Amnesia Trap (GL) - Chapter 47

The wet wipe came away stained with red, and a faint suspicion became reality.

Sheng Zhi’s menstrual cycle had always been irregular—or to put it more accurately, it had never known the meaning of regularity. It arrived every time without the slightest warning.

This time, fortunately, she had caught it early enough to avoid staining her clothes. But while she had made the discovery, she didn’t have a single sanitary pad on hand.

By the time Sheng Zhi regained her composure, she had already sent a message to Ji Qingfan.

Madam Sheng Xi’yi probably never would have imagined that while her daughter had been reluctant to agree to her instructions during the video call, the first person she turned to when something actually happened was Ji Qingfan.

Sheng Zhi stared at the new message she had sent in the chat box. Once she realized what she’d done, she tried to retract it, but the moment she did, Ji Qingfan’s reply came through: 【Why did you retract it?】

One notification sound wasn’t enough; another followed immediately, accompanied by the crisp sound of high heels clicking against the floor.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap—

【Jiao Jiao, I’m here.】

…If she had known Ji Qingfan would arrive this fast, she wouldn’t have bothered retracting the message.

Sheng Zhi gripped her phone and finally called out to Ji Qingfan.

The message she had sent was very brief and lacked detail, but the pad Ji Qingfan handed through the door was the exact brand and type she was most accustomed to using.

If this continued, she would seriously start to wonder if Ji Qingfan had conducted a background investigation on her. Regardless, Ji Qingfan was undeniably reliable.

After washing her hands, Sheng Zhi looked at the woman standing beside her in the mirror. She watched through the glass, thinking Ji Qingfan wouldn’t notice, only for Ji Qingfan to cast her gaze toward the mirror the very next second.

“What are you thinking about?” Ji Qingfan glanced at the mirror and suddenly reached out to gently wrap her arms around Sheng Zhi’s waist. She leaned in and whispered into her ear, “Jiao Jiao, the first person you thought of just now was definitely me, wasn’t it? I told you before, subconscious reactions don’t lie. We are lovers. You used to love me so much, you needed me, you couldn’t leave me.”

“The one-month deadline is almost up. Are you sure you can still push me away with certainty? In fact, Jiao Jiao, you can feel it too, can’t you? If there were no love between us, how could I understand you this well…”

Her movements and voice were both infinitely gentle, yet they wound around Sheng Zhi like creeping vines. Ji Qingfan’s posture of waiting for an answer was obvious.

Sheng Zhi looked at the two of them in the mirror. They looked so intimate.

Should she give a positive answer? To be honest, she didn’t really want to. Even though she had decided to let Ji Qingfan continue acting for her a while longer.

The last time she told Ji Qingfan she “somewhat believed” her story was only to humiliate her with the follow-up suggestion that they were “compatible in certain ways.” This context was completely different. Giving an affirmative answer now would be a tacit admission of Ji Qingfan’s words—an admission that love existed between them, that she loved Ji Qingfan, needed her, and couldn’t leave her.

Sheng Zhi stiffened for an instant, then tilted the corner of her eye playfully. “Are you under some sort of misunderstanding? If Jiang Wanyin were here today, I would have messaged her.”

She used a fingertip to tap the hand Ji Qingfan had placed on her waist. “What makes you think I can’t push you away? Or are you saying that if I do push you away, you’ll actually give up?”

Her words sounded nonchalant, but only Sheng Zhi knew she was actually nervous. She was gambling quite heavily—betting that no matter what she said, Ji Qingfan wouldn’t give up.

As Sheng Zhi finished speaking, Ji Qingfan seemed to freeze. She didn’t reply, and after a long silence, she let her go.

“I know,” her voice sounded dejected, even embarrassed. “Jiao Jiao has forgotten me. I’m the only one who can’t let go of those feelings. I’m the one unilaterally pestering you. I know all of this. Sometimes I act certain, but I’m also scared and panicking…”

She took Sheng Zhi’s hand and gave her a small curve of her lips and eyes. She seemed to be trying for a gentle smile, but it looked incredibly sad instead. “I accidentally said too much again. Let’s go back first.”

Listening to her, Sheng Zhi felt an inexplicable pang of discomfort.

What is this? Why does Ji Qingfan look so pitiful?

…It was almost enough to make one’s heart ache for her.

However, the moment that thought surfaced, she bit her lip and crushed it down. She couldn’t be fooled by Ji Qingfan again. Especially when she knew perfectly well the woman was acting.

How could someone like Ji Qingfan have a sincere heart? She knew this better than anyone. Ji Qingfan only cared about profit; even saving her dog back then was just a way to get close to her.

She should have found that fact repulsive, but now, it was the only thing giving her peace of mind.

Because she hadn’t…

Sheng Zhi paused for a moment before finding the word to describe it—

Because she hadn’t bullied Ji Qingfan enough yet.

The situation had developed to this point simply because she hadn’t had her fill of bullying Ji Qingfan. This was just the beginning. If Ji Qingfan wanted the benefits she could bring, she had to be prepared for this.

Yet, looking at the forced smile on Ji Qingfan’s lips, no sense of triumph bloomed within her; instead, she felt quite a bit of irritation.

Were my words just now too excessive?

Where did Ji Qingfan’s usual clingy energy go?

After hearing that, she should have clung to her with sweet, sticky affection like before, saying she had guessed correctly, that giving up was impossible, that she could never truly let go.

What did she mean by talking like that?

Sheng Zhi averted her gaze slightly, feeling Ji Qingfan holding her hand. She gave a short response, her thoughts heavy, but said nothing more.

When they returned to the private room, dishes were still being served. On the table, various seafood and raw marinated dishes looked exquisite under the lights.

Actually, the original courses had finished serving, but when Ji Qingfan went to find Sheng Zhi, she took the menstruation into account and ordered several additional non-seafood dishes. These were the ones currently arriving.

Jing Mu pointed this out specifically: “Qingfan is truly the most doting wife I’ve ever seen…”

She paused slightly, her tone still full of sentiment when she spoke again. “But Miss Sheng is like a princess; she truly does need a lot of care. So, for today’s drinks, let’s just have Qingfan drink with me. Qingfan, is that alright?”

Hearing Jing Mu call her “Miss Sheng” while calling Ji Qingfan “Qingfan” left and right made Sheng Zhi’s eyes narrow slightly.

It felt a bit strange. Especially when Ji Qingfan, who usually gave everyone a cold shoulder, showed a hint of a smile toward Jing Mu as she poured the wine.

She frowned, then felt the thought was no different from being delusional. It was just a name; perhaps Jing Mu just didn’t dare call her by her given name. As for Ji Qingfan… her mouth was her own; she could smile at whoever she wanted.

Despite thinking this, she continued to watch from the corner of her eye.

Seriously, she hadn’t seen Ji Qingfan smile at Jing Mu like that before.

Sheng Zhi gripped her chopsticks, a dark cloud seemingly hovering over her head. Her ears were filled with the sound of Ji Qingfan and Jing Mu chatting and clinking glasses, getting along so well that she couldn’t get a word in.

The food was indeed exquisite, but looking at it, she had no appetite at all. Normally, Ji Qingfan would have noticed her foul mood by now, but currently, she acted as if she saw nothing.

One moment she was considerate of her period and adding non-seafood dishes, and the next she acted as if Sheng Zhi didn’t exist, smiling at someone else like a spring breeze.

Is she doing it on purpose? Because of what I said earlier?

Sheng Zhi was nearly suffocating with irritation. In a fit of pique, she reached for the seafood, but Ji Qingfan still didn’t react. Furious, she slammed her chopsticks down and stood up. “I’m feeling a bit unwell. You two continue your talk.”

The sound of her getting up and leaving was jarringly obvious. The conversation had to stop.

Jing Mu looked toward the door, her expression shifting. She said in a subtle tone, “Miss Sheng is really quite willful… throwing a tantrum at the drop of a hat. I don’t mind, but it’s really disrespectful to you. Doesn’t acting like this make things awkward for you?”

Since Sheng Zhi was gone, the words were clearly meant for Ji Qingfan.

Ji Qingfan didn’t speak. Her fingertips gripped her wine glass so hard they turned white. She kept her eyes downcast, looking deeply disappointed by Sheng Zhi’s behavior.

“It’s okay, Qingfan. Don’t be sad. That’s just how Miss Sheng’s personality is.” Jing Mu sighed, refilling Ji Qingfan’s glass as she spoke.

She observed Ji Qingfan, feeling that things were progressing even smoother than she’d imagined. It seemed the rumors were true: the relationship between Sheng Zhi and Ji Qingfan was nearly at its end.

At this thought, Jing Mu raised her glass and said in a well-meaning tone, “Come, Qingfan. Let’s not talk about work today. Later, I’ll take you somewhere else to relax.”

Hearing this, Ji Qingfan didn’t look up. Her downcast gaze added a touch of melancholy to her appearance.

Jing Mu’s tone grew softer and softer. “But having to deal with Miss Sheng’s personality long-term must be exhausting for you, Qingfan. I bet this kind of disregard for your feelings has happened more than once or twice. It makes me tired just thinking about it.”

At this, Ji Qingfan finally looked at her.

“Is that so?” her voice was soft, as if Jing Mu had spoken the very thoughts in her heart. “Is that what you think?”

“Yes, it makes my heart ache just hearing about it,” Jing Mu said, so entranced that she failed to notice anything was wrong. She excitedly planned where to go next in her head, almost volunteering herself. “So, Qingfan, if you need help with anything, just come to me. Anything I can do to help you, I will.”

Ji Qingfan continued to look at her. “Anything?”

Jing Mu wasn’t surprised by the question. Her words had indeed sounded very broad. Business partners didn’t need to go that far, and business partners certainly wouldn’t say such things.

Her lips moved; several times she wanted to confess her feelings directly, but looking into Ji Qingfan’s eyes, she felt that speaking up now would be no different from forcing a choice.

So she didn’t say it. Instead, she self-righteously acted considerate by shelling a crab and placing it on Ji Qingfan’s plate.

Even without a direct confession, Jing Mu felt increasingly certain of her victory—Ji Qingfan, having dealt with someone like Sheng Zhi for so long, surely wouldn’t be able to resist her understanding and caring thoughtfulness.

“Don’t feel troubled. I mean anything,” she said.

Ji Qingfan seemed unaccustomed to such care and nodded with a slight hint of awkwardness.

She must be shy, right? It’s okay, I understand.

Jing Mu thought triumphantly, her actions becoming even more attentive.

In reality, if she had been just a little more observant, she would have noticed that Ji Qingfan hadn’t touched a single thing she had put on her plate.