurse that had appeared at the door said.
He smiled at her, but she didn't return the smile. Instead, she bowed her head. They took the elevator, and she escorted him into the lobby, where the staff and doctors had gathered. They all bowed the moment they saw him.
"Mr. Zhi Yuan, I am the managing director. It's a pleasure to meet you." A short, fat man in a white coat said as he extended his hand for a handshake, and Yuan shook his hand warmly.
"It was a pleasure to have you here, sir." The doctor who had been in charge of Yuan said. He was standing next to the director and had a tight smile on his face. Yuan placed a hand on his shoulder and felt his body tense up.
Why were they all acting like that? What are they so afraid of? Who is this man? Who is Zhi Yuan? Yuan thought as he walked out of the hospital doors to find an Audi RS 7 parked outside, and a bodyguard pulled open the back door for him.
The car wasn't empty; Xiao Mei sat in there, staring out through the window.