After Losing My Memory, I Became My Adoptive Brother’s Caged Bird - Chapter 2

In June, Switzerland experienced its first sunshower.

The drizzle pitter-pattered. It was not the gloom of heavy clouds, but rather a light and lively rhythm. Sunlight pierced through the water droplets, carving a faint, delicate rainbow in mid-air.

“You have recovered so well.”

The caregiver’s voice suddenly came from behind.

Chen Jiaojiao withdrew his gaze and turned around. His cool, elegant features looked exceptionally clean under the sunlight, and his straight back carried a hint of aloofness. Hearing the compliment, he offered a faint smile. Like melting snow and ice, his entire aura softened and became much gentler.

During this month of hospitalization, he had spent most of his time in rehabilitation. He still remembered the first time he tried to stand; his legs had trembled uncontrollably. Now, he was essentially no different from an ordinary person.

Just a few days ago, he had finally received permission to be discharged. He could go home! The thought sent a flicker of lighthearted anticipation through his heart.

Today was the day of his discharge. Chen Jiaojiao woke up early, folded his quilt into a sharp, square “tofu block,” and stood quietly by the window while waiting for that person to arrive.

A few days ago, Meng Jin had left in a hurry due to work. Although they spoke on the phone every day, Meng Jin was the only person he knew in this foreign land. The sense of security provided through a phone line was nowhere near as strong as being face-to-face.

This was the scene Meng Jin encountered when he walked into the ward.

The young man stood partially turned in the play of light and shadow. Not knowing what the caregiver had said, he let a small smile curl his lips. The hazy light outside served as a backdrop, making him look pure and beautiful.

Meng Jin leaned against the doorframe without making a sound. His gaze was like a silent net, enveloping Chen Jiaojiao and slowly tightening. It was not until Chen Jiaojiao seemed to sense something that the smile on his lips stiffened slightly, and he turned his head with a trace of hesitation.

In an instant, their eyes met.

Meng Jin had likely come straight from the office today. He wore a crisp blue-gray shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing the firm lines of his forearms. His hair was combed back, fully exposing his deep-set, sharply aggressive features.

Chen Jiaojiao almost instinctively avoided his direct gaze and looked down. His voice was slightly strained. “Is everything handled?”

“Yes,” Meng Jin responded deeply, stepping closer.

As he approached, a crisp, cold woody fragrance quietly invaded the surrounding air. Meng Jin placed a paper bag on the hospital bed, his voice characteristically low. “Change your clothes, then we will leave.”

Chen Jiaojiao’s gaze fell on the bag. Inside was a cerulean blue shirt and a white long-sleeved base layer.

New clothes again. This time, the accessory was a pair of glasses. He noticed that Meng Jin seemed exceptionally keen on “dressing him up.” From perfumes and accessories to clothes, hats, and shoes, every time he came, it was something different. The feeling was subtle and hard to define; it was like marking.

There were several small dogs in the hospital garden. One of them would circle around him every time he went there, sniffing at his pant legs. At first, he did not understand, but the caregiver later told him that the dog was marking him, telling other dogs that this was its human and its master, and they were not allowed to get close.

But clearly, Meng Jin was not a dog. They were lovers. Meng Jin was marking and possessing him in the way a lover would.

These thoughts suddenly popped into his head, making his cheeks flush. The “thank you” that was about to slip out stayed on the tip of his tongue before he finally swallowed it back down. He hugged the clothes, his eyes downcast, not daring to look at Meng Jin. His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible. “I need to change. You go out first.”

Meng Jin stood still, watching him with interest. His tone was gentle but carried an unquestionable authority. “Jiaojiao, we are lovers.”

After saying this, he paused. His voice actually held a perfectly measured touch of dejection and grievance. “You cannot distance yourself from me just because you do not remember.”

That tone reminded Chen Jiaojiao of that little dog again. The first time the man and the dog met, it was a rainy day. The dog had looked at him with wet eyes, making it impossible for him to be cold-hearted.

Chen Jiaojiao’s heart softened for a moment. Gritting his teeth, he ultimately admitted defeat. He turned his back pitifully, wanting only to finish quickly. But the more rushed he was, the more likely things were to go wrong. His limbs refused to cooperate.

He never expected this white long-sleeved shirt to have a hidden trick! The back actually had a row of delicate silver metal clasps that needed to be hooked one by one. He had been in such a hurry to put it on that he had not noticed. Now, as he bent down to pick up his coat, he suddenly realized his back was exposed to a patch of cold emptiness.

Chen Jiaojiao panicked. Half-hunched over, his hand fumbled clumsily behind him. This posture, however, caused the lines of his spine to pull into an inviting curve, his waist dimples deepening like an invitation.

Meng Jin sat on the sofa behind him, long legs crossed. His large palm held a glass of ice water, his fingertips turning pale against the glass. His eyes were dark, swirling with a thick, ink-like possessiveness. He watched the person before him scramble to lift the shirt. That patch of smooth back, the butterfly bones that looked ready to take flight, and the two looming waist dimples were all exposed to the air without reservation.

He wickedly refrained from stepping forward immediately, letting this “little cat” get anxious enough to break into a fine sweat, unaware that his waistband was slipping loosely. Only after finishing the glass of ice water did Meng Jin rise unhurriedly and approach him soundlessly.

By this time, Chen Jiaojiao was focused on fighting that damned row of buttons. Just as he considered taking the shirt off to start over, he felt a faint, cool touch suddenly land on his lower back. This sensation was far more intense than when Meng Jin had written in his palm before. A shudder, like an electric current, shot from his tailbone straight to the top of his head.

Chen Jiaojiao clenched his teeth, refusing to let any sound escape. Every sensory cell in his skin was magnified in that moment, breaking out in goosebumps. Meng Jin’s gaze licked over the fair skin inch by inch. His fingertips leisurely pinched the cold metal clasps. With every click of a clasp sliding into place, his fingertips would seemingly unintentionally brush against Chen Jiaojiao’s skin.

The touches were fleeting, like the scraping of a feather. Chen Jiaojiao could not help but let out a muffled groan, twisting his body to move away, but he was held firmly in place by Meng Jin’s hand on his lower back. Touch after touch, like simmering a frog in warm water, eroded Chen Jiaojiao’s already blurry boundaries even further.

When the last clasp was in place, several ambiguous, faint red finger marks were left on the fair skin, only to be promptly covered by the clothing. Just from changing his shirt, thin sweat had broken out on Chen Jiaojiao’s forehead. His cool features were stained with crimson, the corners of his eyes were flushed, and his breath carried an unsteady dampness. He felt as if he had died a little.

Seeing him like this, Meng Jin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His voice was low and husky, with a tone that lacked much sincere apology. “Sorry, I…”

“It is fine!”

Ashamed and annoyed, Chen Jiaojiao cut him off, his voice carrying a tremor he had not even noticed. Next came changing the pants. Meng Jin watched obediently without helping. However, when he saw those straight legs covered by the trousers, a flash of regret crossed his eyes. He thought to himself that perhaps he should bring shorts next time.

After changing, Meng Jin acted as if he had not noticed Chen Jiaojiao’s awkwardness and led him out of the hospital by the hand. Chen Jiaojiao struggled slightly but did not break free. This was his first time seeing the outside world since his amnesia. Typical classical European architecture gave off a strong foreign vibe, and his eyes unconsciously followed the buildings.

Sitting in the car, he watched the driver wind through the streets and enter a highly private, wealthy residential villa area. He was somewhat confused. “Are we staying a few more days before going back to China?”

Hearing this, Meng Jin’s fingers paused. He reached up to tidy Chen Jiaojiao’s hair, his voice steady. “We are not going back for the time being. I have applied to a university here for you. It is the major you like.”

Chen Jiaojiao felt a bit uneasy, but the thought of having a school to attend made him accept it well enough. He had originally thought he might have to repeat his senior year of high school; this was already better than he expected. Graduating abroad would make it easier to find a job back home later; he would be a “sea turtle,” after all.

He looked at Meng Jin with anticipation. “What major?”

Meng Jin blinked slowly and uttered, “Fine Arts.”

Chen Jiaojiao thought for a moment. During that month in the hospital, he had indeed discovered he was good at drawing, though it did not seem to follow any particular school of art. It felt more like technical drafting.

While they spoke, the car stopped on the lawn. Meng Jin got out first to open the door for him. Steps greeted his eyes, and looking up, he saw a low-profile luxury villa. There were not many servants in the manor. Everyone had their specific duties, and there were only two people taking care of their daily lives, making the place feel quite empty.

Chen Jiaojiao followed Meng Jin into the room. It was a Nordic log style, natural and warm. He sat on the bouncy large bed, testing it with a couple of bounces, then looked up at Meng Jin, who was taking off his clothes. “Is this your room?”

Meng Jin set his coat aside and loosened his tie. “It is ours.”

“Wait! We live together?” Chen Jiaojiao’s voice rose unconsciously, but then, remembering they were actually a couple, his voice dropped back down. Even though they were very close and in a relationship before, he did not remember it. He could not act the same as before. He said exactly what he was thinking.

After listening, Meng Jin nodded understandingly, unbuttoning his shirt one button at a time. “I see. Then how much time do you need to adjust?”

Chen Jiaojiao sensed Meng Jin’s displeasure and felt inexplicably afraid of him. He did not dare ask for too much time, so he held up two fingers. “Two months.”

Meng Jin pressed closer, his aura enveloping Chen Jiaojiao. He looked down at the fingers and reached out to press one down. “One week.”

How is that possible! He was about to haggle when he saw Meng Jin raise an eyebrow at him. His voice carried the long-accumulated air of a superior, full of pressure. “What? Any objections?”

Chen Jiaojiao was like a deflated ball. He lowered his head, frowning slightly, his voice muffled. “No.”

“Miao?” Interest filled Meng Jin’s eyes. He flirtatiously tilted Chen Jiaojiao’s chin up, staring into his eyes. “Even if you meow like a kitten, I will not extend the time.”

Meow? Chen Jiaojiao was dazed for a second before realizing he had said “No” so quickly that it sounded like “Miao.” At the realization, his cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and he glared at Meng Jin in shame and indignation.

He looked even more like a bristling kitten. Meng Jin chuckled and pinched his cheek. After a month of nursing him, he finally had some meat on his bones.

“Don’t act like a spoiled child.”