As night fell, the moonlight streamed down from the high sky, casting a silver glow that flowed like water into every corner of the stone house. Inside, all was quiet, save for the occasional crackle of the fire in the hearth and the sound of the wind brushing against the window panes.
Chen Shanyi stood by the window, gazing at the solitary moon outside. A sudden chill washed over her, and her thoughts were once again caught between the heavy book and Siska's words. Though she tried to calm herself, the inner turmoil and unease refused to subside. She found herself increasingly unable to escape the oppressive feeling that had taken root inside her. The forgotten memories were like an invisible hand, tightening around her heart, making it hard to breathe.
"What are you thinking about?" Siska's voice suddenly came from behind her, low and gentle.
Chen Shanyi turned around to meet his deep, inscrutable gaze. Though his eyes were as soft as ever, there was an elusive, complex emotion behind them. She sighed lightly, a nameless anxiety rising within her. "I'm thinking… about the past. Those vows you spoke of, were they really the promises we once made?" Her voice trembled, as if afraid to touch on a forbidden subject.
Siska walked closer and stood beside her, his gaze fixed on her face. "Shanyi, are you still hesitating? Do you not believe in the feelings we once shared?" His tone was calm, yet beneath it lay a hidden depth that pressed on Chen Shanyi, making her feel an unavoidable sense of weight.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "It's not that I don't believe, it's just…" She paused, a flicker of confusion crossing her eyes. "These memories are scattered like fragments, I can't piece them together. I feel like I'm walking through a fog, unable to see anything clearly."
Siska watched her quietly, and after a moment of silence, he finally spoke. "If I told you that your memory loss wasn't just an accident, but rather something more complicated, would you believe me?"
Chen Shanyi's heart tightened, and she instinctively grasped the fabric of her clothes. "What do you mean by 'something more complicated'?" Her voice was almost trembling, filled with an unconscious panic.
Siska's gaze deepened, as if weighing whether he should reveal everything. He spoke slowly, his words carrying weight. "The truth about us is far more complicated than what you remember. You once faced a choice, a choice that determined our lives and whether we would ever meet again. Your memory loss may have been caused by some force deliberately. What you've forgotten isn't just the mundane days, but the secret between us."
Chen Shanyi's heart pounded in her chest, a wave of dizziness sweeping over her. "A secret?" She murmured, as if the idea had never occurred to her. She knew so little about her own past, especially regarding Siska. Every time she tried to delve deeper, the hollow emptiness inside her only grew, making her want to escape, yet she could never fully pull away.
Siska gently grasped her shoulder, pulling her into his embrace. "Shanyi, I know this is hard for you to accept, but you need to understand, everything from the past isn't as simple as you think. Our fates have long been intertwined, and that choice that determined whether you would lose your memory affected the future of many others."
A flash of fear crossed Chen Shanyi's eyes. She pushed Siska away almost instinctively, crying out, "No! I don't want to hear it! I don't want to know!" Her voice was rushed, and tears welled up at the corners of her eyes. It felt as though her world was crumbling in an instant, everything she had relied on—her memories, her reality—now seemed untrustworthy, like an insurmountable abyss blocking her way.
Siska said nothing, only watching her in silence. His heart was filled with helplessness and sorrow, but he understood that some truths were not meant to be forced upon someone, especially when that person wasn't yet ready to face them.
Chen Shanyi turned away, gripping the window sill tightly, hoping that the cold wind from outside would help her calm down. She couldn't bear to look into Siska's eyes again, afraid of seeing more things she couldn't understand. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, as if there was no way out.
"I need time." She spoke softly, her voice carrying a hint of finality.
Siska was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I will give you time, no matter how long it takes."
As the night deepened, the warmth and softness of the light in the room remained, yet Chen Shanyi's heart felt as though it were being torn apart by some unknown force. Pain and confusion mingled, forming an endless darkness. She felt as though she were standing at a crossroads, with the truth ahead of her and Siska, whom she had once deeply loved, behind her. All she could do was wait in this long night, waiting to find the true answer.