I Got A Girlfriend After Losing My Memory (Transmigration) - Chapter 38

Only after Old Master Huo nodded did Tao Ran truly breathe a sigh of relief.

Ever since Tang Fuzhi had awakened, Tao Ran had been trying to arrange a meeting with the old master.

Cutting ties with Huo Yuan served two purposes. First, to avoid any misunderstandings with Tang Fuzhi. The girl had a fiery temper, and if she learned about this “childhood betrothal,” she’d likely grow jealous.

Second, to completely remove Huo Yuan from their lives.

Regardless of why Tang Fuzhi had pushed Tao Ran toward Huo Yuan three months ago, the Tang Fuzhi of today was determined to make Huo Yuan a stranger. Tao Ran couldn’t allow her any opportunity to meet with him.

The delay was solely due to Old Master Huo’s poor health, which had kept him abroad for treatment until now.

“It’s rare to see you so anxious,” Old Master Huo said with a kind smile, his gaze toward Tao Ran no different from how he looked at his own granddaughter. “Do you really like that young woman so much?”

When Tang Fuzhi’s name was mentioned, Tao Ran’s eyes softened considerably, like an iceberg melting. “Yes, very much. Meeting her was the greatest stroke of luck in my life.”

Old Master Huo had heard some stories about Tao Ran’s childhood. His expression turned sympathetic. “Has that young woman really had such a profound impact on you?”

Tao Ran looked up at him, her eyes resolute. “She is my life.”

The old man fell silent for a moment, as if seeing Tao’s Mother from twenty years ago reflected in her eyes. Back then, Tao’s Mother had also been like this, throwing herself headfirst into love.

But she had been unlucky, falling for a scoundrel who not only cost her her life but also caused Tao Ran to suffer greatly.

Old Master Huo sighed. He knew Tao Ran had inherited her mother’s stubbornness, refusing to turn back even when faced with insurmountable obstacles. Yet as an elder, he still wished his descendants could avoid such hardships and sail through life smoothly.
“I just hope you don’t follow in your mother’s footsteps.”

Tao Ran smiled, her lips pressed together. The thought of the young woman, so delicate and trusting, even helping her deceivers count their ill-gotten gains, melted her heart. “That won’t happen. We’ll be happy together.”

Seeing this, Old Master Huo stopped trying to dissuade Tao Ran and let out a hearty laugh. “Ha ha ha! Then this old man will be waiting for your good news.”

The two chatted warmly. Old Master Huo asked about Tao Ran’s recent activities, but after only a few questions, his energy began to flag.

“Getting old is like this, Tao Tao. Let me see you out.”

It would be terribly impolite to have an elder escort her. Tao Ran quickly declined. “I can find my way just fine. I’ve been to Huo Group so many times. Just take care of yourself, Grandpa.”

Old Master Huo didn’t insist. He had stayed up late the previous night for Huo Yuxin’s coming-of-age ceremony, and the long conversation with Tao Ran had clearly tired him.

“Alright, I won’t insist. I’ll have my secretary see you out instead.”

Tao Ran nodded, smiling as she left the office.

The moment Tao Ran stepped out of the office, she saw someone she hadn’t expected: Xu Rujia.

Her heart stopped. Even as the secretary continued chatting with her, Tao Ran was already striding toward Xu Rujia.

“What are you doing here?”

Xu Rujia was mid-conversation when a cold, familiar voice cut through the air. She turned to see Tao Ran, her legs nearly giving way. “President Tao… what a coincidence…”

Tao Ran’s expression grew colder, her usually bright, flirtatious eyes now frosted over. She asked, each word deliberate, “I asked you, what are you doing here?”

Xu Rujia had never seen Tao Ran like this, as if she wanted to kill her.

She trembled, her words stumbling. “I… I came with Tang Tang.”

Tao Ran felt like she was falling into an abyss, her hands and feet icy. A glance at Huo Yuxin beside Xu Rujia made everything click into place. She hurried toward Huo Yuan’s office, but the secretary rushed to block her path.
Old Master Huo, watching from a distance, was intrigued by Tao Ran’s uncharacteristic loss of composure and ambled over to observe the spectacle.

Ignoring the crowd’s attempts to stop her, Tao Ran threw open the door to Huo Yuan’s office. As expected, she found Tang Fuzhi standing before him.

For a fleeting moment, she felt transported back three months, to the day Tang Fuzhi had pushed her away and vanished from her world. The next time she saw Tang Fuzhi, it was on a stretcher in an ambulance.

Tao Ran strode swiftly to Tang Fuzhi’s side and, before Tang Fuzhi could react, pressed her lips fiercely against hers.

Tang Fuzhi’s eyes widened, her long lashes fluttering. Tao Ran’s arm tightened around her waist, pulling their bodies flush against each other.

Their previous intimacies had always been in private. This was the first time they had acted so boldly in front of others, especially people who knew them both.

Tang Fuzhi could even see out of the corner of her eye the astonished expressions of Old Master Huo, Huo Yuxin, Xu Rujia, the secretary, and the others behind Tao Ran. This made her feel utterly humiliated.

Her hand involuntarily landed on Tao Ran’s shoulder, trying to push her away. But with her lips pressed together, she could only manage a muffled, indistinct sound.

This time, Tao Ran was unusually compliant. Sensing Tang Fuzhi’s intention to reject her, she released her. Instead, she wrapped an arm around the young woman’s slender shoulders and introduced her: “This is my girlfriend, Tang Fuzhi.”

Though the introduction was addressed to the group, Tao Ran’s beautiful peach blossom eyes remained fixed on Huo Yuan, their depths concealing a subtle threat, as if the words were meant specifically for him.

Tang Fuzhi, oblivious to the undercurrent, only felt embarrassed. She burrowed into Tao Ran’s embrace, feeling utterly mortified.

Yet Tao Ran refused to let her off the hook. Leaning down to whisper in her ear, she said, “Tang Tang, this is Senior President Huo. He’s been a lifelong friend of my grandpa. You can call him Grandpa Huo.”

Flustered by Tao Ran’s embrace, Tang Fuzhi looked up at Old Master Huo. His hair was snow-white, but his eyes sparkled with vitality.

Perhaps because of Tao Ran’s influence, Old Master Huo’s gaze toward Tang Fuzhi was gentle, reminiscent of Grandpa Tao’s. It inexplicably fostered a sense of warmth and familiarity.

“Hello, Grandpa Huo.”

“Ha ha, hello! Tao Ran was just telling me about you.”

Tao Ran said, “Grandpa, since you’re tired, I’ll take Tang Tang back now. We’ll visit again another day.”

Old Master Huo sensed Tao Ran’s unease, but he knew better than to interfere in young people’s affairs. Some things they needed to resolve themselves.

Tao Ran left the Huo Group with Tang Fuzhi in her arms. She didn’t say a word the entire way, but her grip on Tang Fuzhi tightened with each step.

I was wrong, she thought. I shouldn’t have left Tang Fuzhi alone at the hotel.

She wondered what Tang Fuzhi and Huo Yuan had discussed. Would seeing Huo Yuan trigger any memories? Would she repeat what happened three months ago?

Tao Ran’s anxiety grew unbearable.

Tang Fuzhi noticed Tao Ran’s pale face and wondered if something had gone wrong at work. Since she didn’t understand Tao Ran’s job, all she could do was offer silent support.

Without waiting for He Ruo and Xu Rujia, Tao Ran shoved Tang Fuzhi into the passenger seat and sped back to the hotel.

Not a word passed between them during the entire drive.

Though the sun blazed outside, the car felt as cold as if the air conditioning were blasting, sending shivers down their spines.

Tang Fuzhi found the atmosphere strange. She wanted to say something to break the ice, but the words caught in her throat when she saw Tao Ran’s icy expression.

After getting out of the car, Tao Ran held Tang Fuzhi’s hand tightly, as if afraid she would slip away, until they were back in their hotel room.

Tao Ran turned to face Tang Fuzhi, her eyes calm and still.

For some reason, seeing Tao Ran like this gave Tang Fuzhi the feeling that a storm was brewing.

At the same time, Tao Ran’s grip tightened, hurting Tang Fuzhi’s hand. “Tao Ran, you’re hurting me…”

The girl’s soft, gentle voice snapped Tao Ran back to reality. She looked down at the girl in her arms, her eyes slightly red like a little rabbit’s, her delicate brows furrowed.

Tao Ran lowered her gaze to Tang Fuzhi’s reddened hand, her heart aching with the urge to chain her wrist to her own, to bind her so she could never leave again.

No, I can’t do that.

Tang Fuzhi would hate me even more.

Tao Ran closed her eyes, suppressing the dark thoughts swirling within her. After a moment, she looked up at Tang Fuzhi, her hands gripping her shoulders. The self-control she had just managed to muster shattered the moment she spoke. “Why were you at the Huo Group? Why did you meet with Huo Yuan? Why?!”

Tang Fuzhi’s shoulders ached from Tao Ran’s grip, tears threatening to spill. Yet Tao Ran’s voice remained icy. The girl, who had always been cherished and pampered, had never experienced such treatment. She turned her face away with a cold huff. “I’m not telling you anything.”

In the past, Tao Ran would have easily recognized Tang Fuzhi’s childish tantrum and happily coaxed her. Tang Fuzhi would then spill everything she knew.

But today, Tao Ran’s mind was consumed by the image of Tang Fuzhi smiling at Huo Yuan. She couldn’t distinguish between Tang Fuzhi’s petulant words and her own overwhelming fear of losing her.

A crimson madness tinged the corners of Tao Ran’s eyes, her veins bulging slightly as she roared, “Tell me! Why did you meet Huo Yuan? What did you say to him? Are you going to leave me again? Like last time!”

Only then did Tang Fuzhi notice Tao Ran’s strange behavior. “What are you talking about? Why would I leave you?”

She didn’t understand Tao Ran’s words, but she sensed something was terribly wrong.

The usually calm and composed Tao Ran now seemed utterly frantic. Beneath her terrifying rage lay a deep-seated anxiety and panic.

Tang Fuzhi asked with concern, “Tao Ran, what’s wrong?”

Before the words were even out of her mouth, Tao Ran had kissed her.

The kiss was fierce, chaotic, and possessive. Tao Ran’s tongue darted into Tang Fuzhi’s mouth, as if she wanted to devour the younger woman completely. The veins on her hands stood out as she gripped Tang Fuzhi tightly, as if trying to meld her into her own body.

Faced with such intensity, Tang Fuzhi panicked. She instinctively tried to push Tao Ran away, wanting to explain.

Sensing Tang Fuzhi’s resistance, Tao Ran’s anger flared even hotter. In a fit of rage, she yanked the cotton-linen tassel belt from Tang Fuzhi’s dress. With one hand pinning Tang Fuzhi’s arms behind her back, she swiftly bound her wrists, rendering her powerless to resist.

Her hands tied and her lips being savagely bitten by Tao Ran, Tang Fuzhi was completely helpless, like a defenseless lamb at the mercy of its slaughterer.

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