The next day, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting warm light across Chen Shanyi's bed. When she woke up, her memories were still a blur. Last night's conversation with Siska seemed unfinished, and his words floated in her mind like paper scattered by the wind, gradually blurring into fragments she couldn't grasp.
She sat up in bed, taking a deep breath, trying to clear her head. The world around her seemed quiet and unfamiliar, as though life was no longer as she remembered it. The pain of lost memories spread slowly within her, and she didn't know how to face the choices that lay ahead.
Outside, the world continued to move. People bustled along the streets, cars flowed by endlessly, and everything followed its routine. The only difference was within her heart, where the untold secrets remained buried deep inside.
Chen Shanyi walked to the mirror and gazed at the unfamiliar face looking back at her. The person in the mirror was still delicate, her eyes deep, but there was none of the confidence and determination she remembered. She gently touched her face as if trying to find traces of her true self.
"Who am I really? Where did I come from, and where am I going?"
She silently asked herself, but found no answer.
Her thoughts were interrupted when her phone screen lit up with a message from Siska.
"Today, we're going somewhere. Do you have time?"
Chen Shanyi hesitated for a moment before deciding to reply.
"Where are we going?"
Just a few seconds later, Siska's reply came:
"There are things I need you to see for yourself."
As she read the message, a sense of unease rose within her. Siska always spoke in that mysterious tone, leading her into unknown depths. She didn't know what would happen today, but she knew she couldn't escape this fate.
She quickly got ready, putting on comfortable clothes, preparing to leave. She no longer dwelled on her past, focusing instead on the present. No matter what happened, at least she would be with Siska, and perhaps he could give her some answers, show her a clear direction.
A black car stopped in front of her house. The window slowly rolled down, and Siska's familiar face appeared. Seeing him, a slight sense of relief washed over her, as though by his side, she could temporarily forget all the pain and confusion.
"Get in," Siska's voice remained gentle, carrying a subtle, unrefusable command.
Chen Shanyi nodded, walked to the car door, and sat inside. The scenery outside the window quickly retreated, and the noise of the city gradually faded, replaced by the peacefulness of the countryside.
The drive was not long, but Chen Shanyi felt as if time was stretching unbearably. Her heartbeat quickened, and her chest tightened, as if the end of this journey would unveil a truth she couldn't bear.
The car finally stopped at the foot of a mountain, surrounded by lush trees and fresh air. As she got out of the car, Chen Shanyi felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Though she had never been here before, it felt like a part of her deep inside.
Siska walked ahead, leading her down a vine-covered path. The surroundings were full of towering trees, the ground soft with soil, each step accompanied by the sounds of birds and the wind. Gradually, they moved farther from the bustle of the world and entered a tranquil, secluded place.
They walked for some time until they reached an ancient stone house. The exterior was tangled in vines, and the stone steps at the entrance were covered with moss. Chen Shanyi stopped, a feeling of doubt rising in her heart.
"What is this place?" she asked.
Siska didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned and looked at her, his eyes carrying a deep, solemn light. "This was once our home," he said softly.
Chen Shanyi's heart jolted, and a fleeting memory flashed through her mind. She couldn't tell whether the memory was real, but the sense of familiarity grew stronger.
"Our home?" Her voice trembled. "You mean, we once lived here?"
Siska nodded, letting out a small sigh. "Yes, we had a peaceful and beautiful time here. But all that was broken." His eyes flickered with pain. "I promised you I would protect you and not let you be hurt. But fate is always so cruel."
Chen Shanyi's heart skipped a beat. It felt as though she had touched a wound she wasn't ready to open. "Can you tell me what really happened between us?"
Siska took a deep breath, as if gathering his thoughts. "The root of all this began from the moment we first met. We shared a connection that was hard to explain, but that connection also brought endless pain. You once told me to always protect you, but after an accident, you lost all your memories." He gently took her hand. "Today, I brought you here so that you could recover the memories we've lost."
Chen Shanyi looked into his eyes, and the emotions rising in her heart left her speechless. She knew this path might be full of pain and struggle, but she also knew she couldn't avoid it.