I Got A Girlfriend After Losing My Memory (Transmigration) - Chapter 33

The longing for Tang Fuzhi surged alongside her familiar headache, the ringing in her ears intensifying. She had initially considered taking medication, but when she opened her suitcase, she remembered she’d thrown her pills away two days earlier.

Thankfully, Tang Fuzhi answered the video call almost instantly.

The moment Tao Ran saw Tang Fuzhi’s face, the world seemed to quiet down around her. Only Tang Fuzhi’s soft, sweet voice remained, and her headache eased considerably.

Tang Fuzhi’s eyes flickered to the notification banner at the top of her phone: Xu Rujia: President Tao said you’d be awake by 7. I brought breakfast over [photos][photos][photos]

Several photos of the breakfast were attached.

It looked delicious, beautifully arranged, and still steaming slightly. Tang Fuzhi instinctively touched her flat stomach, picked up her phone, and stood up. “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”

“Not yet,” Tao Ran replied. If Tang Fuzhi hadn’t mentioned it, she would have completely forgotten about breakfast.

Though she hadn’t eaten anything the previous night either, she felt no hunger at all and had no intention of eating.

Skipping a meal or two wasn’t a big deal for her. It wasn’t the first time, after all.

“Let’s eat together,” Tang Fuzhi suggested, her eyes crinkling into a smile. As she opened the door, she was stunned to see Xu Rujia had bought a mountain of breakfast, enough to feed at least three or four girls. The small table was completely covered, leaving her speechless.

Tao Ran’s fingers paused briefly before she quietly texted the front desk to have her breakfast brought in. “Sure,” she replied.

“How did you buy so much? Can you even finish it all?” Tang Fuzhi asked.

When Tang Fuzhi had first seen Xu Rujia’s photo, she’d assumed it was someone else’s breakfast and had asked what Xu Rujia wanted to eat. She never imagined Xu Rujia had bought it all herself.

Tang Fuzhi watched as Xu Rujia unpacked rice noodle rolls, soy milk, steamed buns, fried dough sticks, mixed rice noodles, pan-fried dumplings, and a bowl of century egg and lean pork congee. The real food looked even more appetizing than the photo, and Tang Fuzhi instinctively swallowed hard.
First, Tang Fuzhi set up her phone on a stand, adjusting the angle before clearing the table. She carefully moved the delicate white camellia, its petals glistening with dew, to the side to make room, then arranged the food items one by one.

Xu Rujia scratched her head, her smile a little sheepish. “I have a big appetite, heh heh,” she explained.

Just then, Tao Ran’s breakfast arrived, a stark contrast to Tang Fuzhi’s lavish spread: a small sandwich and a glass of warm milk.

Still, it was a perfectly adequate portion for one person.

Xu Rujia noticed Tang Fuzhi was on a video call and excitedly rushed over, waving. “Good morning, President Tao!”

At work, it was crucial to make her presence known to the boss, demonstrating her dedication.

Xu Rujia quietly placed the white camellia where Tao Ran could see it through the phone screen. After all, she’d made a special trip to the florist that morning to buy it, and her boss needed to witness her commitment.

Tao Ran naturally noticed the white camellia, positioned behind Tang Fuzhi, revealing half the vase and its delicate petals. It complemented Tang Fuzhi perfectly.

Tang Fuzhi picked up a bowl of congee, took two small sips, and felt the warmth spread through her body. Her eyes narrowed in contentment as she asked softly, “How’s work going?”

Watching Tang Fuzhi sip the congee, Tao Ran, who had initially felt no appetite, suddenly felt a pang of hunger. She picked up her sandwich and took a bite.

The food tasted bland, but Tang Fuzhi chewed it twice and forced herself to swallow, her gaze fixed on Tao Ran.

“It’s going well. I should be back in three or four days.”

Tang Fuzhi’s cheeks flushed crimson as her thoughts were exposed. She deliberately avoided Tao Ran’s gaze, her eyes darting away. “I didn’t ask when you were coming back,” she huffed.

As if I was thinking about her!

Hmph! ╭(╯^╰)╮

Tao Ran chuckled softly, teasingly agreeing. “Mm-hmm, you weren’t thinking about me. I was the one missing you.”

Tang Fuzhi stirred her congee, the savory aroma filling her nostrils, yet it couldn’t dispel her melancholy. Her once-sparkling eyes had dimmed slightly, like pearls veiled in dust. Though the congee was the same, with its perfect balance of flavors and textures, it somehow didn’t taste as good as the kind Tao Ran made.

For the first time, Tang Fuzhi felt the house was too big, too empty without Tao Ran.

Tao Ran noticed Tang Fuzhi’s dejection but didn’t know how to comfort her. She quickly changed the subject. “You should take Xu Rujia out more often. Maybe to the amusement park we went to last time?”

Tao Ran’s words failed to pique Tang Fuzhi’s interest. Instead, they deepened her sense of loss and longing for Tao Ran.

When Tao Ran was around, Tang Fuzhi always wanted to go out and play. But now that Tao Ran was gone, she found no joy in going out. It was better to stay home and paint.

Tang Fuzhi finished her porridge in a few quick bites and abruptly ended the video call, muttering stubbornly, “I don’t want to.”

Tao Ran stared at the screen where Tang Fuzhi had hung up. The half-eaten sandwich on the table suddenly tasted bland.

She didn’t snap out of her daze until the phone screen went dark. After clearing the table, she called He Ruo. “Any news from Senior President Huo?”

“President Tao, we just received word that Senior President Huo is hosting a banquet at his residence tonight for Young Miss Huo’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Make the arrangements.”

Tao Ran finally exhaled in relief. Remembering Tang Fuzhi’s stubborn expression earlier, she sighed again. A throbbing ache pulsed at her temples. She rubbed them briefly, rested for two minutes, then reopened her laptop to resume handling company affairs.

After ending the video call, Tang Fuzhi watched Xu Rujia eat. Despite buying a lot, Xu Rujia only seemed to be about seventy or eighty percent full.

Tang Fuzhi slumped over the table, lost in thought.

Regret began to gnaw at her. She regretted ending Tao Ran’s video call.

She stared at her phone for over half an hour, waiting for Tao Ran to call back. As the minutes ticked by without a call, she grew increasingly frustrated, jabbing at the screen.

Seriously, you idiot Tao Ran, you meanie Tao Ran!

I hung up on you, and you really don’t know to call back?

Don’t you understand the meaning of perseverance?

Tang Fuzhi felt deflated. Xu Rujia had never seen her like this, like a withered sunflower. She tentatively asked, “Tang Tang, do you miss President Tao a lot?”

Tang Fuzhi instinctively retorted, “That’s not true!”

She pursed her lips, her expression betraying her true feelings. Anyone could tell she was saying the opposite of what she meant.

Xu Rujia scratched her head. “If you miss President Tao so much, we could go see her. H City isn’t far, and it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”

Tang Fuzhi’s eyes lit up, but the thought of her medical checkup tomorrow dampened her spirits. Her voice sounded muffled as she said, “But I have to go for my checkup tomorrow.”

“Does the checkup take long? Does it have to be tomorrow? Can’t you do it today?” Xu Rujia reacted quickly, pulling out her phone to check flights from T City to H City. “There are two flights left today, at 8:50 PM and 9:45 PM.”

Tang Fuzhi hurried over to Xu Rujia’s side, her eyes growing brighter as she studied the flight information on the phone. “Book the 8:50 PM flight. We’ll go together.”

Watching Xu Rujia fill in her ID details and make the payment, Tang Fuzhi’s spirits soared. She immediately contacted Zheng Xiaoxiao to ask if she could do the checkup today, reminding Xu Rujia, “Don’t tell Tao Ran. I want to surprise her.”

Zheng Xiaoxiao replied quickly.

The checkup might have to wait until 5 PM this afternoon.

Tang Fuzhi calculated the time, her amber eyes shining even brighter as she quickly replied, “Okay, thank you, Doctor Zheng! /Cat rolling on the floor.jpg”

Perhaps because she knew she would see Tao Ran soon, time seemed to drag on endlessly for Tang Fuzhi.
The wait was agonizing. Even when Tao Ran video-called at noon, Tang Fuzhi couldn’t muster her usual enthusiasm.

The only thing that could truly excite her now was meeting Tao Ran in person.

Though time crawled by, the appointed hour eventually arrived.

After finally completing her checkup and listening to Zheng Xiaoxiao’s instructions, Tang Fuzhi hurriedly grabbed her suitcase and rushed to the airport.

The flight was scheduled to arrive in H City around midnight. Tang Fuzhi had assumed she wouldn’t be able to sleep, given her excitement, but the truth was, she was asleep within two minutes of closing her eyes.

Upon landing, the two immediately contacted He Ruo to get Tao Ran’s hotel address and happily hailed a taxi to head there.

He Ruo stared at the disconnected phone, then glanced at President Tao, who was still vomiting. Her heart ached with mixed emotions. She quickly called the hotel front desk to ask them to receive Tang Fuzhi in advance, to prevent any awkwardness upon arrival.

With that settled, He Ruo finally drove Tao Ran home.

When Tang Fuzhi arrived, Tao Ran hadn’t returned yet. But thanks to He Ruo’s advance notice, she checked into the hotel smoothly, without being stopped.

She casually tossed her suitcase into a corner before taking in the hotel room’s layout.

It was surprisingly spacious, nearly as large as their home. The layout featured a single bedroom and two living areas. The living room boasted plush leather sofas that looked incredibly comfortable.

Tao Ran’s work documents lay scattered across the desk, alongside a box of candies.

It was identical to the jar of candies in Tao Ran’s office.

Tang Fuzhi popped a lemon-flavored candy into her mouth and wandered into the bedroom.

She’d expected to sense Tao Ran’s presence here, but it was conspicuously absent.

An ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating pristine white walls and an impeccably tidy space. The room felt as if no one had ever lived in it. The bedsheets were perfectly smooth, not a single garment out of place.
Only upon closer inspection did Tang Fuzhi notice that not even a single strand of hair lay on the white sheets.

If she hadn’t confirmed with He Ruo that this was indeed Tao Ran’s room, and if the documents on the desk weren’t clearly from the Tao Group, bearing Tao Ran’s handwriting, she would have doubted she’d entered the wrong room.

Feeling a bit bored while waiting for Tao Ran, Tang Fuzhi returned to the living room and turned on the television, half-reclining on the sofa.

A melodramatic soap opera played on the screen, its light illuminating Tang Fuzhi’s face and reflecting in her amber eyes, making them sparkle. Yet she wasn’t really watching, glancing at her phone every few minutes, anxiously awaiting Tao Ran’s return.

About half an hour later, the sound of a door opening reached her ears.

Tang Fuzhi immediately rose and hurried over, only to see He Ruo supporting a heavily intoxicated Tao Ran. She stared in shock. “How much did she drink?”

Wasn’t she supposed to be working? How did she end up so drunk? Anyone would think she’d just gone through a breakup.

Tang Fuzhi took Tao Ran from He Ruo and helped her onto the sofa.

He Ruo wiped the sweat from her forehead. President Tao had repeatedly warned her not to tell Tang Fuzhi about Senior President Huo, so she quickly fabricated a story. “Today’s client was really difficult. They kept pressuring President Tao to drink.”

Tang Fuzhi’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She had always assumed that someone in Tao Ran’s position would only face busy work trips, never imagining she’d be forced to drink.

He Ruo casually grabbed an unopened bottle of mineral water from the table, took a sip, and continued, “I’ve already given President Tao an anti-hangover medication. Miss Tang, you just need to wipe her down and change her clothes. I’ve postponed all her appointments for tomorrow morning.”

Tang Fuzhi nodded, and He Ruo left.

Having never encountered such a situation before, Tang Fuzhi wasn’t sure what to do. Following He Ruo’s instructions, she fetched a basin of warm water and began wiping Tao Ran’s face with a towel.

As she brushed the disheveled hair behind Tao Ran’s ear, Tang Fuzhi realized the situation was far worse than she’d imagined.
Tao Ran’s forehead was covered in sweat, her cheeks flushed crimson down to her neck, and the dark circles beneath her eyes, so deep even concealer couldn’t hide them, were clear signs of days without proper rest.

Tang Fuzhi felt a surge of anger.

Tao Ran always told her to take care of herself, yet when it came to her own well-being, she showed no such concern.

Drinking so much alcohol and neglecting her sleep.

Since Tao Ran still had makeup on, Tang Fuzhi first removed it. Only then did she realize how much more haggard Tao Ran looked without it.

The dark circles under Tao Ran’s eyes looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Her usually rosy lips were now pale and sickly, and her cheeks were slightly sunken, suggesting she hadn’t eaten properly either.

Tang Fuzhi bit her lower lip, her anger growing.

But despite her anger, her hands moved with increasing gentleness as she wiped Tao Ran’s face.

After finally cleaning Tao Ran’s face and neck, Tang Fuzhi remembered what He Ruo had said. She reached down and unbuttoned Tao Ran’s shirt, revealing her white bra.

She initially wanted to toss the shirt aside, but something felt off.

Tang Fuzhi brought the shirt to her nose. Besides the lingering scent of alcohol and Tao Ran’s faint cedarwood fragrance, there was also a delicate perfume.

She knew Tao Ran never wore perfume, so this scent must have come from someone else.

Tang Fuzhi’s brow furrowed, a sour feeling rising in her chest. She glared fiercely at Tao Ran and demanded, “When you wake up, you’d better explain this clearly. Otherwise, I’m running away from home!”

This time, she wouldn’t be easily appeased. She demanded a reasonable explanation.

After tossing the white shirt carelessly onto the floor, Tang Fuzhi’s anger still simmered. She stomped on the shirt several times, watching the white fabric stain with gray footprints. Only then did she manage to barely suppress her fury.
She glanced back at Tao Ran’s gaunt face and reached to unhook her bra, intending to wipe Tao Ran’s body. But Tao Ran’s eyes fluttered open, and she gripped Tang Fuzhi’s wrist, her voice hoarse as she murmured, “Tang Tang?”

A hint of disbelief lingered in her voice.

Tang Fuzhi nodded, but before she could speak, Tao Ran yanked her into a tight embrace, one hand pressing firmly against the back of her head as she kissed her.

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