Li Shaobin drove carefully and slowly but the rain just got worse and worse. Suddenly, he seemed to see a black figure dashing past between his windscreen wipers and he stepped quickly on the brakes. Before the car could come to a complete stop, a huge crash came from behind, as though they were hit by something and the car shook violently. He could feel the blood gushing around his body quickly and he blanked out. Beside him, Ruan Yang suddenly shrieked out, “In front…”
He realized, while in pain, that the car which had stopped continued moving forward. He was afraid to hit the person in front, so he subconsciously turned his steering wheel. Suddenly, it seemed like he had hit the car beside him.
After the loud crash, the airbags exploded and all around, only the sound of Charlotte’s barking and the deafening sound of the rain could be heard.
Li Shaobin felt as though his head knocked into something and his field of view was pitch black. The tightness in his chest made him feel like vomiting for a very long time. There was blood flowing out from his forehead and he tried very hard before he could regain his senses. He looked to Ruan Yang at the side and she seemed to almost be in the same situation as him. Although she was protected by the airbag, half of her face was covered in blood.
Charlotte was struggling painfully, stuck in between Ruan Yang and the airbag. She whimpered continuously.
Li Shaobin used all his strength, wanting to reach out to pull her out. Perhaps it was because the airbag was squeezing her too tightly, because his limbs were all going numb, because he was blacking out, or because of other reasons that he couldn’t seem to exert any strength.
He could only vaguely feel himself touching something that felt like a sweater. He wanted to reach a little further when he blacked out and lost all consciousness.
——————-
When he regained consciousness, it was white all over. He tried to gather himself and suddenly, a middle-aged woman appeared in his sight, her face full of joy. “Binbin, Binbin, you’re finally awake, Oh my God, are you hurting anywhere?”
Li Shaobin wrapped his hands around his head subconsciously and felt bandages. He let out a cold hiss and sat up. He Mingshan, his mother, sat at the side, looking at him with concern. On the couch on the side was his big brother, Li Zhongchi, with a cigarette between his fingers. He didn’t look worried but angry. “You… forget that you always drive like a rocket usually. It was raining so heavily yesterday. None of us even dared to go out, but you even drove so quickly with a woman and a dog in your car. Even if you don’t care about your life, have you thought about others?”
Li Shaobin shuddered. “Right, how’s Charlotte and Ruan Yang?”
“Charlotte was slightly hurt and was sent back to the Li Household. Ruan Yang is still unconscious in the room next door.” He Mingshan asked, “Come to think of it, why were you with Ruan Yang? Do you know how much of a commotion was caused when the paramedics recognized Ruan Yang while taking you two over in the ambulance? Luckily your brother rushed over and suppressed news of this matter. Otherwise, you would probably become the next big thing on the news tomorrow. Aye, are you dating Ruan Yang right now?”
He Mingshan had an expression that looked like she didn’t know whether she should be happy or frustrated. She was happy that after so many years, there was finally a woman by his son’s side but frustrated because this Ruan Yang had some association with the Xin Family. How frustrating.
“No, both of us left Old Song’s house. Changqing told me to take her home on the way.” Li Shaobin pulled the blanket away and looked for his shoes. “Aye, I’ve got to go check on her. I’m still responsible for her.”
Just as he stood up, Li Xiaoxia walked in angrily. “Uncle, you’re too much. Forget that you’re rash and clumsy usually, but you even implicated my goddess in a car accident. You’re really unforgivable.”
Li Shaobin felt guilty and said, “Hey, I’m your uncle. Even if you don’t show any concern for me, how can you lecture me? How old are you? Your wings have hardened already, eh?”
“None of your business. Anything, including uncle, is just fleeting clouds compared to my goddess,” Li Xiaoxia said with a snort.
“Li Zhongchi, take your son in hand. He’s not even fully grown and he’s already thinking about women.” Li Shaobin left angrily after saying that and suddenly recalled that he had forgotten to ask which ward Ruan Yang was in. Just then, he saw a towering figure walking out from the ward on the side. It was Yan Molun.
“Old Yan, what are you doing here?” Li Shaobin walked over without thinking and met Yan Molun’s gloomy gaze.
He slowed down guiltily. “Aye, didn’t you see how badly injured I was?”
“Li Shaobin, you still have the cheek to talk about your injuries?” Jiang Duoyao suddenly rushed out angrily from the ward behind Yan Molun and scolded him. “Why are your driving skills so bad? If you don’t know how to drive, don’t drive. To think you’re even a triad boss. How did you even get mixed up in the underworld? You’re even able to get into a car accident while driving. I think even rubbish truck drivers can drive better than you. Why don’t you collect rubbish instead?”
Li Shaobin had totally lost all face from her scolding. He wanted to retort, but he was, after all, the one who caused a woman to be involved in a car accident and he felt bad. “Alright, I wasn’t careful while driving, but it was pouring last night…”
“Didn’t you know you could’ve stopped by the road for a while?” Yan Molun also said softly. “Even if you don’t care about Ruan Yang since she’s not your girlfriend, there was still Charlotte. Isn’t Charlotte your favorite?”
“Scram. How could a dog be my favorite?” Li Shaobin glared and retorted.
Yan Molun scoffed. “Because of you, we had to rush over here in the middle of the night. When Changqing found out last night, she almost fainted and was also about to die of regret. She said she would’ve preferred you didn’t take Ruan Yang home if she had known. She wanted to come over despite being in confinement but Song Chuyi stopped her. Just wait for Old Song to teach you a lesson.”
“Aiya, it’s all my fault.” Thinking of Changqing’s eyes full of hatred made Li Shaobin shudder. “Er… I’ll go in and take a look at Ruan Yang.”
He peeked in and saw Ruan Yang lying there silently on the hospital bed. Her face was clean and exquisite. She would’ve looked as though she was asleep if not for the bandage on her head and her pale face.
Li Shaobin felt very bad. He turned back and asked Duoyao, “Aye, where’s her family? Why are you guys the only ones here?”
“Ruan Yang’s parents are still in Guangdong.” Duoyao waved her hand. “Besides, she fell out with her family. Her dad hasn’t had good health recently and he’s hospitalized. Her mom probably has to take care of her dad so I didn’t call to notify them.”
“That’s sad.” Li Shaobin was stunned. After that, he patted his chest and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely hire a caretaker to look after her. What do you think?”
Duoyao glared at him frustratedly. She really wanted to take off her shoes and slap him with them.
Just then, the eyelashes of the woman lying in bed moved. She moaned.
Duoyao rushed over immediately and watched carefully as Ruan Yang’s long lashes lifted. Her eyes were so shockingly clear.
“Ruan Yang, you’re awake? Do you hurt anywhere?” Duoyao asked her carefully.
Li Shaobin took a gulp. Would she get up and scold him?
Ruan Yang propped herself up with her arm and looked at Duoyao with her clear eyes, then she looked at Li Shaobin before looking around. “Where am I? Who are you?”
Duoyao shuddered. This was simply a nightmare. “Ruan Yang, don’t you recognize me? Even if you don’t remember Li Shaobin, how could you not remember me?”
“Li Shaobin?” Ruan Yang touched her throbbing head and looked blankly at Li Shaobin.
Li Shaobin shuddered. He could already see the image of Changqing and Song Chuyi murdering him. He stuttered: “Don’t tell me… you lost your memory?”
“You’re the one who lost your memory.” Ruan Yang frowned. “I’m called Ruan Yang. How could I possibly have amnesia? I just really don’t recognize the two of you. Right, what am I doing here? Where are my parents?”
“Pa… rents?” Duoyao almost bit her tongue. “How could your parents be here? Didn’t you fall out with your parents?”
“I didn’t. I’m super close with my parents. Aye, this must be the hospital. How did I get hospitalized?” Ruan Yang put her hand on her head. She seemed very troubled and muttered, “Oh no, I’ll have to go to Northern City to attend school in a few days’ time. I can’t go looking like this.”
“Attend… university?” Li Shaobin almost fell from shock.
Duoyao cried and asked, trying to sound her out: “Ruan Yang, do you still remember how old you are?”
Ruan Yang looked at these two people who appeared, saying weird things. “I’m 18. Who are you? How do you know my name?”
Li Shaobin took in a deep breath of air and quickly beckoned Yan Molun. “Quick, quick, quick, call the doctor. Ruan Yang is stupid.”
Ruan Yang frowned and smacked him on the face with a book by the side. “You’re the stupid one. I think you must be at least 10 years older than me. You’re already an adult—how could you still talk so carelessly? Go away.”
Li Shaobin was a little dazed by her strike.. He blinked and looked at Ruan Yang as though she was weird. “F*ck, I’m 10 years older than you?”
“Aren’t you? I’m only 18. You look at least 28.” Ruan Yang crossed her hands. “Let me tell you—I hate it the most when people call me stupid.”
Li Shaobin was dumbfounded. “F*ck, f*ck… Jiang Duoyao, tell her how old she is this year.”
Duoyao was also stupefied. She held her hand and said, “Ruan Yang, you’ve lost your memory. You’ve really lost your memory. I’m your university classmate. You’re already 26 this year.”
Ruan Yang was stunned. She pulled her hand back from her hands in disbelief. “What university classmate? I don’t know you at all. Don’t spout nonsense. I’m only 18. You old aunties and uncles, stop making me eight years older than I am for no reason.”
