Chapter 2: Awakening to Amnesia, Calling Him Brother Upon First Meeting

When consciousness returned, Ye Chunxi immediately caught the sharp scent of disinfectant in the air. In that brief moment of comfort, her condition eased slightly. Her long, delicate lashes fluttered as she struggled to open her eyes, her gaze unfocused.

At that precise moment, the door swung open. The nurse, making her routine rounds, saw Ye Chunxi awake and hurried to call the attending physician. After a series of examinations, silence returned to the room, leaving her alone once more. Yet in the doctors’ office, an unprecedented hush had fallen.

Nan Sheng’s voice trembled, disbelief coloring his words as he questioned, “Doctor, are you saying that the young lady… has lost her memory?” His eyes shifted downward, cautiously stealing a glance at Jin Yuchuan, who sat upright and severe.

Upon hearing of Ye Chunxi’s awakening, they had dropped everything and rushed over, only to be confronted with such a result. Bai Lan’s importance to Master Jin was unquestionable—Nan Sheng knew that better than anyone. Amnesia rendered their efforts futile, even if they had found the person.

The sense of oppression in the room grew steadily, almost tangible, pressing on everyone’s breath. The suffocating atmosphere startled the doctor. After a brief pause, he dutifully replied, “The main injury is to the patient’s brain. We’ve reviewed her CT scans and EEG; post-awakening, she’s likely to suffer aftereffects of amnesia. We’ve conducted tests—she appears to have selective amnesia.”

Whatever hope remained in their hearts was extinguished at that moment. Jin Yuchuan clenched his fists, saying nothing, yet his aura compelled all to retreat.

The outcome settled, Nan Sheng refused to give up. “Is there any chance she’ll recover?”

The surgeon nodded, “Selective amnesia can gradually improve over time. But if something has caused significant psychological trauma, she might selectively forget it indefinitely. Most cases, however, can be cured.”

That final sentence offered a measure of reassurance to all present. Nan Sheng exhaled, then inquired about Ye Chunxi’s specific condition and the proposed treatments. Satisfied with the answers, Jin Yuchuan rose, thanked the doctor, and strode away.

...

In the ward, the girl on the bed sat up. Ye Chunxi bent one long leg, her elbow resting carelessly atop her knee, exposing a pale and delicate stretch of skin at her waist—striking and impossible to ignore. The injury on her head sent sharp pulses along her nerves, and her brows knit in discomfort.

Jin Yuchuan entered just in time to see her in this unruly pose. Even with her pallor, the beauty of her features was undiminished. Up close, her exquisitely sculpted face betrayed a hint of rebelliousness beneath its impassivity.

Jin Yuchuan’s expression flickered. He softly called her name, “Ye Chunxi.” His voice, as always, was cool and deep, with a restrained richness and a certain aloof clarity.

Ye Chunxi’s slender fingers curled, trembling faintly as if she were suppressing something. The sudden sound grated on her nerves.

Suddenly, the fresh scent of pine reached her nose—a clean bitterness tinged with sweetness, unexpectedly soothing her agitation. Ye Chunxi turned, taking in the tall figure beside her.

He stood straight and elegant, his tailored suit lending him an air of detached nobility. She slowly lifted her gaze to meet a flawless face—so perfect as to seem unreal. A pair of narrow gold-rimmed glasses rested on his nose, casting subtle shadows on either side. Behind the lenses, his eyes were deeply set, slightly fatigued, with dark irises holding a subdued sharpness.

His cold, fair skin matched his innate aristocratic reserve—a chill that, in the oppressive heat of the room, made one want to draw closer, yet his distant aura kept everyone at bay.

Ye Chunxi stared, momentarily absent.

Jin Yuchuan glanced at her, then looked away without further interest. After a pause, he asked with measured concern, “How are you feeling?”

Ye Chunxi gave no reply, simply gazing at him. Her large, bright eyes shone with a watery light.

“Brother…”

Her lips pressed together; those two simple syllables carried an indescribable emotion.

Jin Yuchuan was startled, watching her with a strange unease. According to the doctor, her memories of personal relationships were muddled—she couldn’t name her parents, nor recall any friends. Why would she suddenly call him brother?

The doctor had been equally surprised, but no matter how many times he asked, Ye Chunxi insisted Jin Yuchuan was her brother.

The room fell into an odd silence. Nan Sheng stared at the girl on the bed, then glanced at Jin Yuchuan beside him, his gaze conflicted.

Who was Master Jin? The undisputed overlord of Jin City! Everyone sought his favor. Even if the girl suffered from amnesia, she shouldn’t address him so carelessly.

In the tense quiet, a low, chilling voice suddenly broke through. “You said she has no knowledge of her family?”

The doctor, puzzled, quickly gathered his thoughts. “She must have been affected by some trauma before her brain injury, leading her to mistake you for her brother. If her subconscious accepts it, she’ll naturally regard it as fact.”

Stimulus?

Jin Yuchuan frowned, recalling the scene of the accident. When he’d checked on her, Ye Chunxi hadn’t lost consciousness entirely…

It all began to make sense.

The doctor advised, “Given her fragile state, overturning this perceived reality could further disrupt her memory. It must be corrected gradually.”

Jin Yuchuan nodded slightly. “I understand.”

His expression remained as cold and indifferent as ever, though turmoil churned beneath the surface. He gripped his phone tightly, intending to leave.

Just as he turned to go, a lively, hurried voice stopped him. “Brother, I want to go home.”

He paused, looking back at her.

The girl sat upright on the bed, her slender figure obedient and attentive. Her fingers twisted into the sheets, teeth biting her lower lip, those beautiful, clear eyes shimmering with broken, helpless light as they fixed on him.

The wildness from earlier had faded; her gaze and demeanor now overflowed with reliance and a plea towards her brother.

He hesitated, but did not give a direct answer.

“You’ve just had surgery. Rest and recover in the hospital.”

His words were flat, devoid of emotion, yet they plunged Ye Chunxi’s heart into icy despair.

...

Outside the ward, Nan Sheng looked around warily, then leaned in to whisper, “Master Jin, the girl’s identity is still unconfirmed. Now that she’s lost her memory, there’s no way to verify. What do you think…”

Master Jin’s obsession with Bai Lan was inexplicable—he had mobilized every resource, even enlisted the top hacker, X, but was rebuffed. Previous investigations had been obstructed; any information gathered was quickly scrambled and untraceable. How could it be so smooth this time?

Jin Yuchuan shared the same doubts, but until he could rule out every possibility, he would not let go.

Since Ye Chunxi believed he was her brother, he would grant her wish. She was only a girl, and he was more than capable of caring for her.

Jin Yuchuan’s cold, refined gaze lowered, as if he had reached a decision.

“Go to the orphanage and arrange the adoption.”