After Losing My Memory, I Suddenly Had A Fiancée - Chapter 43

Jiang Zhi bought the train ticket promptly, preparing to go through the discharge procedures as soon as the IV drip was finished.

Xin Ling reminded her, “Don’t get happy too soon. I sent your embarrassing drunk photos to my Moments before, and she didn’t respond at all.”

“She was furious back then.” Jiang Zhi didn’t think that proved anything. She began considering where they should meet, when Ji Fanghuai sent another message.

“Tomorrow morning at eight, at Shiguang Coffee House.”

Jiang Zhi quickly pressed the call button by the bedside.

Xin Ling asked in surprise, “What are you doing?”

“Fanghuai asked to meet me tomorrow morning at eight. I have twelve hours, and I need to set aside some time to prepare,” Jiang Zhi said, speeding up the IV drip to the maximum rate.

Xin Ling was utterly speechless, only wanting to say: If you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?

On her way to City B, Jiang Zhi felt extremely uneasy. In truth, this conversation could only have two outcomes: either Ji Fanghuai would remain angry, or she would decide to forgive her after hearing her explanation.

But Jiang Zhi still felt unsure.

When she arrived at the coffee house, Ji Fanghuai was already there.

After a few days apart, Ji Fanghuai looked much more refreshed. Perhaps it was the light makeup, but even her hair seemed a bit longer. This observation made Jiang Zhi begin to feel uneasy, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to start the conversation.

She had expected to see a Ji Fanghuai who was as despondent as herself, but Ji Fanghuai appeared unaffected.

The coffee house had just opened and was not yet officially in business. Inside, there were only the two of them and a staff member cleaning behind the bar.

Jiang Zhi and Ji Fanghuai sat across from each other. Seeing that Ji Fanghuai was constantly looking down at her phone, Jiang Zhi couldn’t help but call out, “Fanghuai.”

Ji Fanghuai’s fingers, which were randomly pressing on the phone’s screen, stopped. She then looked up as if she had just noticed her, and said in a businesslike tone, “Miss Jiang, we are not close.”

All the words Jiang Zhi was about to say were choked back. The current Ji Fanghuai radiated the message: Do not try to be familiar with me.

Knowing she was the one at fault, Jiang Zhi could only feign casualness and ask, “How have you been recently? Do you still have headaches?”

She had never imagined that things between her and Ji Fanghuai would reach this point—where a conversation had to be initiated by asking about physical health.

Ji Fanghuai looked indifferently at the woman in front of her who was expressing concern and found it slightly ridiculous. She said, “If you asked me out just to talk about these trivial matters, then I’ll be heading home. Goodbye.”

After saying that, she showed no hesitation, picking up her bag and preparing to leave.

Jiang Zhi quickly stood up, her tone urgent, “I do have something important to discuss with you.”

This time, she didn’t even dare to call her name.

Ji Fanghuai stared at Jiang Zhi’s poor complexion and slightly pitiful gaze, then reluctantly sat back down.

Jiang Zhi wasted no more time with pleasantries and went straight to the point: “Lying that you were my fiancée was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to confess to you this whole time, but I just didn’t know how to say it.”

She paused there, waiting to see Ji Fanghuai’s reaction.

“But I somehow feel like you hoped to hide it from me forever? We’ve shared a bed for over half a year, and you never mentioned a word. It seems President Jiang truly has a short memory for minor things. Then again, it’s my fault for not being tactful enough to accept a president as a fiancée, even if I ‘picked her up’ for free,” Ji Fanghuai said sarcastically.

Jiang Zhi knew she was wrong and that Ji Fanghuai was furious, but she wished Ji Fanghuai would hit or curse at her rather than provoke her with such sharp words.

She looked resigned, conceding everything. “I’m here to confess today. After this, you can punish me however you see fit.”

Ji Fanghuai pursed her lips and remained silent, only taking a small sip of the coffee she held. It was bitter, and she didn’t like it.

Jiang Zhi thought carefully and said, “I’ve mentioned to you before that I have a younger sister at my step-parents’ house. In fact, you are that sister—my stepsister.”

As Jiang Zhi spoke, she watched Ji Fanghuai’s expression closely. She thought Ji Fanghuai would be surprised or even happy, as a new layer of relationship had been added between them.

However, Ji Fanghuai was surprisingly calm, and then, as if suddenly remembering she should cooperate, she displayed a slightly astonished expression.

Jiang Zhi felt like it was mockery. She had the sensation of presenting her undergraduate thesis defense, where the professors below pretended not to understand while watching her explain the paper.

In reality, those professors knew everything; they just wanted to see what new spin she could put on old information.

Ji Fanghuai’s gaze seemed to have seen right through everything.

Jiang Zhi quickly gathered her thoughts. The lengthy, prepared speech instantly turned into a few simple phrases.

She said, “Simply put, I love you, and you don’t love me. When I learned you had amnesia, I was possessed by the devil and decided to deceive you. I am sorry.”

Ji Fanghuai listened quietly and asked, “Is that all?”

Jiang Zhi nodded. “That’s all.”

This was completely different from the meeting she had anticipated. Her heart was now a knotted mess, and she had no mind to say anything more.

Ji Fanghuai felt a touch of disappointment in her and reminded her, “You previously told me my parents had passed away and even took me to their graves, but it seems that’s not actually the case.”

“They…” Jiang Zhi started to hesitate.

Ji Fanghuai’s feigned calm was like a lake surface hiding a giant monster, ready to churn into a storm at any moment. Unfortunately, Jiang Zhi didn’t dare to look at her right now and missed the anomaly.

Ji Fanghuai spoke mockingly, “What are you hesitating about? Are you trying to find a new lie? Or do you plan to keep concealing it? Ji Dongyuan looked for me yesterday, and I also went to see my cousin. How long do you intend to keep things from me?”

Only then did Jiang Zhi understand that Ji Fanghuai hadn’t come to hear her out; Ji Fanghuai knew everything. She was merely there to watch Jiang Zhi feel awkward, to see her make a fool of herself like a clown.

Lowering her head, she said resignedly, “I had two fathers and two mothers. My dad died in a car accident when I was about two, and then my mom married your father, Ji Changnian, taking me with her. At first, he treated us well. Later, when my mom got sick, I found out it wasn’t a remarriage at all.”

“My mother’s depression started then. My father’s death wasn’t an accident either. Your father and my father were good friends and business partners. My father trusted him completely, but he secretly coveted another man’s wife and property.”

Ji Fanghuai listened carefully, everything matching what she currently knew. Jiang Zhi was not lying to her.

But Jiang Zhi didn’t want to bring up those things. The more she mentioned them, the farther apart she and Ji Fanghuai would drift.

She calmed down and said, “Actually, none of what I just said matters. I don’t have some overriding obsession with revenge. Your father went to prison because he tried to take shortcuts and broke the law. I merely provided evidence at the right time. Your mother’s car accident has nothing to do with me; that truly was an accident. Fanghuai, I only care about you. I know it was wrong to lie to you, but…”

Ji Fanghuai finished the sentence for her in a cold tone: “But your goal has been achieved, and I successfully fell in love with you. We are no longer just sisters. Congratulations on your complete success.”

She had no memories, no impression of their sisterly bond, and could trample on it casually when she mentioned it.

Jiang Zhi’s lips were pale, and she remained silent.

Seeing her silence, Ji Fanghuai became exasperated. She suddenly stood up and scoffed, “But who says that after falling in love, you can’t fall out of love? For someone nearly thirty, I can’t believe you’re so naive!”

This time, she genuinely left.

“Fanghuai!” Jiang Zhi abruptly stood up. The coffee that had just been served was knocked over, and the hot liquid splashed onto her hand, instantly causing the back of her hand to turn red and swell.

Ji Fanghuai stopped immediately when she heard the noise, but seeing that the waiter was already approaching, she walked out without a second thought.

She didn’t care about Jiang Zhi’s well-being.

Carrying her injury, Jiang Zhi returned to City A dejectedly and asked Xin Ling, “Is being deceived really that awful?”

“Imagine this: a man tells you that you are his fiancée, but after half a year of living together, you discover you are actually a lesbian, and he is not your fiancé at all. How would you feel?” Xin Ling illustrated with an example.

Jiang Zhi: “…”

She tried to put herself in that situation and felt entirely uncomfortable.

Xin Ling continued, “So, you’re basically getting what you deserve. Thankfully, Ji Fanghuai doesn’t have a loved one, and her sexual orientation is still uncertain. Otherwise, with what you’ve done, you might not be able to win her back even if you chased her all the way to the crematorium.”

Jiang Zhi was still trying to salvage the situation. “But our relationship is different.”

Xin Ling lamented her inability to do better: “The very fact that your relationship is different makes it worse. Being deceived by the person you trust most only makes it hurt more. You should be glad Ji Fanghuai hasn’t recovered her memory yet, or you would be completely finished sooner or later.”

Jiang Zhi’s face was deathly pale.

Xin Ling didn’t want to keep hitting her while she was down. “However, she cares about you so much, and your childhood was so rough. If you just play the victim, humble yourself, and agree to be the bottom in bed, she might forgive you. By the way, between two women, do they prefer being the top? Or the bottom? Or are they versatile?”

Xin Ling’s words became increasingly outrageous, and Jiang Zhi remained silent with a cold expression.

Perhaps she was truly wrong, taking advantage of being the person closest to Ji Fanghuai, assuming she understood her, and therefore acting recklessly.

“I will go to the company to work tomorrow.” Jiang Zhi decided not to bother Ji Fanghuai anymore recently. She had said what needed to be said; it was time to give Ji Fanghuai some space.

Xin Ling said irritably, “You haven’t finished your stay at the hospital yet, and now your hand is injured. Be careful, or you might leave a scar—that’s the skill that earns your living.”

Jiang Zhi pursed her lips and looked at the back of her hand, saying nothing.

The moment Ji Fanghuai left the coffee house, it was as if she shed her disguise. Her shoulders, which had been held stiffly, relaxed. She returned home and lay down without even removing her makeup.

She knew the general outline of everything Jiang Zhi had said, and after the initial shock, she had become incredibly calm.

Jiang Zhi had spoken lightly of her past, but in reality, her life could not have been good, especially with Ji Dongyuan as her younger brother.

As Ji Fanghuai removed her makeup, she suddenly remembered that Jiang Zhi had also removed her makeup before. She looked at herself in the mirror. Beneath the light makeup was actually heavy makeup, which she had specifically hired a makeup artist to apply.

Her own hands seemed different from the makeup artist’s; she couldn’t apply such intricate makeup herself.

Jiang Zhi’s hand, scalded by the coffee, flashed before her eyes.

Ji Fanghuai frowned, momentarily lost in thought.

Although Jiang Zhi hadn’t mentioned her younger brother Ji Dongyuan at all, she believed Ji Dongyuan would come looking for her again.

Ji Fanghuai went to the coffee house to wait. This time, the staff members all knew she was the boss. Perhaps Jiang Zhi had let go of her control?

Ji Fanghuai didn’t pay much attention. She went to the coffee house every day, and two days later, Ji Dongyuan indeed showed up.

This time, constrained by Ji Fanghuai’s overwhelming aura and the fact that this was someone else’s territory, he didn’t dare to be reckless.

Ji Fanghuai didn’t give him a pleasant look either. She said, “Take me to see him.”

Ji Dongyuan swallowed the curse words he was about to say and asked, “See who?”

Ji Fanghuai smiled coldly. “Your father.”

Ji Fanghuai went to the prison visit. Ji Changnian looked similar to Ji Dongyuan, but their personalities were completely different. Prison life had not diminished his aggression; instead, his face was gloomy, and his eyes were full of calculation.

Ji Fanghuai thought of the tombstone Jiang Zhi had set up, where her father was clearly benevolent-looking.

Ji Changnian knew Ji Fanghuai and Jiang Zhi were together and even thought they were still a couple, so he remained silent.

Ji Fanghuai merely picked up the phone indifferently, without any preamble or emotional display. She said, “I’ve only come this time to ask Mr. Ji one question.”

Ji Changnian looked at Ji Fanghuai with a cold gaze, as if she were not his daughter.

Ji Fanghuai was unfazed. She said, “Your stepdaughter Jiang Zhi is four years older than me, but her mother passed away when she was ten. That means…”

A faint, sarcastic smile curled on Ji Fanghuai’s lips. She said dispassionately, “I am actually the daughter of the mistress.”

Jiang Zhi had deliberately avoided mentioning this for her sake, but Ji Fanghuai finally understood why her maternal grandmother’s family hated her. The man across from her’s lips trembled, but he remained silent, his face grim.

Ji Fanghuai’s prison visit ended with the single question she asked. When she returned home, she had a splitting headache.

Perhaps Jiang Zhi was right: some things are better left unknown from the beginning.

Perhaps… she should have let Jiang Zhi keep deceiving her.

Ji Fanghuai dared not ignore the headache any longer. Accompanied by Lin Mianmian, she went to the municipal hospital. After examining her, the doctor said, “I suggest you go to the previous hospital for a follow-up examination.”

Ji Fanghuai traveled to City A.