Gu Mian's hand, holding the medicine box, trembled slightly at the fingertips.
She slowly clenched her fist, calming herself, "Some things, once they are in the past, they are over, and can never be revisited."
...
For several days, Gu Mian noticed that Pei Jinchuan had become noticeably busier, often working late into the night before coming home.
Sometimes Niannian would miss him and call, only to hang up hurriedly after a few words.
At night, after Niannian had fallen asleep, Gu Mian would go down to the kitchen.
"Miss Gu, the soup will be ready soon," the servant reported.
"I'll take over, you go rest," she said.
"Yes."
Gu Mian added some seasoning to the soup, turned off the heat, and sat in the living room.
It wasn't until after eleven that Pei Jinchuan finally came home.
"Why so late?" Gu Mian stood up and approached him, "Are you very busy?"
"Is Niannian asleep?"
"Yes, she was still angry at you before bed, saying you didn't keep her company."
Pei Jinchuan chuckled, "My fault."
"You haven't answered my question," Gu Mian pressed on, "Is there a problem at Pei Corporation?"
"No, don't overthink it."
"I had someone make soup for you, have some before you sleep."
"Okay."
Pei Jinchuan took a seat in the dining room and Gu Mian quickly brought out the soup, "It's old duck soup, good for nourishment and reducing heat. Be careful, it's hot."
"Thank you."
Gu Mian watched the man in front of her sip the soup and suddenly said, "It's Li Tingshen who is giving you a hard time, isn't it?"
Pei Jinchuan calmly denied, "No."
"Whether you admit it or not, I can find out easily, there's no need to hide it from me," Gu Mian supported her face with her hands, "He is making it difficult for you because he doesn't want us to return to Hai City, right?"
"Yes, he wants to get back at you," Pei Jinchuan said with a smile, "It seems that even with amnesia, he would be attracted to you again... even though you are married now and have a daughter with someone else."
"You think too much," Gu Mian smiled faintly, "He didn't have amnesia at all."
"Really? Are you sure?"
"Certain."
The first time they met at a charity gala, the second time in the old house in Hai City, she could vaguely feel that he hadn't lost his memory.
Until that morning on the accident-stricken highway, when he thought she was buried, and he dug her out nearly frantically, did she suspect the truth.
If he had truly forgotten everything, he wouldn't have been so afraid of her being in danger.
Pei Jinchuan frowned, "Does he know that Niannian is his child?"
"Of course not," Gu Mian said, "If he knew, he would have shown up at our door by now."
"No wonder he's been so ruthless to me," Pei Jinchuan chuckled, "He probably dreams of killing me, right?"
Gu Mian looked at him, "I'm sorry for getting you involved."
"There's no need for that between us," Pei Jinchuan put down the spoon and looked at her earnestly, "Gu Mian, having the chance to be Niannian's father, I've lived a worthwhile life."
"And it was I who brought you to the Capital, disturbing the peaceful life you originally had."
"Jinchuan, don't say that," Gu Mian's eyes brimmed with tears, "Since I made the decision, I have no regrets."
"Now, I just hope that our family can live well, happy every day."
Pei Jinchuan gripped her hand resting on the table, choking up, "Gu Mian, these two months you've been in the Capital, have been the happiest days I've had since I lost Xiaobao's mom and my sister after all these years."
"I really dream of being with you, watching Xiaobao and Niannian grow up."
Gu Mian nodded vigorously, holding back the tears in her eyes.
"I'll go to Li Tingshen tomorrow and ask him not to make things difficult for you."
"I know you don't want to face him, so you don't have to go," Pei Jinchuan said indifferently, "Let him do whatever he wants. Even if he completely ruins the Pei Corporation, it doesn't matter; my savings are enough to last you a lifetime."
"Gu Mian, I just hope you don't have to live too hard."
...
When Yan Mu arrived at Yunyue Bay, the family doctor was changing Li Tingshen's dressing.
"Have you had a change of heart?" Yan Mu sat down with a smile, "Just a few days ago, you almost drove Cheng Xu to death with worry. In the end, you had no choice but to find Gu Mian—seems like Gu Mian still has quite the influence..."
Li Tingshen wore a gloomy expression.
After the family doctor left, Yan Mu finally said, "Tingshen, how are things with you and Gu Mian?"
"Not great," Li Tingshen replied coldly, "Now, all she thinks about are Pei Jinchuan and their children."
"I heard from Cheng Xu that the child looks a bit younger than Li Bao, which means that soon after Gu Mian left the Capital three years ago, she got involved with Pei Jinchuan and got pregnant? But I feel that Gu Mian isn't that kind of person."
Li Tingshen's face turned even colder, "Before she lost her memory, she certainly wasn't that kind of person, and wouldn't have taken a second glance at Pei Jinchuan."
"But she did lose her memory, and after forgetting everything, Pei Jinchuan appeared in front of her. Pei Jinchuan, from every aspect, could easily win a girl's heart."
"That's true," Yan Mu consoled, "Tingshen, you and Gu Mian are actually quite similar; neither of you can stand sand in your eyes."
"Gu Mian can't accept that you have a child with another woman, and how can you accept her affair with Pei Jinchuan?"
"Take my advice, let it go given the circumstances."
"I want to let go too, but I just can't do it," Li Tingshen said as he took out a cigarette with his injured hand and lit it, taking a deep drag, "I don't care whether she has a child with Pei Jinchuan."
"But Gu Mian absolutely wouldn't accept that you have a child with Yunxi," Yan Mu said with conviction, "And even if you could force yourself on her, it wouldn't be fair to the two children."
Li Tingshen turned to look at him, his slightly squinted eyes held a penetrating coldness, "Why do I feel that someone sent you to tell me this... Was it Gu Mian?"
Yan Mu took a sip of the hot tea brought by the servant, saying frankly, "Yes, Gu Mian, having heard from Cheng Xu that we are good friends, specifically sought me out. She told me you're targeting the Pei Corporation and asked me to give you a good talk."
"She said she didn't know what happened between you in the past and she doesn't want to know either; she just wants to look forward."
A pained look washed over Li Tingshen's eyes, "So in her future path, there's no place for me by her side, is that right?"
"Yes, what's between you two is done," Yan Mu sighed, "Tingshen, Gu Mian is different from other girls; you know full well the consequences of pressing her. Otherwise, you wouldn't have had the heart to let her go three years ago."
"It's been three years, and I've been secretly investigating the incident with my mother and Lu Yueming," Li Tingshen's deep, hoarse voice carried a hint of pain, "I've been thinking, if I could find out the truth, would there still be a glimmer of hope for us?"
"But in these past three years, only I have stayed still; she's already taken someone else's hand and moved forward..."
"Tingshen, in truth, your relationship should have ended three years ago," Yan Mu looked at his bandaged hand, "The Gu Mian of the past would see you injured like this and cry out of heartache."
"But now, coming to change your dressing is as heavy for her as visiting a grave."
"Tingshen, you can't give her the peace she wants. You don't mind that she has a daughter with Pei Jinchuan, but she minds that you have a son with Yunxi."
"Yes, even if I could snatch her back from Pei Jinchuan, the thorn in her heart would remain..." Li Tingshen's eyes flashed with chilling waves, "Cheng Xu."
Standing on the side, Cheng Xu immediately stepped forward, "President Li."
"Help me with something..."